Racially insensitive comment by Bill O’Reilly?

msnbc.com ^ | April 15 | A Scarborough Country interview

[modern_orthodox]

We all make mistakes. And we all say things we regret sometimes. But tonight, many conservatives on Capitol Hill are shocked by a racially insensitive comment that was made by the most powerful figure in cable news — Bill O’Reilly. Lloyd Grove reported this column in his column “The Reliable Source,” which appears in “The Washington Post,” and talked to Joe. LAST SATURDAY, Fox’s Bill O’Reilly was emceeing a benefit for disadvantaged school children in Washington, D.C., something that he should be commended for. But apparently O’Reilly found himself filling time before an African-American boy’s group named “The Best Men” were to come on stage. And he said this to the entire audience, quote, “Does anyone know where The Best Men are? I hope they’re not in the parking lot stealing our hubcaps.”

JOE SCARBOROUGH: Did Mr. O’Reilly really make that statement in front of a Washington audience?

LLOYD GROVE, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: I’m afraid so, Joe. He did. And a lot of people didn’t hear it because it was a noisy room with a bunch of people in it and weren’t paying attention. But those who did are certain he said it. And I talked to Bill yesterday, and he didn’t deny it. He just said any talk about it was foolishness and ridiculous.

SCARBOROUGH: It’s interesting that you said that he just dismissed it and said it was foolish. When Trent Lott got into the mess he got into this past winter for his remarks that he made at Strom Thurmond’s birthday party, Mr. O’Reilly said, “Excusing bad behavior by the powerful is a dangerous game. Trent Lott offended millions of Americans and probably didn’t even realize he was doing it. There comes a point in every person’s life when they either surrender to prejudice and ideology, or they become independent thinkers. It’s easier to surrender. The people of the United States must hold those in power responsible for what they do and say.” Now, isn’t what Bill O’Reilly said the other night about the same as what Trent Lott said in an off-the-cuff remark this past winter?

[modern_orthodox]

I hadn't seen this before, and a quick search on FR didn't dig it up. What d'y'all think?

[wideawake]

What? MSNBC is trying to Lott the guy who's beating them in the ratings? Unthinkable!

[Capitalism2003]

This was taken WAY out of context...I saw O'Reilly interviewed on Hardball yesterday when he set the record straight. Try to find a transcipt of the O'Reilly/Matthews interview...Bill puts things in perspective. The guys were late to the show...He was on stage alone saying "Where are those guys?? Get em out here!" The entire audience was laughing so he started making jokes about them being late...The hubcap remark was ONE of his little jokes about them...The entire audience was cracking up...then they finally showed up, he shook hands with a few, and sat down. There was nothing racist about it...just another attempt by the libs to demonize opposition and destory the character of those they hate.

[Russ]

Were they in the parking lot stealing hubcaps??

[Mears]

I had seen it in the paper and although I'm a big O'Reilly fan I think he should have used a little common sense here.

[Right Wing Professor]

What d'y'all think?

Yawn!

The people who want to be offended by O Reilly will always find some excuse to be offended. What I have yet to figure out is, if someone says he's offended, why should I care?

[ZULU]

The leftists are really ticked off.

They are trying every trick in the book to try and blockade Television and Radio and Internet Free America so they can regain the news and propaganda monopoly they once enjoyed.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Now, isn’t what Bill O’Reilly said the other night about the same as what Trent Lott said in an off-the-cuff remark this past winter?...not really - Lott had made his comments numerous times before in front of congressmen and TV cameras without anyone finding them at all outrageous - until it became politically expedient to become outraged.....

[Egregious Philbin]

I think O'Reilly is an idiot. I'm not at all surprised that he would say that of Lott and do the same himself. I think that both he and Lott merely spoke without thinking, little more, but i'd like to see O'Reilly stew in this for awhile (if it becomes an issue) and have to explain how what Lott said was different than what he said.

[princess leah]

Well, O'Reilly isn't an elected official whereas Lott was...If we start the game of he said this, then ALL of Hollywood and the media would have to be fired, especially for all the hateful, anti-Christian remarks that NO ONE ever gets called on the carpet for! Should he have said that, NO, but it sounds like he was being a smart-ass and joking and America has become OVERLY sensitive to ANY comments or jokes!

[RooRoobird14]

Hmmmm......I guess Scarborough won't have anything to say about Chris Matthew's racist comment re: Jane Goodall's chimpanzee greeting being directed at Colin Powell.

[HELLRAISER II]

Sounds like a legitimate statement to me.

[dark_lord]

Excuse me. Isn't it racist to assume that this remark (jokingly asking where are they, out in the parking lot stealing hubcaps?) is racist? Because couldn't Bill have made exactly the same remark about a group of white guys? Yes.

So, to simply immediately assume that Bill wouldn't have made a similar remark about a group of white guys is in itself racist, because if the inherent assumption that remarks like this would only be directed toward "people of color", correct? So who are the racists here, hmmmm?

[The G Man]

Um, how does Bill know what race they are??

[South40]

So MSNBC think that comment was racially insensitive.

I wonder what they'd say if asked to comment on this Robert KKK Byrd quote:

The ex-Klansman vowed never to fight "with a Negro by my side. Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."-Robert KKK Byrd

[SeaDragon]

But apparently O?Reilly found himself filling time before an African-American boy?s group named ?The Best Men? were to come on stage. And he said this to the entire audience, quote, ?Does anyone know where The Best Men are? I hope they?re not in the parking lot stealing our hubcaps.?

I think that he would have said it about white group too under the same circumstances but you wouldn't have heard a peep from anyone.

[Desecrated]

O'Reilly explained the whole deal this weekend with Tim Russert. I doubt anyone watched, so maybe find the transcript.

[dighton]

Stealing hubcaps . . . . . cruddy JDs!

[HELLRAISER II]

I don't have any problem with what O'reilly said, he's entitled to his opinion & his style of jokes. It's fine with me.

[Dave S]

Look at the source Lloyd Grove. He's a liberal attack dog known for making up his "facts."

The hubcaps comment was relevant because the theme of the event was a "sock hop."

Grove wasnt there. He didnt hear or observe the statement. He checked with the head of the association who was on the stage and she didnt know what he was talking about because no one was offended by his statement.

BTW, O'Reilly was MCing at this fund raiser for an organization that mentors at risk teens in the inner city, a charity that he supports. He discussed all of this on MSNBC show I saw last night hosted by host of Meet The Press.