Thursday, December 11, 2008

Better than Matthews, Maddow and Olbermann: Bill O'Reilly questions Berkowitz tonight about Obama-Blagojevich on the O'Reilly Factor

Watch Bill O'Reilly question Berkowitz tonight on the meaning of Barack Obama saying, on "Public Affairs," on June 27, 2002 that his main focus was "to make sure that we elect Rod Blagojevich as Governor."

The discussion between O'Reilly and Berkowitz is the lead segment for the show, directly following O'Reilly's talking points and airing in the first ten minutes of the show [see Ghosts of Obama's past resurface]. Pastor Wright has resurfaced, Bill Ayers has resurfaced, and President-Elect Obama's 2002 support for Blagojevich resurfaces [See transcipt, below and watch a clip of that show tonight on the O'Reilly Factor].

What does it all mean? Is Obama a part of the Daley machine? Is he an accommodator? Is Obama a good combination of politics and public policy? Which historical wing of the Illinois Democratic Party is Obama in? Pay to Play or Reform. O'Reilly and Berkowitz discuss, you decide. Watch the O'Reilly Factor tonight [Fox News Channel, 7:00 pm, 10:00 pm and 4:00 am.
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State Senator Barack Obama (D-Chicago): …right now, my main focus is to make sure that we elect Rod Blagojevich as Governor, we—

Jeff Berkowitz: You working hard for Rod?

Barack Obama: You betcha.

Jeff Berkowitz: Hot Rod?

Barack Obama: That’s exactly right. You know, I think that having a Democratic Governor will make a big difference. I think that I am working hard to get a Democratic [state] senate and Emil Jones President, replacing [Republican Senate President] Pate Philip and once all that clears out in November, then I think we’ll be able to make some good decisions about the [U. S.] Senate race.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you want to see a Democratic State Senate, a Democratic State House, a Democratic Governor—

Barack Obama: I am a Democrat.

Jeff Berkowitz: Is that balanced? And I thought we wanted a fair and balanced approach to things.

Barack Obama: I am a Democrat.

Jeff Berkowitz: Card-carrying Democrat?

Barack Obama: Card-carrying Democrat. I really believe that the core Democratic philosophy is one that is—you know—really helps working people, and hopefully you know, we’ll be able to make sure that we carry out a mandate in this next election in November [2002].

Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz, June 27, 2002
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), Cook County Commissioner and possible 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate Mike Quigley (D-Lakeview), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Cook County Cmsr. and Obama Media Team Member Forrest Claypool and much more.
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