Friday, December 14, 2007
On The O'Reilly Factor...
Segment Summaries
All content taken from The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News Channel. Each weeknight by 6 PM EST a preview of that evening's show will be posted and then updated with additional information the following weekday by noon EST.
Talking Points Memo & Top Story
Mike Huckabee attacked by Seattle newspaper
"The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is a far-left publication that routinely allows its columnists to smear people. Yesterday somebody named Bonnie Erbe wrote this in the Seattle paper: 'If you happen to be walking behind presidential aspirant Mike Huckabee, you might see a small trail of blood and hear a scraping sound. That's because his knuckles are dragging. This darling of the evangelical right has proven himself to be every bit the caveman we mainstreamers believe him to be.' Yesterday I told you that the media plan is to keep the republicans pinned down on the religion issue - and define some of the candidates as fanatical God-squad people. If the media can succeed in keeping issues like terrorism, illegal immigration and taxation out of the debate, that will help the democratic candidates. So I hope you're all getting the picture here: the secular-progressive smear-machine is salivating over the prospect of making zealotry the main issue in the upcoming campaign."

The Factor then welcomed Gov. Huckabee, along with one of his supporters - martial arts superstar Chuck Norris - into the No Spin Zone. The Factor wanted to know if it was fair to say that Huckabee was pandering to Christians. Huckabee denied it: "It would be very unfair to say that. Because the fact is I'm simply describing my biography. The press always wants to talk about that 17 years ago, I was a Baptist minister. And that's fine. But ten-and-a-half years I was a governor. Longer executive experience than anybody running for president, Democrat or Republican." Religion was not part of the equation for Chuck Norris: "I'm not backing Mike because he's a Christian. I'm backing him because of the message that he's presenting to the people." The Factor wondered if Norris had bumped into a fellow celebrity while campaigning in Iowa: "Now have you run into Oprah there, Norris?"
Impact Segment
Players denying Mitchell steroid report
The nation is still debating the Major League Baseball steroid scandal and what should be done about it. Players like pitcher Roger Clemens are vehemently denying the accusations. The Factor wanted to know if any of the players would be able to sue.
Attorney and Fox News star Greta Van Susteren had some advice for Clemens. "If he did nothing wrong in the terms of what's being alleged in the report that he never used the performance-enhancement drugs, then he should think about seriously suing, because he is so tarnished. His reputation, it's libel. It's saying terrible things about him that people will hold against him forever. Now if he did use them, he should quietly go away." The Factor noted that the Clemens allegations stemmed from just one person. "If there's no other witnesses, if it's just the accuser against Clemens, Clemens wins. I mean, even in discovery and all that other business, he can just say look, I didn't do it and you got to prove I did it. And he said/she said doesn't cut it."
Personal Story Segment
The 50 smartest & 50 dumbest people in Hollywood
Entertainment Weekly Magazine published a list the 50 smartest people in Hollywood. The New York Daily news replied with their own list - the dumbest people. The Factor wanted to know if Steven Spielberg was really the second smartest person in Hollywood. "He is," said Fox News Entertainment correspondent Jill Dobson. "He's figured out Hollywood. He's an innovator. He comes up with ideas. And he also surprises us now and then." The Factor was surprised that Angelina Jolie was on the smart list. "You know, I saw her at a screening of A Mighty Heart," said Parade Magazine reporter Jeanne Wolf. "And the night before, I'd seen her in Beowulf. And I said, Angelina, you couldn't be more different. Your naked body in gold last night and tonight you're crying over playing Mrs. Pearl. And she said 'Aha, now you know no one knows who I really am.' Yes, Angelina is very smart." The Factor noted that Charlie Sheen was on the dumb list: "He thinks that the World Trade Center was blown up from the inside. Just like Meryl Streep, there comes a point where if you go over the line, you're dumb."
Fridays with Geraldo Segment
Geraldo returns from the Middle East
Geraldo Rivera returned from a 13-day trip through Iraq and Afghanistan - among other places. That Factor wanted to know "what was the most important thing you learned this time around?" Geraldo started with good news: "There's no doubt about it that the surge is working. I mean, David Petraeus, General Petraeus, the commanding general, against all odds, I think, has pulled off a military miracle. There is no doubt that Baghdad is a much safer place. I felt secure walking around without my body armor on for the first time in several years. It is almost miraculous what he has brought." Geraldo conceded, however, that the political situation and the widespread corruption had to improve before the country could be completely secure. But The Factor was optimistic on that front. "If the people are going to demand that the nonsense stop on all levels, not just military but corruption and everything else, I think things are going to get better."
Week in Review Segment
Laura Ingraham on Huckabee
Radio host Laura Ingraham dropped by the No Spin Zone to review the week's news. She wanted to sound off on the media's focus on religious issues. "I think the elites really missed the boat here. Most people believe in God in America. Most people want to celebrate Christmas. And I don't think people are really, like, losing sleep at night about the fact that, you know, religion sometimes is a topic in political discussion. But does it surprise me that the Seattle Post-Intelligencer does what it does? No, it does not at all." The Factor noted that the problem wasn't just limited to the media, noting that a handful of congressmen voted against a resolution recognizing Christmas. "You have this clique of far-left Democrat congressmen who feel compelled to give their imprimatur to religion, freedom and Islam and celebrate Ramadan with a proclamation," The Factor noted. "But heaven forbid at Christmastime we actually acknowledge and celebrate Christmas."
Back of Book Segment
American TV icon of the week
Barbara Eden starred in the classic 60s sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie." Today she's an American TV icon - but back then, she was stirring up controversy. According to Eden, NBC executives tried to conceal a certain part of Eden's body. The Factor was astonished: "Did NBC actually tell the producers of 'I Dream of Jeannie,' 'We don't want Barbara Eden's naval to be seen by the nation?' Did they actually order that?" Eden confirmed that they had. They had also banned Jeannie's bottle (or the smoke from that bottle) from ever being seen in co-star Larry Hagman's bedroom. The Factor wanted to know if it was hard for older actresses in Hollywood. "Well, I think there are more parts for very young girls than there are for older women," admitted Eden. "But I've been doing a lot of theater. As long as I can act I'm happy. I keep busy."
Pinheads and Patriots
Who's helping, and who's hurting?
Friday's Patriot: Sgt. Derick Beatty, an Army combat infantryman from Abingdon, MD. He arranged to greet his children when he returned from Afghanistan by surprising them while they sat on Santa's lap. And the Pinheads: NBC head Jeffrey Zucker and General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt - who just laid off more than a dozen people because they've run their once proud network into the ground.
Factor Mail
Viewers sound off
Jim Volvino, St. Louis, MO: "Bill, I was in Wal-Mart and they were playing an actual Christmas Carol! It wouldn't have happened without you."

Neils Jensen, New Zealand: "Bill, Merry Christmas. We're on the beach down here."

Jim Collier, Kansas City, MO: "While reading 'Culture Warrior,' I actually cheered!"