Tough-Talking Bill O'Reilly
Transcript: Bill O'Reilly, Host of The O'Reilly Factor — He's been called "arrogant," "obnoxious," a "know-nothing blowhard" and a whole lot worse.
As the self-appointed, conservative voice of outrage for the working class, Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly, host of The O'Reilly Factor, has carved out a comfortable niche in the crowded arena of political talk shows, giving CNN's Larry King a run for his money in the ratings war.
Always a magnet for controversy, O'Reilly has been relentless in his criticism of Sen. Hillary Clinton, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and House Majority Whip Tom DeLay. Recently, he has engaged in a war of words with actor George Clooney over the proceeds of the America: A Tribute to Heroes celebrity telethon.
Our viewers went head-to-head with O'Reilly in a live chat.
MODERATOR at 9:30am ET
Welcome Bill O'Reilly! Thanks for being here.
Have you been in touch with George Clooney, or his publicist, since he wrote you that letter? Do you think most celebs involved in fund-raising are doing it for the wrong reasons?
BILL O'REILLY at 9:33am ET
We've tried to get Clooney on the show but he's afraid. I don't think he did this telethon for the wrong reasons. I don't know him, but I'm assuming he's a sincere man. However, he's terribly misguided in getting terrible advice from those who are telling him to attack journalists who are investigating these charities.
There's an upside to being attached with any kind of major fund-raiser. Everyone knows that; it's good publicity. So if that's the case, if the fund-raising runs into a problem, I believe the celebrity has an obligation to try to help. All we wanted to do here on The O'Reilly Factor was have celebrities talk about the problems of getting the money to the grieving families.
MODERATOR at 9:34am ET
Christy Quintenz writes: "What is your reaction to George Clooney's opinion that 'the Factor' is an entertainment show as opposed to a hard news program?"
BILL O'REILLY at 9:34am ET
I don't believe Mr. Clooney has any idea what The O'Reilly Factor is. I think he's just parroting words given to him by a publicist. Anyone with an IQ over 40 knows The O'Reilly Factor is one the hardest-hitting TV news programs on the air today.
MODERATOR at 9:35am ET
Dallas Brooks writes: "Why would you want to discourage people from giving to charities? Why should I not believe that your attempts to increase cynicism in the American public at this time simply to increase your own ratings is not evil?"
BILL O'REILLY at 9:36am ET
You can believe whatever you want to believe. But I deal in facts. The facts are that the vast amount of money being raised is not even close to going to the grieving people.
The 160 charities formed to help the 9-11 families are uncoordinated, unaccountable and the whole thing is a chaotic mess. There's no disputing that. Less than 20 percent of the money raised by the Red Cross for 9-11 will go to the families. All I can do is report the truth. Americans can make up their own minds.
MODERATOR at 9:37am ET
Blake has a beef with last night's interview on Primetime:
Blake Soule at 9:37am ET
ABC painted a picture of you that is way off base. Why let them butcher you like that?
BILL O'REILLY at 9:38am ET
I didn't have any problem with the Primetime spot. Every story in a magazine has to be edited. If Primetime wants to concentrate on the confrontational aspect of The O'Reilly Factor, that's their privilege. Our viewers know there's more to it than that, but it's only a 7-minute story.
MODERATOR at 9:38am ET
Mick Horan writes: "'Fair and balanced.' That's the mantra of Fox News. Yet you seem (in my opinion) heavily biased against democrats. Why is that? Are they the only ones in Washington, D.C., that make mistakes!"
BILL O'REILLY at 9:39am ET
What can I say? The last 5 weeks we've been pounding Gov. George Pataki of New York — a Republican. If people want to believe the propaganda put out against Fox News and the O'Reilly Factor, there's nothing I can do.
MODERATOR at 9:40am ET
JTB wonders: "Why so angry? Why so bitter?"
BILL O'REILLY at 9:41am ET
There's no bitterness to a journalist's anger. If you're not teed off about problems in our society, you have no business being a journalist. The profession was set up to challenge the ills of our society and the mistakes of those in power.
I understand the Primetime story concentrated on trying to portray me as someone who's in a constant state of fury. It's true that I get passionate about things that are wrong and hurting people in this country. In my opinion, that's what makes me an effective journalist.
MODERATOR at 9:41am ET
Taunya asks: "Why do you think that more people in the media don't ask the tough, important questions like you?"
BILL O'REILLY at 9:43am ET
Because they want to be loved. They want to be accepted by the people they're reporting on. There's an elite club of journalists who report for each other, not for the folks. These people are never going to alienate powerful people because they want to be liked by them. Since nobody likes me, I don't have that problem.
MODERATOR at 9:43am ET
Mike writes: "Let your critics walk in ignorance, but for those undecided/fence-sitters do you REALLY believe, in your heart, that you are making a difference?"
BILL O'REILLY at 9:44am ET
There's no question that reporting done on The O'Reilly Factor has changed millions of opinions and forced some politicians to do the right thing. Just yesterday on the floor of Congress I was given credit for driving the charity story which will now result in much more money going to the 9-11 families. So we are doing some good here.
MODERATOR at 9:44am ET
Vickie asks: "How do you feel the Bush administration is handling the terrorist attacks? What more they could do?"
BILL O'REILLY at 9:45am ET
I don't have enough information to say what more they could do. At this point, I am giving the Bush administration the benefit of all doubt in the hope that that will help them combat this terrible affliction.
Journalists should have opinions based on facts and right now we don't have that many facts about these terrorists.
MODERATOR at 9:46am ET
Mike Murillo writes: "What do you say to the people who say that you are using the victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy to promote your show and to give yourself more visibility, especially right now as you are promoting your book."
BILL O'REILLY at 9:47am ET
That is an opinion and I can't dissuade people who want to think that way. The facts are that we have been investigating the charities for six weeks. I'm the only national reporter who has done that and our investigation has led to Congressional hearings and changes within charities. So if you want to attack me for doing that, go right ahead.
Vaden in Stone Mountain GA at 9:48am ET
Do you think that the poor "PR" that the Administration is getting is the result of the way the networks, CNN and some of the Fox anchors frame their questions to guests? Their real attitude exposes their hearts. But I think our media are our worst PR enemies. Your thoughts?
BILL O'REILLY at 9:49am ET
Eighty-five percent of the American people support President Bush. If he was getting that much bad PR, the numbers would never be that high. Some criticism is valid; some is not. But I think that the president, generally speaking, is being treated fairly by the media.
MODERATOR at 9:50am ET
Judy Scharer asks: "Would your friends from high school and college say that you are the same now as you were then or is there a real you and a television you?"
BILL O'REILLY at 9:50am ET
Unfortunately, the O'Reilly you see on television is the O'Reilly you see at the mall. The best friends I have, I met when I was six years old. Not much has changed.
MODERATOR at 9:52am ET
And finally, a question from Mousetek: "I know there's a lot of 'spin' in politics, but I was wondering if you would ever consider running for office?"
BILL O'REILLY at 9:54am ET
Not at this point. I just don't want to play that game of raising money and having to compromise values to get legislation through. I'm just not comfortable with that whole political world — to get along you go along. So I hope I can keep the Factor on the air for many years to come.
MODERATOR at 9:52am ET
Our thanks to Bill O'Reilly and all those who joined the chat!
Moderated by ABCNEWS.com's Saira Stewart