Last night on the "Talking Points" segment of his Fox News program, The O’Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly was simply “fed up with all the adulation” over Michael Jackson.
Among Bill's observations on the day of MJ's memorial service:
- Jackson’s "incredible selfishness, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on himself while singing ‘We Are The World’" should make anyone nauseous.
- Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other African-Americans are shamelessly “playing the race card” by claiming Jackson as one of their own in death.
- “If (Jackson) were a white guy,” his behavior would never be tolerated.
- “You don’t become an African-American icon” if you bleach your skin.
As bad as that was, his guest, "media critic" Bernard Goldberg, was worse.
Goldberg first defended U.S. Rep. Peter King, who has come under fire for calling Jackson a “low-life,” a “pedophile” and a "child molester" over the weekend.
The New York Republican is enraged at people extolling the virtues of Jackson, putting at least part of the blame on media coverage that is "too politically correct."
The icing on the cake came when Goldberg said, “Then again, to many black people, if you remember the reaction after he was acquitted, O.J. Simpson was a hero.”
Here's O'Reilly's "Talking Points" and an interview with Columbia University Professor Marc Lamont Hill, who tried his best to dispute some of the above comments:
What do you think? Are these guys way out of line, even racist? Or are they the only ones taking the media to task for glorifying Michael Jackson?
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52 Comments
July 8th, 2009 11:54 AM
He needs to check his facts. We weren't cheering for O.J. We didn't think he was a hero. We were applauding Johnnie Cochran for beating the legal system at it's own game. For years, laws have been twisted and manipulated to get caucasians off of things they were dead guilty for, so we were applauding his "smarts." I, personally, felt no sympathy for O.J. and he certainly wasn't my hero.
July 8th, 2009 12:29 PM
bleaching skin? how rude. why do they feel the need to tear michael down if they are so upset with all the coverage? wouldn't the smart thing to do, is to stop covering all together? they are just giving the topic more fuel and probably are interested in the attention they will get from saying such awful things about race. Bill probably knows no one will give two shits when he passes, and def wont get a memorial service of that size by any means. I think bills the racist one anyway, ever hear the things he says about snoop dogg?
July 8th, 2009 12:39 PM
Again Mr. O'Reilly did not get his facts straight before making ingnorant comments. Michael Jackson is in the Book of World Records for creating the most charitable organizations anyone has ever created. He was not selfish. He was generous, charitable, and loving. Unlike Mr. O'Reilly, he did not spend his time sreading hatred and ignorance, he spent it spreading love.
Also, medical experts have aknowledged that African Americans can not turn themselves white by bleaching their skin and Michael Jackson most likely had a skin condition, just as he said he did.
Peter King and Bill O'Reilly are again proving their ingnorance by making comments that they can not back up with any fact or evidence. Until they can do so they should keep their ignorance to themselves. If they want to excersise their rights to speak their opinions, then they should admit they are their opinions and not state them as facts, which they are not.
Michael Jackson was a loving, caring, generous person who should be remembered for that as much as for his incredible talents.
The world is a better place because Michael Jackson was a part of it.
July 8th, 2009 12:41 PM
Bill Oreilly is an asshat.
July 8th, 2009 1:09 PM
I destest Bill O'Reilly, HOWEVER I think he is 100% right on this one. To imply that someone who thinks that MJ was guilty of child molestation is a racist is the most asinine thing I've ever heard. Many of us who loved him in his earlier days and still love his music were completely put off by 1) the freakish plastic surgery (that he had the audacity to DENY), 2) the skin bleaching (sorry guys - vitiglio gives you blotchiness but does NOT turn your entire face and body white - check any credible source on that), 3) the bizarre behavior during his trial, and 4) most of all - the sleeping with young boys (never girls). As Barack Obama likes to say, you can accept that people have differences of opinion without vilifying them or questioning their motives. There are some pretty legitimate reasons that people share O'Reilly's opinions on this one, and its not because of race. That's like saying that the majority of us who think Sarah Palin is a complete moron are sexist or anti-white.
July 8th, 2009 1:23 PM
I hate O'Reilly to the core, but he's right in this case. The media has elevated him to hero status. Jackson was a uniquely talented entertainer, conceivably without equal. But he's no hero. He's no role model. He's no standard of any kind of behavior that anyone should idealize.
July 8th, 2009 1:27 PM
As for Peter King, I just have one thing to say: Congressman or Lynchman - I think it's obvious...
O'Reilly obviously doesn't understand the American Justice system or the Constitution very well. Innocent until "proven" guilty is guaranteed to every person under the law. I mean, why bother having trials then - right??? Ignorance breeds ignorance and it scares me that he has already sat or might actually sit on a jury some day or can possibly inflence others who will. Karma is a biatch and I hope and pray that Bill and Peter both find themselves in a position one day to have to defend themselves against bogus claims (oh wait, Bill has - he must be guilty then right?), being aquitted, and then still be persecuted. Anyone can accuse anyone of anything and that is why the legal system exists Bill! Your negativity (among others just like you) already drove Michael to an early grave and now what??? You want to dance on it too? Enough already!!!!
July 8th, 2009 3:03 PM
Innocent until proven guilty...unless you have money. Thats how our justice system.
July 8th, 2009 4:15 PM
It's innocent until proven guilty - period! You are not giving the system enough credit. When is the bullying going to stop???? He's different, so what? He's dead now so mission accomplished. How can we teach our kids not to bully when we as a society are not leading by example? Did Bill or Peter really know him? I doubt it. Did the media portray the truth? Let me put is this way: I put more confidence in the legal system than a ratings hungry, competitive, salivating media thank you very much! History will judge society accordingly.
July 8th, 2009 4:45 PM
Just wanted to clarify my point a little more: Peter King was way out of line to say what he said on You Tube and Bill O'Reilly should not be backing him up. I am referring to the name calling specifically! This behavior is not acceptable by anyone - let alone a public official who is supposed to be upholding the constitutional values of the country and earns his living with tax payers' money (even Michael Jackson's and the Jackson family's taxes). Were Peter King's comments rooted in racism? Who knows - maybe. Al Sharpton is not making it a racist issue but said he knew Michael and will not allow this level of disrespect to his family and the legacy of his community's most famous individual by a "public" official. He simply checked Peter King on his behavior like anyone else would and should have done. IMO: It's O'Reilly who played the race card by saying that Michael Jackson's behavior would not be tolerated if he was white. WTF?? BULL! If Michael Jackson was proven guilty, then he would have been punished whether he is white, black, green, or purple! This mob mentality has got to stop already! Where are these christian values that O'Reilly is always bragging about? Civil rights belong to everyone.