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?

[TigersEye]

Well, O'Reilly isn't an elected official whereas Lott was...

Jimmy the Greek wasn't an elected official.

...especially for all the hateful, anti-Christian remarks that NO ONE ever gets called on the carpet for!

Completely non-sequiter, hateful, anti-Christian remarks are not unPC. Everybody knows that!

[usnret99]

I myself enjoy O'Reilly. I look at it this way if you don't like him don't watch or listen to him. Let Freedom Ring!!!

[conservativeinbflo.]

HARD ATTACK 51-- Lighten up! Jeez! who really cares if someone says something "racially insensitive" anyways? if someone calls me a honkey, i couldn't give two figs!! what a dumb word!! but heaven forbid, generalizations are made on those who have darker complexions-- then we never hear the end of it! YAWN.

[Kewz1]

I think people in general need to loosen up about stuff like this. Perhaps a little less caffeine and a little more bran?

[sinkspur]

The overall assumption was that welfare people are drug users and that the majority of those were black.

I suspect this is more than assumption.

[Search4Truth]

Mr. O', at one time or another, annoys everyone. LOL Part of the key to his success, IMHO.

[MEGoody]

"His contention was that we should test them all and hers was that only ones meeting certain criteria should be tested. He then commented that we would have to engage in racial profiling in order to do that."

That's not a racist comment. It's simply the truth.

[Far Right Of Left]

Blah,blah,blah...
Here's $5.00, go buy a sense of humor!

[Paul Atreides]

Like I have said numerous times when stuff like this comes up: if Chris Rock had said it, those who claim to be offended would be passing out with laughter.

There is a show called Comic View, on BET. Watch it sometime.

[pankot]

Essentially leftist PC bull$__t.

[semaj]

I thought the commment was reflective of the realities of living and working in that area of Washington? The commnet was not meant to be taken seriously although the possibility was there.

[cowboyfred]

Damn. And I was hoping they had spoken with thinking.

[Steve_Seattle]

I normally take the bus to work, but one day we had a retreat at a community center in a prodominately Black part of town, so I drove my car because the bus connections were too complicated. Sometime during the retreat, my hubcaps were stolen in the parking lot in broad daylight. Stereotypes often have a basis in reality.

[sinkspur]

Pat Rouche is a nut. She kept her yap shut during the entire Clinton administration, then, the minute Bush gets in office, she starts going off on Colin Powell about her daughters.

In truth, Ms. Rouche, like many American women, marry Muslim Arabs knowing full well what they're getting into with these characters, then whine to the government when the guy does the very thing they knew he might do.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"Bill O'Reilly also has said that the Pope is old and being that he can't walk down a flight of stairs that easily, he should pack it in.... ( I guess he would feel the same for disabled people too ) "

I've been disabled since 1986, after a car accident in Lake Township in Ohio. I interpreted O'Reilly's "pack it in" remark to be directed at the Pope's ability to LEAD. LEAD being the key word here.

I used to be a great basketball player, but I have since packed it in long ago. Why? I'm physically unable to play basketball the way I used to be able to play. I realized I could no longer lead so I passed the baton on to someone else.

In much the same way, the Pope has proven that he's mentally unable to make fair, sound, leadership decisions. This is not an attack on the Pope; it's simply old age -- happens to everyone.

If the Pope cannot make sound decisions, the honorable thing for the Pope to do would be to step down (for the good of his own people).

In defense of O’Reilly, his comments on the Pope were based on reality, i.e., the Pope’s inability to lead effectively.

[Living Free in NH]

Why is it that the only group of people we can make fun of is men of European descent?

[Far Right Of Left]

"Stereotypes often have a basis in reality."
Very true... I can't jump or dance

[Sonny M]

This is getting blown out of proportion, but in liberals eyes, this isn't the first time. He is not a racist, but he has made some "racially insensitive" comments in the past. He used the term "wetback" once, before quickly correcting himself, and at one benefit for childred, was trying to make a couple of illegals jokes, that he screwed up (I really have my doubts if he writes his own stuff sometimes) that sounded like shots at spanish people in general (not just mexican, but spanish, as a whole).

[Ferret Fawcet]

some people are way too touchy.