Monday, May 2, 2005
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
Here comes the would-be bride
Guests: Criminal defense attorney Renee Rockwell

"Many Americans were deeply concerned when 32-year old Jennifer Wilbanks disappeared last week in Georgia. The situation had the look of a crime, or at least I thought so. And I still can't believe any sane person would hurt so many people. There is a good chance Ms. Wilbanks has psychological problems - the question then becomes whether authorities should charge her with a crime. I say yes. You can't allow people to disrupt the police like that. Holding her accountable by a fine and probation would send a clear message to anyone dumb enough to do something like that. Even in the new America where few judgments are made, this kind of behavior can not be tolerated."

Transcript/Video: FoxNews.com

Georgia criminal defense attorney Renee Rockwell joined The Factor with a different view of how the Wilbanks case should be handled. "I would not charge her," Rockwell asserted. "There was no crime even allegedly committed until she picked up the phone in Albuquerque and called her family. The people who had a chance to charge her were the authorities in Albuquerque." Rockwell added that Wilbanks has already paid a steep price for her fraudulent journey. "Don't you think she's uncomfortable enough already? There's enough outrage and embarrassment and heartbreak." The Factor countered that prosecuting Jennifer Wilbanks will serve as a deterrent to others. "If you just let this woman walk, anybody can do this kind of thing. You can't let citizens abuse our police officers and firefighters that way. You have to charge them."
Impact Segment
Boys rescued from sea
Guest: Survivor Troy Driscoll & parents Deb Fowler and Tony Driscoll

After high winds blew their 14-foot sailboat far off the coast of South Carolina, two teenage boys spent six harrowing days at sea before finally being rescued. The Factor was joined by one of the boys, Troy Driscoll, who described his near-death experience. "We ate jellyfish that were floating in the water and gargled with salt water. I thought I was going to die after the fifth day - we couldn't see land and there was no food and water. I had no faith at all that we would survive and one time I even asked my friend to kill me." Troy's mother Deb Fowler admitted that she was running low on hope. "By the third and fourth day I was holding on to what little faith I had left. The only hope I had left was the fact that they found no part of that boat or life jackets or clothing."
Factor Follow Up Segment
Confronting Fla. prosecutor Brad King
Guests: Mark Lunsford & attorney Herb Cohen

The Factor has criticized Florida State Attorney Brad King for his refusal to prosecute three people who helped John Couey evade capture after Couey abducted and killed 9-year old Jessica Lunsford. Jessica's father Mark Lunsford said he is growing increadingly impatient with how the case is being handled. "The more I talk to people, I haven't heard anybody who agrees with what Brad King has done." Lunsford's attorney Herb Cohen implied that Couey's acquaintances may still be prosecuted. "There is lots of time to file a case, so we haven't give up on this. People can get charged or indicted for murder many years after the offense." Meanwhile, The Factor remained bewildered by Brad King's intransigence. "I have never seen a public servant act this callously in a case of this importance, and I've never seen local media ignore it the way it has."
Personal Story Segment
Battling over Limbaugh's records
Guest: Fox News senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano

Elsewhere in Florida, Palm Beach County prosecutors are defending their seizure of Rush Limbaugh's medical records. The radio host, who is the subject of an ongoing investigation into his abuse of prescription drugs, has argued that his records should remain private. "Limbaugh is absolutely in the right," asserted Fox News analyst Andrew Napolitano. "The Florida Constitution says anyone wanting anyone else's private records has the obligation to demonstrate why. When Limbaugh was told that his records had been seized, he asked to present evidence and to this day he has never been allowed to have a hearing on whether the state is entitled to his medical records."
Personal Story Segment
Border control bills introduced
Guest: Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich

Various bills intended to deal with the border chaos are being introduced in Congress, and there seems to be mounting pressure on the administration to do something. Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich said illegal immigration is emerging as a huge political issue. "First of all, the director of the CIA has testified that a nuclear weapon could come across the border and be smuggled into the US because our borders are so loosely polices. Second, there are more than ten million people illegally in the US, and there is something wrong with a society that has more than ten million illegally in the country. This is a big issue and Congress and the President need to take it head on." The Factor suggested that many politicians avoid the issue for fear of being labeled as racist. "People say anyone who wants a secure border is a bigot and anti-Hispanic, and it has paralyzed politicians in this country. This could be the biggest intimidation campaign in the history of this country." Turning to another subject, Gingrich questioned the need for government funding of public television. "PBS originated when there were just two or three television stations in a town. Now you live in a world where you may have 200 or 300 channels. And it's hard for me to argue that your taxes should be raised involuntarily so a handful of bureaucrats in Washington can dole out your money for their special interests."
Back of Book Segment
Torture at Guantanamo Bay?
Guest: Author Sgt. Erik Saar

Former Army Sergeant Erik Saar has written a book in which he claims to have witnessed questionable interrogations at Guantanamo Bay. Asked for specifics, Saar told The Factor he saw female soldiers acting in a sexually suggestive way around Muslim detainees. "The worst thing I saw was some of the sexual tactics that were used. The tactics I describe in this book are ineffective and morally inconsistent with who we are as a country. The overall process at Guantanamo Bay is a disaster." The Factor countered that most Gitmo detainees are dangerous men who may have valuable information. "If that's the worst thing they did at Guantanamo Bay - having a female interrogator act seductively - I'm okay with it. This is a war unlike any other and some of these guys would kill you and your wife in a heartbeat. If that's the worst thing you saw, I'm not throwing any of our people in prison for that."
Factor Mail
Viewers sound off
A few excerpts from your recent e-mails:

Bart Humble, Idaho Falls ID: "Bill, you missed the boat big time on the Jennifer Wilbanks story. Take a lesson from Greta, don't jump to conclusions."

Art Baker, Pineville LA: "O'Reilly, recently you have become unfair and unbalanced. Your pro-Catholicism and arrogance are very apparent."

Kayla Williams, Mt. Pleasant SC: "Mr. O'Reilly, my current events teacher said if anyone got an e-mail read on The Factor, she would be exempt from the final exam. Pleaseeeee!"

Books Mentioned


Inside the Wire
by Erik Saar

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Constitutional Chaos: What Happens When the Government Breaks Its Own Laws
by Andrew Napolitano

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Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America
by Newt Gingrich

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