POLITICAL THRILLA - Franken v. O'Reilly

The NY Post ^ | 6/02/03 | JOHN MAINELLI

[jmstein7]

June 2, 2003 -- TEMPERS flared over the weekend in a face- to-face, TV showdown between Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly and political humorist Al Franken.

A visibly shaken O'Reilly appeared to have been caught off guard by a blistering attack by Franken in the midst of a usually sedate booksellers' luncheon in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Franken, author of the forthcoming book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them," accused O'Reilly - at length - of puffing up his credentials as the former host of the TV news magazine "Inside Edition."

O'Reilly sat stone-faced during a detailed attack on his credibility - then exploded into a verbal free-for-all with Franken that was as surprising as it was intense.

"This guy accuses me of being a liar, ladies and gentlemen, on national television," O'Reilly told the audience.

"He's a vicious - and that's with a capital V - a person who's blinded by ideology.

"All he's got in six-and-a-half years is that I misspoke, that I labeled a Polk Award a Peabody," said O'Reilly, referring to evidence that he had claimed "Inside Edition" has won two Peabody Awards, TV journalism's equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize.

In fact, it was the slightly-less prestigious Polk the show had won.

When Franken tried to interrupt, O'Reilly went ballistic.

"Hey, shut up! You had your 35 minutes - shut up!" he shouted, visibly furious.

"We're supposed to be on here for 15 minutes - this idiot goes 35."

"This isn't your show, Bill," Franken shot back.

Both men were pitching their upcoming books to booksellers at their annual convention. The panel was broadcast live on C-SPAN2, the public-affairs channel.

The subtitle of Franken's new book, due out this fall, is "A Fair and Balanced View of the Right" - an obvious dig at Fox News Channel's slogan.

The dustjacket of Franken's book features a photo of O'Reilly between the words "Lies" and "Lying."

According to co-panelist Molly Ivins, during a C-SPAN2 call-in show, "It was the first time [O'Reilly] had seen the cover and he was teed off to the max."

[More in the story...]

[jmstein7]

I hate Franken. Someone should write a book about him and expose all his skeletons (like his drug sprees on Easter Island in the 70's where he came up with the idea for the "Coneheads" with Dan Akroyd). He's a nutcase, clear and simple.

[Mister Baredog]

"Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them,"

Gee one would think his book would be all about the CLINTOONS, LOL

[Numbers Guy]

The dustjacket of Franken's book features a photo of O'Reilly between the words "Lies" and "Lying."

Al Franken's guide to making money: 1) Find a successful high-profile right-wing person in the media who really annoys the hell out of liberals. 2) Write book demonizing said person. 3) Watch as liberals line up to buy copies of the book so they can feel better about themselves. 4) Count the money.

He's the epitome of a successful capitalist pig--find a niche market and make a mint. Of course I doubt he'd be pleased to be described that way.

[newgeezer]

Someone should write a book about him and expose all his skeletons (like his drug sprees on Easter Island in the 70's where he came up with the idea for the "Coneheads" with Dan Akroyd).

Such would only increase his appeal with his audience.

[lurky]

Showdown! I'm loving it. O'Reilly is becoming more and more unhinged. We all see it coming, don't we.

[Mean Maryjean]

Ohhhhh boy!!!! Tonight's "Talking Points" could get real interesting!

[MattinNJ]

The dustjacket of Franken's book features a photo of O'Reilly between the words "Lies" and "Lying."

While I don't practice defamation law, I seem to remember from my law school days that this could be considered "being painted in a false light." I seem to remember a case about a teenager who had his picture in the paper for winning a rodeo. Unfortunately, the headline said something to the effect of "Pedophiliac caught". While funny (I know I would have photocopied that and pasted it through the school), I know newspapers and publishers tend to be careful about this exposure. O'Reilly may have a heckuva lawsuit here.

[My2Cents]

Franken knows his liars.

[RAT Patrol]

As understandably difficult as it is for O'Reilly to see, this is really a compliment to him (and Fox). If he weren't on top, he wouldn't be the target. He should stand up to them while remaining calm next time.

Hey, O'Reilly, if you're out there.....LAUGH AT THEM. Make fun of them. It's the only way you're going to fight it effectively. Your ratings prove the public wants to back you. Give them an honest defense and a reason to scoff at the unfair accusations. That's my advice.

Ivins is ineffective because she's mean. Franken, although a liar, will win some people with humor. Everyone loves to laugh. So fight laughter with laughter -- add honesty and people will readily recognize the difference.

[jmstein7]

I'm pretty sure that, in such a suit, Franken would be considered a "media defendant", and the "New York Times Rule" would apply. Thus, constitutionally, I believe that O'Reilly would have to prove "actual malice" to prevail. I'm pretty sure that their little public spat would be ample evidence of malice per se.

[Delphinium]

Wish I hadn't missed it.

[Hatteras]

O'Reilly, like Hannity, are their own worst enemies. They invite these liberal idiots onto their shows and allow themselves to get in these hissy-fit catfights with said idiots. Thus rendering themselves to idiocy. They are not doing conservatism any favors.

[MattinNJ]

Agreed on all points.

[headsonpikes]

"We all see it coming, don't we."

'Celebrity Death Match', you mean?

;^)

[jmstein7]

I love Law School :)

[MattinNJ]

I love Law School :)

Seek professional help immediately ;-)

[jmstein7]

lol!

[CaptRon]

There you have it. The comic genius of Al Franken. Making stupid faces that crack Al Gore up.

[sox_the_cat]

I saw some of this on Saturday and O'Reilly was steamed. Ivins defended O'Reilly to some degree by letting Franken know that the Polk award is a very prestigious award. She is a loon though, she kept on letting everyone know she is not liberal or conservative, she is Molly Ivins.

Franken goes after Coulter. Anne I guess referred often to her footnotes when she was on the tour, Franken corrected her that they are end notes, not footnotes.

Brian Kilmeade really thinks that Franken has either lost his mind or is drugged up.

[EveningStar]

Previous threads here and here

[mombonn]

This sounds like a Don King publicity stunt. Next thing you know sinator hillary! will enter the fray.

[CanisRex]

Righton amigo! I worry about Sean Hannity losing it, too.

[McBuff]

Being our own worst enemy is a part of the Irish heritage in which we take great pride.

[TheGrimReaper]

Right this way, Mr. Franken... your party is waiting for you....

[CyberAnt]

Oh, I agree - a lawsuit BIG TIME. Franken was just pathetic - and Ivins wasn't much better. The 2 of them plus Michael Moore was the "fair and balanced" C-SPAN fare.

[aristeides]

Brian Kilmeade really thinks that Franken has either lost his mind or is drugged up.

The liberals are all losing it.

[FUMETTI]

I saw the whole episode unfold on C-Span. Although Bill hasn't won me over lately with his lame "white prom" crusade, he deservedly went after that frog faced bastard and Molly Ivins, the liberal anti-Bush hoggette. Then when they got a call-in which had conservative and liberal numbers to dial...liberals were dialing the conservative side and lopsiding the attacks on O'Reilly. Bill was correct and I complement him as I would have lept from my seat and beat that Franken loser bloody.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

O'Reilly said today on the radio that he will never speak to Franken again, and that Franken is barred from his show. He also seemed to say that Franken is barred from Fox News in general.

[Hatteras]

"Being our own worst enemy is a part of the Irish heritage in which we take great pride."

Speak for yourself. ;-)

[republicman]

"O'Reilly is becoming more and more unhinged."

I wonder how unhinged you'd be if some retarded piece of liberal crap put your face on a book calling you a liar?

[republicman]

"They invite these liberal idiots onto their shows and allow themselves to get in these hissy-fit catfights with said idiots. Thus rendering themselves to idiocy. They are not doing conservatism any favors."

Yeah, much better they should behave like Trent Lott and Rick Santorum and cower when a liberal says boo.

[BradyLS]

Al Franken's guide to making money: 1) Find a successful high-profile right-wing person in the media who really annoys the hell out of liberals. 2) Write book demonizing said person. 3) Watch as liberals line up to buy copies of the book so they can feel better about themselves. 4) Count the money.

Which just goes to show that Franken is such an idiot, that even he would screw-up a simple formula for success. All things being equal, more people spend more money and buy more boooks skewering the Left than the Right.

[BradyLS]

"All things being equal, more people spend more money and buy more boooks skewering the Left than the Right. "

Seriesly.

[ladyinred]

These are the people who call pubbies mean spirited and full of hate! The hypocrisy of the left is astounding. Wanna know hate Franken, look in the mirror!

[KZondervan]

Purpose: The Free Republic forum is intended for Conservative users who wish to have a serious discussion about political events, conservative principles and the elimination of government corruption and abuse. This is a news and information site not a chat room. Please stay on topic. Free Republic is a supporter of free speech on the Internet but we believe that along with the privilege of free speech comes the responsibility to respect the rights of others.



Above is listed this website's goals, as posted on this website. How nice to see you posting conservatives:
- have no sense of humor.
- have no clue as to how to have a discussion of the issues.
- can only resort to name-calling. If name-calling were a sport, conservatives would be champions of the world.
- lines like "I'd a beat the guy bloody if I was there," even when spoken in jest, only speak for themselves.

It's no wonder a blustering bully like Bill O'Reilly with little regard for facts and his own hypocrisy (just to name one --"no spin zone"--give me a break!) is so popular....you all deserve him.

Thanks for all your insightful comments.

[Admin Moderator]

You are welcome. But don't let us keep you, I am sure you have better things to do. Take care, and don't forget your hat!

[RinaseaofDs]

I love him.

He is keeping sane, fairly reasonable, left leaning everyday people in the closet. The louder he is, the more left the candidates go, the more left Dean goes, the more hopeless it gets for D's.

He's making 'mainstream' press organs go left too. As they do, their ratings fall.

Look at it this way - Franken is the best they can do. He's the thought leader of the liberal movement at the moment. As long as he has the podium, the D's will never come up with another plan or vision for America that the soft middle will buy.

[Jonah Hex]

Nice shot, Admin Moderator!

[Eternal_Bear]

I love nasty verbal wars. How about Michael Savage against little Franken(stein)? LOL

[leadpenny]

It's a classic. Here it is from the C-SPAN BookTV Archives:

http://www.booktv.org/misc/BookExpo_053103.asp