Bill O'Reilly Apologizes For Michelle Obama "Lynching" Remark

First, there was the offensive remark. Then, the producer's defense of the comment, followed by the requisite Olbermann weigh-in. And, finally, the apology: on his show last night, Bill O'Reilly apologized for saying, "I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there's evidence." O'Reilly's exact words:

"While talking to a radio caller, I said there should be no lynching in the case, that comment off Clarence Thomas saying he was the victim of a high tech lynching (he said that on 60 Minutes, you may remember). I'm sorry if my statement offended anybody. That, of course, was not the intention. Context is everything."

Watch:

Comments

[factcheck2]

It's OK, though, to call Senator Clinton a "she-devil", Nurse Ratched" and say "I hate her", as Chris Matthews does, and nobody loses any sleep.

[pkafin]

I guess he didn't get enough attention from the remark to begin with.

[marko77]

Bill O'Rielly should be fired. That he's not is not surprising, however. Money always talks (screeches) the loudest and as long as Fox backs him, Bill is going nowhere. Too bad.

[certainot]

o reilly's comment was made on talk radio. if obama supporters and haters of racism in general want to reduce the racism and hate and lying that often starts and goes unnoticed and ignored on the GOP talk radio monopoly before it migrates to the rest of the media they might want to protest and boycott relative to the local talk radio station that fills their community air waves with his garbage. complaining on the national level is not very effective- they just hire more screeners.

[pmag88]

It's certainly good to push the issue when people are using phrases that are politically incorrect or culturally insensitive. It seems however, that both women and Native Americans often get left out in this regard. For instance, how many times have we heard left wing and right wing talking heads using the phrase "off the reservation" or "rule of thumb"

Everyone knows that ‘off the reservation’ is an affront to native Americans yet it is still used all the time. On the origin of the phrase 'rule of thumb’ most people don’t get it.

Rule of thumb derives from the belief that English law allowed a man to beat his wife with a stick so long as it is was no thicker than his thumb.

Guess this proves that sexism and racism are both ok as long as they are hidden in phrases which have yet to bring the outrage they deserve. Maybe that’s why rape is still among the most commonly committed crimes in America today.

[lisangela]

Please do some research before you perpetuate false information. People might mistakenly believe you know what you're talking about.

The origin of "rule of thumb" you cite is false.

http://www.debunker.com/texts/ruleofthumb.html

[cruisepuppy7452a]

While I like the Bill the Racist comment, good call by the way, he is what the right wing has become. Originally, the republicans, the old republicans were more like the original democrats. Both groups changed and became what you see now. O' Reilly is an embarrassment to his craft. He would never make it in any of the international news reporting agencies. They would laugh in his face, send him packing. He is a tool. Anyone who even in jest would use those terms, knows it would have been in poor taste and never even gone there. Bill the idiot showed he racist colors yet again, so typical of the evangelical breed.

[thatsitfortheotherone]

...the old republicans were more like the original democrats.

Uh, no they weren't alike (with the exception of southern Dems - think LBJ).

The post WWII Repubes have all been "stern daddy" types, full of moralizing and full of war mongering at some suspected foe or another.


There was a world of difference between Nixon and most of the Dem front runners who took him on, just as there is a world of difference between McPain and Obama.

[Bushwillresign]

How true... He should just stick with the script that he gets from the RNC. Same with Bush, anytime he tries to add one word that is his own he makes a mistake. Fool me once shame on uh, fool me twice shame on you.

[dattexas]

Poor Bill. FOX tells him to be an asshole for ratings, and then he takes it a bit too far, and then they tell him to apologize.

Can't a racist get a break these days?

[Aladdinc]

I am no Obama family fan, but O'Reilly is outrageous.

[craneman]

Hey everyone, "Oh Really" is just gettin warmed up!!

[CammyV]

He should lose his job. Why is this any less defamatory then what bonehead Imus said?

[degjack]

And that ain't no goddam apology.

No apology should ever start:"If I offended..."

Only an idiot, a schizophrenic or a racist would not know that "lynching" in America refers to one thing and one thing only:
the criminal murder by hanging of black people by white people. That O'Reilly dare use this term about Michelle Obama, a possible First Lady of this country, means he had but ONE concept in his mind. Star Jones was spot on in her article on the subject in this same blog today.

[2008andbeyond]

He was more fair with Michelle than Jack Kingston and David Frum were on Bill Maher Friday night. The GOP talking points are that the Obamas don't love their country, think too much of themselves, and aren't patriotic enough. Tired and pitiful old arguments but quite typical.

At least O'Reilly, for once, was being fair and using context. He shouldn't have used the word lynching but my guess is he wanted attention. Which he has received. Let's let it die and not give him any more.

[jilroy]

Why does this jerk get any attention?
His gig is wheelbarrowing money to the bank.

[Bendersky]

Awwwww--you guys, give Bill a break. He has a disability he has to deal with every day. Do you think it's easy having to schlepp around that gigantic ego of his? It's hard work, I tell ya.

Actually, in the field of psychology, when someone has to speak loud and long to constantly prove how wonderfully smart and powerful they are, it usually means just the opposite--that beneath all the bravado is an enrage, tantrumy little boy. Think about it. Whenever someone says something he disagrees with, he just screams at them to "shut-up!" This is not the mind of an adult male. The guy is terrified because underneath all his egoic blatherings and propping up, no one is home.

So on three--rea­dy?--every­body, a psychic hug for Bill. 1, 2--

[Homa]

Bill, this was NO apology!!! You must really truly think that the American people are Fools. Fox has been and remains... SHAMELESS!!!

Boycotting that network and its affiliates is the only way to drive one's message through....

[johnnyjust]

Free speech never was popular.

[thatsitfortheotherone]

Fire!