IHT/AP: Obama doesn't take 'great offense' over Roger Ailes's word play

International Herald Tribune: AP Interview: Obama doesn't take 'great offense' over word play

DAVENPORT, Iowa: Sen. Barack Obama said Sunday he was not greatly offended by the Fox News chief's word play about his name that led Nevada Democrats to cancel a presidential debate hosted with the network.

Fox's Roger Ailes made a remark last week about the similarities between the Illinois senator's name and al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden.

"I didn't take great offense at the joke," Obama said in an Associated Press interview while campaigning in Iowa. "I have been called worse."

At a Radio & Television News Directors Association Foundation event in Washington on Thursday, Ailes said, "And it is true that Barack Obama is on the move. I don't know if it's true that President (George W.) Bush called (Pakistani President Pervez) Musharraf and said, 'Why can't we catch this guy?"' according to a transcript provided by Fox.

Bin Laden is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan or the country's lawless border region with Pakistan.

The Nevada Democratic Party announced Friday it had canceled an August debate, to be co-hosted by Fox News Channel, and cited Ailes' comment....

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/11/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Interview.php

I think this is the right response. He probably has been called worse, and this shows that he is not so sensitive that anyone can hurt him/distract him with snide remarks. He has already shut fox out because of them making a habit of attaching his name with Osama's and that is all he needs to do about it.

With that said, I also agree with those who canceled the debate using this incident to do so. This just points out how biased the "news network" is and makes it clear just why the democrat debate should not be held there. If they could have tied Colter to fox that would have been a good example to use also. With the way the media is today, especially fox, fair and balanced is something we are going to have to fight for. We cannot just expect it anymore.

He knows how to outsmart the media thus far, IMO.

He would be a great Poler Player, I love his style.

it tells. And he comes across as honest. I won't swear he is, but he always seemed it to me.

He's 100% right to play it off like it's no big deal. The name game thing Ailes is playing here is straight from the grade school playground, which is exactly the level of maturity and intellect I'd expect from just about anyone on the right.

Let them call names and stick their tongues out and generally act like 3rd grade brats. Not worth the time or effort to get riled about.

This idiot is not worthy of being in our WH.

It's a shame when "intelligence" would be something that we have not witnessed since 1999.

Obama can THINK and EXPRESS HIS THOUGHTS ~ Wow!

I wish Senator Obama would fight the FOX network. We need a fighter to win the Presidency. Someone who's out there to expose our opponents.