Thoughts on Obama-O'Reilly Interview

I just watched Bill O'Reilly's interview with President Obama on the Superbowl pre-game show.

The only time O'Reilly really pressed Obama was on who he thought would win the Super Bowl. While O'Reilly did question Obama about Egypt and Obamacare, the President spun O'Reilly's questions like Ben Roethlisberger spirals a football. Obama stayed on message and O'Reilly did not challenge Obama's assertions such as when the President reiterated that "if you like your health care, you keep it." Tell that to employees of McDonald's.

While the interview was part of the Super Bowl pre-game show a more apt setting would have been before a softball game because O'Reilly most asked softball questions (i.e. What's the worst part of your job? What has surprised you most about the job? How have you changed as a person?). Katie Couric or Matt Lauer could have just as easily asked those questions. Now I'm not looking for O'Reilly to yell in Obama's face. I just wish he would have challenged Obama's talking points more assertively.

I should note that O'Reilly mentioned at the end of the interview that he would be asking the President more questions which will air tomorrow night on The O'Reilly Factor. Perhaps he'll be tougher in that segment but he certainly won't have the audience that he did this afternoon. I think President Obama got what he wanted out of this interview.