On his Fox program Monday night (12/10/12), Bill O’Reilly declared:
We are living in a country that is rapidly changing. Rules of civility are pretty much finished. While America has always embraced robust debate now there are elements on both the left and the right which are using disgraceful tactics to demean those with whom they disagree.’
Both sides are doing it–now, that’s exactly the kind of refreshing honesty one expects from the No Spin Zone, where O’Reilly provided a list:
Some examples: The Supreme Court is now going to hear the gay marriage issue. Some of those who support expanding the definition of marriage are accusing those who oppose it of being human rights violators, bigots, homophobes. So, if you hold the belief that traditional marriage should have a special place in society, you’re a hater, according to the haters.
Alright, I guess those are left-wing “haters.” Next?
Likewise in criticizing President Obama, there are fanatical left wingers who say those who disagree with Mr. Obama are doing so because he’s black, it’s a racial deal. That kind of tactic should be condemned by all Americans.
OK, more left-wing haters. Maybe the next one?
Let me give you a very vivid recent situation that is simply unacceptable. This man, sports writer Jason Whitlock, who actually works for FoxSports.com, injected race into the Kansas City Chief’s murder suicide.
Whitlock said that unnamed forces in America want guns in the black communities so that people of color could destroy each other. Whitlock went on to call the NRA, quote, “The new KKK.” That, of course, is insane. And the only reason anybody ever heard about it is because Bob Costas mentioned Whitlock in his gun commentary on NBC.
Huh. Attacking the NRA–I guess that makes him sort of like a left-wing hater. But that’s not the most important problem with Jason Whitlock. The bigger problem is that he says means things about Bill O’Reilly:
So we called this Whitlock guy and invited him on The Factor. Here’s what he wrote, quote. “I was summoned to testify before speaker of the big house, Bill O’Reilly, the Fox News entertainer. I don’t have to shuffle off to the big house when summoned. O’Reilly is not Boehner, Pelosi or Obama. He’s a TV entertainer who has spent the weeks after the election crying about the end of white establishment America. The end of the days when an upstanding white man felt entitled to summon whomever he wanted, whenever he wanted, to the big house to dance. I don’t dance,” unquote.
Now, that is pure racism, nothing else. Whitlock implying that I’m some kind of slave overlord, and he gets away with that kind of garbage. In fact, he gets paid to spout. Way beyond disgraceful.
So maybe the next night would bring some examples of right-wingers haters? O’Reilly carried the theme over to the December 11 broadcast:
The Factor is now going to out media people and others in the public arena who use hate speech. Enough is enough. That includes anti-Christian bigotry which is now rampant in parts of the secular media.
His examples this time? A comment on Saturday Night Live by comedian Jamie Foxx, which some found offensive. Talking about his new movie, Foxx complained that he had to wear chains, but “I kill all of the white people in the movie. How great is that?”
Uh, OK.
O’Reilly says he is making this a “campaign.” But he seems to be coming up short on examples of those on the right who demean and bully people with whom they disagree. This is easy–all O’Reilly would need is a mirror.
If O’Reilly can be viewed as an avatar of civil discourse
Can the Kochs be seen as the embodiment of empathy?
Only through the looking glass, darkly …
He’s a senile fascist git, working for Fascist News. Is that ‘civil’ enough for him?
Who care’s what he thinks.
We know his standards of decency after Terri Gross asked him about being beaten by his father. Which he acknowledged. A minute later he stood up and announced “this interview is over.” Was he even aware that he was a clod who apparently couldn’t deal with his abusive relationship with his father?
Terri Gross being about the most inoffensive of interviewers on the planet – nay milque-toast mild.
Never mind that he was a Reich-wing clod working for a station – Fascist News – promoting murder, genocide, illegal war and torture-to-death. See the last eleven years for details.
You know, I like that FAIR is usually above talking about the idiocy on Fox, leaving this type of takedown to Media Matters and the like.
Having said that, this was pretty damn funny.
There’s enough calm, rational voices out there (some even expousing conservative views) that make it unnecessary to listen to someone doing playground histrionics. It’s too easy to lose what little objectivity we in the human race can muster up when listening to someone screaming, taunting, and being an obnoxious sychophant, so I stay away from those characters.
O’Reilly says he is making this a “campaign.” But he seems to be coming up short on examples of those on the right who demean and bully people with whom they disagree. This is easy–all O’Reilly would need is a mirror.
No self respecting mirror image would be able to look at O’Reilly without feeling ashamed. There would be more humanity in that reflection than in the original.
The problem is we need to just do the ‘corrections’ grammatically.
If O’Reilly can be viewed as an avatar of civil discourse
Can the Kochs be seen as the embodiment of empathy? _ doug
Oh you came so close to getting it right. LOL
O’Reilly is the Avatar for Un-Civil discourse;
The Kochs are the Dis-embodiments of empathy.
Bildo Oh’Really, the original pinhead.
After all the vicious,vitriolic slurs right wingers have been spewing at the President for the last four years,O’Reilly can’t come up with one wingnut example?That’s a perfect display of fox’s fair and balanced.
O’Reilly and his ilk are whores for right-wing corporate criminals who want almighty power over the country and its people. Despicable fascism, disturbing, repugnant and disgusting. The FCC would do this country a favor by shutting them down forever.
Dear Bill-O,
Pundits can tell,
But never teach.
Unless they practice,
What they preach.
I pray for Bill & Rush!
Given that Benjamin Franklin’s grandson called George Washington a traitor during his second term, , it’s hard to conceive of a time there ever were rules of civil discourse .
Bill should turn in to the homilies of that bogus Christian, P. Robertson, who pleads on a regular basis for the assassination of this and that and the other guy who is a president or otherwise a leader of another nation, because he doesn’t like him. Hmm … Bad manners on the right. And, I hate to bring it up, what would Jesus say?
Thank you Fair, i love it! As Mr. Whitlock said, O’Reilly really is an entertainer but what he doesn’t realize is that the joke’s on him.
Bill o’reilly has a past after working at entertainment tonight or whatever the show was and they had to pay a pretty penny for sexual harrassment. he also would yell at employees just as steve jobs did..
O’Really is the essence of un-civil discourse, not only that but he shows no evidence of repenting. Being one of the most vocal right wing haters of all time, he must have a special morality book than the rest of us. In any case, he’s going to hell.
You know, if he stopped after the first paragraph, the vast majority of the country would agree with him. But, he just has to go on and prove that he truly is a moron. Tides come in, tides go out and Bill O the Clown doesn’t know how that works either.
Fox News iss banned from the airwaves in Britain and Canada for telling horrible lies.
Free speech is great, but when it comes to extremism the Germans and Israelis have learned their lessons well.
Hate speech sends people to the slammer.
Its funny, because if the comment had been “i kill all black people” by a white person, the left wing media would be ALL over that…
Well Im a conservative tea party constitutionalist.I go to the rallies.BUT….I also go to the liberal rallies.My experience has been on the right side of the coin complete hatred of the presidents policies.On the left complete hatred upon the “persons” of those on the right.You can almost see the gnashing of teeth.How many times have I heard the sentiment at tea parties that having a beer with Obama would be great.Him as a private citizen.At a left rally ask that of lets say….Bush.Look at the rallies where FOX reporters were attacked(prez says nothing)I have seen Democracy now tents at tea party rallies.They are handed pamphlets, and a cup of lemonade with a slice of apple pie(yes I saw that).You hatred on the left is massive.In victory or defeat.My lord look at you hatred of ALL conservative woman.Sarah Palin and her girls are whores.Remember Alex rodriguez on David Letterman was banging Sarah’s 16 year old? You dont want to play this game of he said she said.We on the right will win 100-1 every time.We hate your policies.You hate us!Plain and simple.Remember we are those who HATE woman.I often wait to see when Mitt takes his next job where ever it may be- your thronging crowds protesting this man who hates woman.Hatred and the game of personal destruction is what you always leave in your wake.Then you in your fashion hold out an olive branch when you need votes.An olive branch over a sign that reads “our way,or the highway.
Great piece! I lived in Kansas City for a long time, and Jason Whitlock is one of the best sports writers out there. I really respect his opinions and thoughts. I’m so pleased that he refused to dance for O’Reilly. Because you know, if he went on The Factor, Bill would have just yelled at him during the whole segment and never let him get a word in. Not worth playing that game.
On another note – did you see that last night Geraldo Rivera was using his show to accuse Secretary Clinton of faking or exaggerating her concussion to avoid testifying about Benghazi. Nice. Civil.
What on Earth is the troll yammering about now? This whole Obama re-election landslide thing has really hurt him, no? I think he needs a hug. He should really go to one of these leftie rallies that he’s always lying about and ask for a a big old hug from the biggest lib he can seem to find (Hint: he’ll be the guy with the beard and the sexy wife). Good luck, and have fun!
Caroline you are not a good representative.Those on your side do hate Sarah Palin for instance.And Bush to Boot.As far as her policies of course you have every right to disagree with them.And as far as her being unqualified- i agree with you(and i thought Bush under qualified as well by the way, though no more so than Clinton).The sad thing is she was MORE qualified than Obama- who had no qualifications at all for the Job.Or smiling uncle Joe the drunken gaffe a minute fool.By the way corporotacracy is a something i don’t believe in.Just another class warfare thing Dems have tried to slip in to announce the science is closed.They try to create a template.Have people accept something that never was.Its Bull.It creates a conspiracy that only one force can save us from.And what is that force?Why a stronger government of course, what else?Unions are people.Corporations are people.
Well Tim you must be psychic.I just went to a liberal rally(2 months ago) with an old old friend.He is 6″3.Has a mountain man beard,lives in upstate New york,and yes has a very hot wife.He has a company that reclaims old wood and makes beautiful furniture./kitchens etc.I don’t recall we hugged,though we do shake hands.And yes I had a fine time.Always informative to see how the other side hangs.Neat guess.Seriously