After smearing Sheehan, O'Reilly claims he and Malkin were "respectful"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200508110002

One day after smearing protester Cindy Sheehan, O'Reilly claimed he and Malkin were "respectful" to her

On the August 10 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly responded to a viewer e-mail, which accused him and right-wing pundit Michelle Malkin of "savaging" Iraq war protester Cindy Sheehan, by claiming that the viewer was distorting the show's coverage. O'Reilly maintained, "Both Michelle and I were respectful to Mrs. Sheehan, sir." But on the previous day's O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly falsely claimed that Sheehan's "story has been inconsistent" and suggested that she hates the government and the United States. Malkin also falsely claimed Sheehan's "story hasn't checked out," and said Sheehan should be scorned for the views she and O'Reilly falsely imputed to her. And on her weblog, Malkin sought to discredit Sheehan by suggesting that her son who was killed in the Iraq war would not approve of her protest.

From the August 10 edition of The O'Reilly Factor:

Heather O'Neill, New York City: "I see the right-wing smear tactics have begun against Cindy Sheehan."

O'Reilly: Well, I don't know where you're seeing that. Not here, Ms. O'Neill. We've reported the story accurately and fairly.

---snip---

Al Nagengast, Payson, Arizona: "O'Reilly, the savaging of Mrs. Sheehan by you and Michelle Malkin is a new low for The Factor."

O'Reilly: Both Michelle and I were respectful to Mrs. Sheehan, sir. You are distorting and perhaps lying about the segment.

From the August 10 edition of The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: Heather O'Neill, New York City: "I see the right-wing smear tactics have begun against Cindy Sheehan."

---snip---

TRANSCRIPT of August 9th O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: Well, I have to say that she obviously does because she's the lead story on Michael Moore's Web site on an almost daily basis. And she knows -- I mean, Michael Moore isn't a subtle guy. Everybody knows where he stands. So I mean, I think Mrs. Sheehan bears some responsibility for this and also for the responsibility of other American families who have lost sons and daughters in Iraq, who feel that this kind of behavior borders on treasonous. You know, you got to think about those people as well. What about their feelings?

---snip---

O'REILLY: She has thrown in -- there is no question that she has thrown in with the most radical elements in this country. That is -- now, it happened before. Some of the 9-11 families also took this road, you'll remember, and are still active to this day. There's a big controversy about the 9-11 Museum down at the World Trade Center. And, you know, there are some people who hate this government, hate their country right now, and blaming Bush for all the terrorism and all the horror in the world. Here's a question, Michelle. Do they have a right to this opinion without being scorned?

MALKIN: No, without being scorned, no. And I wouldn't call it scorned. I would call it scrutiny. And the mainstream media is not doing it. I mean, the New York Times editorial board is all too eager to prop her up as some sort of martyr and to buy her line when clearly her story hasn't checked out.

O'REILLY: Yes, her story hasn't changed.

MALKIN: And so I think -- and I think that angle you're emphasizing is absolutely right here, which is the mainstream media just lapping this up and perpetuating myths and inaccuracies when they know it's not the truth.

O'REILLY: Yes. They don't identify -- in the New York Times editorial today, it was obvious they did not say her story has been inconsistent. And they did not pinpoint that she is in bed with the radical left.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200508110002

[rasputin1952]

1. I didn't see this segment...but at one point in the transcript he states:

"Her story hasn't changed", then laments that the NYT's Ed Board didn't say her story was inconsistent...:wtf:

O'Reilly and Malkin....what a pair...:eyes:

[rodeodance]

2. O'Lielly egged Michelle on and she took the bait-hook line and sicker

She is the one that really said the nasty things while Bill asked the questions. what an idiot to let bill lead her like that.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Like they'd know anything about losing a son

What a pair of pious hypocrites. Disgraceful.

[MSgt213]

4. Accusing someone of treason is respectful? I won't even go into the fact

that before you accuse someone of such a serious crime you should at least have at least a vague knowledge of what treason is.

[OneTwentyoNine]

5. Instead of watching that crap you should have watched Hardball...

Crosby and Nash were on and TORE Bush and his illegal War a new ASS. Tweety is out of town for some RW love fest or those two probably wouldn't been allowed on the air. Loved the part about Crosby calling Bush a chimp. SHit it was GREAT!!

David

[Independent_Liberal]

6. O'Reilly and Malkin need to STFU!

I'm really getting sick of those two!

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Ditto

[rman]

8. Sounds like "I'm not a crook"

They are invoking the frame "disrespectful", by denying it.

[Toots]

9. Who Cares...get a life

Watching O'Reilly is donating to the Republican cause. I am sure there are far better ways to spend one's time then watching garbage. It is your choice but I don't understand it.