The O'Reilly Factor
A daily summary of segments aired on The O'Reilly Factor. A preview of the evening's rundown is posted before the show airs each weeknight.
Monday, May 23, 2005
The Factor Rundown
Talking Points Memo
Top Story
Impact Segment
Personal Story Segment
Unresolved Problems Segment
Factor Follow Up Segment
Back of Book Segment
Factor Mail
Book Mentions
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Comments
Howard Dean self-destructs?
"Howard Dean, head of the Democratic National Committee, has made a fool of himself again. Appearing on 'Meet The Press,' Dean used personal attacks to smear his perceived enemies, including your humble correspondent. As we've documented, Howard Dean is afraid to appear on The Factor, preferring to take cheap shots from afar. He's a bitter and increasingly incoherent man who is routinely humiliating his own party. The Factor's offer to Dean still stands - he is welcome to come in any time and state his case. That is what responsible people do. Step up and clear the air."

Transcript/Video: FoxNews.com
Covering US military abuses
Guests: Former Bush speechwriter David Frum & media expert Steve Adubato

The New York Times and other papers have been unrelenting in their criticism of the military's treatment of imprisoned terror suspects. Former Bush speechwriter David Frum asserted that much of the negative reportage is unprecedented in wartime. "The Times is really trying to extend the Geneva Convention to terrorists. Understand how wacky this is - under the Geneva Convention, a terrorist is a war criminal." Media expert Steve Adubato argued that the press is simply doing its proper job. "These things are hard to hear, but that's what makes us better than everyone else - because we have a free press that is responsible." However, The Factor accused many in the media of going out of their way to damage the Bush administration. "My take is that the US military is performing very well in terrible situations, and the abuse is the exception rather than the rule. But we're living in an age where if someone tweaks a prisoner's ear it's on the front page. And I think that's undermining the war on terror."
Charities and the Bush administration
Guest: Robert Pollack, Wall Street Journal

Some self-proclaimed human rights groups seem to be actively opposing President Bush and his policies. Robert Pollack of the Wall Street Journal claimed one of the most egregious offenders is the International Committee of the Red Cross (unrelated to the American Red Cross.) "We've had three years of ICRC hospitality toward US conduct," Pollack told The Factor. "I think this is all just a way to damage the Bush administration." As a specific example, Pollack claimed one ICRC worker recently told US prison authorities in Iraq they were "no better than Nazi concentration camp guards." The Factor reported that the ICRC has denied that accusation. "They gave us a statement saying they categorically reject the assertion that any ICRC delegate compared the U.S. military to the Nazis. That's not important to me. The bigger picture is why do these people sympathize with the devil?"
Pat Tillman update
Guest: Fox News military analyst Col. David Hunt

Former NFL star Pat Tillman's family has spoken out for the first time since he was killed in Afghanistan. Tillman's mother and father contend they were betrayed by the Army, which was slow to reveal that Tillman was killed by "friendly fire." Fox News analyst Col. David Hunt conceded that the Army deserves to be criticized. "Tillman's Ranger unit started to cover this up, and issued a false report to the Army. It's a great unit, but they really blew this. Then the Army decided to give Tillman a Silver Star, but didn't tell the family what really happened until after the funeral. All this dishonors Tillman, which he didn't deserve." The Factor concluded that while Pat Tillman remains an heroic figure, his colleagues let him down. "Bottom line, it sounds like the unit made the mistake, not the overall Army."
Fighting a chaotic war
Guest: Marine Sgt. Jack Coughlin

Marine Sgt. Jack Coughlin, who served as a sniper in Iraq and killed more than 60 people, has written a book about his experiences. Sgt. Coughlin told The Factor that he thinks about his victims daily. "At least once a day it comes into my mind. When you're taking someone's life, it's not something you ever forget. But I don't feel guilty about it, because I know what I did was the right thing." The Factor congratulated Sgt. Coughlin for his courage and candor. "The book is just fascinating and I recommend it for anyone who wants to know the intensity of the battle in Iraq. And we appreciate your patriotism."
Changes in marriage arrangements
Guest: Author Stephanie Coontz

The institution of marriage has undergone a revolution over the past 30 years. Author Stephanie Coontz has written that the biggest single change is that men and women expect far more from matrimony. "If you look back at the past, marriage was not about love. Men did not expect their wives to enjoy sex, and women did not expect their men to be faithful. People did not expect a lot of intimacy. Now some people's expectations about marriage are way too high." Coontz suggested that divorced and single-parent families could be strengthened through more government funding for parenting advice and child care, a contention with which The Factor strongly disagreed. "You want me to pay for all this stuff. I'm not here on this Earth to pay for someone's parenting instructions. It's outrageous. What I want society to do is to tell people that you're on the road to destruction if you're a single parent."
Paris Hilton & Carl's Jr.
Guest: Barbara Lippert, Ad Week Magazine

The hamburger chain Carl's Jr. has hired Paris Hilton to appear in sexually suggestive television advertisements, describing her as "an intriguing cultural icon." Barbara Lippert of Ad Week provided her analysis of the company's strategy. "They're doing something as semi-pornographic as they possibly can. Their target market is motorcycle-driving, beer-drinking men who love this stuff. They do this to be provocative, to get attention, and even to be offensive because they think their target market loves it." The Factor questioned the notion of using sex to sell burgers. "Every time I'm out on the west coast and I go by a Carl's Jr. I see families in there, with kids screaming for burgers and fries. I don't see guys swilling beer."
Viewers sound off
Factor Words of the Day
Many of your e-mails dealt with alleged anti-Americanism in the press and academia. Some excerpts:

Dr. Terrence Lauerman, De Pere, WI: "Bill, Margaret Carlson is right and you are wrong. American behavior, not the press, is responsible for our problems in the Middle East. You are a right-winger unable to see the truth."

John Dickey, Richmond, VA: "The left media will sell our souls to further their political agenda. I thought we were the good guys!"

Jake Wenz, Boston, MA: "Bill, I am a former Army officer who is now a grad student at Harvard. I am ashamed by the anti-American attitude of some of the students here. Please return to the university as its president."

Book Mentions
Check out the books mentioned during this show.
Shooter: The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper
by Jack Coughlin

Read more... 		They Just Don't Get It: How the Washington Political Machine is Still Compromising Your Safety--and What You Can Do About It
by David Hunt

Read more...
Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or how Love Conquered Marriage
by Stephanie Coontz

Read more...
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