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The decision to do such a contentious interview on one of the nation's largest stages is especially surprising given the White House's decision to freeze out Fox News during 2009. Since that time, the relationship has improved, but the White House is still concerned that Fox News has not been accurate in its coverage.
The White House is also saying that the interview is being conducted in part because it is a tradition for the sitting president to do a pregame interview with the network hosting the Super Bowl. Last year, President Obama did an interview with CBS when they were the hosts.
I'm not sure what to think about this one. Perhaps this is one tradition that President Obama needs to break. I am especially concerned if the interview is live. By legitimating an instigative pseudo-journalist like Bill O'Reilly, the president is positioning himself to be politically body-slammed by a group of people who will surely set traps for him.
On the other hand, perhaps I am naive. Given that President Obama must deal with a Republican Congress, he may be using this as an opportunity to show conservatives that he's actually a good guy. It didn't work last year, but perhaps the White House is hoping that those who've dedicated nearly all of their energy to undermining the Obama Presidency will have a sudden change of heart. I don't plan to watch the interview, because I don't see the value of such a spectacle. But I certainly hope the president knows what he's doing on this one. I have a really bad feeling.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (27)
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By: slick on 1/07/2011 12:30AM
Kudos President Obama, Fox viewers are citizens too, and Ill be watching every second.
Watkins Stop trying to stir up shyt! go ahead and watch B.E.T and reruns of Good Times.
The interview will be respectful and O'Rielly will and should challenge Him, and i suspect the President will be able to articulate himself without name calling, unlike you Watkins.
The ratings will soar thru the roof, "AGAIN". Kicking MSNBC and Olberman in the ass, AGAIN!.
The President will do fine, there will be no trap, Bill will ask him tough but respectful questions,and the President will do just fine.
Right or Wrong, the President should be able to defend his policies and O'Rielly has every right to challenge Him with tough questions. O'Rielly doesnt play gotcha politics. Nor does he entrap people.
By the way, his appearance along with other A/Americans, really exposes your bigoted bullsh_t assertion that Fox hates A/Americans. Your sir are a Bigot, pure and simple.
Does anyone really think that President Obama and many other prominent A/Americans would "Continually" appear on show that "Hates A/Americans"
Good For you Mr. President and Good luck.
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By: black conservative on 1/07/2011 1:44AM
Boyce Watkins,MAN UP !!!Thank God for FOX NEWS,someone should ask this Man Child president a few hard ball questions because CBS,NBC,ABC,PMSNBC,CNN sugar coat their questions.
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By: Delores France on 1/07/2011 3:41AM
I agree with Dr Watkins. Why talk to this person? The shrill blonds and jealous males at this station are so disgustingly bias and unfair in their coverage and interpretations. this particular interviewer is so full of himself it oozes. This is the right President for these times. I can't imagine another person, taking with such grace, the garbage and disrespect thrown at him daily.The Fox person and George Will are the same people. sarcastic, condecending, rude and arrogant. Forget them....PLEASE
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By: soly on 1/07/2011 11:53AM
in a free countrya president must act free. Therefore, the interview he grants to a great commentator is wellcommed. Nothing to lose-face the world with courage of decissions and you will get more respect. He reached fame already.
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By: msbrown on 1/07/2011 11:01AM
Dr. Watkins why do white people hate the president so much? Is it his skin color or his intelligence or his education or his political views? Is it that other people believe in change for America? Forty other presidents weren't perfect especially George Bush. But President Obama is the most disrespected President by far. The highest office in the land and white people have no sense of honor for it in these times.
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By: blackbear72 on 1/07/2011 11:11AM
You mean like the high regard that black people had for the Highest office in the land before Obama was elected?
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By: Patricia on 1/07/2011 11:36AM
Are you not remembering what the black community did by hanging Bush in effigy? The blatant racislm blacks used against Bush?
Obama's political views are alien to the basic values of Americans and the founders of the U.S. His values were formed from his relatives. A baby daddy who called the U.S. a colonizer while taking advantage of free schooling in the U.S. and a baby momma whose family were blatant communist followers.
It will be interesting to watch the interview with O'Reilly because O'Reilly will not pander to the "Obama." Some of the other channels have quit genuflecting to Obama and Americans are realizing that he is not a good politican but a dictator in waiting. Go for the juglar O'Reilly!
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By: Tek_Knowledge on 1/07/2011 12:44PM
"Obama's political views are alien to the basic values of Americans and the founders of the U.S. "
Yeah, you're right. Obama doesn't count black people as 3/5ths of a person. And doesn't limit immigration to "white" people.
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By: Didi on 1/07/2011 2:43PM
It isn't that "white" people hate Obama; it's the determination that he has to use the close-mindedness of the liberals and ultra-liberals of our country to help him take our wonderful country into a socialistic dictatorship. If you understood just how zealous he is to take away ALL our freedoms, make us totally submissive to the dictates of the "government" in our lives in every aspect of our lives, you would not care about the color of his skin, either. If he were the whitest white there were it would be the same with me: I detest his agenda to make the movie from the late 70s (Fahrenheit 459, or some other # like that) become the way life is in America- where Americans are TOTALLY under governmental control. That movie has almost come fully to pass- even to the huge wall TV interactive screen that tells Linda what to do during the day, what to think- EVERYTHING! You should look up the movie; it would show you what you are too close-minded to see. Black, white, red, yellow- it doesn't matter- anyone who is set on destroying the American way of life is someone that shouldn't be honored or trusted. I am part native American Indian and Caucasian; I am not a bigot. I have African/American, Chinese, Samoan, French, Jewish,native Bahamian, middle Eastern, as well as friends from Fiji, etc. They have their own cultures and I am not only tolerant of them, I respect and enjoy them because of their cultures; I do NOT respect Barrack Obama because he is bent on destroying the "white" culture.
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By: girlking on 1/07/2011 3:00PM
Patricia,
Blacks did not use racism towards President Bush. You have to understand the meaning of the word to properly use it. Racism is the belief that some races are inherently superior to others. Quite frankly, I'm glad that President Obama's political views are alient to the basic values of Americans and the founders of the US. The founders were the ones that set in place that women couldn't own property, vote, work, etc. and dare I mention they were the ones that established the slavery and all that went along with it. So deliver me from people like you who don't know their history and spew out little ancedotes about the Constitution like that is the basis for a good arguement. The U.S. were colonizers, did you gorget about the original 13 colonies now we have 50. And since more than likely you don't have concrete factsabout his family being associated with the communist party you should leave this alone. Bill O'Reilly has interviewed the president before and he was respectful then as I'm sure he will be respectful this this. And for the record, it was more Caucasian people hanging President in effigy then African-Americans. Please get your facts straight before you speak.
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