Posted on 07/26/2004 8:37:33 AM PDT by Elijah27
'The Fraud Factor'
Posted: July 26, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Vox Day
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
No one can deny that Bill O'Reilly is a massive media success. However, contrary to the beliefs of some, he is neither conservative nor crazy. He is, instead, a complete fraud – a blowhard as devoid of principle as the iconic strawmen he sets up and knocks down with mind-numbing regularity. In other words, he is just another media whore, selling not ideas, but himself.
Mr. O'Reilly has mastered a confrontational style, which works as long as he is in control of his opponent's microphone. His usual tactic is to ask a question, cut off his opponent halfway through the answer, then feign an emotional overreaction to an exaggerated and often inaccurate extension of their position. The fact that he has taken on many leftist lightweights and exposed their essential silliness has led many to conclude that Mr. O'Reilly is a conservative and a genuine lover of American liberty, but this is not the case.
Television is an inherently deceptive medium. It is much harder to deceive in text, where the reader has the opportunity to easily review something that might have been passed over in a casual first read. After reading Mr. Reilly's first book, it was readily apparent this was not the product of a logical, intellectual or conservative mind, but rather a haphazard collection of muddled opinions which reflected a strong government moderate's typically hazy grasp of political reality.
For example, Mr. O'Reilly once attacked the president of the Gun Owners of America as a nutcase on the fringe due to the GOA's opposition to the assault weapons ban. This demonstrated three things:
Lately, Mr. O'Reilly has taken to apish chest-thumping in proclaiming that various individuals are "ducking" and "backing down" from him. This is rather ironic in the face of the following transcript from Fox News:
The ACLU held its annual convention, but The Factor was not invited. However, The Factor said, "Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican, was, and he debated our pal Howard Dean, who remains too frightened to appear on [this show]. The debate dealt with the Patriot Act. Dean claimed it robs us of individual rights." The Factor reminded, "If anybody has been abused by the Patriot Act, call us, please. We want to put them on the air."
Upon hearing this, Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian Party's candidate for president, was quick to respond to Mr. O'Reilly's challenge, apprising "The Factor" personnel of his victimized status. But like bold Sir Robin, O'Reilly bravely ran away. When danger – in the form of a political candidate, who, unlike Bill's pal, is not primary toast, but will instead be on the ballot in all 50 states this November – reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled. One of brave Sir William's minions sent the following e-mail:
According to producers, the "challenge" has apparently been misunderstood in terms of what Bill actually said on the air. There is no interest in having Mr. Badnarik on the show at this time.
Oh, it was a misunderstanding! Did "The Factor" mean to say that he does not want to put someone abused by the Patriot Act on the air? Did he deny Badnarik's victim status? No to both counts. As you see, brave Sir Bill, he turned about and gallantly he chickened out. Bravely taking to his feet, he beat a very swift retreat. Bravest of the brave, O'Reilly!
The cowardly "Factor" should change the name of his show. As "Fear Factor" is taken, "The Fraud Factor" would appear to be apropos.
Vox Day is a novelist and Christian libertarian. He is a member of the SFWA, Mensa and the Southern Baptist Convention, and has been down with Madden since 1992. His weekly column is syndicated nationally by Universal Press Syndicate. Visit his web log, Vox Popoli, for daily commentary and responses to reader email.
I agree. I'm conservative to the core and have been disgusted with O'Really in radio and television formats.
Is O'Really a conservative? If he is then why do my ears deceive me?
It's amazing the way he can lumps Bush and Democrats together. With a wave of the hand, he declares "they both do it" [fill in the topic]. "Look, they both do it, OK?!" I don't know if he thinks he is disarming the liberal so he can then attack in an about face. I don't know if he really thinks Bush and the Dems are the same. He's arrogant and not always consistent. And when he pompously declares that he's watching out for me, I have to look away and take a deep breath. If O'Really is a conservative, then he's in a league with the most liberal of the liberal conservative crowd. At any rate, I can't stand to see or hear him.
So, --- He doesn't like Bill.
Don't watch it. Watch Hard Ball instead.
He likes lefties.
I'm sorry, I know O'Reilly can be pompous at times but this article is pure BS.
Anybody who thinks they have the right to personally own rocket-launchers, bazookas, and heavy artillery has no right attempting to belittle O'Reilly.
I can't balme O'Reilly for not giving this guy, Michael Badnarika, a venue under the guise of him being victimized by the Patriot Act, because he wasn't.
He is no conservative.
Though what he says about O'Reilly is no doubt true, the fact that he is not a conservative, runs his show the way he wishes to, and is in it for the money, is hardly news.
And as far as Mr. Michael Badnarik and the Libertarian Party goes, Mr. O'Reilly would be much better served by learning about, and pontificating the 2nd Ammendment. He'd get more viewers.
Thanks for the post Elijah27, not being an O'Reilly disciple, I fleetingly wondered what he was up to.
Yes, sometimes he can be a pain in the a@@. Too far right on some things.
Huh?
Bill O'Reilly is one of the last of the moderate Democrats. He very plainly has stated his moderately liberal views on his show, and acknowledges that what he is trying to do is reign in the lunatics of his party. Unfortunately, his party has now been so taken by lunatics, few in his party can even recognize that he is in what used to be the Carter-Mondale-Dukakis mainstream.
"Anybody who thinks they have the right to personally own rocket-launchers, bazookas, and heavy artillery has no right attempting to belittle O'Reilly. "
Anybody who can't read what's in an article and then bashes the author on what isn't there shouldn't be commenting on the article.
He's bashing o'reilly because he did just what you did - saying the AWB was about bazookas and rocket launchers. It's not. It's about owning a magazine that hold 11 rounds instead of 10, or a rifle with a flash hider or a pistol grip. Or an AR-15 with an adjustible stock so both a man and his wife can shoot the same rifle comfortably.
But bill o'reilly couldn't deal with that, so he did his usual spin, exagerate and yell routine to make the other side look bad when it became his position was idiotic.
Bill o'oreilly is a foolish blowhard who knows nothing and wants nothing but the glorification of bill o'reilly.
"O'Reilly supports abortion, gun control and special rights for homosexuals.
He is no conservative."
Oreilly has never claimed to be a conservative and repeatedly denies that label when applied to him by democrats. He is registered as an independent.
I have heard him condemn abortion many times, but I have not actually heard whether he is pro choice or not. It is true he doesn't have any problem with gay marriage but he does want what the public wants on this issue, and since the public does not want gay marriage, he is ok with that.
As far as gun control, yes he does want some limits on ownership of guns. I don't know anyone who believes that a private citizen should be able to own a fully armed tank, bazooka, rocket launcher, tommy gun etc. Nearly everyone is in favor of some gun control, its the amount of control where people differ.
Vox's Bill bash was mostly unfounded. Yeah O'reilly can be a pompous, smug, ass, but so is Rush. I like them both.
2nd to last sentence should read "when it became APPARENT his position was idiotic."
I remember one of the first times I watched o'reilly. He was ranting that doctor's salaries should be capped at 100,000 a year. Yeah, that's just what I want - chase the best doctors and surgeons out of business because they get paid the same as the hacks in who are practicing.
What a moron he is.
I believe that the point being made is that O'Reilly gives the impression that the "Assault Weapons" ban is associated with regulating machine guns, bazookas, etc. He certainly did imply that anyone opposed to said ban was in favor of sub-machineguns on every street corner.
Since the aforementioned ban had nothing to do with any of these weapons (which are regulated under NFA 1934 and GCA 1968), one is forced to conclude that:
Is there such a thing as a "ratings-ist"? He always comes across as a paper tiger.
"Bill O'Reilly is one of the last of the moderate Democrats"
If so, I wish he would plainly state that! He had been giving the impression for the longest that he was a conservative republican, and he acted so on the air.
Just recently, he has over-zealously tried to prove that he isn't - and all that is doing is making him look and sound like a total fraud.
If he is a moderate democrat, state that and act that and he may find some listernership coming back.
I won't as long as he "acts".
Well, actually, I read more than the article. I went to the guy's website and read there as well. He certainly did infer on his website that citizens should be able to own rocket-launcehers and heavy artillery.
He is a libertarian presidential candidate. I just find him a bit kooky to throwing stones at O'Reilly.
"Well, actually, I read more than the article. I went to the guy's website and read there as well. He certainly did infer on his website that citizens should be able to own rocket-launcehers and heavy artillery.
He is a libertarian presidential candidate. I just find him a bit kooky to throwing stones at O'Reilly."
I throw stones at bill o'reilly because he's an ignorant blowhard who makes up for his idiocy by yelling louder than the other guy. He doesn't believe in the second amendment. He believes doctors should have their salaries capped. He's an utter moron. For some reason people cheer him because occassionally things align and he backs their pet causes.
BTW, for the first hundred years or so of this country, ordinary citizens owned military style artillery. They were even pressed into service when needed. The people who owned them were not kooks. They were free citizens exercising their freedom.
For the first hundred years of this country people owned slaves and paid no personal income tax either.
I like O'Reilly. I don't always agree with him but that's fine. I don't always agree with anybody. I have never heard him come out against the second amendment and the Dr. salary cap would be one of the things I disagree with him on.
In short, I like O'Reilly because he supports our country, our war on terror, and personal responsibility. He vigorously goes after liars like Moore and Franken who try to undermine those efforts. Is Bill perfect? No way, but I would prefer to watch a pompous truth-teller than a humble liar. Just my opinion.
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