Bill O'Reilly Tells CPAC: Don't Bash Obama! (VIDEO)

Bill O'Reilly issued a surprising Talking Points segment Thursday night, where he urged conservative attendees at CPAC not to "bash" President Obama.

"There are two kinds of political attacks," O'Reilly said. "The personal, meant to diminish the human being and criticism of policy, meant to persuade people, the person in power is doing a bad job. Of course, there's nothing wrong with policy criticism or satire. That's a hallmark of America. But the personal stuff is cheap. And we're seeing more and more of it....

"There is no question that President Obama is having some big problems," he continued. "All the polls show that. So is he a legitimate political target. But if CPAC makes a weekend out of bashing Obama, it will be making a big mistake."

O'Reilly urged attendees to focus on policy solutions instead.

WATCH:

Full Transcript below:

Now, here's the question. Does Obama bashing accomplish anything? "Talking Points" became disgusted when President Bush was attacked every two minutes by the left. I mean, it got to the point where good people simply had to walk away from that. Even if you think Mr. Bush was doing a bad job, the personal attacks on him were vicious and accomplished nothing.

So what's the difference with President Obama? Well, there are two kinds of political attacks. The personal, meant to diminish the human being and criticism of policy, meant to persuade people, the person in power is doing a bad job. Of course, there's nothing wrong with policy criticism or satire. That's a hallmark of America. But the personal stuff is cheap. And we're seeing more and more of it. There are times when people have to be called out. You may remember my interview with Congressman Barney Frank. But that's unusual. Most of the time, we and you can get your points across without being cruel.

"Talking Points" does not mean to lecture. We've made mistakes here as well. And there is no question that President Obama is having some big problems. All the polls show that. So is he a legitimate political target. But if CPAC makes a weekend out of bashing Obama, it will be making a big mistake. In order to regain power in America, conservatives must come up with solutions to complicated problems. And that's what they should be doing at the Washington convention. And that's "The Memo."

Comments

[as if]

05:02 PM on 02/22/2010

trouble is, they don't have any policy solutions.

[BocaMom]

11:34 PM on 02/21/2010

Why are featuring O'Reilly and Fox? He already is the leading show on cable news. We don't need to send more people there from CNN and MSNBC.

[ComonSenseMan]

10:41 PM on 02/21/2010

I think if O'reilly thought for a moment that CPAC wouldn't bash President Obama he is taking himself right out of the running of a media personality with a reliable opinion!

[texhall00]

09:40 PM on 02/21/2010

So President Obama has big problems? Well, I wonder how it got that way. Where were you Mister News Men when Bush was throwing all of us under the damn bus? Where was your voice then?
Sorry Bill, I'm not buying this crapola.

[hernan1333]

09:21 PM on 02/21/2010

bill is a joke and a phony; this is the same guy who has been bashing obama and dems during his career and then tries to state that he is an independent or fair and balanced (with guests like dick morris and other rethugs...)

[Atra]

09:16 PM on 02/21/2010

O'rly Bill?

[LinkSync]

07:07 PM on 02/21/2010

This guy is great at doing exactly what is needed to protect his ratings.

[chaz]

02:19 PM on 02/21/2010

Bill please. It's a little to late for acting as if you really care about this country. Your legacy speaks for itself. Your a Republican talking head first,second and last.

[blizb]

03:17 PM on 02/21/2010

Yes and even if Bill is using a new set of "talking points" his network Fox does enough Obama bashing on it's own without encouraging other groups to join in.

[islandleogirl]

04:07 PM on 02/21/2010

Where was billo when all those people at the tea party conventions had signs and pictures depicting the President as a marxist, facist and nazi??????? Didn't hear him tell them to debate his policies then.

The hypocricy from the right is pretty telling. I'm guessing that to his mind the tea partiers were using their 1st Amendment rights to to speak against the President's policies with all the hatred they spewed!

Give me a break!

[Strange Loop]

02:15 PM on 02/21/2010

It's OK to ecstatically applaud a war criminal, call gays degener@tes, make cavalier jokes about a guy who crashes his plane into a building, claim that our generals have been indoctrinated, encourage civil insurrection and secession, but just don't criticize Obama!

[Lisbeth35]

01:15 PM on 02/21/2010

Uh, Bill, I don't think they got your Talking Points Memo.

[JessWonderin]

12:57 PM on 02/21/2010

Must be pretty bad when the driver of the clown car jumps out and lets it roll on toward the cliff . . . .

[masnyder]

11:51 AM on 02/21/2010

It's almost scary how Bill O'Reilly has become one of the more reasonable voices on Fox News. Bill O'Reilly really hasn't changed, which shows just how far right the rest of Fox News has gone. Fan if you agree.

[ILuvBubbles]

12:30 PM on 02/21/2010

Yeah well at least he's not barking. But Billo is lame.

[Smithn]

04:17 PM on 02/21/2010

I knew what your comment referenced which I think means I spend way too much time wonking and snarking. Thanks forthe laugh!

[Beatriz09]

10:48 AM on 02/21/2010

I think we're going to see more and more Republicans and Conservatives who will try to become more civil. O'Reilly, now Huckabee in his interview with the First Lady ...

Imo the president is right: if you continue to treat your 'ennemies' in a civil way, if you continue to engage them, to focus on their ideas instead of their political games, sooner or later they will get it, they will really become more civil.

Maybe that will convince a lot of Independents to vote for them again, maybe not, but one crucial thing will be attained: politics will be about the people again, and not about merely personal and political gain.

Although we're not there yet, of course ... but some optimism in dark times may help ...

[SchmataHari]

09:23 AM on 02/21/2010

Even a broken clock is right twice a day. So Big O had a cogent thought... what does it really mean? As with any righie-tightie, it means they are reaching out and snagging a few independents who watch both sides. Time to be wary, and get Maddow to remind thinking people how wrong O is more often than twice a day. Hurl some of your facts out there, girl. If a conservative seems correct, they are up to something. Every time. But I'm not jaded or anything... ;-)

[MDCambridge]

08:51 AM on 02/21/2010

"Of course, there's nothing wrong with policy criticism or satire. That's a hallmark of America. But the personal stuff is cheap."

You couldn't have said it better, Bill. And your constant adolescent name calling is... personal? It's certainly not satire, and only on FOX is it considered policy criticism.