Posted on 06/22/2005 2:29:50 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
On Monday an angry Bill O’Reilly castigated U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon on the air for failing to appear on Fox News Channel’s "The O’Reilly Factor” and banned him from the show forever.
What caused the Congressman to miss his time on the highest-rated talk show on cable TV may still be a mystery to Fox viewers. But NewsMax has uncovered some details of what happened.
"He didn’t show up. He didn’t call. He didn’t do anything,” O’Reilly told viewers on Monday night, calling the Pennsylvania Republican’s no-show "grossly irresponsible.”
"So he’s banned from ‘The Factor’ forever. And we thought you would like to know what kind of a classy guy [he] is.”
Weldon’s office denies O’Reilly’s claim that he simply failed to show up with no explanation. Weldon’s spokesman told NewsMax.com that they informed a "Factor” producer the Congressman would be late because he was detained by legislative business.
Weldon, Vice Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, had been scheduled for two weeks to promote his new book on Iran "Countdown to Terror.”
In an e-mail to O'Reilly on Tuesday, Weldon called the talk show maestro’s statements "the ultimate spin.”
He said his "Factor” interview was scheduled to be taped between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. But his plans to appear were preempted by a meeting with Energy Secretary Sam Bodman regarding "important National Security issues,” and six House votes.
Weldon’s spokesman Russ Caso told NewMax.com that the congressman’s staff contacted O’Reilly producers and said Weldon could do the interview when the voting ended, around 7:15.
O’Reilly’s staff rejected the offer, Caso said.
"Factor” staffer Amy Sohnen confirmed to the Philadelphia Inquirer that she had spoken to Weldon’s chief of staff, but said he screamed at her that Weldon was "busy.”
O’Reilly told viewers that Weldon was his second no-show in nearly nine years. The first was actor Danny Glover.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
I'm sure Weldon is really broken up by being banned. O'Reilly is such a self-important putz.
Over reacting like a Three year old?
Heaven forbid a congresscritter actually dosome work rather than get some face time on O Really. O Really's arrogance is limitless.
Well it sounds like the FOX people screwed up and O'Reilly owes him an apology.
O'Reilly acts as if appearing on his show is some sort of rite of passage.
Having watched O'Reilly off and on for darn over 25 years, going back to KMGH-TV in Denver, I believe Weldon.
Weldon may look like a softey, but I do believe he has a core of steel.
.
Who's this BO'R? The same one who claimed he would NEVER give in to extortion? The spinmeister primere! I guess all of his fence sitting is causing the outcry.
Who's this BO'R? The same one who claimed he would NEVER give in to extortion? The spinmeister primere! I guess all of his fence sitting is causing the outcry.
I'm curious...
Who is this O'Reilly person?
Weldon was my congressman for several years. From what I know of him, he wouldn't "avoid" O'Reily's show purposefully (or anyone's).
I am sure that no one would ever get between McCain and a camera no matter what came up.
Weldon's staff screwed up. O'Reilly says they never sent any emails, and that they were abusive to his producer.
Weldon went down into the well of the House to castigate O'Reilly yesterday.
Weldon's got several screws loose.
My God, who does this guy think he is??? Hey Bill, thanks for giving me the last word.... **** off!
He is probably not happy.
He is pushing a book.
If big ole Billy boy takes shots at it, and/or Weldon loses publicity (because others shows think he might flake out or not show) then he loses oppurtunities to generate sales.
Since he is a congressman, he is going to want to appear on shows every now and then for self promotion, but if networks and producers think he does stuff like this, they might not want to book him, and that damages him.
When O'Reilly goes on, Mrs. Sine-Nomine and I watch another channel than Fox. O'Reilly is a pompous, liberal blowhard. Who else would have his show analyzed on the air by a subordinate and then argue with the poor creature for doing her phony job?
"Weldon’s spokesman told NewsMax.com that they informed a "Factor” producer"
"Weldon’s spokesman Russ Caso told NewMax.com that the congressman’s staff contacted O’Reilly producers and said Weldon could do the interview when the voting ended, around 7:15. O’Reilly’s staff rejected the offer, Caso said."
I'd say that's proof that O'Reilly's staff was contacted.
So for O'Reilly to say, " He didn’t call. He didn’t do anything.", Isn't true.
Oh who cares what the Leprechaun has to say? What an irrelevant ego-obsessed twit.
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