More than two years ago, Barack Obama promised FOX News that he'd appear on the openly conservative network and allow Chris Wallace to interview him. Then he didn't follow through. Six weeks ago, FOX started the "Obama Watch" -- a stopwatch keeping track of how much time had lapsed since the Illinois senator's promise, down to the second.

Patronizing though it was, Obama acquiesced and made good on his word last weekend. Suddenly the liberal blogosphere was outraged: How could such an intelligent, dedicated Democrat allow himself to be manipulated into appearing on the network that's made a pastime out of ruining Democrats chances for the presidency?

"It was a mistake for Obama to go on FOX's Sunday show and treat the experience as if it was a real news interview," wrote Adam Green on Brave New Films, and republished by AlterNet.
"Democratic politicians need to understand that FOX is a Republican mouthpiece masquerading as a news outlet. When dealing with FOX, you either burn them or they will burn you."

I'm pretty sure that Obama knows that FOX is a Republican mouthpiece, and that it's no doubt looking for something to hang him with (if the Obama Watch wasn't bad enough).

But should we really fault him for trying to legitimize an interview? By allowing himself to appear on FOX, Obama showed that he can be a good sport, take seriously even those he knows are against him, and simply continue doing what he's doing: trying to inform as many people as possible of his agenda, and ultimately to assume the Oval Office in 2009.

I certainly hope that FOX doesn't turn this show of good faith against Obama, but I do know that I respect the Illinois senator all the more for doing it.