Deep Throat Not What He Used to Be The Washington Post’s Dan Balz (8/14/12) somehow convinced a “senior Romney advisor” to reveal a stunning secret that could only be disclosed “on the condition of anonymity”—that Mitt Romney felt good about his vice presidential pick: “He was very confident in himself, in Paul Ryan, in the campaign and in the direction of the campaign he wanted to take.” Believe it or not, the Post’s Felicia Sonmez (8/17/12) topped this scoop by talking to “a senior Republican adviser”—no doubt in a deserted parking garage—who admitted anonymously that Ryan likes Romney too: “He [...]
Dec
01
2006
Helping O'Reilly
Lies on Letterman about Christmas and Al-Qaeda
Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly and CBS talkshow host David Letterman had a well-publicized showdown on Letterman’s program in January 2006, so it came as no surprise that their next face-to-face on October 27 would be similarly heated. After the interview aired, O’Reilly accused Letterman of dishonesty for saying O’Reilly had lied on his show, and challenged Letterman to produce the evidence. O’Reilly took exception to Letterman’s crack about him (Late Night, 10/26/06): “The last time he was on the show, I caught him lying.” As O’Reilly retorted on his October 30 broadcast: Letterman caught me lying? What lie was [...]
Jul
01
2005
'We Do Not Speculate Here'
What O'Reilly means is anyone's guess
By Peter Hart
Cable news networks have devoted significant time to the case of Natalee Holloway, an Alabama teenager who disappeared in Aruba. But cable news' most popular host has urged the media to exercise caution. On June 9, Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly explained, "As you may know, we do not speculate here on The Factor. We have no idea what happened to Natalee or why she left the bar with some Aruban men. I've heard some irresponsible media speculate about that, and it makes me angry." For those who had followed O'Reilly's coverage of the case, this must have been puzzling. [...]
Dec
01
2004
In His Own Words
Bill O'Reilly on sexual harassment
There is a strong movement in America to remove any kind of value-based argument.... Public officials have the right to lie about sex because it is no one's business what they do in private, even if sexual harassment suits are lodged against them, i.e., President Clinton.... Many Americans simply cannot or will not make judgments about behavior. And this is a tremendous change in our society. The danger here is that the absence of value-based judgments breaks down justice and discipline." --O'Reilly Factor, 7/16/01 I have to explain to the audience that there is no sex allowed at Fox on [...]
Dec
01
2003
O'Reilly Brags About Fox's Lack of Skepticism
In an October 4 interview with CNBC's Tim Russert, Fox News star Bill O'Reilly made a puzzling boast about his network's Iraq coverage. He said, "Well, I think Fox News Channel was lucky because we were less skeptical of the war, and the war went very well. So we won." O'Reilly treated his network's lack of skepticism as a point of pride, something to brag about. Is that really what people are looking for in a news source--credulity? If you believe that a journalistic enterprise "wins" not by cheerleading for the more powerful side, but instead by informing its audience, [...]
Jun
01
2003
O'Reilly's Racist Slurs--in Context
By Peter Hart
In April 2003, Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly hosted a fundraiser for Best Friends, a charity benefiting inner-city schoolchildren. As reported in the Washington Post (4/15/03), O'Reilly was trying to fill the time before a singing group connected with the charity, called the Best Men, was set to perform, and quipped: "Does anyone know where the Best Men are? I hope they're not in the parking lot stealing our hubcaps." According to the Post report, some of the conservatives in the audience were aghast at the seemingly racist crack. But if anyone was shocked by O'Reilly's apparent racism, they haven't [...]
May
01
2003
O'Reilly's War
Any rationale—or none—will do
By Peter Hart
We hope you depend on us for the truth, because we're going to report the situation in Iraq without an agenda or any ideological prejudice. —Bill O'Reilly (O'Reilly Factor, 1/17/03) Not so long ago, Bill O’Reilly had no particular interest in the threat Iraq posed to the world (2/16/01): "You know, I don't take Saddam Hussein all that seriously anymore as far as a world threat. Maybe I'm wrong and naive here. Should we be very frightened of this guy?" If the Bill O'Reilly of today were to meet the Bill O’Reilly of 2001, he'd denounce him as an appeaser, [...]
Apr
01
2003
SoundBites
Extra! Update April 2003
The Disarmament Nightmare Subheads over a March 4 New York Times article: "More Missiles Destroyed; Washington Is Concerned Over Possible Complications for Effort to Disarm Iraq." Nothing like disarming to complicate disarmament. NBC Nightly News (2/27/03) was even more alarmed about the missile destruction, with Andrea Mitchell reporting: "For the U.S., it's a nightmare scenario. If Iraq destroys the missiles, it will be much harder to get support for military action." Spinning Jesus "Both sides of the debate are saying God is on their side. Those who favor peace point to the Pope calling the war immoral, and those who [...]
