Bill O'Reilly: Hate speech in America
By: BillOReilly.com StaffDecember 12, 2012
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By Bill O'Reilly

As we reported last night, The Factor is now going to out media people and others in the public arena who use hate speech. Enough is enough. That includes anti-Christian bigotry which is now rampant in parts of the secular media.

Again, we are going to name names and challenge people who are using hateful discourse in this country. But we've got to be careful here because we do believe in freedom of speech. We do respect robust debate as well as effective satire. Let me give you an example.

Last weekend actor Jamie Foxx hosted "Saturday Night Live" on NBC. Foxx did that to promote a new movie which he described to the audience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMIE FOXX, ACTOR: In the movie I have to wear chains. How whack is that? But don't -- don't be worried about it because I get out of chains, I got free and I save my wife and I kill all of the white people in the movie. How great is that? And how black is that?

But I'm going to tell you right now speaking of blackness, my President, President Obama is back up in the White House four more years. How black is that?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'REILLY: Now, some were upset by Foxx's monologue but not me. He is obviously being satirical. Yes, he goes into offensive areas but that's what satirists do. I did not see anything hateful in Foxx's commentary. I do not believe Jamie Foxx wants white people dead.

Now Foxx has some latitude because his ancestors were slaves. He can speak to that and should be given more room than someone who does not share that experience.

Hate speech is very specific. It's designed to marginalize and harm a political or ideological opponent. A business rival or someone else the hater doesn't like. Also if you can't win the debate hate speech is a cheap way to retreat.

When you think about it labeling someone a bigot, a racist, a homophobe, whatever is a form of violence. You want onlookers to join you in harming the person you are defaming. You are inciting that feeling against another human being. That's why we're on this campaign. And we're going to let you know exactly who the offenders are in very vivid terms.

And that's "The Memo."

- You can catch Bill O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo" weeknights at 8 and 11 p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel and any time on foxnews.com/oreilly. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com.

Transcript Date: 
Tue, 12/11/2012
Transcript Show Name: 
O'Reilly Factor
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