Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)

Bill O'Reilly

William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. (born September 10 1949) is an American commentator, author, syndicated columnist and television personality. While his work frequently appears on the radio and in print, O'Reilly is best known as the host of the cable television editorial program The O'Reilly Factor, broadcast on the Fox News Channel. Between 2003 and the first half of 2006, it ranked #1 among cable news programs, averaging 2.2 million viewers daily in 2005. ^[1] [1] The O'Reilly Factor offers O'Reilly's point of view on national and international events through his self-described no-nonsense commentary and interviews. O'Reilly calls himself a culture warrior against harmful, radical social changes and those causing them, i.e., the ACLU, activist judges, and secular humanists.[2]

O'Reilly also hosts a radio program, syndicated by Westwood One, entitled The Radio Factor, and has written five books featuring his own social-political views. His views are frequent sources of controversy in various media outlets, including his own programs.

Personal background

Early Life

O'Reilly was born in New York City, to Irish Catholic parents William and Angela O'Reilly, from Brooklyn, New York and Bergen County, New Jersey, respectively. His father was an accountant. In 1951, his family moved to a home on Long Island, in Levittown, NY [3][4]. After graduating from Chaminade High School in 1967, O'Reilly attended Marist College, a small, co-educational private institution in Poughkeepsie, New York. While at Marist, O'Reilly played punter^[2] on the school's football intramural team, and was also a columnist and feature writer for the school's newspaper, The Circle. As an honors student majoring in history, he spent his junior year of college abroad, attending Queen Mary College at the University of London. ^[3] O'Reilly received his B.A. in History in 1971. He played semi-professional baseball during this time as a pitcher for the Brooklyn Monarchs, leading him to try out to play for the American professional baseball team, the New York Mets. O'Reilly married Maureen McPhilmy, a public relations executive, in 1995. They have one daughter, Madeline, born in 1998, and a son, Spencer, born in 2003. According to an October 2005 interview in Newsday, O'Reilly hired bodyguards and is very sensitive about the general public taking pictures of him, calling them "stealth paparazzi". ^[4] O'Reilly has requested that no photographs of his home or family be made public — citing a desire to protect his family's privacy and security.

He and his family now live in Manhasset, New York.[5]

Broadcasting career

After graduating from Marist, O'Reilly moved to Miami, Florida at age 21, where he taught English and History at Monsignor Pace High School for two years. After leaving Miami, O'Reilly returned to school, earning a M.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University in 1976. While attending Boston University, he was a reporter and columnist for various local newspapers and alternative news weeklies, including The Boston Phoenix. O'Reilly did his broadcast journalism internship in Miami during this time, and was also an entertainment writer and movie critic for The Miami Herald.

File:IEPromoWJLA1993.jpg

WJLA, Washington, D.C. Inside Edition promo featuring Bill O'Reilly, 1993.

O'Reilly's early television news career included reporting and anchoring positions at WNEP-TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he also reported the weather. At WFAA-TV in Dallas, Texas, O'Reilly was awarded the Dallas Press Club Award for excellence in investigative reporting. He then moved to KMGH-TV in Denver, Colorado where he won an Emmy for his coverage of a skyjacking. O'Reilly also worked for KATU-TV in Portland, Oregon, as well as TV stations in Hartford (WFSB), Connecticut, and in Boston, Massachusetts ^[5].

In 1980, he anchored his own program on WCBS-TV in New York where he won his second Emmy for an investigation of corrupt city marshals. He was promoted to the network as a CBS News correspondent and covered the wars in El Salvador and the Falkland Islands from his base in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1982). He later left CBS over, amongst other tensions, a dispute concerning the uncredited use in a report by Bob Schieffer of riot footage shot by O'Reilly's crew in Buenos Aires during the Falklands conflict. (A 1998 novel by O'Reilly, Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Television and Murder, depicts a television reporter who has a similar dispute over a Falklands War report. The character proceeds to exact his revenge on network staff in a series of graphically described violent ritualistic murders [6]).

In 1986, O'Reilly joined ABC News as a correspondent on ABC World News Tonight. In three years, he appeared on the show over one hundred times, receiving two National Headliner Awards for excellence in reporting.

In 1989, O'Reilly joined the nationally syndicated King World (now CBS) program Inside Edition, a tabloid-style current affairs television program in competition with A Current Affair. He started as senior correspondent and backup anchor for celebrated British TV host David Frost, and subsequently became the program's anchor after Frost's brief tenure. In addition to being one of the first American broadcasters to cover the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, O'Reilly also obtained the first exclusive interview with murderer Joel Steinberg and was the first television host from a national current affairs program on the scene of the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

In 1995, O'Reilly was replaced by former NBC News and CBS News anchor Deborah Norville on Inside Edition. He then enrolled at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he received a Master's Degree in Public Administration. Upon leaving Harvard, O'Reilly was hired by Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of the then startup FOX News Channel, to anchor The O'Reilly Report. The nascent channel's most popular show was renamed to The O'Reilly Factor when it moved to a later time slot in 1998 since the host was the main "factor" of the show.

The O'Reilly Factor

O'Reilly's television show, The O'Reilly Factor, is routinely one of the highest-rated shows of the three major American 24-hour cable news channels (CNN, FOX News and MSNBC). The show is taped late in the afternoon at a studio in New York City and airs daily on the FOX News Channel at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Factor gained its popularity in the late 1990s through O'Reilly's reporting on the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal. ^{[citation needed]} O'Reilly has repeatedly claimed throughout the years that Bill Clinton had the IRS audit him.[7]

In 2001, Mr. O'Reilly was given credit by many, (including the US Congress), for ensuring money raised by the Red Cross and the United Way for the victims of September 11, 2001, actually went to said victims, instead of being diverted to other areas. In 2005, he participated in a fund raiser on NBC for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake.

American Red Cross and the United Way

In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, O'Reilly devoted substantial time on his television show and wrote pieces alleging that the United Way and American Red Cross failed to deliver millions of dollars in donated money, raised by the organizations in the name of the disaster, to the families of those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.[8][9]. O'Reilly asserted that the organizations misrepresented their intentions for the money being raised by not distributing all of the 9/11 relief fund to the victims. [10] After Congressional hearings were called on the matter and an investigation by New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer was conducted, the president of the Red Cross resigned and the organization pledged that all funds would go to directly benefit the victims of the September 11 attacks. In sworn testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee in November 2001, Congressman J.D. Hayworth asserted that media pressure, most notably from O'Reilly, helped cause the Red Cross to increase payments to affected people and helped cause other charities to participate in an oversight database established by Spitzer. In the aftermath, O'Reilly helped the Red Cross develop a new policy regarding how donations would be distributed. [11].

Sexual harassment lawsuit

On October 13, 2004, O'Reilly sued former O'Reilly Factor producer Andrea Mackris, her lawyer (Benedict P. Morelli), and Morelli's law firm for extortion contending Mackris had privately demanded more than $60 million (USD) to settle a claim of sexual harassment. Mackris filed her complaint of sexual harassment later the same day.^[6] In her complaint, she alleged that O'Reilly made inappropriate and lewd sexual comments to her on numerous occasions.^[7]^[8] On October 19, Mackris filed an amended complaint in which she detailed some of the allegedly sexually harrassing comments O'Reilly had made, citing comments allegedly transcribed from an unreleased audio tape of a telephone conversation between Mackris and O'Reilly ^[9]^[10]^[11]. The amended complaint also sought additional damages and described alleged actions of retaliation by Fox, et.al.^[11] O'Reilly never filed an Answer to the complaints and, on October 28, Mackris' case was settled out of court when O'Reilly agreed to pay her an undisclosed sum.^[12] Both parties agreed to keep the terms of settlement confidential and to withdraw their claims of wrongdoing, which they each have done. After the case was settled, O'Reilly's only public comment was, "This chapter is behind me, and I will never talk about it again."

Published works

O'Reilly is a columnist for the New York Post and Newsmax website and magazine. He has written four bestselling non-fiction books and a novel (Those Who Trespass). The O'Reilly Factor For Kids was 2005's best selling non-fiction children’s book, while Who's Looking Out For You?, The O'Reilly Factor and The No Spin Zone reached number one on The New York Times Non Fiction Best Seller list [12].

O'Reilly's political beliefs and points of view

Views regarded as conservative

Believes if the "forces of secularism" go unchecked, "they will destroy America as we know it"[13]
Supports using the American military to enforce the United States-Mexico border
Believes the chairman of the Democratic Party, Howard Dean, is "the biggest coward in the country"^{[citation needed]}
Opposes the inheritance tax
Supports a flat tax
Opposes race-based affirmative action [14]
Opposes Embryonic stem cell research
Opposes income redistribution [15]
Supports intelligent design being discussed in science classes in public schools [16]
Supports domestic surveillance programs
Believes the ACLU is currently the most dangerous organization in the United States of America[17]
O'Reilly is an outspoken opponent of former president Bill Clinton and Janet Reno, and has referred to the two jointly as the "Clinton-Reno regime".[18] He has praised John Ashcroft in comparison to Reno, whom he called the worst attorney general in history.[19]
Supports stricter border controls including placement of the National Guard troops on the US-Mexican border [20]
Opposes big American government [21]
Opposes the expansion job security and entitlement programs believing they undermine ambition[22]
Supports the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy and opposes openly declared homosexuals in the military
He has also said that he does not believe voters should any longer trust the Democratic party, and summed up his opinion with the following statement: "The truth is that the Democratic party has been hijacked by the far left and really can't persuade anyone anymore."[23]
Supported the impeachment of Bill Clinton
Supported federal intervention by Republican politicians in the Terri Schiavo controversy to reinstate her feeding tube
Claims that "liberals will never come to power in the United States--at least in our lifetime" because they fail to protect children from sexual predators [24]
Supports the drug Marinol as opposed to legalization of medical marijuana (The O'Reilly Factor 6/15/06)
Support for President Clinton's opposition to Slobodan Milošević
Frequency of calling out members of the "far-left" as opposed to vice versa

Views regarded as moderate

Initially supported the war in Iraq, but now believes it may not have been the correct theatre of battle.
Opposes prostitution on grounds of "laziness" rather than any moral problem with it ^[13]
Opposes death penalty because the state should not execute people and it is not a strong deterrent[25]. Also states hard labor is a better deterrent than death penalty[26](3/15/2005 he argued in favor of death penalty [27]).
Supports adoption by gay parents, but only as a "last resort" to leaving children in "the system" [28]
Supports a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage [29] but would not oppose it if it were legal[30] and supports same-sex civil unions as a third way[31][32]
He considers global warming an established fact.[33]

Views regarded as liberal

Criticism of free-market economics in the oil industry and support of higher taxes on vehicles that consume more gas
Supports income-based affirmative action [34]
Supports placing *Supports guest-worker program for illegal immigrants
60 Minutes reported that he supports gun control [35].

Opinions on others' politics

O'Reilly's position on "extremists" in politics is divided between the "far left" and "far right". He personally considers Nazis [36], American militia groups[37], David Duke, [38], Ann Coulter ^[14], and the Ayn Rand Institute [39] to be on the far-right.

O'Reilly is far more critical of what he believes is the "far left," and has identified the following people or organizations as being on the "far left:"

Politicians Endorsed by O'Reilly

On the September 24 2005 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, he advised his viewers to vote for Republican Doug Forrester in the 2005 New Jersey gubernatorial election, suggesting that Jon Corzine, a Democrat, would not be as tough on child molesters ^[15].
In 2003 O'Reilly urged the voters of California to recall governor Gray Davis, stating, "The corrupt Democratic machine has to go," and urging them to vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger [113]. However, in the same segment, O'Reilly mentioned that the "corrupt GOP" that was once in power in his home of Nassau County, New York also had to go and that the new Democrat in charge has been doing OK.
Two years later, on the day of the citizen initiatives elections in California, as well as the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, he urged his listeners to vote for the Republican governor's proposals on the ballot ^[16].

Politicians Opposed by O'Reilly

In 2004 he urged his viewers to vote against Democratic senate candidate Betty Castor in Florida.[114]
O'Reilly also urged his listeners on The Radio Factor to vote against Democratic Senator Tom Daschle in the 2004 Senate election ^[17]

Controversies

Main article: Bill O'Reilly controversies

Over the years, there have been several ongoing controversial issues highlighted in O'Reilly's print and broadcast work. He has been involved in many disputes with figures and sources including Al Franken, Keith Olbermann, Media Matters, Neal Boortz, rapper Ludacris, and various Iraq War critics, including Jeremy Glick. One prime example was his claim that he did not make personal attacks of any kind, to which Media Matters responded with a montage of supposed personal attacks O'Reilly had committed.

References

^ Nielsen Media Research (2005). "Nielsen Media Research; 2005 Competitive Program Analysis" (PDF).
^ Duffy, Don (1970). ""Campus Stuff" (The Circle)" (PDF). Poughkeepsie, NY: Marist College (Originally published in The Circle on November 19, 1970). Retrieved December 26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
^ Marist (2001). "2001 Commencement Program". Poughkeepsie, NY: Marist College, Office of Alumni Relations (Originally published in the May 19, 2001 Commencement Program). Retrieved December 26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
^ Gay, Verne (2005). "What's hate got to do with it?" (October 18 ed.). Newsday.
^ Malinowski, Scoop (November 8, 2004). "Get 2 Know Bill O'Reilly!". TheBioFILE.com. Retrieved September 9. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
^ Photocopy of lawsuit
^ TheSmokingGun.com (2004a). "O'Reilly: Female Aide in $60M Extort Bid". Courtroom Television Network LLC (appeared October 13). Retrieved July 11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
^ TheSmokingGun.com (2004b). "O'Reilly Hit With Sex Harass Suit". Courtroom Television Network LLC (appeared October 13). Retrieved July 11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
^ Photocopy of complaint report
^ "O'Reilly, Accuser Air Their Cases", Washington Post, October 15, 2004, by Howard Kurtz.
^ ^a ^b "Bill O'Reilly, Producer Settle Harassment Suit", Washington Post, October 29, 2004, by Howard Kurtz.
^ Kurtz, H. (2004). "Bill O'Reilly, Producer Settle Harassment Suit". The Washington Post Co. (washingtonpost.com on October 29). Retrieved December 26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
^ Kincaid, Cliff (2002). "Shame on Fox News". Washington, D.C.: Accuracy In Media (December 19). Retrieved December 26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
^ O'Reilly, Bill (2006). [Ann Coulter is Far Right "Uncivil Debate"] (OGG). Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help) June 7 2006 Show
^ O'Reilly, Bill (2005). "Protecting the Kids in New Jersey..." FOX News.
^ O'Reilly, Bill (2005). "Election Day, 2005". FOX News.
^ G.W. (2004). "Self-proclaimed non-partisan Bill O'Reilly urged listeners to vote against Daschle in South Dakota; O'Reilly's Dem Convention preview: Daschle's "no good"; [[Nancy Pelosi|Pelosi]]'s a "nut"; [[Max Cleland]]'s "strange"". Media Matters. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)

Preceded by David Frost	Host of Inside Edition 1989–1995	Succeeded by Deborah Norville