Bill O'Reilly's Throwing a Lynching Party

I'm sick to death of people like FOX News host, Bill O'Reilly, and his ilk thinking that he can use a racial slur against a black woman who could be the next First Lady of the United States, give a half-assed apology and not be taken to task and called on his crap.

This week O'Reilly gave the following response to a caller on his radio show who was making unsubstantiated negative charges against presidential candidate Barack Obama's wife, Michelle Obama:

"And 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."

What the hell? If it's "legit," you're going to "track it down?" And then what do you plan to do?

How dare this white man with a microphone and the trust of the public think that in 2008, he can still put the words "lynch and party" together in the same sentence with reference to a black woman; in this case, Michelle Obama? I don't care how you "spin it" in the "no spin zone," that statement in and of itself is racist, unacceptable and inappropriate on every level.

O'Reilly claims his comments were taken out of context. Please don't insult my intelligence while you're insulting me. I've read the comments and heard them delivered in O'Reilly's own voice; and there is no right context that exists. So, his insincere apology and "out-of-context" excuse is not going to cut it with me.

And just so we're clear, this has nothing to do with the 2008 presidential election, me being a Democrat, him claiming to be Independent while talking Republican, the liberal media or a conservative point of view. To the contrary, this is about crossing a line in the sand that needs to be drawn based on history, dignity, taste and truth.

Bill, I'm not sure of where you come from, but let me tell you what the phrase "lynching party" conjures up to me, a black woman born in North Carolina. Those words depict the image of a group of white men who are angry with the state of the own lives getting together, drinking more than they need to drink, lamenting how some black person has moved forward (usually ahead of them in stature or dignity), and had the audacity to think that they are equal. These same men for years, instead of looking at what changes, should and could make in their own lives that might remove that bitterness born of perceived privilege, these white men take all of that resentment and anger and decide to get together and drag the closest black person near them to their death by hanging them from a tree -- usually after violent beating, torturing and violating their human dignity. Check your history books, because you don't need a masters or a law degree from Harvard to know that is what constitutes a "lynching party."

Imagine, Michelle and Barack Obama having the audacity to think that they have the right to the American dream, hopes, and ideals. O'Reilly must think to himself: how dare they have the arrogance to think they can stand in a front of this nation, challenge the status quo and express the frustration of millions? When this happens, the first thing that comes to mind for O'Reilly and people like him is: "it's time for a party."

Not so fast...don't order the rope just yet.

Would O'Reilly ever in a million years use this phrase with reference to Elizabeth Edwards, Cindy McCain or Judi Nathan? I mean, in all of the statements and criticisms that were made about Judi Nathan, the one-time mistress turned missus, of former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, I never heard any talk of forming a lynch party because of something she said or did.

So why is it that when you're referring to someone who's African-American you must dig to a historical place of pain, agony and death to symbolize your feelings? Lynching is not a joke to off-handedly throw around and it is not a metaphor that has a place in political commentary; provocative or otherwise. I admit that I come from a place of personal outrage here having buried my 90 year-old grandfather last year. This proud, amazing African-American man raised his family and lived through the time when he had to use separate water fountains, ride in the back of a bus, take his wife on a date to the "colored section" of a movie theater, and avert his eyes when a white woman walked down the street for fear of what a white man and his cronies might do if they felt the urge to "party"; don't tell me that the phrase you chose, Mr. O'Reilly, was taken out of context.

To add insult to injury, O'Reilly tried to "clarify" his statements, by using the excuse that his comments were reminiscent of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' use of the term "high-tech lynching" during his confirmation hearing. I reject that analogy. You see Justice Thomas did mean to bring up the image of lynching in its racist context. He was saying that politics and the media were using a new technology to do to him what had been done to black men for many years -- hang him. Regardless of if you agreed with Justice Thomas' premise or not, if in fact -- Bill O'Reilly was referencing it -- the context becomes even clearer.

What annoys me more than anything is that I get the feeling that one of the reasons Bill O'Reilly made this statement, thinking he could get away with it in the first place, and then followed it up with a lame apology in a half-hearted attempt to smooth any ruffled feathers, is because he doesn't think that black women will come out and go after him when he goes after us. Well, he's dead wrong. Be clear Bill O'Reilly: there will be no lynch party for that black woman. And this black woman assures you that if you come for her, you come for all of us.

Comments

[Dajo]

Star,

This is the first I heard about the Bill O'Reilly slur directed at Michelle Obama. I never watch FOX much less that pathetic scoundrel O'Reilly. He is lower than "Commode Scum."

I happen to be a Hillary Clinton supporter and will support Hillary or Obama should either win the Democratic nomination.

Although I currently support Hillary that doesn't change my opinion about Michelle Obama at all. I believe that Michelle Obama is Barack's best asset, much like Hillary was Bill's greatest asset.
I agree 100% with Michelle's comment. I feel exactly the same way.
I am so proud that I am a Democrat and am so proud that my party chose two of the finest people in the world to become our next president.
I am a bit older than Michelle and I haven't felt this proud since JFK was elected.
I have a feeling I will be feeling just as proud in November when the New Democratic President is elected.

[eggcream]

So why is it that NO ONE has done anything about this thing they call Bill O'realy? He REALLY needs to GO!!! Where is Al Sharpton when you need him??

[tginmn]

I agree that Bill should be "lynched" and suspended for a month without pay but the fact is FOX is really and entertainment network not a news network. I just don't watch it. Remember Bill's ratings are the same as Ed Schultz.

[Thurber]

Suspended?!? Are you serious? For calling for a lynching party for like likely next First Lady of the United States?


This man should be fired then imprisoned for terrorism conspiracy, defined as planning violent means to effect political change. That is exactly what it was and, based on his explanation, how he meant it to be perceived.


I hope the Obamas don't let themselves be lulled into a sense of safety based on their secret service detail. Terrorists, particularly the home-grown, right-wing type, have proven time and time again a willingness to act on their worst natures. Get a restraining order against him. and his cronies.

[Bozie]

So you think that's entertainment? Are we that de-sensitized as a nation that one can threaten lynching and it's overlooked if it's a "joke?" There's nothing entertaining about racism and hate-spewing.

[CheekyGal]

Only FAUX News would put up with the puke O'Reilly.

[websmith]

Bill knows full well what using those words would do. He works for Murdoch and Rothschild. They want to keep the white folk and the black folk categorized and fighting so that they can control them.

[lilibet]

Add to that list, Democrats of any race, color or creed.

[tea in the harbor]

I know what world he comes from, he believes that patriotism and blind obedience are one and the same. He believes that he and his thought police ilk have God given authority over us common folks. Race is far from the only subject encompassed in his bigotry. His perceived right to hit on a producer cost him a ton of money, but not his show. His assertion that a kidnapped child enjoyed sexual abuse caused a dust-up, but was forgiven by his overlords. He is the intellectual remnant of the reptilian brain from whence we all came, and doesn't believe in evolution because in his case, there is no evidence. He is proof that somewhere in the recent past of the repuglican party, someone did a monkey, and it took!

[Thurber]

don't insult monkeys like that. I'm pretty sure it was a lizard.

[tea in the harbor]

I'm sorry, but lizards wouldn't work from a biological standpoint, nor would cockroaches or primordial slime, I checked. This ones on the monkey's back!

[stormy7]

WAY TO GO STAR. GO KICK THAT ASSHOLE O'REILLY'S WHERE IT HURTS!

[VoteOrDie]

In what parallel universe do the bobbleheads of O'Rally, LimpBalls, Coulterguist and FAux News live, that they don't get that using the word "lynching" in context w/an African American isn't offensive and hateful?
The Repukes and Faux News don't even vail their racisim and misogyny. Yet for "entertainment" they get away w/it.
And the most absurd lie is the "liberal media" bunk. Please....­.......GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!1

[roneckley16823]

Go Hillary? - her campaign is also guilty of racism. Did you forget South Carolina and what is with the picture her campaign put on the web today? This woman is so desperate - can't wait until she loses in Texas and Ohio - maybe then she will go away quietly. Enough of the Clinton and Fox news.

[lilibet]

You don't want black and lynching mentioned in the same sentence(neither do I) but then you turn around and put the Clintons and Fox "news" in the same sentence.
Sounds like a pretty narrow mind to me.

[Stavo]

Bill O'Reilly is a pig, pure and simple. Those who feel the need to listen to the likes of his ilk, well they truly are a minority these days. They had their day in the sun, but that sun is about to set on their way of living and of spreading and fostering hatred in America. Good riddance and may what they preach, happen to them, ten fold. Silently waiting in the wings for them to stumble.

[vote4kucinich]

Sadly, when O'Reilly and Limbaugh are on the losing side of the elections, the uglier and more vitriolic they become. They are so detrimental to our country.

[DNVigerJr]

Unfortuantely some black people carry a chip on their shoulder, so they take anything they can out of context, Like Bill O'Reilly's comment, and use it to further their recognition of themselves like Starr did!

O'Reilly wasn't promoting lynching of black women or anyone. For anyone to assume that shows their ignorance or own prejudice and reverse racism! What burned O'Reilly like many of us Americans was a potential first lady saying that until now she found no reason to be proud of America! How about all the Union army men who sacrificed their lives for an end to slavery! How about the vets, alive and dead who fought to keep Hitler and Tojo from our shores. Hitler would no doubt have elimated black people just as he did the Jews if he could have, and had he won the war!

If Obama's wife is so ungrateful about America until now, why didn't she leave here and head for some other Country?! There is no Country on earth that offers what America has to offer blacks, whites, or any other race. I only hope that Obama's wife doesn't reflect what Obama feels. If he gets elected will there be a get whitey movement? America should be color blind by now. The past is the past, and we need to move on! We are not something or another Americans, we are just plain Americans! Listen to Whoopi Goldberg!

[msblkwidow]

I agree with Michelle. I still am not proud of this country. And, if white folk had left my ancestors alone where they lived in Africa, you and your people would not be worried about us now. But history shows that my people were forced to come to this awful place. You think this country is so wonderful to not jus Blacks but poor people, try changing places for just ONE day. Remember, our ancestors were SLAVES. Are you saying that we should be proud that the Union Army fought to abolish slavery? Be for real. You people should be happy that we were here. Take a good look at what African have done for this country. This is why it's so great. Not only the inventions (many of which were stolen) but our creativity (namely music). You just can't get enough of our people. But, we are suppose to be so proud. How dare you tell someone to leave this country. white people had no right to bring my people to this country in the first place. You leave. You were not forced to come here; but I hope you know that your ancestors opted to come to America. We deserve everything we get. We never did get our "Ten acres and a mule". What's up with that. Oh yeah, Black folks have fought in every one of Americas stupid wars. So, don't act like white people were the only ones who fought for this country. We don't need to move on until you people stop talking stupid. Whoopi Goldberg can not speak for me. Can't we just all get along? Absolutely not. I guess when people talk like this, it brings out the racism in me, and I grew up and went to school with white people. I need to stop because I'm getting angry. If Obama's wife... Aagggg!

[rwall5194]

Never been a fan of Star, but every word of
this article was right and to the point.

I suggest doing what I did. I wrote to Fox
News and every other fox executive by e-mail.
If more people would bombard them with e-mails
about their disgust with Bill O-Reilly, maybe
something would be done.

This pompous liar should have been fired long
ago.

[timinhi]

"rwall5194":
Nope. O'Reilly is saying exactly what Fox News wants him to say, and exactly what Bill's audience wants to hear. The only real way to silence him is to go after Fox's sponsors. If enough people let them know they won't buy the products of companies that advertise on those hate-propaganda shows, just watch Fox's ad revenue dry up. Nothing scares corporate America more than the prospect that consumers will associate their products with "offensive" ideas, concepts or imagery. Look how apeshit the powers that be went when Janet Jackson's boob popped out during the Superbowl halftime performance.

[Reine]

I watch Fox News & Bill says what he wants. He apologized for that comment. He was thinking of Supreme Court justice comment, Thomas, when he said he felt liberals basically lynched him. He goofed as many journalists & reporters do at times. If Fox has hate propaganda shows, I wonder why I like Obama so much. I watch Fox because they are the fairest. People like you have tried to scare off some companies by doing that & it didn't work. We have free speech & I would think you would be more upset about MSNBC. Should we boycott them too? Where do we stop. If you hate Fox, don't watch it but many of us do period.

[John C. Bonser]

O'Reilly and his fellow wing nuts know that they should always bellow loudly while bearing false witness. The greater the distance from reality the more attention they will receive.

[lambdin1]

What trust?!! All he preaches to is the people that need someone to tell them what to think!!!
Belive me there are alot of them!!!!

[oncethere]

The sad and harsh Truth is that O'Reilly and Limbaugh, etc. are profoundly insightless and amoral individuals and nothing, Repeat Nothing, will ever get them to see how destructive their narcissistic, condescending and "piggish" attiudes and beliefs are to the American soul and psyche.

[fancyrage]

hey. me-63 female white from Durham, N.C. just wanting to tell you that you absolutely hit the nail on the head in the Michelle Obama/Bill O'Reilly piece as regards how it was down south back then--lots of folks, black and white, don't know how it was before integration got started and you definitely educated some. good work, good writing. i, for one, will definitely be paying closer attention to what you've got to say after reading this. rock on, darlin', rock on.

[DNVigerJr]

We are integrated, and need to move on with that. Constantly bringing up the past is senseless and just incites more hatred and occupies time that could be better spent loving one another, and being color blind! Certainly there are more postive things to bring up than past racism. Obviously with Obama's rising popularity, racism isn't what a lot of people with chips on their shoulders would have you believe and dwell on. As a Country I have always been proud of, we are better than that. Like people, we have the right to grow better and shed those things that were wrong in our past. Stop bringing them up for attention. We are beyond that!

[claudiam]

Thank you Starr for speaking out. I am so disappointed that so many are just allowing this comment to just be said. I am Caucasian and totally sickened by his comment. Why hasn't he gotten suspended or fired? Hillary managed to get David suspended because of a comment that he made which is used by young folks all the time. Where is the outrage????

[gonavy]

Why do people that agree with Star feel the need to state their race?

[areacode631]

Because they a) suffer from white guilt-a very dangerous path to be on, or b) they're really not white. Either way, they are absurd