Bill O’Reilly took to The O’Reilly Factor on Monday night and used his “Talking Points Memo” to “advance this troubling but important story.”
O’Reilly addressed the post-mortem The View conducted this morning about last Thursday’s set-storm-off by Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar.
O’Reilly said he provoked the hosts’ response “because I said that building a mosque near Ground Zero was inappropriate because Muslims killed us there.” This debate, he said, has “entered the fabric of America.”
O’Reilly quoted Barbara Walters as saying on Monday morning that there’s a lot of anger in America right now. O’Reilly’s analysis? There’s a lot of anger because “many folks are fed up with politically correct nonsense.” By which he meant the objection Behar and Goldberg had with O’Reilly using the blanket term “Muslims” instead of “Muslim terrorists.”
“I condemn the far-left fanatics who label the people with whom they don’t agree as bigots. That’s what Joy Behar did again today.”
Me, I think both sides have milked this controversy for about as much scant nourishment as we’re going to get. Today, both sides sounded pretty silly. Goldberg did, when she wondered aloud whether O’Reilly’s condemnation of Muslims extended to Muhammed Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And O’Reilly did, in terming Behar “far-left.” Calling Joy Behar a leftist must have made Abbie Hoffman, wherever he is in the cosmos, laugh.
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Please, can this all just go away. This is giving BOTH sides the attention they desperately crave. Joy Behar is going to be a nut forever. Bill O’Reilly is going to be a nut forever. Let’s get over it.
There’s so much hostility in the news these days from both sides. I just wish someone out there would hold some kind of rally, say, to restore sanity. We could really use an event like that. Maybe someone could plan something in a couple weeks, on a Saturday so lots of people are free. Maybe doing it on October 30th would work well.
Yeah, but who would do a thing like that?
Oh, and you what else is never gonna happen? A wacky counter rally to keep fear alive.
::sigh::
When will the rest of us ever get to unite?
Yeah, but who would do a thing like that?
Oh, and you know what else is never gonna happen? A wacky counter rally to keep fear alive.
::sigh::
When will the rest of us ever get a chance to unite?
Yes, I agree. Let’s all meet back here tomorrow around 8 to discuss a weekly meeting based on decrying the coverage of this on-going feud.
Brilliant post!
It will end when Ken Tucker, EW, and the rest of the media stops covering it. Articles like this just perpetuate the nonsense.
Don’t forget Whoopi. She’s a little nuts too.
And did anyone think that someone on that program wasn’t going to make a “statement” by walking out on O’Reilly?
How is walking off your “own” show making a statement? These women talk like know-it-alls because they pick their battles by bringing guests who “have” to be politically correct. They finally bring in someone who could careless, and they couldn’t take it. “I don’t like you! I’m walking off my own show!” OOHH! BIIIG Statement!
How is asking for a little bit of sensitivity to diversity “far left”? And for that matter, what’s wrong with political correctness? I wouldn’t mind seeing people like Bill O’Reilly expressing more human compassion once in a while.
Part of the problem with political correctness is that its stifles freedom of speech and also often inables people to skew an sugar coat facts
political correctness does not stifle fredom of speech. it’s part of the process. you can say whatever you want to say, and if I disagree, I am free to call you on it. Nothing has damaged your Freedom. Grow up.
Political correctness is the opposite of what you say. Getting to mistreat African Americans and not hire them because they are “lazy,” not convicting rapists because women in short skirts are “asking for it,” and similar long-held beliefs are what “political correctness” addresses. It’s the challenge to racism, sexism and other nonsense that has real consequences for real people.
I agree with Chris and elaborate further. The atmosphere that’s been created by always having to be “politically correct” has contributed to the anger that’s building up across America these days. It’s like some host or guest of a show is always waiting now to pounce the minute they think someone says the wrong thing with a big ahh ha, see, I was right, all of you are bigots. It’s sad, there’s so much more that’s needs our attention.
So we should stop using and asking for correct terms because it makes some people angry? Let me guess, the angry ones are white males. The pouncing isn’t going to stop and the and the demands for correct usage isn’t either. Get with the times my friend, otherwise you’re just “angrily” spinning your wheels.
I wonder. While I appreciate and partake in a little harmless and lighthearted humor at racial and ethnic stereotypes (I’m gay and I can take a gay joke, np), I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to educate people that their words, actions, and misconceptions can be offensive. The problem is that people just don’t like to be told they’re wrong, so they lash out at those who do.
What about the hostile atmosphere created by the right wing insulting and attacking everybody who isn’t white, straight, and middle-class. The bigotry that drove those gay teens to suicide is RIGHT WING, and it created an environment so hostile that people died of it.
@lostidol — EXACTLY
You mean “some host of show” like, say, oh, Bill O’Reilly. While he sees political correctness as what’s angering Americans, I see fear mongers who talk out of their a-h’s with little, if any, evidence for their statements and conspiracy theories as what’s angering me. I’ll take political correctness over that any day.
Oh please! So if whites get to use the “n” word, lots of people will be happier? If non-Muslims get to treat every Muslim like a terrorist, we’re safer? If straights get to mistreat gays and deny them basic rights, we’re all happier in our marriages? I’m white, non-Muslim and straight, but I care about a lot of people who aren’t, and I’m tired of seeing them hurt by the backlash to them asking to be treated with respect. Anger at being asked to be more humane is what I see, and it’s wrong. Make room at the table, we’ve got a lot to share with a lot of people — and we’ll be better off for it.
@Not Moby: I’m sure that “fear mongers who talk out of their a-h’s with little, if any, evidence for their statements and conspiracy theories” angers you. Go look at The View w/Jesse Ventura where he says 9/11 was an inside job. Diptards Joy and Whoopi didn’t seem to have a problem that day. OHHHHH, right. It’s only the right that does that. Hypocrites.
The people who have a problem with political correctness are all the straight white old men out there who for years ruled the world there way. Now suddenly things have changed and they don’t like it – hence the PC backlash.
Sure some PC is extreme – but the intention behind it was solid – to foster more sensitivity and respect
Richie, thank you. All these years I thought (mistakenly, apparently) that I was a young bisexual female. Thanks to your brilliant observation and my distaste for the PC police…I must be a straight white old man! Thank you for clearing that up for me!
Vicki misses the point. She gets to enjoy a lot of things in life because other people fought for her to do it, and now she’s turned on them. Lovely.
Haha, perfect tm. Thanks.
I agree time to stop giving these far left and far right windbags any attention
Abbie Hoffman isn’t anywhere in the cosmos other than 6 feet in the ground and unable to laugh. Do you have any proof otherwise? Get real.
I don’t think the Abbie Hoffman remark was meant to be taken quite so literally.
Idealogically, I definitely lean closer to Joy’s side, but the way both sides are milking this little on-air spat is just shameless. Joy and Bill seem convinced that people just can’t get enough of their squabble. I do think some important points were raised on Thursday’s episode of ‘The View’ and it indeed made for fascinating television, but now these people are just stroking their egos. [Meanwhile, Elizabeth just looks at the camera and blames Obama for taking away her right to use the term "terrorist"...?!]
Sigh. John Stewart’s ‘Rally To Restore Sanity’ can’t come soon enough…
@Marc- I get your point and agree – both sides are milking it and it doesn’t make any look good. There were some important points and one of them is Elizabeth’s point – the government (not just Obama’s but mostly Obama’s) have tried to santize what happened by not using the term terrorist. They won’t apply the correct term because it stirs up these emotions. Let’s stop sugar coating and re-writing history. They were Muslim Terrorists. There are a lot of Muslim Terrorists and they are still ploting. There is nothing wrong with correctly identifying them and using the term as it is!!!
Hey, I’m with you. The term ‘Muslim terrorists’ is accurate, and I have no problem with it being used in the context of those responsible for 9/11. I’m just saying that hearing Elizabeth complaining about Obama’s preference of the word ‘extremist’ over ‘terrorist’ felt – to me, at least – churlish and petty in light of the uproar over O’Reilly’s ignorant (and careful chosen) words. For the record: no, I don’t usually agree with her political views, but I also won’t write her off as a mouthpiece for Fox News; at least her opinions are sincere and heartfelt, unlike shameless instigators like O’Reilly.
What annoys me about Bill is that the guy actually knows better. He made a good point when he later said that nobody says ‘Japanese extremists’ bombed Pearl Harbour; we say ‘the Japanese’ without blinking an eye. Yet calling the 9/11 attackers simply ‘Muslims’ sounds wrong. Why is this? THAT question has the makings of an interesting discussion. Sadly, we didn’t get that on Thursday. We got smugness, histrionics, and a bit of Obama-bashing for good measure. And, curse me, it was damn entertaining! Just not very constructive.
While I wish they HAD had the discussion you mentioned, I think it would have to be short. We say the Japanese because it was a decision made by the Japanese government -as a country- to attack another country. We can’t say Muslims because they do not act on behalf of any country and most definitely do not act on behalf of their entire religion.
Joy has bought into her “celebrity”, however everything that comes out of her mouth is stupidy. Whoopi should stay with what she does best, comedy. I will NEVER again watch the View, and my ladies group feel the same. They can kiss the behind of people they agree with, but they are rude to anyone who they don’t agree with. Well ladies of the VIEW,you have lost a few viewers this time.
Stupidy?
It wasn’t just his point of view that was a problem; he cut Behar off and dismissed their viewpoint. He just generally acted like an a$$.
Barbara Walter said it best, He was invited here, you don’t walk out of your own house”! I was disgusted by the way Joy and Whoppi conducted themselves on the show. They diserved criticism for their behaviour. Shape up and Grow up girls!!!
Yeah, but it was Barbara and Bill Gettie who invited him, NOT Joy and Whoopi. That’s like saying if your roommate invites someone over who insults and/or pisses you off, you have to stay and take it.
Look, O’Reilly yells at, cuts off, and dismisses anyone he pleases on his own show. If this were Joy’s show, she can and should do the same.
I wonder what they would have done if Barbara weren’t there that day. Or even if he’d been on in the first place.
What a ridiculous analogy. Joy and Whoopi are there specifically to debate with guests. That’s the rules of “living” there. If you can’t conduct yourself accordingly without throwing a hissyfit and storming offstage like a couple of brats, then “move out”.
When did having some couth and not promoting generalization become “political correctness”?
Exactly.
O’Reilly put his foot in his mouth again. He can’t generalize an entire religion and people like he did. His bigotry was caught on live television and now he is trying to create a grassroot campaign through his audience to gather support. Unfortunately, this viewpoint is not historically uncommon -it happened during WWII with the Japanese internmnent and during McCarthism of the ’50′s. People need to stop hating each other due to the differences and put the blame to where it belongs. It wasn’t Muslims that killed us, like O’Reilly stupidly said, it was the terrorists!! He would be a bigger man to admit his mistake instead of trying to make himself out as the victim.
Why was it bigotry to state a fact? Muslims did attack us on 9/11, obviously he wasn’t saying they were all in on it. Gees get off your high horse.
Amen Kathy.
So when we’re talking about the Oklahoma City bombing should we say that Whites attacked us, because Tim McVeigh was white? I’m sure you would consider that a generalization. So is saying that “Muslims” attacked us. Try to use your brains just a little bit here, ladies. It’s not that difficult. Or maybe for you, it is.
McVeigh was a registered Republican and a member of the NRA. So obviously Republicans are a danger to Americans and should be persecuted. Right? Right? Anyone?
kathy, if you think about it, the implication of what bill said IS that all muslims are to blame. he was arguing that the mosque shouldn’t be built near the wtc because muslims were responsible for the attack. if he wasn’t condemning all muslims, why would he have a problem with these muslims, who were NOT responsible, building a place of worship? these people have NOTHING to do with the terrorists. they share a religion, but — i think we can assume — the people building the mosque have never tried to attack the U.S.
Well said, Kathy! Of course, McVeigh was not Muslim although he did receive training on bomb making and detonation from Muslim terrorists.
AaronT & RLA — your comments are so spot on. McVeigh was also (supposedly) Christian — so Christians are bombing and killing children’s day care centers!!!
People — get over yourself already.
Strong ! Intense ! Impressive !But i would like to ceerblate it in style just the way you recommended, in front of Buckingham Palace gates
My friends and I are with you Carla. We will never watch the View again.
Bill Finally a voice of reason! Please don’t let them stop you from speaking the Truth! We love you for your sanity!
Sanity is not a word I’d use when describing Bill O’Reilly.
The men who blew up the WTC were Muslims. Period. What Bill said is 100% correct. What is so wrong about stating that???!!! Get a clue people…trying to pacify everyone will pacify NO one.
susan, i get what you’re saying… it’s semantics, really. but imagine if a radical Christian group attacked our country. if Bill said that Christians attacked us, don’t you think people would be upset? there is already a scary level of bigotry against muslim people in this country… i don’t think it’s helpful to categorize all of them with the extreme few who were responsible for 9/11
By your logic the IRA in N. Ireland represented me as a Catholic because we both went to Mass on Sundays.
I don’t watch Bill O’Reilly and I don’t watch the View so I’ll be fine when sites like this one quit milking the story. Can’t you just rerun a story you wrote months, or years, ago and pretend it’s new instead. God knows you do that often enough.
Amen, Chappel. Amen. Isn’t it about time for a “Kids of Glee Season 1: Where Are They Now?” retrospective?
O’Reilly was on mark (and I don’t always agree with him). Joy & Whoopi have forgotten what happened on 9/11
Joy isn’t on the left? Since when? Must have missed all her Bush love.
I for one have stopped watching the View, i am sick of there anger at every body they do not agree with, cant stand whoopie anymore and Joy makes me sick with her she is better than anyone else on the planet.. it is not face the nation show its a women’s morning show for crying out loud!!!
sadly, i think “anger” is the only thing that attracts people’s attention these days… hence the popularity of both the view and fox news. but what exactly is wrong with the view being a “women’s morning show”? so it’s aimed at women… does it make it of less value somehow?