Thursday, September 27, 2007

AND THEY DIDN'T SMELL!

When Bill O'Reilly peeled away a corner of his public mask and allowed us a peek at what's inside -- that's when the end game began. The outcome in our post-Imus world is clear; he can kick and scream (or whine with decreasing volume), but O'Reilly is, professionally speaking, a dead man talking.

As you probably know, O'Reilly talked last week about his dinner with Al Sharpton at Sylvia's, a famous soul-food restaurant in Harlem. During his rambling, O'Reilly repeatedly expressed surprise at the lack of profanity and violence -- and at how well-behaved black people were during dinner and an Anita Baker concert.

Media Matters has the transcript of what O'Reilly said. The transcript also includes Juan Williams in his role as O'Reilly's lapdog.

Some of what O'Reilly said is truth:
I don't think there's a black American who hasn't had a personal insult that they've had to deal with because of the color of their skin. I don't think there's one in the country.
But much of what he said was steeped in an I'll-be-damned amazement -- black folks being respectful! all dressed up! not a grill in sight!
And I couldn't get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia's restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it's run by blacks, primarily black patronship.
O'Reilly is trying hard to dismiss the predictable outcry from his remarks as a sign the "liberal media" is out to get him. Like his notions about black people, O'Reilly dates himself when he peddles the "liberal media" cliche. He sounds so establishment '60s, the parent who's surprised to find his son's hippie friend isn't a grunting Commie.

In saying such things, O'Reilly proves he's a dinosaur waiting for an asteroid. His time is short.

12 comments:

Desdinova said...

And as I've pointed out to you before he looks like Joe McCarthy.

The Lorax said...

Desdinova... (gasp) is that you?

(sniff sniff) if it looks brown, squishes on your shoe and smells like feces.. it's probably a turd.

tick tock, Bill.

Anonymous said...

Limbaugh is another one of the talking heads that stepped in it recently with his "phony soldier" comment.

Anonymous said...

I heard the entire segment and the quotes in question are being taken out of context. He was speaking about how people see a difference between blacks and other parts of society. His comment about the restaurant was part of a bigger segment and if you heard the whole thing you would know that O'Reilly was not making racist statements.

Media Matters did not print the entire transcript of the segments in question. It took selected portions to try and advance Media Matters' agenda which is openly leaning toward the left politically.

Look, O'Reilly's a blowhard. No question. However, I have a bigger issue with someone being branded a racist when that is not really the case. This situation is no different than someone taking a comment by a member of the left against Bush's war policies and saying it proves they support the terrorists.

Sky Girl said...

His comments were offensive and ignorant, and I'm no O'Reilly fan, but I don't think this should rise to the occasion of ending his career.

Anonymous said...

Out of curiosity, I watched O'Reilly's show last night and wasn't too shocked that the whole show was about him and his comments. He definitely takes things to the extreme when it comes to defending something he said. Frankly, I was bored with the whole thing and sick of hearing him talk about it by the time the show was over.

Who does he think he is when he visits places such as a restaurant in Harlem or an Anita Baker concert and then takes it upon himself to inform all of us "homebodies" about the cultural goings-on in the world? I didn't ask him to patrol the streets and let me know where it would be safe or unsafe to go.

As much as I hate to say it, I do think his comments were taken out of context. But he still could have worded his opinion a little better.

Anonymous said...

hey m'fers where's my irish coffee?

Anonymous said...

Hate to break it to you Ron, but O'Reilly is no "dead man talking."

His ratings smoke those on CNN, MSNBC and others, so he's no where near death.

Second, "Media Matters" is a liberal website. They record every word that's said on Conservative talk radio just to throw little "bombs" into the mix to make the right seem like their wackos.

His time is not short and he is no dinosaur. My guess is he'll still be on Fox and on the top of his game for years to come.

But if anyone is to be hit by an asteroid, I hope and pray to God it's Keith Olberman.

Desdinova said...

As much as I dislike Bald O'Lying, I don't think it will have the same effect as the Imus thing. Imus used words that are considered vulgar and crude. This was more a case of a un-hip, middle-aged, balding, white guy puting his foot in his mouth.

Personally I like both Media Matters and Olberman, but Anon 12:50 probably believes there are devil worshipers living in tunnels under Park Central Square. I wonder if there are zombies in the old Heers Building like the ones at the amusement park in Carnival of Soul. The zombies just ride the escalator and never buy anything.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm.... anon@12:50 wishes death by asteroid because someone has an opinion they disagree with. Is that how you occupy your waking hours?

Looking at some viewer numbers it appears that Olbermann is within a respectable distance of O'Reilly in actual viewers.

Desdinova -- Good comment about the recent VDJ article in the CFP. If anyone still has doubts about his level of sanity they should read that article.

Anonymous said...

let us bow our heads over our keyboards and pray:

dear geezus:

please alter the course of halley's comet, assteroid or some other heavenly (like andrea mackris) to smite spongebill o'racist and the rest of fux "news." if you do, i'll believe in you.

aphuckingmen.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:24am, O'Reilly is no more a racist that you are intelligent.