O'Reilly smeared Denver Post TV critic as a "far-left ideologue"
Summary: Responding to a column in which Denver Post television critic Joanne Ostrow criticized his demeanor during an interview, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly labeled her "dishonest" and a "far-left ideologue." It marked the second time in the past six months that the host of The O'Reilly Factor attacked a Denver media critic.
On the April 9 edition of Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly called longtime Denver Post television critic Joanne Ostrow "flat-out dishonest" and "a far-left ideologue" for her criticism of him in an April 7 column, "O'Reilly meltdown a new low."
In her column, Ostrow condemned O'Reilly's demeanor in a heated April 5 O'Reilly Factor interview with TV journalist Geraldo Rivera.
When Bill O'Reilly nearly came out of his chair and across the desk at Geraldo Rivera on his Fox News show this week, he marked a new low in what passes for modern political discourse. Even by the shallow standards of cable news -- and "The O'Reilly Factor" in particular -- it was a stunningly foul performance.
[...]
When a girl was killed by a drunk driver in Virginia, a driver who happened to be an undocumented immigrant, O'Reilly seized the moment to turn the issue into a tirade against illegal aliens. O'Reilly spewed racist bile; Rivera objected forcefully. When Geraldo is the voice of reason driving home solid points, you know things are out of hand.
Responding to Ostrow's column during his "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day" segment, O'Reilly called the criticism of him "absolutely disgraceful":
From the April 9 edition of Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor:
O'REILLY: Time now for the most ridiculous item of the day.
[...]
O'REILLY: Now, the absolute worse was this woman, Joanne Ostrow of The Denver Post. She said, quote, "O'Reilly seized the moment to turn the issue into a tirade against illegal aliens. O'Reilly spewed racist bile," unquote. That, of course, is a lie, and anybody watching that debate would know that. Our reporting was exclusively about criminal illegal aliens. Now, we expect this kind of stuff from Ostrow, who is dishonest -- flat-out dishonest -- and a far-left ideologue. Shame on her. And by the way, two Denver police officers were shot last year, one killed by a scofflaw illegal alien. But I'm racist for mentioning that right, madam? Ridiculous off the chart. Disgraceful; absolutely disgraceful, Denver Post.
O'Reilly's attack against Ostrow is not his first on a Denver writer. As Colorado Media Matters noted, O'Reilly responded on his November 20, 2006, broadcast to cancellation of a controversial interview with O.J. Simpson that was to have aired on Fox. He claimed, "One creep out in the Rocky Mountain News goes, 'Well, maybe the Fox News Channel shouldn't have said anything,' " then added, "You know, these people are the worst."
While O'Reilly did not name the "creep" at the News, he apparently was referring to veteran media critic Dusty Saunders, who stated in a column about the Simpson interview, "Perhaps Fox News Channel personalities should simply not comment on the sleazy [O.J. Simpson] program."
—J.S.W.
Comments (7) Show
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holy cow......just when you think billo couldn't go any lower, he comes thru and totally redeems himself! this guy is the symbol to be forever remembered of the conservative media. he mouths the talking points that belligerently uninformed fox noisers drink in, never letting facts get ithe way. and when legitimately called out by ostrow for the virginia incident, he reacts like......well only billo can make himself look even worse.
Actually, a few years ago, Bill O'Reilly went ballistic on Al Franken at the California Book Sellers Convention. He was yelling at Franken: "Shut up! Just shut up!". The management at Fox should give Bill a sabbatical. A few months off to gather his wits about him. To place a TV critic into his rogues gallery of leftist extremists is a stretch. Joanne Ostrow's political affiliation is not the issue. This is all about Bill O'Reilly's ego. She criticized his explosive rant against Geraldo Rivera as "foul". I agree. Thinking people on both sides of the political aisle should keep a close eye on O'Reilly. He's beginning to lose it.
Joanne Ostrow says anyone that uses the term illegal alien is a racist. Gee Joanne, isn't that painting with a larger then necessary brushstroke? How may liberals still use that term? She accused Bill of "spewing racist bile" when not once did he bring up race in his whole discourse with Rivera. Geraldo was the one to bring up race.
She had no basis for calling him a racist, let alone the millions upon millions of people that still use the decades old legal term, illegal alien. If somebody wants to call me a racist they better have some facts to back it up. Not biased vengeful hyperbole. Those are fighten words. That is a very strong accusation that deserves a strong defense and comeback. What ever Bill said about Ms. Ostrow she deserved.
Go Bill!!
when o'reilly morphed ostrow's quote into meaning that she meant he spewed racist bile because he used the term "illegal aliens" he twisted it as.............as well as only billo can! once again billo villifies someone who scolds him. her quote about racist bile covered his entire idiotic rant . he was clear how he feels about illegals of hispanic descent as opposed to irish, italian, etc. watch the tape if you doubt it. this is by no means the first time billo has had to redirect a moronic statement. nor will it be the last. remember his lecture on the malmedy massacre delivered to, of all people, general wesley clark? i don't often agree with ostrow, but she has billo exact on this one. blaming her won't take away what he screeched. like i said, watch the tape.
As one who writes for European media on US public affairs, let me try to enter into a dialogue with you guys:
Pray tell: Is "racist" a pejorative label? Is it to be applied to one who --- while blessed/burdened with any number of other human traits, not all of them positive -- does not exhibit ANY signs of being a "racist"? If one -- ESPECIALLY A "JOURNALIST" -- mis-applies the term "racist," is it ok, all right 'permissable' -- to "diss" such a "journalist"?
Who attacked first? Ostrow. What is your beef?
Even the federal government uses the term ILLEGAL ALIEN!
like i said..................the entire rant was what got billo in trouble. out of control, seething, literally agitated with, of all people, a guy who normally worhips at the altar of billo. no, ostrow got it right. he's a hater who has no middle ground. either agree with him or suffer the rath.
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