My Proudest Moment as a Pundit: Bill O'Reilly Calls Me a Race Baiter

When a master at manipulating race-based tension calls you out, you must be doing something right.

Exhibit A: Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly, a guy who I've called on the carpet many times for his use of coded words and phrases to pass along stereotypical, insulting ideas. He's gleefully pointed out going after "black rappers" in a prime time special on explicit entertainment, noted how those who live a "gangsta life" were like those left to drown in post-Katrina New Orleans and insisted he wasn't going to "go on a lynching party" when Michelle Obama said some thing which upset conservatives about America.

Last night, in one of those inexplicable moments when a world-famous opinionator reaches out to swat a barely-known newspaper writer, O'Reilly called me "one of the biggest race baiters in the country," offering no proof of how I'd earned the term, beyond my status as chair of the Media Monitoring Committee for the National Association of Black Journalists.

I'm betting it's because I took note of his lynching remark in a column about Don Imus on Friday. Indeed, I have a long history of tangling with Fox News' most popular pundit, viewable in stories here, here and here.

"Millions of white Americans will no longer even think about discussing race with black people," O'Reilly offered, just before plastering my picture on his screen. "Any slip of the tongue can lead to trouble." Why is it that the main people who don't seem to want to talk about race in America these days, are those who earn their living by keeping us apart?

Of course, O'Reilly's use of coded race language is hardly accidental. A key part of his show involves invoking the specter of out-of-control black males to frighten his audience. Once a critic like me objects, he can claim it was a mistake and accuse others of overreaching or unfairness. But if the Don Imus incident teaches anything, it's that mainstream America is growing far less tolerant of such antics.

I'm not saying I'm perfect in this. We've reached a point with prejudice and stereotypes where the issues are subtle, deep-seated and difficult to discuss. But I think intent counts for a lot -- and it seems obvious to me that O'Reilly doesn't come to these debates with respect for many positions besides his own. And that's why I'm so tough on him; because he's smart enough to know exactly what he's doing.

THe ironies abound: O'Reilly says red-baiter Joe McCarthy would love me, but criticizes me mostly for my involvement with an organization he doesn't like -- a classic McCarthy tactic. He also has looked into the party affiliations of TV and media critics across the country; hmmm....who does that remind you of?

And as the News Hounds web site noted, the only people O'Reilly accuses of being unfair about claims of racism are black folks (he did criticize an institution run by white people, liberal media watchdogs Media Matters for America).

His enemies list of "race hustlers" includes an ex-girlfriend of comic Bill Maher, who filed a palimony suit accusing the HBO host of using "degrading racial comments" against her. (That mention, which really has little to do with accusations of racism in politics and media, just seemed calculated to juxtapose a picture of Maher, who is white, next to his black centerfold model ex-girlfriend).

O'Reilly and I can agree on one thing: the word "racist" is thrown around way too much. It feeds the notion that the only people who leverage such language are serious bigots, which isn't true. The toughest thing about confronting stereotypes sometimes is that they are seductive, entertaining and often employed by people who aren't bigots. Doesn't make them any more right.

In O'Reilly's world, most of the "race hustlers" in this game seem to be black people (except Al Sharpton, with whom O'Reilly seems to have a cordial relationship). But white pundits like O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage often use race tension to score points with their audiences, exploiting their fear and frustration about race issues to build ratings points.

As I've said many times before, I judge journalists by the enemies they make. So I must be doing pretty well these days.

Follow Eric Deggans on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Deggans

Comments

[rabbijosiah]

PART II

My mother, her siblings survived the holocoust, hitler left my grandmother, and grandfather with one boy and one girl from that terrible ordeal, so i have first hand knowledge and experience with racism in this country.
As u state in ur article here, when your enimeies point the finger at you, that person does not want to face his or her own character defect and wrong doing, so the misdirect misguide and twist the aboloute truth. But rather taint the truth with their own immorality, then that person or persons want to force their morality on others thru lawsuits, etc.
In the case of oreilly, him being a catholic really shows thru when he is on the air, this man uses the first person narrative alot in descriptive sentences, he uses language such as I, or My opinion, and the viewers of fox network hang on evey one of his words like he is some demagod, or leader,
Oh yes he is a leader, read his book culture warriors book and the other books he has writtten. These books are so laced with poison
I guess i have ranted on for too long
Shalom
Peace and Blessings unto to you and yours
Rabbi Josish

[rabbijosiah]

Subject: Coming Soon to AMERICA:

HITLERISM BROUGHT ON BY FOX NEWS

This article warms my heart, Mr. Deegan, I only watch the fox news, (ie oreilly for the simple fact i study forensic psychology)
and the rantings of the fox network and their employees are so left of center, the network is promoting hitlerism,

[normathumb]

Sorry, I cant resist. Truth is reasonable people understand that O'Reilly, Savage, Limbaugh and their ilk are the master baiters of our era. Their whole aim is to provoke. They aren't interested in probative debate so much as glib self satisfaction. They have hardened their hearts to anyone outside their little circle, the jerks.

[2351]

The only people that O'reilly appreciates are those people that agree with him. He cannot deal with people who have a mind of their own and he will tell you in a minute that everybody agrees with him. But you know, he is ignorant. You would not know how ignorant he was if he did not open his mouth. I was watching Hannity tonight and he had a guest on to trash Michelle Obama. It was very sad and obvious to me that Sean hates the fact that Obama is a black man, and to go after his wife is just pure tasteless. This has got to be the most horrible tv station in the country. They are after Obama and talk about Obama every night. Each time you turn to their shows, this is all that they are talking about. The really sad thing to me is that both of these people profess to be true christians. Then they have Carl Rove on to give him talk about Bill Ayers and how Obama needs to explain himself and repudiate Bill Ayers. This is just sickening and so transparent. Fox is a racist station with racist host who claim to be christians. Hopefully they will fall into the hole that they are trying to dig for Obama.

[treadway123]

I use to not only like O'reilly, but had respect for him untill lately! He had a guest on his show talking about the Clintons. This guest brought up Mark Penn and the Columbia connecton and tried to show the link to the Clilntons and O'reilly kept saying, were not going there. thats of no consquence's. I wonder if O'Reilly lives in the same world we do? If he wants to be fair and unbias, I expect to hear the good with the bad when it comes to the Candidates! All of Them! They fail to touch the Columbia connection, and the fact Polosi grew some balls and said that some safty nets are going to have to be put into place to protect the United States before that trade agreement goes through! I don't like polosi! Never have, never will! But give credit were it's do! Just because I don't like some one doesn't mean I can't reconize them when they do good or right! I also slam them when they do wrong! I like him to start being Unbias to all candidates, and do it know! He use to do this! but lately he's become a angry old man, who doesn't want to give his guest to express thier views, unless it's in line with his! That's wronng, and it's loseing himhis audience! It's a reall shame! I really use to like to listen to him!

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

"Pundit" is a pompous word

[PerryWhite]

Chicago Tribune (and syndicated) columnist Clarence Page seems to have actually understood what O'Reilly was saying.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/columnists/chi-oped0409pageapr09,0,5320228.column

[Fair]

You know it's funny how the tide is turning. Everyone is getting sick of O'Reilly. Over at Michelle Malkin's blog HOTAIR he is suddenly despised, they think Michelle should get his show and he should be booted off.

People criticize him saying he thinks he's God, even the wingnuts are fed up with him. They think he's an idiot. His audience has to be old timers in their late 50s and upwards.

But he wouldn't dare call any HOTAIR posters on the carpet and he wouldn't dare call her site a hateful smear site for calling him on the carpet for his untruths and megelomania; the way he calls out this site as well as Media Matters.

He is so full of it.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

Are you watching O'Reilly?


Why?

[Klingon]

Eric, you're merely collateral damage to Billo's twisted tongue.

His claim that "millions of white Americans will no longer even think about discussing race with black people" is actually his response to Mr. Obama's clarion call for an honest dialogue on race. The impact of Mr. Obama's inspiring invitation is so vast and deep it resonates even among some hardened bigots. Lobbing soft balls at "barely-known" writers is Billo's attempt to diminish the national significance of such impact.

[LittleGirl]

O'Reilly's show is the only show I watch where I can bounce between agreeing with him to yelling at the TV set. The man gets it right sometimes and then he gets it soooo wrong. It's a love hate relationship with me. Because I'm an independent, I have to watch O'Reilly so that I can understand my Republican siblings. I read the huff po so I can understand what I believe and how to voice it. It's a tough place to be. Since the Ferraro/Rev Wright spin, I rely more on the internet rather than the MSM.

[kravitz]

to think oreally left abc news in a huff because they weren't gonna make him WNT anchor...

[Fair]

I thought they didn't renew his contract.

[BOfever]

You do serve on the "Black Journalist Media Monitoring Committee" correct? Sounds kind of racist to me. If there was a "White Journalist Media Monitoring Committee" I would consider that racist.

[MsMeryMac]

Yeah, because all races are the same and have been treated so throughout history...

You're probably one of those people who are opposed to Black History Month and Women's History Month, because there is no White History Month or Men's History Month. (Because, hello, pretty much all history is about the accomplishments of white men - who have oppressed women and minorities­.) Your logic is faulty.

[realpolitic]

Yes, would you consider it racist if whites had been oppressed as slaves and then underwent legalized segregation for another hundred years? Bofever, you have to think from time to time. Minorites will always have societies and clubs to help make contacts, career development, and pride. Is a Chinese-American society racist?

[Dalicious]

The Democratic Party is full of white racists -- the kind who think it is OK to be proud of your race unless you are white. If you are white and not ashamed of it, you are a racist. If you are white and criticize someone who is not white, regardless of the criticism, you are a racist. Racial equality will not truly be here until whites are no longer expected to feel guilty for bad things that happened more than 140 years ago.

[Gogetter]

"the kind who think it is OK to be proud of your race unless you are white. If you are white and not ashamed of it, you are a racist."
The sad fact is that a lot of white people don't get that you can be proud of your race without denegrating other races.

"Racial equality will not truly be here until whites are no longer expected to feel guilty for bad things that happened more than 140 years ago."
It's also sad that alot of people think you have to look back 140 years to find racism.

[MsMeryMac]

Why shouldn't whites feel guilty for enslaving and oppressing people throughout time (including today) based on their skin color?

[MsLiz]

Because I personally have not enslaved or oppressed anyone. One only should feel guilty for acts and omissions over which they have control.

Shame is another matter. I am ashamed of slavery as an institution, and my region's part in it.

I do not feel any personal shame over my ancestors who owned slaves, or of the ones up north who slaughtered whales. It's just history. I did not pick my ancestors, and they did not pick me. Heck, even my parents did not plan me!

[InLosAngeles]

Because the invention of slavery was created by the blacks, and is carried on to this day in parts of Africa. However, the real question is when will the multi billion dollar cottage industry of racism in America be put to an end once and for all? It is a buggy whip industry which we as a party are terrified to be honest about. Heaven forfend, might the real reason be that our party might lose votes in the name of a little honesty about the issue .Would it be a political sin to highlight the astronomical progress we've made as a nation to encourage, rather than discourage black youth? The gap is closing at light speed. I have been in the financial industry for years. The amounts of talented young black colleagues joining us nationally is nothing new. They are catering to the exploding black middle class wealth and they realize their opportunities are unlimited. Many of our inside and outside counsel are black. My personal physician has two black partners. My wife is in entertainment and her colleagues are heavily represented by all races. This is a very tired position. I guess until then I better get in line with our politcal mantra, "All hail the the buggy whip!".

[maria1253]

The Rev. Wright debacle is a prime example. He's *black* and he's *angry*, and he dared tell the seamy side of history..a­nd he's *racist*. Never mind the calls at the end of every sermon for peace, love your neighbor, and God's love. As for the clip about HRC..well it's true too. She hasn't. But i do have few names that I call her...wo't print them here.
Spun that clip over and over ... a real 20th century lynching. What white pastor ever got slimed like that?

[TwoCentsWorth]

Thanks Eric Deggans --

I've read all your articles. Your message makes this world a better place. Keep it up.

[sdskelton03]

Can someone explain to me what the hell code words are?

It seems to me it's just way to call people racists when they havent done anything to deserve it.

[Dalicious]

Here's an example: a black guy calls a white guy "honky", which is a code word for "fuck you, white boy". a white guy calls a black guy "boy", which is a code word for "nigger". Got the idea? Most code words are a bit more subtle, but I used unsubtlety to make the point obvious.

[sdskelton03]

Thanks for the reply, but there is hardly anything coded about "honky."

Who invented this code, and where can I get a copy?

Apparantly I am a giant bigot and didn't even know it. On the St. Louis Cardinals opening homestand, a rookie named Brian Barton hit one up the gap. Admiring his speed, I said "look at that boy run." Little did I know I was calling him a nigger.

Thank you for pointing that out.

[MsLiz]

I tried to think of an example. Back in the 1970s, the subject of busing was in the news everyday. There was litigation about it. You would have thought that there was something dangerous about sitting on a school bus. Actually, it was about shipping kids of different races to schools outside of their neighborhoods so that Black and white kids would share classrooms. A politician could rail against "busing" which sounds like he cared about kids spending too much time in a cheese wagon, when he was really upset that white kids had to be exposed to Black kids and teachers.

"Urban" seems to be code for Black.