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

[JuanDimensional]

We are never going to get anywhere with the type of reasoning demonstrated on this comments section.

First off, Bill O'reilly is an idiot.

Second, he did not, as some moron poster above proclaims say "it is okay to lynch".

Third, he made a stupid choice of words, that WAS NOT code, to all the far right cretins to grab nooses and start looking for black people to murder.

Fourth, until you can figure out the difference between "nappy headed ho's" and other truly reprehensible language, and the stupid use of the word lynch in a political context, you've proven yourelf unworthy of mantle of the culture police you claim for yourselves.

This country, like Canada, England and the rest of Europe, needs laws in place to tell us what we can and cannot say. We need group libel laws, so that anyone who is offended by the publication of incorrect beliefs can silence those who express opinions we find odious. And the only way we're ever gonna get there is if like minded people think it through and get with the program and make a stink about the important stuff.

An effective and popular censor requires a keen intellect and and a discerning eye. Bill O'Reilly is not Orianna Fallaci, or even Mark Steyn. He's not important enough bother with. You're hurting the cause of censorship in your zeal to promote it.

[thatsitfortheotherone]

Well, Juan, a "beaner" is just a piece of rock climbing hardware.

And if I called you one, would you be thinking "yeah, big wall climbing in Yosemite" or something else?

Word choice is EVERYTHING in public discourse, brother.

[realpolitic]

Strong comeback!

[Fathoms]

. . . Dragged, kicking and screaming from his den of iniquity to the public alter of hypocritical reconciliation . . .

[realpolitic]

What?

[TrueD]

If O'Reilly were half the man that Ann Coulter is, he would not have 'apologized'.

[realpolitic]

Yes, both has served so well in our country's military. They were heroic in battle. Both are chickenhawks plain and simple.

[ignorantwillyharper]

Bill 'o, will always be a small person, that appears to be formed from the underside of a penis foreskin.

[loril]

This is a cycle which will play out again and again. BillO is put on Fox and paid to say inflammatory, racist, sexist and offensive shit. That is his job. 95% of the time he just gets away with it because his audience of angry knuckleheads agree with him and want an echo chamber for their cretinous attitudes. Every once and awhile, enough people from outside his clique take notice and complain loudly enough...and BillO is compelled to offer a half-assed "apology" like the one given here.

Then, he moves on to the next story or target and it is lather - rinse - repeat. His audience loves it and the people who pay him love it because it is part of their business plan.

As the economy continues to tank and more and more people continue to fall between the cracks and fail, expect BillO's audience to expand, not diminish. People want scapegoats when they are not doing well. BillO provides many evil scapegoat caricatures for his audience to latch upon with their hate and bile.

If our sacred "market" dictates that BillO's hate fest is generating enough revenue for his owners, his program will never go away. If enough of his viewers could be given a night visitation a la Ebeneezer Scrooge and were shown the error of their ways, perhaps Bill would go away. Short of this miracle, I believe we are stuck with him.

[wittgene]

Terrific analysis. And may I add, that he knows this all to well--Cultural Warrior?

[paulfromportland]

His non-apology is not any different from his useage of "With all due respect" just before he slimes someone.

But, perhaps the tie-in with Clarence Thomas's remark was that they share the same love for "Long Dong Silver Falafel and Loofah" movies.

O'Arrogantone, when asked about not serving in the military, often bristles and replies "Hey, I've walked down mean streets" - Doesn't mean his foreign correspondent trips to the Falklands or El Salvador for tea and a warm bed, but, really means his fear of walking through our inner cities. Most racists are simply cowardly bullies, as is he.

[dajay]

Bill O'Reilly's apology was almost as genuine as the ones we heard from Chris M. re: Hillary comments, David Shuster's phony one re: pimping out CHelsea, and then Keith O's over the top one apologizing for David Schuster.

These guys are such phonies and haven't learned anything. Big deal a 2-week suspension for Shuster and not repercussions ever for Bill O. or Chris M.

Congrats MSNBC, you are now on the same level as BIllo and Fox News. Keith you have lost all credibility. You can't even afford to bash Billl anymore.

[KaAp]

He ought to be fired and fined by the FCC lynching is a hate crime, it cannot be discussed in any other fashion. Lynching is violent vile and even the use of the words lynching especially in reference to an African American ought to be punished in every way possible

[SlippingInTheDip]

I hate Bill as much as the next guy...but...remember the black guy that was chained to a truck and dragged till death. So should we now not use the word "Dragged" or "Chained" in or speech about Blcaks? Get real, people.

[realpolitic]

It is the height of irresponsibility and callousness for O'Reilly to so flippantly use the term 'lynching' to describe what he may do to the African-American wife of a senator, if she does not defend herself to him. As if, he has a right if not satisfied with what she has to say to round her up and lynch her, and in his obtuse mind, it would somehow be justified. This whacky statement, even for O'Reilly, who can be incalcuably cruel, can be looked at as an incitement to violence. The secret service must be on extra guard to protect Obama as it is, considering our country's history with racism. These sorts of verbal comments lower the bar for violent action. Hate speech always proceeds misdeeds.

[Libsrule]

So where is the apology? All I saw was the usual rightwing nonsense of "sorry if I offended anyone".

NOT "What I said was wrong and it was offensive and I'd like to apologize for saying such a hateful thing".

NOT what he said.

So when we going to see the apology?

[Fernando]

He said it at :33.

He had a point in saying it was all related to context; he was using the same expression Justice Thomas had used in '91 . The way they reported here was almost like he had told people to lynch her. He didn't say anything "hateful".

I'm no O'Reilly fan but he makes a cogent, albeit not sensitive, point. This was much ado about little.

[totalliberal]

That was an apology? In what freakin universe?

[FreedomLoverX]

Who watches O'Reilly? The TV also has an "off" button. The man is obviously worthless as an analyst or commentator, and he has demonstrated bigotry often. Fox is blatently a propaganda machine. Why not simply turn them off? Then, they will go away.

[wagonjak]

Thom Hartman reported Friday morning that Billo was losing his Friday show to Tony Snow...is this the first step to easing this asshole off Fox News?

Has he finally gotten so shrill and nasty that even Faux News doesn't want to stand behind him?

Stay tuned...

[imsosure]

Apology not accepted, that's too easy. O'Reilly is unacceptable and to think he could get this to go away by simply repeating another disingenuous supposed apology is nonsense. He really ought to go away and not be allowed to merely claim to be sorry. Very inappropriate behavior coming from someone who seems to want to be taken seriously. He's an embarrassment to the business and America.

[CoulterIsASuccubus]

Context really is everything. Falafel.

[partisanpolitico]

Waaa. Laid out a weak-ass apology. Seen it before. No one believes it. "If I offended anybody" ? Dude, that's how you make a buck!! Bill? you're a third-rate playground bully and everybody knows your act. You better reinvent your lame song and dance because relevance is you're greatest enemy. You and Coulter. Buh-bye.