Philly lawyer and national radio talk show host Michael Smerconish will be lighting up the White House Thursday as he interviews President Obama during a live broadcast.
Smerconish plans to grill the president on his hotly debated health care plan, while also talking questions from callers -- turning the program into a de facto town hall meeting.
The talk show host says he did not allow the White House to screen his questions, so the president's reactions cannot be scripted. “There are no ground rules," he said in a statement Wednesday.
The Obama Administration's health care overhaul calls for a reformed system which would provide affordable health care for all, lower premiums and guaranteed choice of doctor. Opponents of the plan say it will bring about socialized medicine, limit care and destroy the health care industry.
The plan has been a tough sell for some Americans. A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows 54 percent of the country remains skeptical of the plan, worried the government will overstep its boundaries during the reformation. While 41 percent are concerned the government will not do enough to bring down costs.
Further exacerbating the issue are Congressional town halls where hotheaded attendees spread confusion and hate as they shout like Linda Blair in The Exorcist. Many Congressional members like Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) have met heavy criticism at the meetings.
Smerconish vows to protect the president (and his program) from berating comments during the interview -- probably because they are sure to waste precious time with the Commander-in-Chief. "We’re looking for questions that have not already been asked," he said. You can submit your questions over at msnbc.com.
The live event air at 1:10 p.m. Thursday on The Big Talker 1210 AM and their website. The interview will also be simulcast on msnbc. It will be the first live radio interview from inside the White House of President Obama's administration.
No word on whether he plans to show Obama his softer side.
