Thursday, December 1, 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
Mainstream media & the terror war
Guest: Journalism professor Napoleon Byars

"Today The New York Times ran a story pinpointing countries in Europe that have allowed CIA planes to land on their soil in ongoing operations after 9/11. That story gives America's enemies information and it could encourage Al Qaeda to attack the countries that helped the USA. That's speculative, but there's no question European countries are under pressure not to help the CIA. Does that help you and your family? If the world will not cooperate with the Central Intelligence Agency, doesn't that make it easier for terrorists to operate? Of course it does. This never would have happened during World War II; Franklin Roosevelt created an office of censorship in 1941 and pressure was put on American news organizations not to publish information 'that the enemy might be interested in.' Today we're fighting World War III, but every day the American press puts forth information the enemy might be interested in. Now this is very difficult territory. The American public has a right to know how the Bush administration is waging the war on terror. But there comes a point when the media has to decide if the information they are disseminating is going to damage the war effort. We are appealing to the American press to help fight the terrorists rather than to use the conflict to promote a political point of view. Let's do what's good for the country; is that too much to ask?"

Fox News Video: FoxNews.com

UNC Journalism professor Napoleon Byars had a different perspective. "I think they both have a job, the media and the military. Let's face it, the American public is better served, I think, when it gets information and it can make its own choices about how the war is going." The Factor said that the media could certainly draw a line with its reporting. "CIA landings pinpointed by The New York Times? I don't mind any exposition on policy, but on tactics and pinpointing what the CIA, where they're going, I think that puts us all in grave danger."

Factor Follow Up Segment
Investigating Harry Belafonte
Guest: Fox News contributor Juan Williams

Earlier this week we told you that the AARP is honoring Harry Belafonte, who the Factor considers to be strongly anti-American. Mr. Belafonte has said "our foreign policy has made a wreck of this planet." The AARP will not speak with the Factor on camera, but Fox News contributor Juan Williams weighed in. "He has become a left wing Archie Bunker. You worry about Pat Robertson on the right trying to assassinate saying we should assassinate Hugo Chavez or we should go after some town in Pennsylvania that doesn't agree with intelligent design. That's what Harry Belafonte has become to the left, this curmudgeon, this bitter old man. And it's just sad to see it happen." The Factor worried about the politics Belafonte has currently embraced, not his music career. "It's a contemporary deal. And this guy's like Fidel Castro's best friend, Belafonte. I mean, he's embraced every totalitarian left wing dictator on the planet. It's just ridiculous."

Personal Story Segment
Muslim chaplain released
Guest: Capt. James Yee

Captain James Yee, a former U.S Army chaplain, was accused of mishandling documents about terror suspects and other crimes while working at Guantanamo Bay. Last March the charges were dropped and now Captain Yee has written a book entitled "For God and Country: Faith and Patriotism Under Fire." Yee spoke to the Factor about the anti-Muslim sentiment at the prison. "There was a very strong anti-Muslim hostility that was directed toward the prisoners. But it was also directed towards the patriotic Muslim-Americans who were serving down in Guantanamo." The Factor said Yee deserved respect. "That's wrong. You're a captain in the U.S. Army and a chaplain and should have been treated with respect."

Impact Segment
Celebrities and the LAPD
Guest: Harvey Levin

The Los Angeles Police Department is under some fire for allegedly going easy on celebrities who get into trouble. A few weeks ago Paris Hilton's car crashed into a truck and sped away. The police caught up with Ms. Hilton and her friends but no sobriety test was conducted and the young woman quickly went on her way. And MTV star Steve-O waved a bag of pot in front of the police and walked away. The Factor recommended internal affairs investigate the LAPD. "They've got to do an internal affairs investigation. Look, we all know big city police departments can't be bothered with busting guys who run around smoking pot, most of the time. They've got too much to do. We understand. But when you're that flagrant about it..." Harvey Levin, who runs the celebrity news website TMZ.com, said that even the police are victims of our celebrity obsessed culture. "I think that it does exist to some extent. People who say that cops don't get star struck, they're just not living in reality."

Unresolved Problems Segment
Ann Coulter under attack
Guest: Ann Coulter

The Factor is closely watching the far-left smear websites to make sure they are held accountable for damaging people, something they do on a regular basis. The latest campaign is to keep Ann Coulter off CNN; she is the author of the book "How to talk to a Liberal (If You Must)." Coulter said she was happy with their campaign. "I strongly endorse it. I hope you don't go after them too hard. It's quadrupling my publicity." The Factor found the smear campaign much more insidious. "What they're trying to do on these far left smear sites is intimidate people with whom they disagree, and then choke off their ability to get their message out. I mean, freedom of speech means nothing to these people. They really want to just bludgeon anybody with whom they disagree."

Back of Book Segment
Nativity pulled in Florida town
Guest: Rev. Tim Bumgardner

A new Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll asked the following questions. Which December holidays do you celebrate? 95 percent say Christmas, 4 percent Hanukkah, and 3 percent Kwanza. Do you believe there is a war on Christmas? 42 percent agree and 48 percent disagree. Are Christian symbols more under attack this year? 58 percent say more while 13 percent say less. Should nativity scenes be allowed on public property? 83 percent say yes and 12 percent say no. And that brings us to Wellington, FL. Apparently the town will display a menorah but not a nativity scene. Mayor Thomas Wenham is hiding under a palm tree. West Palm Beach Protestant Minister Tim Bumgardner said the two displays were legitimate. "I believe the federal government has already ruled, because Christmas is a federal holiday. And how local towns and municipalities cannot represent Christians with nativity scenes, at least next to a menorah, is unbeknownst to me." The Factor agreed and wondered what local governments were up to. "So, you see, this is what I'm never going to understand. They know they're going to get in trouble, the Wellington pinheads, by doing this on the city council. And they do it anyway. I don't get it."

Factor Mail
Viewers sound off
Mail continues to pour in on the Christmas controversy:

John Stiefel, Southington, CT: "Mr. O, my girlfriend teaches seventh grade and is not allowed to show her students 'A Charlie Brown Christmas.' This is getting out of hand."

Brian Smith, Asheville, NC: "Anyone who denies there is an all-out assault on Christmas is a fool. If you don't want to say Merry Christmas, move to France."

Corey Citrin, Glen Oaks, NY: "As a Jewish-American, I am offended by the overwhelming images of Christmas."

Viewers also weighed in on the state of the Iraqi military:

Joe Warren, Reno, NV: "Bill, I'm in shock. For once I agree with you. We put our guys into combat after six weeks training so why can't the Iraqis fight well after almost three years?"

Al Mendoza, Torrance, CA: "I am a police officer in L.A. and our recruits spend eight months in the Academy and one year being closely supervised on the streets. We need patience in Iraq."

John Tiller, Toronto, Canada: "Bill, you ask why it is taking so long to train Iraqis. Well, it started in the first Gulf War when we asked them to revolt against Saddam and then did not help them. Thousands died. I wonder if they'll ever trust us?"

Books Mentioned


For God and Country: Faith and Patriotism Under Fire
by James Yee

Read more...