President Obama to Talk Health Care With Conservative Radio Host

[cal04]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/obama-will-sit-with-conservative-talker/

President Obama will sit down with conservative radio host Michael Smerconish on Thursday in what will be the first radio show broadcast from the White House since Mr. Obama took office.

The major topic, not surprisingly, will be health care, and the president is expected to answer questions from listeners calling into the program. Mr. Smerconish, a nationally syndicated radio host based out of Philadelphia, endorsed Mr. Obama in last year’s




http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/08/19/2036015.aspx
President Obama’s Thursday: Obama also will have an interesting Thursday. The White House tells First Read that the president tomorrow will be a guest on conservative talk-radio host Michael Smerconish’s program, and they’ll discuss health-care reform. Smerconish will broadcast his program from Diplomatic Room at the White House, and it will be the first radio show to be broadcast from the White House since Obama took office. Also on Thursday, Obama will participate in a strategy session -- by phone and online -- on health care with supporters from his Organizing for America list.

[ShortnFiery]

1. Michael Smerconish is more rational at times than our blue dog democrats.

I wouldn't label this guy as "off the rails" save for defense issues. Then he gets a little too machismo. However, on issues of worker's rights and the public good, he's come across to me as lucid and reachable. :shrug:

[hlthe2b]

4. Yes.. he has been among the more rational RW talkers lately

[Phx_Dem]

11. So true.

[FormerDittoHead]

15. ...chiming in for Smerconish as well. One of the best right wing talkers.

I remember when he was just a part timer, and he'd have to field questions about 'what kind of conservative are YOU?' from his listeners in Philly because he didn't always agree with the marching orders. In fact, prior to the Colon Powell's invasion of Iraq UN speech, I remember him being very skeptical about what we were presented as 'evidence' of WMDs. Contrast that with Glenn Beck's non-stop drumbeat of lies about the WMDs.

While I thought his book(s?) were conservative typing pool boilerplate made up a collection of topics saved from his radio show, I found him to be among the most sane of the bunch.

[Enrique]

2. reaching out to talk radio listeners is a good idea

maybe he can convince some of them he was born in the U.S.

[Mike Daniels]

3. Is Smerconish the same one that Tweety has on from time to time?

If so, he seems to be pretty mellow / reasonable as far as his public persona goes. Not a raving idiot like Michael Reagan or Hannity.

[cal04]

12. yes

voting for Obama was the first time he voted for a democrat in 28 years since registering republican

[ErinBerin84]

5. Obama has been on his show before

He voted for Obama, but seems pretty obnoxious and very conservative on issues like torture. But when I first saw the headline, I thought that it would be someone worse..but Obama's been on his show before.

[old guy]

6. Exactly what does the President expect to gain from this?

Personally, I don't see an upside here.

[stray cat]

8. President of all the people? Its a good move

[old guy]

14. I forgot. Pandering to right wing talk radio shows bipartisanship.

Bipartisanship has been so successful so this will just add to it. Uh huh.

[rocktivity]

10. I'm more interested in what LIBERAL talk show hosts can gain from this!

Hartmann? Rhodes? Miller? The line forms on left (if you'll pardon the expression). No pushing, no shoving!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Thrill]

7. Smerconish endorsed him

My guess is he must be a little worried about Indys in PA

[maxsolomon]

9. the WH must think they can reach rational conservatives this way

most AM radio is conservative talk, if you want to get, say, my suburban cincinnati cousin who downloads limbaugh shows to her ipod (and she's only 40) to hear that there's no plan to euthanize grandma, there's no better way to reach them.

i guess.

[Kerrytravelers]

13. I'm thinking that if this guy endorsed Obama, then people like your cousin and others won't be

part of the listening audience. He won't appeal to them any longer.

This is probably an attempt to reach independents and more progressive conservatives, (the Megan McCain type versus the Sarah Palin type.)

[scheming daemons]

16. Smerc's one of the good guys..... this is a good move

One of the few honest Republican/conservatives left in this country.

[Fluffdaddy]

17. Agree. I tune him in most days

[harun]

18. He should also sit down with Amy Goodman.