What's So Bad About Bill O'Reilly?

[John Bentley]

I've been listening to his radio show for a couple of months now, and I really can't see why a lot of the people on this forum deride him so much. Have I just not been listening long enough? Is there some view he holds that is so objectionable? I find myself agreeing with him most of the time, so am I nuts, or what?

 

[Darth Rotor]

I've been listening to his radio show for a couple of months now, and I really can't see why a lot of the people on this forum deride him so much. Have I just not been listening long enough? Is there some view he holds that is so objectionable? I find myself agreeing with him most of the time, so am I nuts, or what?

Nothing wrong with him, other than:

1. He's an abrasive *******
2. He's a shill
3. He's self important
4. He's rude to his guests and callers

He is occasionally funny, and occasionally right. Even a blind squirrel finds the acorn now and then.

DR

 

[Luke T.]

so am I nuts, or what?

You sound like Bill O'Reilly, JB.

O'Reilly seems to make stuff up as he goes. Whenever I listen to his show, I see giant holes in his thinking. And he is a prolific strawman constructor.

I'll give you the last word.

 

[Ladewig]

After the French refused to support the U.S. going into Iraq, O'Reilly called for a boycott of French goods. When a guest challenged the effectiveness of O'Reilly's boycott, O'Reillt responded by saying that the Paris Business Review had published figures showing that the boycott is hurting the French economy. There is no such thing as the Paris Business Review. Pulling numbers out one's butt and pretending that they are facts is not something respectable news commentors do.

Oh, and while waving the family-values flag, he tried to commit adultery by making creepily obscene phone calls to a subordinate. She brough suit against him and they settled out of court.

The whole "shut up, shut up, cut his micprohone" thing is more evidence that he is unqualified to be a news commentor.

 

[John Bentley]

I obviously have not been listening long enough, then. Can y'all be more specific? Give me a "for instance"? I'm not defending the guy, I just can't see that he's all that objectionable. Yes, he's abrasive and rude to some of his guests, but he's also an entertainer, and that sells.

For the last two months, he's been basically talking about the fact that the war in Iraq has turned into a FUBAR, but we have to stick it out because it would be worse if we just left a power vacuum for Iran to fill.

That and his ideas on how and why we should protect our southern border.

Oh, and his new book, which he shamelessly plugs every 5 seconds or so, but hey it's his show. I'd probably do the same if I could.

Anyway, I kind of agree with him on at least those two subjects, so what am I missing?

 

[Luke T.]

If you had a transcript of his show, any show, I could show you exactly what I mean about holes in his logic and strawman constructing.

It's been a while since I listened to him, so I can't recall a specific example.

I don't hate the guy. I used to watch him a lot, too. About four or five years ago every night. Then I just suddenly burned out on him.

I have listened to his radio show a few times since then, and I grant him, and any radio commentator, a heck of a lot of latitude since trying to fill three hours of radio time, and an hour of TV time, every single day has got to be a Herculean task. I know I wouldn't be up to it.

So there is bound to be a lot of crap shovelling going on.

 

[firecoins]

The whole "shut up, shut up, cut his micprohone" thing is more evidence that he is unqualified to be a news commentor.

The only thing that qualifies O'Reilly to be a news commentator are ratings, which he has.

 

[senorpogo]

I used to watch O'Reilly quasi-regularly and found myself agreeing with him more than I thought I would. But, like others have pointed out here, his real fault isn't his politics as much how he presents himself. He has a tendency to ignore evidence, misrepresent his opponents positions, and not listen to what others are actually saying. He talks over guests and then acts like he's given them a chance to speak when, in fact, he really hasn't. It's a carnival, not an informative show.

I stopped watching him because of his willful ignorance towards the basic workings of American government. I can't remember the particular issue, but O'Reilly would -night after night - become very agitated about the Supreme Court ruling that such and such is unconstitutional. He'd go on a tirade against "activist judges" and the "liberal judiciary". Never mind that the Supreme Court is supposed to rule on the constitutionality of laws. That's just an inconveint fact that should be ignored.

Honestly though, I see him as Jerry Springer with a political bent. He's a loud, annoying laser light show. I don't really understand why so many people get so worked up by him.

 

[daredelvis]

After the French refused to support the U.S. going into Iraq, O'Reilly called for a boycott of French goods. When a guest challenged the effectiveness of O'Reilly's boycott, O'Reillt responded by saying that the Paris Business Review had published figures showing that the boycott is hurting the French economy. There is no such thing as the Paris Business Review. Pulling numbers out one's butt and pretending that they are facts is not something respectable news commentors do.

Oh, and while waving the family-values flag, he tried to commit adultery by making creepily obscene phone calls to a subordinate. She brough suit against him and they settled out of court.

The whole "shut up, shut up, cut his micprohone" thing is more evidence that he is unqualified to be a news commentor.

You forgot to mention the fact that he went around claiming that he had won a Peabody award for his work on Inside Addition. When it was reported that that claim was false (Inside Addition won a Polk award (after Bill'O left the show)) instead of issuing a correction to his demonstrably false claims he went on a Jihad against the reporter.

Oh, and the guest he had on who said his father, who had died on Sept. 11th, who said that his father would not support the war. Bill's reaction was beyond, beyond the pale.

He is a blowhard and a tool.

Daredelvis

 

[pgwenthold]

I stopped watching him because of his willful ignorance towards the basic workings of American government. I can't remember the particular issue, but O'Reilly would -night after night - become very agitated about the Supreme Court ruling that such and such is unconstitutional. He'd go on a tirade against "activist judges" and the "liberal judiciary".

Actually, that isn't even the part that bothers me. The objectionable part is that he does this and then has the nerve to suggest that it is the "no spin" zone.

"No spin but mine" is more like it.

 

[senorpogo]

Actually, that isn't even the part that bothers me. The objectionable part is that he does this and then has the nerve to suggest that it is the "no spin" zone.

"No spin but mine" is more like it.

Yes, the facade of objectivity. His show is actually a great example of non-skeptical thought. It's a video dictionary for fallacious arguments. Ad homs, strawmen, appeals to emotion! They're all here!

 

[hgc]

I obviously have not been listening long enough, then. Can y'all be more specific? Give me a "for instance"? I'm not defending the guy, I just can't see that he's all that objectionable. Yes, he's abrasive and rude to some of his guests, but he's also an entertainer, and that sells.
...

Here's a site dedicated to instances of O'Reilly's lies and craziness -- which seems to be on the rise. There's also Media Matters. These are the outlets often referred to by B O'R as "left-wing smear merchants." But, I swear, you get a liberal dose of direct quotes, and it's hard to refute that he's a very bad person.

 

[John Bentley]

Wow, I have got to listen some more, I guess. I haven't heard any of this stuff! I don't watch the tv show at all, but I remember channel surfing one night and stopping to listen. It was a typical "I'm right because I can talk louder and faster than you" type of talk show. That hasn't been the case on the radio shows I've listened to so far. I thought it was because he had more time to fill, so was more willing to let the other guy speak. He does tend to put people on the spot and keeps repeating the same question until it's obvious that the other guy just doesn't want to answer the question. I've always wanted to do that to a politician, so I guess that's part of why I like his show as an entertainment outlet.

 

[brodski]

He does tend to put people on the spot and keeps repeating the same question until it's obvious that the other guy just doesn't want to answer the question. I've always wanted to do that to a politician, so I guess that's part of why I like his show as an entertainment outlet.

I take any opportunity to post this but of UK political nostalgia, enjoy.

 

[firecoins]

Honestly though, I see him as Jerry Springer with a political bent. He's a loud, annoying laser light show. I don't really understand why so many people get so worked up by him.

Jerry Springer already had a political bent

 

[Snide]

I'll give you the last word.

Don't forget to interrupt JB when he's trying to get his last word in, while making faces at him, and then take the last word yourself.

 

[senorpogo]

Jerry Springer already had a political bent

Did not know that. But now I know and knowing is half the battle.

 

[Luke T.]

Wow, I have got to listen some more, I guess. I haven't heard any of this stuff! I don't watch the tv show at all, but I remember channel surfing one night and stopping to listen. It was a typical "I'm right because I can talk louder and faster than you" type of talk show. That hasn't been the case on the radio shows I've listened to so far. I thought it was because he had more time to fill, so was more willing to let the other guy speak. He does tend to put people on the spot and keeps repeating the same question until it's obvious that the other guy just doesn't want to answer the question. I've always wanted to do that to a politician, so I guess that's part of why I like his show as an entertainment outlet.

I'll help you identify his strawmen.

Listen for him to say, "You know what they will tell you?" or "You know what they will say?" or "This is what they have to say about that" or something along those lines. He does it over and over in every show.

Then he rips into his strawman, then cuts to a commercial for human growth hormone.

 

[Luke T.]

Or is it George Noory who has the HGH commercials?

 

[daredelvis]

I'll help you identify his strawmen.

Listen for him to say, "You know what they will tell you?" or "You know what they will say?" or "This is what they have to say about that" or something along those lines. He does it over and over in every show.

Then he rips into his strawman, then cuts to a commercial for human growth hormone.

That is similar to another one. I have seen it called the "some say" tactic. He uses it to make outrageous claims without having to cop to them. As in, "some say that Bill'O is a lying sack of s#1t". See, I never called Bill'O a "sack of s#1t", but he is.

Daredelvis