In Depth

President Asks for Primetime Slot in May Sweeps

The President Obama Show will be making an appearance in the May sweeps.

Officials from the Obama administration have asked the major broadcast networks for up to an hour of primetime next Wednesday at 8, according to sources familiar with the request. Mr. Obama wants the time for a news conference outlining his first 100 days in office.

The end of those first 100 days comes on April 29, and at least one cable news channel, CNN, had already announced plans for a major Election Night-style coverage extravaganza.

By scheduling a press conference on the night, the president is positioning himself to directly participate in the debate over his early performance.

There’s no word yet on whether the broadcast networks will agree to the White House request, though one network insider said it’s all but a given they will.

Programmers have been peeved at President Obama’s numerous primetime appearances since taking office, because every unscheduled speech or press conference results in a loss of ad revenue.

The latest appearance falls on the first Wednesday of the May sweeps, which means networks also will have to reschedule some key programming.

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Comments 82

Jay

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What are the repercussions if a network just says no? They're losing revenue, and as a viewer it's very annoying because it throws off the schedule. These frequent interruptions by the President are getting old, and it's not like he has anything new to say.

dr

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I agree with you Jay. Wednesday night is also results night for American Idol. With about a month left in the contest, I would hate to be the person at FOX taking the calls from the viewers because Obama ran too long and the DVR didn't record the end of the show.

matt

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i'm all for the networks saying no. That's why we have 24 hour news channels. This is getting ridiculous.

Vikki

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As a broadcaster, we are not only losing more revenue with his speech we have also been losing revenue because the FCC has mandated that we air promos to remind everyone "yet again" to prepare for Digital TV. They are taking away a miniumum of 4 prime spots per night alone. That's revenue we can not afford to lose. When is enough, enough?

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Not everyone subscribes to the 24 hour news channels and honestly, you are worried about American Idol over the state of the economy and our country?

Al

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Put him on C-SPAN

J

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Proof he cares more about his ego than the economy - at the very least the broadcasting economy.

Jim

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How about just one network. Why all three?

Bob

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24 hour cable news networks and local cable TV companies (satellite too) are in the same position as broadcast networks. They also rely on advertising for revenue. The networks rely on it heavily; cable and satellite operators less so. Perhaps the President should set aside some of "his" time for national and local commercials. That would be interesting.

I don't have a lot of sympathy for broadcasters suffering from loss of revenue due to DTV Transition commercials. My cable company has been required to make out-of-pocket cash expenses to provide printing and mailing costs for a monthly insert to all customers for almost a year, in addition to the same in-kind support (commercials and other DTV Transition activities). None of those are relevant to any of the viewers. They only lead to confusion and extra expense.

Jim

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How about just one network? Why all three for exactly the same coverage?

Rich

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oh noes, what about American Idol?!!!!?!?!

I weep for the present.

RRL

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It's ridiculous we all no what he has done for the last 100 days...spend spend spend...blame...blame...blame

Jen L.

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Where is Obama on the fall schedule? And how many episodes will there be?

Bobby

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So, the assumption must be that my opinion of his first 100 days in office may not be correct, meaning he has to spend an hour telling me how he's done so far. Love it.

Doug

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I have an idea! Since so many people want to see him speak again..how about putting the President on pay per view and apply the revenue collected to the national debt

Steve

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Regrettably, you can't say "no" to the President. Every affiliate would take a never-ending beating for what would be deemed by many to be disrepect for the office.

It IS ridiculous, but broadcasters are still treated like this is 1949 rather than 2009. This doesn't need to be on every major network, and doesn't even need to be live, but tradition still seems to win out.

Jen L - LOL! I wouldn't be surprised to see "Obama" (the series) this fall - for at least 13 episodes. He evidently wants to be THE Media President.

Mark

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He should worry about how this is not stimulating the revenue for network and local television who've been hurt as bad by the economy as any other business. He could put what he has to say on C-Span and rely on regular news coverage. What's going to happen on his 200th, 300th, etc.. day in office, and quite frankly . . . who cares? Show me the money!!

DB

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OMG, and ABC aired a freaking LOST clip-show this week when they could have just air the damn 100th episode! Why didn't someone see this coming!?

DB

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OMG, and ABC aired a freaking LOST clip-show this week when they could have just air the damn 100th episode! Why didn't someone see this coming!?

RRL

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It's ridiculous we all no what he has done for the last 100 days...spend spend spend...blame...blame...blame

Gene

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Why doesn't he leave well enough alone. He only
agravates people when he pulls stunts like this,
and hurts the networks and messes up people's
relaxing time and most probably do not watch
him anyway.

jessegift@gmail.com

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I really agree with everyone for the most part. I see this an an opportunity for the networks, and especially the news operations at the TV Networks to show they are not going to play ball with Washington. But only if they really mean it.

Pretty telling however, because the motivating factor is loss of ad revenue, which is a very real loss. Big TV News, and all news outlets for that matter, should clearly let Washington know who is running the press. He was not elected to run the Primetime Schedule. Let him stick to running the banks, and the auto industry, and if he does well with those, then on to the press.

Hey, maybe everyone in top management at the networks would get a multimillion dollar bonus.

raydezz

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If anyone has any of their spots blown out by Obama, call me and I am happy to replace your fall out revenue. 818-465-6529
And for the one guy asking if Idol is bigger than Obama's speech, yes it is. You must work at NBC and would be excited to final see a real prime rating.

George W

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If anyone has any of their spots blown out by Obama, call me and I am happy to replace your fall out revenue. 818-465-6529
And for the one guy asking if Idol is bigger than Obama's speech, yes it is. You must work at NBC and would be excited to final see a real prime rating.

DDG

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Since he's the techy president how about just streaming it on-line and those that want to see it can and those of us that want to watch American Idol can. Or better yet, help the newspaper industry and run it in the 4-29 edition and then we can read all about it.

Borat

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If anyone has any of their spots blown out by Obama, call me and I am happy to replace your fall out revenue. 818-spo-tdoc
And for the one guy asking if Idol is bigger than Obama's speech, yes it is. You must work for a net that would be excited to finally see a real prime rating.

KGB

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The broadcast networks need to be reminded from time to time that their revenues come from using an extremely valuable asset -the public airwaves- a resource for which they pay no rents or royalties.

Seems to me that a government asking for an hour or so a month to talk to its citizens, using airwaves owned by them anyway, isn't being too unreasonable.

Robert Browne

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And the eternal campaign continues. My wife and I are sick to death of it. It's bad enough that the networks swoon over "everything Obama" on their news shows, now he preempts prime time programing on a regular basis
in a very trasparent and never ending effort to get votes for the 2012 election. Disgusting!!!

Jen L.

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Kind of ironic that the big three networks put him in office with their biased reporting and now they're literally getting stuck with the bill.

KGB

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Does no one remember the fact the broadcast networks' revenues are derived from using an extremely valuable asset- the public's airwaves, a resource they get for free, in exchange for a license to, supposedly, act in the public's interest.

Producers of newspapers, magazines, DVDs, CDs... they all must to pay to distribute their product. Broadcast television and radio literally have a free ride. Perhaps, to level the playing field and help to reduce the budget deficit, broadcasters should pay the Treasury a percentage of their revenue. We've raised billions of dollars selling chunks of spectrum to the cell phone companies, etc. What makes broadcasters so special? Those couple hours of public affairs programming on Sunday morning?

Seems that a government asking for an hour or so a month to talk to its citizens, using airwaves owned by them anyway, isn't being too unreasonable.

fiestamom

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Is he going to discuss this week's cover (with BO and Michelle) of US Weekly... "How They Keep Their Love Alive"? If we promise to watch MSNBC and believe everything Olbermann and Matthews say, will you go away? I might even stop flipping over all the magazine covers that have your pic on them.

Gerry

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Just say no! Let him go on CSpan or let CNN and FoxNews cover him.

I can't stand listening to him. If he has anything important to say, I can read about it.

john

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"I'm Barack Obama and I demand you care about me. See me.....feel me......touch me......."

Just Jim

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Love it, KGB defending Obamba!!! Hey KGB and Pravda fans the "valuable" airwaves are given free to PBS too. I expect the government's network to give biased pro government coverage. I also expect that out of NBC, CBS, ABC and C-x-N-x-N-x(the tbaggingnetwork). I look forward to seeing the CW beat out the big four in the ratings.

syn

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Oh goody, TV Land continuing with their permanent campaign spots for their leader.

I hear HBO is doing a couple more BHO movies,

"Obama-Organizing Susan Sarandon"

and

"Obama-Birth of a Nation"

"Obama-Birth of a Nation" is sure to win Hollywood's Leni Riefenstahl award for best brainwashing by Ed Norton. Prior recipients include Michael Moore for "Fahrenheit 911" and Al Gore for "An Inconvenient Truth"

TV Guide....I am getting rid of my TV because I am tired of this crap, TV is no longer entertainment.

Jim02351

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Put him on NBC for two reasons,

1: Nobody watches The New Adventures of Old Christine

2: they're already in the tank for Obama.

Steve

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Why don't we just nationalize TV like in the UK. The government can own all the stations and tell us what to watch and when. Or force NBC or ABC or CBS to go to another frequency and put C-Span in its place.
Or just give everyone a rebate check so they can afford more than basic TV or cable, and be able to watch C-Span.

where does this end?

Jander

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Two comments: The networks do not have to give the President airtime. I remember Pres. Bush asking for airtime from the networks and being denied.
The electromagnetic spectrum, from which a small segment is used for broadcasting, existed in nature long before the US was created and will exist long after the US folds. The government, with its use of coercion, claimed the "airwaves" in the US as its own so it could regulate and charge for use. The electromagnetic spectrum actually belongs to everyone and is free. Sunlight is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Does the government own that? Careful, it may claim it does and charge for it.

cheeflo

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KGB -- Surely you jest. Don't confuse the public with the government. The public airways are owned by the public, but are controlled by the government. Jander makes the point that the government issues licenses and regulates license holders through coercion, the only way a government can control a free commodity.

Your moniker is very apt.

Lyn

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He could make his speech on a Saturday night when there isn't any first-run programming.

Brian Gooch

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Lyn, the reason he can't air his speech on Saturday is everyone is out drinking trying to forget everything he has to talk about.

Lee

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Only 100 days and B0 is sounding like a bad broken record. He ought to care more about the economy and national defense and stop the preening in front of his teleprompter.

TomTom

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And the lapdog media will roll over and give it to him. I am sure the stars-in-the-eyes Obamaniacs can't get enough of him but for those who actually see nothing more then meaningless rhetoric, it's hard to stomach. The best action is to turn the channel or turn the television off.

Joanne600

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Orwell was only off by 25 years.

Elle

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I can't wait. I love to watch his head go from side to side as he reads the teleprompter. Maybe he'll wear his little surfer shorts. I wish we could just have Obama's face in front of us constantly. I'm looking forward to the mandatory tiny TV's in our new mandatory tiny clown cars broadcasting our Glorious Leader 24/7.

Jim

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has a weekly televised six-hour rant/broadcast every Sunday afternoon in his country. Maybe he passed along some tips to Dear Leader at the recent conference.

skveegavinky

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One good thing has come out of an Obama presidency, though. I would be willing to bet more people are turning off the TV, ignoring the tabloid mags, and canceling their newspaper subscriptions and actually talking to one another or taking up new hobbies. See? There IS a silver lining to even the darkest and most boringly egotistical of clouds!

Logan

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Wow, most of you need to drop the remote and care about things that matter and not American Idol. "Oh noes!!! I might miss the first 10 minutes of the finale where nothing goes on but a recap of the season!!!!"

A life - Get one.

Lily

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You know what Logan - maybe we've already read the news and are up to date of whats happened, and so we don't need to watch Obama on TV outlining what happened over the past 100 days. Or rather spinning what happened to make sure we view things his way.

Ellie

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I also remember Bush asking for air time and being told no. So why can't the networks just say no to Obama? I'll say it: No, I won't watch any television anymore. I can check my 401k and the price of gasoline to know how well he is doing.

Mark

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KGB - Broadcasters have had to bear the brunt of the DTV changeover mandated by Congress years ago as part of the Budget Balancing Act (selling the freed up spectrum to offset some of the debt - HA!!). The administration has caused the broadcasters to absorb more unplanned operational expenses by extending the DTV transition date by 4 months costing the broadcasters an additional $20K for extra power bills. Broadcasters also must meet all FCC requirements regarding public safety (EAS) and accessibility (Closed Captioning). So far the administration has not been 'Green' (added power consumption with the extended DTV transition date) and hasn't stimulated the broadcasters' economic growth (prime-time revenue loss). Broadcasters more than pay back the public for use of the frequencies they were granted long before any of the brouhaha began for additional wireless devices. Idol be damned - I want my revenue in this economic crisis before anyone else is laid off!

Larry

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What he wants is an All-Obama, All the Time channel. Or more likely, he wants his face on TV all the time, just like Big Brother in 1984.

Self

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Can't wait to see the date and time he gets.
Then I'll arrange a family/friends night of anything but TV - good food, fun, and games... all to promote good all-American family life!

kathysaysso

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I've seen enough of this government to last me a lifetime. Obama and both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans, make me sick. They're a pack of self-serving liars and incompetents, lining their pockets at warp speed with MY money and YOUR money, and now Obama wants to get on tv and lecture me some more from his teleprompter?! Between Bush's last 100 days, and Obama's first 100 days, we're SCREWED people!

Janine

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For those who want to talk about "public airwaves", I guess maybe we should all be paying rent for air we breathe too, right?? That is public air! Give me a break. There is NO reason why the broadcasters should have to kowtow to EVERY request from the WH. Besides, there were times that they DID say "NO" to the last President. But I guess people have selective memories.

Personally, I feel that everything Obama says has no real substance anyway. He drones on and says nothing substantial. And half of what he does say changes later down the road anyway. I have better things to do than listen to this egomaniac.

squiller

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he wants to participate in the debate over his first 100 days?

I'd rather watch an infomercial on anything than the tongue bath he'll get from CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, PBS, ABC, C-SPAN

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Those of you who are only being annoyed by his hogging of TV time only see half the problem. Those of us who work in The District get to enjoy the other half of The One's arrogant disregard for those he is sworn to serve. He loves his motorcades and seems to enjoy tying up rush hour traffic in the mornings and the afternoons when the working stiffs are trying to get home to their families. We don't live in government housing! We have lengthy, tedious commutes - made all the more so by your callous ignoring of rush hour! What an arrogant pipsqueak is sitting in the Oval Office!

Lee

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Only 100 days and B0 is sounding like a bad broken record. He ought to care more about the economy and national defense and stop the preening in front of his teleprompter.

shelley

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Can we the people have a little separation of the church of The "O" and the State.

John McNary

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Wah, wah, wah. Listen to all the whiners.

Earth to Fox News/Rush Limburger fans: YOU LOST.

If you can't find anything to watch because the first competent president in 8 years is on your TV, go outside and play with your used teabags ...

Jim

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What about all those NPR, tax payor funded stations? Why can Duh Won just go there?

Tony

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The networks had no problem telling Bush that they weren't going to interrupt programming for some of his speeches--and he had them infrequently--but they just can't say no Obama for some reason. I wonder why?

Bill W.

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It would be great if the equal time was alloted to South Park for rebuttal.

MarkJ

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I've got a better idea for the "Lord Zero Show":

Sing-off between Odumbo and Susan Boyle!

I've got twenty bucks that say Boyle would vocally kick Obama's skinny ass all over the stage. Who's with me, mates?

Lanni

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To John McNary: Don't you feel a little lonely, being one of maybe three voices out of the whole lineup who seem to be still drinking the Kool-Aid? Maybe that's because it's hard to use a computer from a cemetery, or if you're illiterate. Maybe a lot of people who voted legally are now regretting it, so we're not hearing from them? Makes ya wonder, doesn't it?

M

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Stream it! King Barock is worse than the Jehovah's witnesses at dinnertime!

Hello?

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McNary, I can't even compliment you, you lack total objectivity. No, and keep away from my wallet!

Cecil

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I can't believe the people here are worried about their precious American Idol, remember President Obama won it.
We need to record this event and watch it live while taking notes. This will be the greatest speech made by any President in the history of America.
These changes are coming at us fast and we need to know what they are so we can react. President Obama may ask us to perform some kind of duty of servitude for His country. Remember these changes will not only affect us but our children and grandchildren. So we need to pay respect to our President, especially since He is going to be our President for the next 8 years.
Thank President Obama, He has got an uncumbered House and Senate so His new direction will be expedient. There is nothing stopping Him from reaching utopia. All you dissenters should be packed up and hauled off to Montana!

cb

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Cecil: Snap out of it, man! He's not a god!

Cecil

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Not officially. We will know when He announces it. His first commandment.

1. There shall be no American Idol before thee.

If you are not part of the elite it will be best to think about your position in life. Because you and the generations after you will soon find their positions in life frozen forever.
Those who backtalk will be frozen at least 9 month out of the year in Montana.

Ken

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Cecil, Obama didn't win. McCain lost.

Cecil

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I voted for McCain so it would look like President Obama had some competition. McCain was okay until he started talking about global warming, alternative fuels, ravishing big tobacco and reducing women's breast size. Then he would wave that bloody "reach across the aisle stump" of his. But I knew it was my duty to swallow my pride and hold down my last $100 a pound beef meal and vote for him.
I remember the picture of McCain at an air terminal, all alone, no goober and company and the skies were blue. But everybody knew he had goober on speed dial.
Compare that to the heavenly halo that graced Our President's head. Need I say more, I think not.
So you see, there was no insubordination on my part. I'll be copying and printing out this post I made, so I can get it notarized and declare my innocence. I can't stand the cold.
I see there has been an outbreak of magazine's and books being turned around or hidden so as not to show Our President Obama's picture.

That is so petty and childish.

I think the media knows best about these matters and ultimately what is good for the victimized and or hyphenated American and all those other people that find themselves with the same old tiresome burden but now burrowing into oblivion. After all, we will be guaranteed to see Our President's face grace cover after cover well into the future. I am going to suggest that they put His face on the back and front cover of these perodicals.
(Patent will be pending).

M.A./MI

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The networks have too much invested in Obama not to accept his many, many requests for appearances,
and his appearances will soon become like that of his new BFF dictators- hours long speeches that everyone will be forced to listen to. The man is a joke; too bad the joke is on America.

Kevin

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I WONDER IF PEOPLE AT MSNBC ARE GETTING THRILLS UP THEIR LEGS FOR HEARING THIS CLOWN TALK AGAIN FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME. HE'S HAD A PRESS CONF EVERY MONTH OF HIS TERM SO FAR. I'LL BE WATCHING NBA BASKETBALL THANK GOD!! SCREW THIS MORON!

Larry D. Crumbley

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Hello,
It was not enough that this Vile, Corrupt, non-citizen of this nation wants to pat himself on the back in prime-time he actually will be able to get the time, and that makes me sick to my stomach. Just was wondering--DOES ANYBODY WANT TO VENTURE TO GUESS WHEN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS GOING TO WAKE THE HELL UP, AND SMELL THE STENCH COMING FOR THE WHITE-HOUSE THESE DAYS. IT IS ALL OUT WAR ON EVERY SINGLE LIBERTY THAT WE HAVE AS HUMAN-BEINGS, AND I AM SICK AND FED-UP WITH IT. To all you "IDIOTS" out there that think that he has done such a great job, well I hope that you are all paying your taxes. I know the answer to that question if you are a dem. you are just hoping that he does not ask you to serve on his cabinet, and why is that? Well we all have seen exactly what has happened over the last several weeks. We now know that the dems. in this country can TALK A GOOD TALK, BUT THEY cannot walk the talk. If I was to give him a grade for his first 100 days--It would not even be able to registrar, and why is that? I do not think that there is anything lower than a F- is there. When is he going to be truthful with the American people? His own press-sec. says that he-(OBAMA)-believes that nobody is above the law. Then why does he not come clean, and address the countless law-suits against him, and let everyone \know for sure that he is an American citizen or not. That is exactly what happens when you are not vetted the right way by today's modern-day-media. And furthermore they will pay for all of this in the end.


Thanks,
Bearone7777

P.S. Why is it so important that we give him anytime on a network for he already owns all of MSNBC-(PUKE)-and NBC. Let him run his dam mouth on those networks, and leave the rest of us alone. Mr. BO-for brains.

lilkunta

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When did bush ask for tv time & was rejected?

Brad

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I am from Canada, and it upsets me to no end when crap like this gets pulled. If you notice over to the right, it says FOX WILL NOT BE SHOWING OBAMA! I wonder why that is? Wait, I got it, results for IDOL. KUDOS TO FOX for not airing it! And wait even more....Fox has Fox news, NBC has MSNBC and so on. Show it on the cable news channels. When your elections are happening, my shows get thrown out, so I can hear about how your economy is in the dump..Guess what? so is ours! I already know what has happened in his first 100 days...NOT A BLOODY THING!...PROMISES PROMISES...THIS IS WHAT cable news channels were created for! There is NO NEED whatsoever for OBAMA to be on PRIMETIME, on every bloody channel to hear about his first 100 days., That is all....lol

BIGRED1

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It's great to see that FOX will not carry the B. Hussein Obummer news coverage live. I watch FOX and will continue to do so because they stood up to the FUR Obama. America has to wake-up and stand-up to this Fascist or Marxist. Obama has no cloths and FOX is just exposing him for what he is. Thank you FOX for not caving in.


Loyal Watcher

Lyn

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I have nothing against the President, but four primetime speeches in 100 days is ridiculous. So I was pleased to hear that Fox said no, and hoped the other networks would do the same. But I wonder how many other Fox affiliates, besides the one in St. Louis, decided to go against the network and air the speech anyway.

Richard Rhodes

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Andrew everyone who has a tv can watch public television. And they will get extreme Obama adulation because pbs is more liberal than MSNBC. It is just like giving taxpayer money to ACORN.

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