Obama buys time on the networks, pushing World Series back
Major League Baseball agreed Wednesday to push back the start time of Game 6 of the World Series by about 15 minutes so that Fox Broadcasting Co. could sell Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama half an hour of prime time on Oct. 29.
The campaign also has bought the same time period -- 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 -- on CBS and NBC so that he can run a 30-minute program on all of the networks. Each network is selling the time for between $950,000 to $1 million. Buying time on all of the major broadcast networks would allow Obama to reach more than 20 million people on the Wednesday before the election. A spokesman for Fox said the network will make available a similar 30-minute block of time for the Republican candidate, Sen. John McCain, if he chooses. Time for McCain would be either later that night (if there is no Game 6) or the following evening.
Major League Baseball did not have an immediate comment.
-- Meg James
I had planned on voting for him, but have gotten tired of looking at him....especially after learning of his past friend's. He frightens me. It's going to be a 'who cares' world series. About as thrilling as the Astros and White Sox 3 years ago.
Go Rays. Go McCain.
Posted by: Tom | October 16, 2008 at 07:48 PM
booooo!!!! the republicans are nervous and hopeless. i'm ashamed to say that i was once registered republican. country first, not baseball, idiots! i'm afraid that if john mccain gets elected, we'll have the first president to give an inaugural address in a diaper!!! GO OBAMA/BIDEN 2008-2016!!!!!!
Posted by: the independent pennsylvanian | October 16, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Franklly: Do you have any idea what you're talking about? The old american pastime is Politics, the most important thing in our country! Oh, poor RNC for not being able to afford such a high profile purchase, and instead relying on ROBOCALLS, a helluva lot more annoying than my game being pushed 15 minutes... And you know what? I'll definitely be watching his 30 minute program, because it will actually have substance, talk about the issues, and above all, inform us as to why he is a better choice than McCain.
Enough is enough, Bush and his boys have had their time to make billions off of us, it's time to repair this nation and get back to the proud people we used to be.
Go Democracy!
Posted by: Ol White Yankee | October 16, 2008 at 09:50 PM
One word: Propaganda. Definitely wont watch him talk as he is the biggest liar i have ever listened to. He has the biggest plans ever for this country all he needs is thirty-five trillion dollars to do it. When did we ever stop being proud Americans, in regards to another comment I read? Go Rays!
Posted by: Eric | October 18, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Fox News and talk radio has got a certain small segment of the country whipped into this frenzy - all based on a relentless flood of never-ending bald faced lies about Obama. Would someone please educate these people? Examples: Obama did NOT start his career in Ayers living room & had no significant relationship with him, did NOT have a significant relationship with Rezko or Davis, HAS rebuked Wrights comments many times, his church is a large MAINSTREAM church, he is NOT a Muslim or Arab, NOT Muslim, did NOT attend a Madrasa school, DOES have a valid birth certificate from Hawaii on PUBLIC record, will LOWER taxes on nearly 9/10ths of the middle class AND VAST majority of small businesses, returning the tax rate for large corporations to what it was under REAGAN is NOT "socialism", will ELIMINATE capital gains taxes on small and startup businesses, Acorn is NOT throwing the election, measured studies show 3 major networks are NOT biased toward Obama, his campaign is funded grassroots by 3 million Americans giving <$100 each - NOT foreigners, did not vote to force banks to "make loans to poor (or black) people", is not advised by 3 Fannie Mae execs, DOES wear the flag pin and IS patriotic, is NOT racist (is half white), etc etc etc. ALL of these lies are as stupid as the "Fake moon landing" conspiracy theories but ignorant people are buying them because they refuse to look into it themselves. Really sad, but fortunately the majority of the country actually knows better this time.
Posted by: DT Strain | October 23, 2008 at 04:59 AM
I THINK OBAMA IS A VERY SMART MAN. ADDRESSING THE NATION DURING THESE HARD TIMES AND TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HOW HE PLANS ON FIXING THE MESS THAT OUR COUNTRY IS IN NOW. I LOVE BASEBALL JUST AS MUCH AS THE REST OF OUR NATION BUT COUNTRY IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE AND IF YOU CANT SEE THAT YOU MUST BE BLIND. I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW OUR NEXT PRESIDENT PLANS ON MOVING OUR COUNTRY FORWARD AND I DONT CARE IF I HAVE TO STAY UP 30MINS LONGER TO WATCH THE BASEBALL GAME. IF OUR COUNTRY DOESNT GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK SOON , NONE OF US WILL HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WATCHING ANYTHING CAUSE WE WONT HAVE MONEY TO PAY OUR ELECTRIC BILL TO WATCH IT. SO IF YOU THINK ITS WRONG TO PUSH BACK THE GAME JUST 30MINS, THEN PLEASE STAY HOME AND DONT VOTE. MY COUNTRY MEANS MORE TO ME THEN A 30MIN DELAY. DO THE RIGHT THING EVERYONE AND LET OUR COUNTRY BE ALL WE DESERVE IT TO BE. GOOOOO OBAMA!!!!!!!!
Posted by: RC | October 27, 2008 at 06:28 AM
A few of you have mentioned the following, and I agree totally -
What he is doing is leaning towards complete socialism, followed soon by dictatorship. His policies of re-distributing wealth souhnd a bit like socialism and communism to me, as well, as do a few other of his plans. I see a recurring theme here. Great guy or not, he's been taking notes from leaders who stay in power the longest, not presidents who stay in office the longest. Selig has f-ed the game up royally since he became commissioner, and, hopefully, this will be the last time he has the chance to do so before somebody sees what a joke he is.
Posted by: badjuju | October 27, 2008 at 09:16 AM
Hey Rory Miller maybe people do not want to watch Obama sit down to talk about things he is promising but not doing. Even though McCain may not win Obama is trying to rub it in and make a huge deficit. You do not see McCain making fun of people like Joe the Plumber and let in slide and he looses his job. This is why McCain is not doing this Junk!! I say Play Ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Andy Oakin | October 27, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Okay Obama trying to win a election and I respect him for that. But I think he should not postpone a baseball game he should do it on the knitting channel. You do not see McCain doing this. I mean come on it wont help you any way it certainly wont change my vote.
Posted by: Andy Oakin | October 28, 2008 at 03:56 AM
Hey Ed, More than of my town is watching this. Do not say no one cares. WHat are you going to watch...the jewelry channel!?! Seriously thats no true there are millions watching the world series. Hey by the way we yahoo conservatives are dont have our underwear in. I think yours are in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Andy Oakin | October 28, 2008 at 04:03 AM
THink about who Obama used to work with. And read the fine print especially you Ed
Posted by: Andy Oakin | October 28, 2008 at 04:06 AM
Today: "By the way," McCain cracked, "no one will delay the World Series game with an infomercial when I'm president."
So, for him to now agree to Fox's offer would be very hypocritical. (Which wouldn't be a surprise).
Posted by: theWalrus | October 28, 2008 at 11:37 AM
MLB is full of terrorist-lovin' Commies! We must begin hearings right now! Michelle Bachmann is available to Chair them.
:- )
Posted by: theWalrus | October 28, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Franklly said: Isn't that what dictators do?
No. It's what TV stations do when they can make a quick 1 million dollars. It's called capitalism , and Obama approves of it.
Posted by: theWalrus | October 28, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Obama's trying to when an election, so he can give America the beautiful gift of his leadership and sacrifice. So he can help all americans have a good life, even the ignorant ones. Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Jesus Christ tried the same thing for thier people and look how they were repaid. So people please give this blessing a chance.
Posted by: jp ziller | October 28, 2008 at 12:54 PM
All of you GOP are just jealous that your candidate is flat broke, has no message, and is an idiot for not thinking of this first. And you foolish uneducated people, look up the definition of socialism. Then you'll realize that McSame's "I'm going to buy all your houses" is socialism. NOT Senator Obama's tax the top 5%, give tax breaks to the lower 95%. You fools who think you'll be gaining money through McCain's tax plan are blinded by idiocy. HE WON'T GIVE YOU A TAX CUT. the tax cuts are for the TOP 1%! ARE YOU in the top 1%!? Didn't think so.
OBAMA/BIDEN '08
Posted by: charlie | October 28, 2008 at 01:06 PM
BUYING airtime makes Obama a commie.
Neo-Reaganomics is socialism.
Baseball is more American than electing its President.
...I hope he talks about the importance of giving the readers of the LA Times a better education.
Posted by: Troy | October 28, 2008 at 01:09 PM
I guess if Palin hadn't spent $150,000 on clothes, $22,000 on makeup, and God only knows how much on her husband and kids travel, the McCain campaign might have had the money to purchase some airtime of their own. Saying they plan to donate it all to charity after the campaign is absolutely ridiculous.
I think listening to a candidate speak about why you should elect them as the next President is a bit more important than a baseball game. Not being able to wait 30 minutes for said baseball game kind of explains what is wrong with Americans today. We are in such a hurry for everything we don't take the time to learn anything. Find out the facts - don't take Fox News Channel's word...or anyone else's for that matter. Public record speaks for itself.
Posted by: Jules | October 28, 2008 at 06:36 PM
You people are out of your minds. I don't care if you are for Obama or McCain, it's ridiculous to change the time of the deciding game of the World Series for a one sided political ad. It's not like this is a debate or, like some of you are saying, a convention. This is an ad funded by private donations. I assure you if McCain did the same thing, people would be even angrier. Get over your political biases and recognize that people just want a nice evening to watch baseball and sometimes you need to get away from politics. Everything Obama says is published on his website anyway so I don't understand why it has to be force fed into the Primetime lineup.
Posted by: Phillies Fan | October 29, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Its not the GAME being pushed back, it's that the PREGAME is being ditched. You should thank god for that. When my Tigers were in the Series in 06, I could barely stand to watch it on Fox due to their ridiculous and tedious pregame crap. The actual game would have started at 8:30 anyway. Jeebus, don't get your knickers in a twist, Mcainiacs--like you were gonna watch the game instead of billo the clown anyway.
And who did Obama "used to work with"? Could it be Bill Ayers? And who ELSE used to work with Bill Ayers? Could it be Annenberg--Nixon's ambassador to the UK?
Posted by: Curtis Granderson | October 29, 2008 at 12:11 PM