Posted on 09/28/2007 12:23:13 PM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
RFFM.org Commentary by Daniel T. Zanoza, National Director
Earlier this week, popular cable talk show host, Bill O'Reilly (The O'Reilly Factor--FOX NEWS) came under withering attack from some members of the dominant media for comments he made on his syndicated radio talk show. Led by Media Matters, a self-appointed far left wing media watchdog group, O'Reilly was charged with making racist comments towards African-Americans. Although Media Matters is clearly a partisan organization, some mainstream media outlets, including CNN and MSNBC, gave credence to the allegations--although most objective journalists cleared O'Reilly of any wrongdoing after a review of the FOX host's words were taken in their full context.
Briefly, on his radio program (The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly) O'Reilly was attempting to point out how the media inaccurately portrays the African-American community as people who smoke marijuana while listening to gangster rappers like Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent.
Sadly, O'Reilly's words were intentionally misinterpreted by Media Matters and others in the left wing press who will take any opportunity to discredit conservatives. In reality, O'Reilly was saying the negative perception created by Hollywood of African-Americans is false. O'Reilly is a particular target for groups like MoveOn.org because of his extreme popularity and the fact FOX NEWS beats out other competition in his 7 P.M. (Central) time slot by a margin of six to one. FOX is also the most popular cable news network by far--surpassing CNN, MSNBC and all other cable news competition combined.
However, on Wednesday and Thursday (September 26th and 27th) O'Reilly fell into a trap that has led to some of the poor journalism we see in America today. The FOX NEWS host ran to members of the far left, in order to seek protection from the charges of racism he was receiving. In doing so, O'Reilly belittled himself and may have become a captive of the politically correct world which he so vigorously criticizes.
On Wednesday, O'Reilly invited the Rev. Al Sharpton to appear on his TV program. O'Reilly's motives were clear. Essentially, he was saying; look, African-American leaders, like Al Sharpton, regularly appear on The O'Reilly Factor, they know I'm a good guy and I am not a racist. However, in something that can only be called pitiful, the Rev. Jesse Jackson was a guest on Thursday's show. Frankly, the program was hard to watch. Jackson, like Sharpton in his appearance before him, used the popular format to advance a highly controversial racial agenda.
While Jackson droned on about the situation in Jena, the usually cantankerous O'Reilly acted like a whipped puppy dog--as he was dominated by the civil rights activist. To make matters worse, O'Reilly, who is usually well-versed regarding the subjects which come up for discussion on the show thanks to an excellent production staff, time after time pleaded ignorance regarding the racial tension in Jena, and the circumstances which led to it.
"Well, I don't know what went on there, you do," said O'Reilly, again and again, in response to some of Jackson's comments which can only be called ridiculous by reasonable adults with the slightest familiarity concerning the case in Jena. Jackson once said a white boy who was knocked unconscious after being attacked by six black students was a victim of an accidental kick to the head. O'Reilly again responded by pleading ignorance to the facts surrounding the prosecution of the six African-American defendants, while in past shows, O'Reilly spoke at great lengths about the details of that particular case.
For perhaps the first time in the history of The O'Reilly Factor, the guest interrupted the host in a dismissive manner. O'Reilly was far more assertive in his interviews with President George W. Bush than he was with the African-American leader. It was a shameful performance meant to appease his liberal attackers--while Sharpton and Jackson were given the opportunity to spout untruths and, at the very least, their biased perception of race relations in America.
You would think it couldn't get any worse, but it did later in Thursday's program. While interviewing former CBS journalist and best-selling author Bernard Goldberg ("Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right"), O'Reilly asked Goldberg what he thought of his talk with Jackson. It was obviously an uncomfortable moment. Goldberg hesitatingly said "I have mixed feelings about the interview" as his voice trailed off. Then, Goldberg, the former CBS journalist-turned-media-critic, went into a withering attack of Jackson, citing the reason for many of the problems facing the African-American community. Goldberg attacked Jackson for not taking a strong position about the fact that 70% of children in the black community today are born to single mothers.
It was apparent Goldberg was tactfully suggesting O'Reilly should have pressed Jackson further on the subject--instead of letting him ramble on about other less important issues. O'Reilly responded by saying he did question Jackson on this matter, but any viewer would say O'Reilly's efforts to pin Jackson down regarding the problem of unwed mothers and missing fathers in the black community were, at best, lame. Perhaps the reason Jackson does not pursue this issue is related to the fact it was just a few years ago he himself fathered a child out of wedlock with a former Operation PUSH employee. But O'Reilly did not want to rock the boat and ignored the subject for the remainder of the segment.
To throw salt on what was fast becoming a festering journalistic wound, O'Reilly told Goldberg that Jackson admitted the criticism he was receiving was unfair--though Jackson's acknowledgement to O'Reilly was said after the on-air segment.
Jackson probably did tell O'Reilly that Media Matters and others were wrong for taking O'Reilly's words out of context. But why didn't Jackson say these words on the air? However, in a self-serving attempt to defend himself against charges of racism, he, once again, gave Jackson a pass. Jackson's failure to support O'Reilly while the cameras were on was, at best, duplicitous and, at the very least, disingenuous.
Of course O'Reilly has the right to defend himself against spurious charges. But one does not turn to the enemy of truth to seek righteousness. A house divided against itself cannot stand and O'Reilly sacrificed his principles, in order to save face with members of our society who would hate him no matter what the evidence indicated.
I think Bill O'Reilly and The O'Reilly Factor add balance to the field of journalism and commentary in America. For example, O'Reilly's work to protect sexually abused children is outstanding. His promotion of Jessica's Law, which would help to keep track of child predators, has led to the legislation being passed in over 30 states across the nation and, hopefully, more will follow suit.
However, O'Reilly's performance during the past week, while attempting to fend off unfair criticism, leaves much to be desired. Hopefully, the FOX talk show host will learn the truth can stand alone and only bad things will result from turning to those who deny the truth for support. Jackson and Sharpton both misrepresented the facts concerning the situation in Jena and, in this case, the truth became a victim in O'Reilly's attempt to clear himself of charges from those who are using race to divide our nation.
Randy: Oh! Ah I will! I'm really down with African-Americans.
Jesse Jackson: Do you really want to apologize? Are you SURE.
Randy: Y-Yes, absolutely. Jesse Jackson: Very well. If you want to apologize, I will accept.
Randy: Hahh, thank you, Mr. Jackson, thank you.
Jesse Jackson: Brian, get a picture of Mr. Marsh apologizing.
Brian: Ready to go, sir.
Jesse Jackson: Kiss it.
Randy: Huh?
Jesse Jackson: Apologize. Kiss it.
Randy: You want me to kiss your-
Jesse Jackson: That's right. Apologize.
Randy: Agh, oh, okay. I'll ahh... Lessee here uh...
African-Americans watch the same news at night that ordinary Americans do.
(Bil Clinton On Black Entertainment Television. (November 2, 1994)
and nary a peep from ALJE Sharckson
Live by the trumped-up charge, die by the trumped-up charge.
I just wish O’Reilly wouldn’t wuss up. I’ve seen him kick a$$ so many good, wonderful times.
And since this happened when O’Reilly dined with Sharpton, all I can say is, “You lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas.”
I saw some of this interview and was disgusted! BOR has called Jesse Jackson a liar and a huckster and worse for years but yesterday all was forgiven. Jackson was allowed to spew the most obnoxious racial garbage he could come up with and BOR just let him mumble on and on. Sickening.
If BOR thinks he can make nice and be accepted
by Marxist Racists, he dumber than he looks.
The Leprechaun panders to Hymietown Jackson and White Interlopers Sharpton, has Medea Benjamin of Code Pink (which gave over $600,000 to the enemy in Fallujah) on the show, has brought on the socialist propagandist Michael Moore (who is registered to vote in two states), but bans Michael Savage, whom he considers “an extremist” who is “out of the mainstream.”
Tells you what O’Reilly’s real views are. He just pretends to be an “independent.” He’s just another face of the liberal media.
Can you picture Rush doing what O’Reilly’s doing? I can’t.
They know what he’s doing and will play him like a fiddle. The black racists, Jessee Jackass and Al Sharpton, are the LAST two nincompoops anyone should attempt to “reason” with.
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