Citing baseless criticism from NPR ombudsman, O'Reilly attacked "two dishonest far-left websites, Media Matters and Think Progress"
Summary: Bill O'Reilly claimed that "two dishonest far-left websites, Media Matters [for America] and Think Progress," are reasons "to stay away from far-left fanatics." As evidence, O'Reilly cited a column by National Public Radio (NPR) ombudsman Jeffrey A. Dvorkin, in which Dvorkin responded to a Media Matters item documenting NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson's apparent assertion that Democrats received money from Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. O'Reilly summarized that "[t]he ombudsman has now learned firsthand just how vicious the far-left blogs are," and concluded that "[a]ll decent Americans should reject these haters."
During the May 22 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly claimed that "two dishonest far-left websites, Media Matters [for America] and Think Progress," are reasons "to stay away from far-left fanatics." As evidence, O'Reilly cited a May 15 column by National Public Radio (NPR) ombudsman Jeffrey A. Dvorkin, in which Dvorkin responded to a May 8 Media Matters item. Dvorkin demanded a correction of the Media Matters item, which documented NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson's assertion on the May 7 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday that "it's Democrats, not just Republicans, taking money from" Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. O'Reilly noted that Dvorkin "lashed out at" Media Matters and Think Progress "for urging their readers to complain to the National Public Radio because some of their contributors appear here on the Fox News Channel." O'Reilly then relayed Dvorkin's complaint that Media Matters and Think Progress "encourage[d] people to complain to NPR, and hundreds did, many with a surprising level of rancor and vituperation, which was shockingly intense, even in these times of take-no-prisoners-and-shoot-the-wounded political debate." O'Reilly summarized that "[t]he ombudsman has now learned firsthand just how vicious the far-left blogs are," and concluded that "[a]ll decent Americans should reject these haters."
However, as Media Matters documented at the time, Dvorkin asserted that a correction was needed because -- he suggested falsely -- the May 8 Media Matters item was based on the Fox News transcript of Liasson's remarks, which Fox subsequently edited, rather than on an independent transcription based on the video of her own words. Dvorkin also offered no support for his claim that Media Matters "seek[s] to trash" NPR over Liasson's frequent appearances on Fox News; in fact, the May 8 item simply documented a claim -- which, as heard by Media Matters, was false and which, as Media Matters had previously documented, Liasson had made before -- and offered readers contact information for Fox News Channel and NPR.
While Dvorkin blamed Media Matters for the "surprising level of rancor and vituperation" with which readers responded to the May 8 item, Dvorkin's own baseless criticism of Media Matters apparently inspired O'Reilly to blast Media Matters as "dishonest" and "vicious ... haters."
In the May 15 column, Dvorkin attacked Media Matters and defended Liasson's comments that "it's Democrats, not just Republicans, taking money from" Abramoff. Dvorkin asserted that the Fox News transcript had incorrectly included a comma after "Republicans," leaving "the impression that Liasson said that both parties had profited directly from Abramoff." According to Dvorkin, Fox corrected the transcript, "but the correction was ignored by two blogs, Media Matters and Think Progress."
O'Reilly has repeatedly attacked Media Matters, calling Media Matters' employees "paid assassins;" "100 percent dishonest;" "smear merchants," and "character assassins" who peddle "propaganda" to mainstream journalists, among other things. Media Matters has repeatedly requested the opportunity to respond to O'Reilly's attacks on his program, but these requests have been either denied or ignored.
From the May 22 broadcast of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:
O'REILLY: Hi. I'm Bill O'Reilly. Thanks for watching us tonight.
Three more reasons for Democrats to stay far away from far-left fanatics. That's the subject of this evening's "Talking Points Memo." Reason one, whether you agree with his politics or not, Senator John McCain [R-AZ] is a patriot, a man who suffered torture for six years at the hands of Jane Fonda's friends, the North Vietnamese. Since that time, McCain has devoted himself to public service. Yet some students at the ultra-liberal New School insulted and heckled Senator McCain when he spoke to them at their graduation. These students apparently believe the senator is a bad person while they are good, so they try to demean him. The result was shame upon the New School, as most Americans understand these students have done little or nothing for their country, and their actions are deplorable. Yet this exposition is standard procedure for the far left, which tolerates no dissent.
Reason number two, the ombudsman for NPR recently lashed out at two dishonest far-left websites, Media Matters and Think Progress, for urging their readers to complain to the National Public Radio because some of their contributors appear here on the Fox News Channel. Jeffrey Dvorkin wrote, quote, "The blogs encourage people to complain to NPR, and hundreds did, many with a surprising level of rancor and vituperation, which was shockingly intense, even in these times of take-no-prisoners-and-shoot-the-wounded political debate." The ombudsman has now learned firsthand just how vicious the far-left blogs are. All decent Americans should reject these haters.
And finally, I made a mistake the other day trying to have a civil conversation with Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, a committed member of the far left. I should have known better. But I felt sorry for the woman because of the death threats against her. I get that stuff, and I know how disturbing it is. So when I saw Ms. Maines at a Time magazine event, I complimented her on her performance that evening, and we chatted for a minute or two. Yesterday, Natalie's version of the conversation appeared in The New York Times. Quote, "It's like, 'Just want to say that was great,' O'Reilly says. We really respect what you did. We really respect that you stood up for yourself" and blah, blah, blah. Apparently, Ms. Maines also described me as despicable.
So much for a polite discourse. Anyway, let me put this in words even Natalie Maines can understand, because I don't think she will be holding a geopolitical seminar any time soon. It's like, Natalie, I said I respected your right to say what you want, not, like, I respect what you said. That would be impossible, because no one has any idea why you dislike President Bush or what your view of the world, like, really is, OK? Whatever.
Truth be told, I'm as dense as Ms. Maines. After I complimented George Clooney on his movie last October, he also trashed me in the press. Did I learn my lesson? Like, no. So I hope the Democrats and independents do: Stay clear of the far-left fanatics. They are a bitter crew and are not looking out for you or anyone else who doesn't share their foolish view of the world. And that's the "Memo" or whatever.
—J.M.
Comments (24) Show
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no one has any idea
why natalie maines " dislikes president bush". damn bill you are "dense". and it was the "foolish" view of iraq that turned out to be the correct view.
Humility not a neo con virtue
You'd think thes idiots would at least be humbled. Everyone they labeled a traitor when they complained about the Bush Administrations policies, esp. Iraq, turned out to be spot on. But these dogs only know the one trick. Smear and never admit a mistake.
What great about all this......
is that when Bill O' was directly in the path of the Dixie Chicks with no where to turn to..........he did what every other bully does when confronted by those he bullied either away from him or when he had the advantage......
He sucked up to them and dribbled some form of lame appology by exclaiming the song they wrote about the whole thing was "A wonderful song" and tried to seem cowed.......
Typical bully!!
Bill O' will someday find himself in a white padded room........perhaps when the media finally finds its old self and they decide that lying, ranting, and raving is wrong and is punishable...............
Oh......nevermind..........
I think..
..70% of America knows why she doesn't like Bush.
I'll take Asinine comments for 200 Alex.
What are the ravings of a madman?
I saw this last night and heard it on the radio as well. The reason Bill O'Reilly is so upset with you and others is that you hold him accountable!! He is such a wuss.
By the way did anyone else see his apology to the John Birch Society on last night's show? What a loon!!!!!!
O'Reilly upset
that Natalie Maines and George Clooney aren't two-faced suck-ups like he is.
No Problem
I have no problem with BO ridiculing the far-left. Both extremes deserve ridicule. They do and say ridiculous things. He might even ridicule the far-right someday since he's such a fair and balanced guy...heh. He should be ridiculing the e-mailers that can't control themselves instead of Media Matters however. Media Matters isn't writing the hate mail. Media Matters has been pretty accurate in dissecting his "opinion-based" facts. So in that regard he is wrong.
Bruce
George Clooney and the Dixie Chicks are hardly "far left."
cool beans
MMFA posts one article, then gets two freebies from the resulting fact-challenged whining. Very entertaining!
O'Lielly cracks me up
It's funny how Billy is surprised that people trash him because he's never said anything bad about those people. What a joke.
Don't understand
Why Bill calls MMFA vicious haters when they simply post what he says and then point out how untrue that is.
Strange.
I think Bill has a hatred for the truth.
Oh, and he needs psychiatric help now, like, immediately.
Long live the loofah.
O'Reilly most certainly dumb founded fans
O'Reilly and the like have bashed NPR as a radical leftist group of wingnuts for years and now he claims the far left MMfA are complainging about them. He programmed his fans to think in black and white terms and here he has nuance. What is it Bill, is MMfA wrong? Is NPR to be protected from them? Which one is left and which one is right, or are they both left? What a schmuck!
I don't think she will be holding a geopolitical seminar any time soon.
This from the same guy who thought the central Mexican state of Jalisco was on the border with the U.S.
LOL.
And I love how Bill is now a proponent of "civil conversation."
"CUT HIS MIKE! CUT HIS MIKE!"
His victim routine is fooling no one.
Hair-trigger reflexes!
The only reason that O'Reilly and his ilk automatically perceive corrections, clarifications, and, in the end, accuracy, as 'left-wing' is that they apparently don't exist at his network.
Two Words, Bill:
Paris Business Review
You Know ...
That joke will be lost on Bill
Gymnastics, anyone?
The mental gymnastics necessary to follow along and agree with with O'Reilly are hilarious!
In the same rant that he decries the leftie blogs and New School students as:
"far-left fanatics," "haters," who have a "foolish view," are a "bitter crew," and are "vicious;" and "whose actions are deporable"...
... he accuses a Dixie Chics, in the very next paragraph, of not engaging in "polite discourse" b/c she said he was "despicable." He then goes on to insinuate that she's unintelligent, and mocks her manner of speech.
How despicable!
Ironically, every time he whines about a "far-left smear site," the few of his viewers who have access to an internet or are not 70 years old probably hop up and look those sites up on the internet, and maybe they even start to learn something.
The balls in Dvorkin's court now.....
O'Reilly: "Dvorkin lashed out at Media Matters for urging their readers to complain to the National Public Radio because some of their contributors [Liasson] appear here on the Fox News Channel."
This is a blatant, obvious smear job by O'Reilly on Media Matters. The MM post had absolutely nothing to do with NPR commentators appearing on Fox.
The ball is in Dvorkin's court. Has he got any balls???????
Thank You B.O.
The more O'Reilly mentions Media Matters the more hits it gets. A few of Loofah-boy's viewers and listeners might actually open their minds. A few.
How it must hurt to
have your words shown in context with the facts. I am so sorry for you BOR.
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