The Fraud Factor: O'Reilly Slams Swift Boat Vets Kerry Ad

Self | 8-6-04

[R. Scott]

…now this ad as if to say it is right wing slander.

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I always thought that to be “slander” a statement had to be false.

[R. Scott]

He doesnt agree with the ADS. I dont happen to either!!

He doesn’t just disagree with the ad, but he claims it is slanderous. It would be a different matter if he simply disagreed with any and all negative campaign ads.

[Cboldt]

Tony Snow covered for O'Reilly last night. I did not watch. How did Snow handle the vets?

I didn't watch either, but saw some comments on threads, here, while the show was playing. I have the impression that Tony gave the matter a fair showing - open minded, need more time for facts to emerge, that sort of attitude.

[mwl1]

many thanks for update

I'll settle for any of the shows giving the matter a fair hearing, instead of the hosts calling the matter a hoax, a fraud, pack of lies, or rudely not letting the vets get a word in edgewise or otherwise.

[Cboldt]

I always thought that to be "slander" a statement had to be false.

Correct.

Basics of Defamation Law <-- Mash here.

Google "elements slander" and you'll find quite a few resources.

[R. Scott]

I sometimes forget that definitions for words used by news readers, commentators and political hacks change during a Presidential election year. It’s good to know that the real definitions are still there.
I’ll sure be glad to see December role around.

[PISANO]

The disgust that FNC has for the Swift Boat Vets is palpable. Every show (save Hannity where both sides are presented) I watched took it for granted that they are lying with intimations that they are right-wing funded nut jobs. Even Snow's show had a man on whose last words were this. (Paraphrasing) If you are going to have people come out and make accusations about Kerry's patriotism at the very least they should have served aboard the same boat, these guys were NOT EVEN in the same DIVISION.

This defense doesn't hold water when we all know that these guys sleep in the same place, eat in the same place, drink etc all in close proximity. Much as firefighters do in a FIRE STATION. However this is the defense that is being raised AND NOT questioned, just parroted by FNC and other media outlets.

[Cboldt]

Even Snow's show had a man on whose last words were this. (Paraphrasing) If you are going to have people come out and make accusations about Kerry's patriotism at the very least they should have served aboard the same boat, these guys were NOT EVEN in the same DIVISION.

But Snow had supporters of the Swift boat veterans on, as well. Contrast that with O'Reilly, the night before, or Shemp Smith, yesterday, who only took and only aired positions AGAINST the Swift boat veterans position.

[sinkspur]

I was current as of the time of my posting, daddy.

[wardaddy]

well....i'm glad to see you've seen the clarification.

what a little battle.

[Gritty]

I hardly watch O'Bloviator any more. He is often smarmy and uninformed.

[Morgan in Denver]

Sorry, I honestly don't know. I rarely even watch FNC at that point since I don't like O'Reilly. Knowing Snow, he certainly did better than Bill would have done.

Which reminds me of anther issue with O'Reilly. It sure seems he's been promoting sex a lot this past year. I don't know how the shows went but the ads his staff runs on FNC at other times keep talking about various sexual themes.