Bill O'Reilly: "I Don't Want To Go On A Lynching Party Against Michelle Obama Unless There's Evidence"

From Media Matters:

In a discussion of recent comments made by Michelle Obama, Bill O'Reilly took a call from a listener who stated that, according to "a friend who had knowledge of her," Obama " 'is a very angry,' her word was 'militant woman.' " O'Reilly later stated: "I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there's evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels. If that's how she really feels -- that America is a bad country or a flawed nation, whatever -- then that's legit. We'll track it down."

Read the entire Media Matters post about the comment, made on Bill O'Reilly's radio show yesterday, here, or listen to the audio below:

Update: Portfolio.com's Jeff Bercovici reports that David Tabacoff, O'Reilly's executive producer, has defended the remark:

"What Bill said was an obvious repudiation of anyone attacking Michelle Obama," he said, according to Fox spokeswoman. "As he has said more than ten times, he is giving her the benefit of the doubt."

Comments

[JackWOrf]

There is a serious problem in the Obama campaign. There is a drastic shortage of Obamabunto translators. Obamabunto, of course, is the native language of the Obamas. And while Obamabunto sounds very similar to English, it actually has VERY different meanings.

For example, Mrs. Obama recently said that "for the first time in my life, I am really proud to be an American." Now, of course, in normal ENGLISH, this would seem to indicate that Mrs. Obama has been ASHAMED to be an American her entire life.

However, in OBAMABUNTO, the phrase "For the first time in my life", has an entirely DIFFERENT meaning! In Obamabunto, the phrase "For the first time in my life" translates roughly into the word "Achooo". Or, in some cases, "burp".

In other words, after translating to Obamabunto, Mrs. Obama's statement has AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MEANING!!! What Mrs. Obama REALLY said was "Achooo. I am really proud to be an American." Which, of course, is VERY patriotic, as SHE is very patriotic and always proud to be an American. However, you might think otherwise is you do not speak Obamabunto.

Obama had a similar problem with the word "plagiarism". In Obama's native ObamabuntoLand, political leaders FREQUENTLY copy ENTIRE speeches from other political leaders. Yes, MANY leaders in ObamabuntoLand have given the ML King "I have a dream" speech, and of course, claimed it as their own! Many of the natives in ObamabuntoLand have never heard the speech before.

In FACT, in Obamabunto, there is no word for "plagiarism".

So you can certainly see that there is a dire need for Obamabunto translators in the Obama campaign. It is likely that MANY mis-understandings of this nature will arise, simply because Obamabunto sounds so similar to English, but yet has entirely different meanings.

Care must be taken to ALWAYS consult an Obamabunto translator before assuming that an Obama has said or done something wrong. Because, of course, the Obamas are PERFECT, and NEVER say or do anything wrong. THOUSANDS of Obama supporters will swear to that, and how could they be wrong?

[AnninCA]

Clever.....:)

[Yaa]

Cleverly racist. Tortured reasoning. Rather O'Reillyesque.

Does Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, really frighten you to the point of creating such nonsense?

[newworldman777]

The man should be fired for what he said. But I am wondering why he is so obsessed by what Michelle said. This is a white guy, whose grandparents came across the Atlantic from Ireland and filed through Ellis Island (you know, that little immigration facility in New York that legalized tens of millions of uninvited Western Europeans, which the current Latino "illegal aliens" don't have the privilege of utilizing). Because America is controled by his own kind, he has never experienced even the slightest hint of racial discrimination. Therefore, he doesn't have a clue how it feels to be a minority in this country.

As a Native American who is regularly discriminated against in my own land, I completely empathize with Michelle. Since the country of America is basically comprised of the people who live here, I have had a helluva time developing patriotic and loyal feelings for this country -- especially considering the sordid history of America and the racist attitudes of so many citizens here. If I choose to remain unpatriotic, then that is my business, and I certainly have good reason to feel this way. Until the Bill O'Reillys of the world walk a mile in my shoes, then I couldn't care less that he is shocked that an American like me would resist being patriotic. To each his own.

[AnninCA]

Then she might not be right in the White House if she's that angry and acks pride.

[herronsmith]

Thank you for your reply. You are the fabric of our nation. I am white female and have never known any degree of racism but this doesn't make me immune to its' harm. Bill O'Reilly will need to answer to a power greater than us all someday and then he may be judged harshly. If Michelle Obama or any other minority were to question their unwavering soldarity, it is not for me to judge or to question their ability to hold office or perform in a first lady role. She may be verbalizing what many feel. I hate that there are so many people in the US who must try twice as hard to go half as far. Bring on Michelle!

[COEze]

Is O'Reilly advocating lynching (hanging)? Is that what I'm reading?

[Wanjiru]

...no, just lynching (hanging) PARTIES...where there is "evidence"...


.

[robeson]

O'Reilly will only join the lynching if he can manufacture a crime.

[tiedtothewhippingpost]

I guess we all make mistakes. Just ask Michelle Obama.

[CactusTom]

That which I take much pride in was to have Bill O (on air) spit all over one of my criticisms of his BS. To find a bio of old "fair and balanced" himself you have to look under B for baloney.

[1Greensix]

"Conservative" equals racist.
"Republican conservative" equals greedy racist.
When two Republicans meet and say they are "conservatives" it is like a secret society handshake meaning "I hate minorities!" GREEDY is part of the Repulsive Party platform.

[robeson]

One must move beyond O'Reilly and make the sponsors who support public racism pay a heavy price.

[MollyMcGee]

I saw this on tv last night and laughed out loud....Michelle is a lot of things, but this you can take to the bank.....she's no Jackie Kennedy...what a crock!
Wishful thinking of the ObamaMama crowd..she couldn't hold a candle to Jackie.

[LutherBrixton]

"she couldn't hold a candle to Jackie."

Why would she want to hold a candle to Jackie?

The obsession of some people to fit everything into a mold is not something to be proud of. It shows an incredible lack of adaptability to changing times.

Jackie Kennedy was first lady 45 years ago. Now she's dead.. I don't even want to guess what your bizarre imagination has turned her into in your mind. Most likely it's a fantasy.

It's naive fantasies that have got us bogged down in Iraq.

The only people "holding candles" are those who are lost and in the dark.

[uheardme]

She's not a Jackie, she's a more attractive, honest and hard-working version of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

[MollyMcGee]

she is?

[dattexas]

You're right. Jackie stayed married to a man who cheated on her, then she married the most unattractive man for money, then she took millions in the divorce.

You're right. Michelle is no Jackie.

[jenniferkate]

Jackie never divorced Onassis, he died before a divorce was ever declared.
Also, a couple of months before she married him, Robert Kennedy died, and she was scared that her kids could be next.

[escobar]

This is the sort of thing that has become status quo on Fox.
He is just another Republican Pied Piper for morons and thugs.

[Mike169]

I thought lynching parties were supposed to take place in lieu of evidence. Doesn't sound like the "swift boating" Republicans we've all come to know and love.

[oxfordreader]

He doesn't want to go on a lynching party if....

otherwise, yes, he wants to go on a lynching party.

for bill, a lynching is a party.

where is the media outrage about this.

i'm shocked this isn't a huge story.

putting the word lynching next to a black woman is so beyond disturbing that my jaw has been dropped since i read it.

[AgeofReason]

Me too. How can anyone be proud of a country that accepts the term "lynching party" as if it is an acceptable thing to say? Doesn't Bill O demonstrate why she could have said what she did? The first time really understood the legacy of lynching was when I read the story "Big Boy Leaves Home" by Richard Wright. That story made me physically ill. How could we have done such things in "the land of the free and the home of the brave"? I grew up in the south, with southern white parents and grandparents. I too am proud to see my country moving beyond the legacy of Jim Crow and lynch mobs. It is wonderful to see people of all complections and backgrounds support Barack Obama. This makes me proud, just as it makes Michelle Obama proud. Bill O'Reilly does not make me proud. He makes me sick.

[Maya11]

Is he saying that if her remarks are true, he will go on a "lynching party"? His ignorance and racism are in his DNA. Why else would he use the term lynch.

[transendentilist]

O'Reilly is no different than Ann Coulter and Shawn Hannity. They will say anything to stir up a controversy, for ratings, with little or no regard for anyone they deem to be a "liberal." O'reilly isn't much better than Joseph Goebbels.

[skoobydew59]

Has anyone actually interviewed the 'future first ladies' for their plans for the White House? Will they take on their predecessors half-assed attempts at some goodie-two-shoes 'cause'. I see Laura Bush has NOTHING to leave for her own 'Legacy' and like her hubby, are desperately trying to do something 'good'. Probably so their 'Presedential Library' does end up looking like a concentration camp.

[Classof89]

The more O'Reilly sticks both feet in his mouth, the more everything he says and does just rolls off my back. He's nothing more than a media-hungry phony to me. Just like that witch Coulter, they live to seek some sort of "shocking" publicity for themselves every week or when they are trying to plug their books or something.

Anyone who feels that they have to constantly claim that they are tough, and they can take on anyone, blah, blah, blah, is definitely a fraud. The true tough and strong people don't feel the need to always remind people that they're strong. That's why bullies have low self-esteem.

If folks can remember back a few years (or for the ones too young to remember, look no further than YouTube), Mr. Uptight and Right was host on the tabloid show Inside Edition. Back then, he seemed genuine, calm, smiling. But then again, that was on-screen. Now on Faux, and as much hatred as he and his ilk like to spew out, I just don't take this idiot seriously, because it's obvious he's a put-on. I hate hypocrites.

[Rubyfoo]

Gee thanks Bill, you're all heart. But isn't it a bit insensitive to speak of lynching a black person?