The big political show before the Super Bowl was Fox News Bill O'Reilly in his interview with President Obama on the big day.
O'Reilly opened with thanks to Obama for facilitating the release of Fox News personnel in Egypt from potentially a dangerous fate.
O'Reilly first asked Obama about the situation in Egypt and when Mubarak would go. Obama gave the stock responses abou† how this is the decision of the Egyptian people, hoping for an orderly transition. When O'Reilly queried him about the Muslim Brotherhood, Obama demurred that they were but one group at the table as Egypt seeks to reform its government and that not all elements are radical jihadists.
O'Reilly asked Obama if he was prepared to for Obamacare to be rejected by the Supreme Court and what he thought of the ruling by Judge Vinson in Florida against Obamacare. Obama said that there were a dozen other rulings in its favor and that he doesn't see a Supreme Court battle or rejection.
Obama said he was surprised by the number of up to then unsolvable problems that come to his desk. He said he is basically the same person he's been, but conceded that he is more guarded. He said the longer he's on the job the more he likes it and its responsibilities. He is optimistic about America.
Obama said in response to O'Reilly's contention that people hate him is that they don't know him.
Obama said he has no Super Bowl pick and will watch the game.
O'Reilly said there would be more with the president on "The Factor" on Monday.
O'Reilly packed in questions in the first ten minutes and cut Obama off when he tried to filibuster but wasted too much time chatting about the Super Bowl and on personal questions. He was also a bit too deferential at the end. It was a win for both sides in that O'Reilly got ginormous ratings and Obama came off easily handling the interview.
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