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.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Oh naughty man using bad word! Forfend forfend!
I am SO tired of the language police.
For all the many reasons O'Reilly ought to be crucified on a cross of crap, this is easily the least.
His remarks may brand him as thoughtless and insensitive, but hardly a "racist". Can't we reserve that word for important stuff, e.g. actual discriminatory practices?
Dear Star,
I so agree with you on this, where is the uproar from Al Sharpton on this one, after the Imus statement. This statement by O'Reilly insinuated a well known tactic of hatred and racism, towards Black People. Where is the outrage and why hasn't he been kicked off his show?
I'll tell you why Al Sharpton is not on this 1. He made such a fool of himself on the Imus situation by over-reacting which in turn makes it hard 4 them 2 deal with REAL situations like this 1. And the reason why Fox haven't done anything is because they agree with the racist statements & O'Reilly is Fox's cash cow. If they lose him, they might as well pack it up.
Don Imus & Bill O' have 1 thing in common. When in trouble, blame it on the Blacks. When Imus was in hot water, he blamed it on Hip Hop. And now Bill O says his inspiration 4 a "lynching party" is Clarence Thomas?
What's next? Michael Richards blaming Chris Rock 4 calling someone a n----r??????
Currently, Sharpton is in New York, where the trial for the murderers of Sean Bell begins today.
This is all well and good, but I have just about had enough of advertisers passing their latent racism on to the rest of us by letting buffonish racists like O'Rielly represent them.
I want to know who the advertisers of his program are so that I can start boycotting every product they sell. If enough people do this, we won't have the likes of this idiot to put up with any more.
Its time we start asking in a very public way the CEO's of these various companies why they support such blatant racism. They need to be personally held accountable for the ALL the messages their ads are paying for.
As the recession deepens we might as well weed out a few bad apples in our midst in the process. Its simply not going to happen otherwise.
I say lets get on with the of building a better America. NOW! Its time for America to see what real change begins to look like. Certainly for the future of generations to come, we need to put our racist past behind us. This kind of stuff needs to end here. If it costs O'Reilly his job, so be it. Sometimes lifes not fair, but we all have to accept responsibility for our words and actions and actions and words of the kind O'Reilley has been selling on behalf of others need to end.
BOYCOTT THE ADVERTISERS. LET THEM KNOW YOU WON"T PUT UP WITH THIS.
Thank you Star Jones for writing the words I was thinking. Keep it up!
You are a role model for black women (all women really) and I am so proud when I hear you speak or read your words because you have great insight
Bill O, is only the tip of the ice berg. There are tons of right wing talk show heads that spew off a lot of hateful words. They should all be made to pay large sums of money, since this is the only way they will understand, that just because they have a mic in front of them, they do not have the right to tell lies and spew hate filled expressions.
Thanks Star, right on the money! I've been waiting for an appropriate response like this one. We banned O'Reilly in our house after giving him a chance to apologize. That weak excuse of Clarence Thomas crap was so lame and condescending to anyone that heard the original statement which in my opinion was baiting the Obamas. He will no longer be watched in my house, America has no place for his type of blatant bigotry in 2008.
Thank you for telling it like it is... I think he got incredibly lucky that he hit a heavy news cycle with McCrazy and Hillary going down dominating last week. If it had been a boring week this story would have gotten the attention it deserves. Shame on you O'Reilly, you give us Irish a bad name!
Thanks Star. This man is a crazy as they come, and with his microphone, no less. How people can watch and believe in him is a mystery to me. He is egotistical and a pervert to boot. He gave that Macris person 4 million dollars to get lost. He is your typical Fake News deliverer of unfair and unbalanced "news." He is hateful, pure and simple. He should see a shrink ASAP.
There is no problem with words. All words, in and of themselves are harmless. It is the intent behind the words. The words that BillO used were certainly in the context of fear. Fear of the possibility that a black woman might have a perspective on history that he cannot comprehend. Fear that a black man, who in his BillO's wee mind must be inferior, might become President. And certainly to place fear in the hearts of all blacks and especially those who aspire to a higher position. Poor BillO can't comprehend anything that doesn't involve fear. O'Reilly claims to shoot from the hip, but mostly it comes out his ass.
As for Michelle Obama's Comments, given the history of her family and race, has a perspective that whites cannot fully understand. We can try and we can be empathetic, but we will never fully understand. Of course, Cindy McCain has always been proud to be an American. She's white and rich and always has been. Of course, she also shows the trait of a Republican. A complete and total lack of empathy.
"How dare this white man with a microphone and the trust of the public"
TRUST OF THE PUBLIC? Not really. Olieally is where he is at the behest of the extreme right wing management of Faux News! pure & simple!
Keith Olberman regularly slams him and cites his low ratings!
He does need to go . I hope you sent a copy of your article to his boss!
As an "old wasp woman"....
( Disclaimer) I grew up in an extremely liberal small town, settled by Quakers more than 3 centuries ago, where people lived longer THEN, (contrary to current TV propaganda; "people are living longer NOW") & our High school graduation program was called "Diversity"!
With the distance of age & experience I can see now that that was a unique experience!
So let me get this staight...
Hear, Hear!!
Ms. Jones, keep writing and speaking out.
Your words are needed! They are down to earth and real. No BS!
I would have been far more surprised if Bill-O had reacted in any way that was not racist. Almost every time he gets the chance he exposes himself as a bigot. It shows you just how ignorant he is, because, if he had any sense, he should know that in 2008 thats still not appropriate talk for a prime time cable news program. Expect much more of the same from him and Fox News in the coming months - they cannot change who they are.
awesome. o'reilly needs to get slapped.
Well said Star Jones
This is coming from the same man who was surprised that blacks werent asking for more mother fucking iced tea at Sylvias in Harlem and was shocked to find out that blacks eat with forks and knives. Lets face it Bill O Reilly is a closet racist. His crusade against rappers rang hollow when Pepsi replaced Ludacris with the equally foul mouthed Osbornes and I didnt hear peep one from the man. And the fact that white people who should know the history behind lynching in this country shouldnt be defending this comment. i wouldnt say hey Speilberg said something I didnt like lets gas him
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
