This is my first diary and it's a partial one so don't flame me. Ha!
I didn't see a diary begun as to Obama on Fox News Sunday, but it is thirty minutes in here in Maryland. I thought that this could be used as an open diary to discuss the interview.
Thus far, I think Obama is holding his own pretty well and Fox News hasn't made any obvious edits that could be slanted. But this is just my initial opinion. He has addressed Wright, Ayers, flag pins...
UPDATE: Obama is asked whether he will vote to confirm Gen. Petereas (sp?) and he said that he would because he believes that the general has been good tactically on the ground.
Chris Wallace has this nasty habit of interrupting. Anyway, he asks Obama if he will listen to what the generals on the ground have to say with regards to Iraq, and Obama again reiterates what he said during the ABC debates about conferring with generals, but as the commander-in-chief, he will be the one to set the agenda. He will not continue to allow Iraqis to pass of their responsibilities.
UPDATE II: Obama spoke about tax cuts and the difference between he and Sen. McCain; he spoke about way that teachers could be better rewarded for their service that doesn't necessarily involve using only standardized testing as a basis.
On answering the question about Rev. Wright, Obama basically said the same as he had before. He clarified to Wallace that he had not had discussions with the pastor to come out and speak publicly on his behalf. Wallace said something to the effect of "you know that it will help your campaign." Obama responded by saying that if you were somebody who has been maligned based on snippets of things you said, you would want to come forward and defend yourself. (He didn't say this in these particular words, but that was the sentiment).
As Obama sees it, Rev. Wright speaks as a man who grew up at a time when there was Jim Crow, the Civil Right movement, lots of violence going on against people of color. Obama said that the pastor's views are thus shaped for those life experiences, experiences that Obama himself did not have, but is a beneficiary of (i.e. the civil rights movement). Obama believes that because of this generational difference, he has a more hopeful outlook for this country than those before him who grew up in darker times.
Wallace then asked Obama what controversial remarks he had heard from Rev. Wright, if not the specific ones that were aired ad nauseum on television. Obama hesitated for a moment, saying that they were not specifically controversial in the sense that Wallace was thinking, but rather in the manner that he said things sometimes. (Wallace had asked if the pastor had said anything that was anti-American). Obama stated that Rev. Wright tended to use street venacular at times and was sharp with his criticisms when he discussed issues such as black men not taking their responsibility as fathers seriously.
Obama also stated that he thought that where Rev. Wright went wrong sometimes with his message was that he didn't always point out the goodness of the country vs. the more negative aspects of it.
In this same discussion, Obama pointed out that people like to always speak about Dr. Martin Luther King in the context of "I Have a Dream" but that we tend to forget that like Rev. Wright, Dr. King had said some pretty fiery things in his day, particulary against the Viet Nam war.
On Ayers, Obama again said that this is a man who had said and did some things back when he was only 6 or 7 years old. By the time that he had crossed paths with Ayers, he was a professor and a man involved in community works. He then pointed out to Wallace that Wallace sitting down to dinner with somebody who had certain views, that person's views shouldn't be applied to Wallace just because they sat down together.
Wallace went on to ask him about his Colburn statement and said that "some people" believed that Obama was drawing some kind of "moral equivalent." Obama dismissed that he clarified that he used that as an example. This is a man who he considers a friend, but of whom he does not share the same views. That was his point, not that he was equating Ayers and Colburn's statements. (Only on Fox News...)
UPDATE III: On flag pins, Obama said that he has wore flag pins in the past, and will likely wear them in the future. His statement on the pins was that there are some who wear it, yet do some not-so-patriotic things. He pointed out that his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention should be evidence enough as to his feelings to this country and his patriotism.
In the rapid fire segment, Wallace asked Obama why he was "ducking" Sen. Clinton and yet another debate. Obama said that he wasn't ducking anyone, that they've had 21 debates to date and that he will not be debating her again before Indiana. He said that there are only two weeks to the next two big contests and he wants to make sure that he is on the ground talking to voters and listening to their concerns.
Wallace then questions him about being open to taking Clinton as his running mate and this is Obama's response: "I am going to punt(?) on that question until I am the nominee."
Wallace then asks what Obama thinks will happen should the superdelegates override the decision of voters (should he be leading by popular vote and delegates) and hand the nomination to Clinton. Does he think that "the young people, the African American people, the young first time voters that [Obama] has brought into this campaign, aren't they going to be awfully angry?" To that Obama replied:
"Well, I think there'll be some frustration there. It's not just young people, by the way. This event that we just had here in Marion, Indiana, I had a 48-year-old white woman come up to me and say that she's voting for the first time. Never voted before. She probably would not vote. It's possible.
But, here's my strong belief. Democrats are going to be unified. I think we should find that person who is going to be best able to not just defeat John McCain, but also lead the country. I happen to think I'm that person. I will make that argument forcefully to the superdelegates prior to the convention."
Wallace comments that the Wall Street Journal stated that Obama "is prepared to run the first privately financed campaign since Watergate. True?" Obama points out that they have done a good job raising money from the grassroots, that they've done a great job mobilizing people to contributing to his campaign in small increments.
He says that he intends to sit down with John McCain to determine if they could "perserve a public system as long as we are taking into account third party, independent expenditures." Wallace cuts in and asks if McCain agreed to that, then would Obama opt to public financing. Obama said that what he does not intend to do is "to allow huge amounts of money to be spent by the RNC--the Republican National Committee--or by organizations like the Swiftboat organization and just stand there without..."
And Wallace interrupts again with the same question. Obama finally replied that he would be interested in pursuing public financing only because not every candidate will be able to raise money in future campaigns in the manner that he has been able to with his.
Asked about what mistakes he thinks he has made in the campaign thus far and what he has learned about himself. His response:
"I've learned that I have what I believe is the right temperment for the presidency, which is, I don't get too high when I'm high, and I don't get too low when I'm lower. We've gone through all kinds of ups and downs. People forget now that I'd been written off last summer. People were writing many of the anguished articles that they are now writing after the loss in Pennsylvania. On the other hand, after Iowa when everyone was sure this was over, I think I was measured more cautiously. That I think is a tempermental strength.
In terms of what I've learned or mistakes that I've made, I'm making them all the time. And usually it has to do with me talking too much instead of listening. And what I've also learned is how much I miss my family and my kids and my wife. That has been the biggest hardship of this campaign. I knew I'd miss them, but sometimes you're just physically, you need those two little girls in your arms. So that's something that I'm looking to fix in the months to come."
I didn't get the entire interview, so do forgive the lack of information from the beginning half.
[UPDATE 2008-04-27 11:27AM EST] Wow! My first (pseudo)diary and it's rec'd! Whoo hoo! Thanks to all. Much appreciated. :)
[UPDATE 2008-04-27 12:05PM EST] The following was apparently in the interview portion that I missed. Obama mentioned Daily Kos!! We've faaaaaamous.
OBAMA: John Roberts nomination, although I voted against him, I strongly defended some of my colleagues who had voted for him on the Daily Kos, and was fiercely attacked as somebody who is, you know, caving in to Republicans on these fights.
In fact, there are a lot of liberal commentators who think I’m too accommodating. So here is my philosophy. I want to do what works for the American people. And both at the state legislative level and at the federal legislative level, I have always been able to work together with Republicans to find compromise and to find common ground.
Tip to Pirate Smile and Anarchofascist.
You can find his diaries regarding said disagreement with dKos devotees here and here. Tip to mentaldebris.
[UPDATE 2008-04-27 12:52PM EST] Link to the transcript. Tip to Deoliver47.
Hopefully there will be full video of the interview available soon.