O'Reilly Vilifies the University of Hawaii, Interviews Brother of 9/11 Victim
Reported by Marie Therese - February 24, 2005
Last night (2/23/05), Bill OReilly launched into a vitriolic attack on the University of Hawaii because they defied his will and sponsored a lecture by Ward Churchill, He then interviewed Michael Faughnan. Try as he might, OReilly could not coerce Mr. Faughnan into repudiating Ward Churchill, even though Mr. Faughnans brother, who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald, was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11. It was refreshing - after OReillys scathing Talking Points Memo - to listen to a sane guest, clearly a serious young man with a depth of character that Mr. O can only dream about.
Faughnan wrote an open letter to Ward Churchill that was published in the Daily Camera, the Boulder Colorado paper. It is calm and centered, without hyperbole, expressing one familys reaction to Ward Churchills essay and asking for clarification and dialogue. Click here to read "My brother, the Eichmann. It will be interesting to see if there can be a genuine exchange of ideas between these two men. OReilly believes there cannot. I sincerely hope there can be. Only time will tell.
BILL OREILLY: The Ward Churchill controversy is not about free speech, Its about hate speech. The radical professor simply hates America and is being rewarded for that point of view by some major colleges. The University of Hawaii gave Churchill an all-expense-paid trip to Oahu to reiterate what he has said before, that Americans working in the capitalistic system at the World Trade Center on 9/11 were justifiable military targets.
VIDEOCLIP of Ward Churchill, Manoa, HI: "And, remember, on that day, a whole new word entered the language. It was "InnocentAmerican. Its not two words. Its one. Were innocent by virtue of being Americans. Those who embrace a policy that has a history and a present reality like that cannot conceivably at the same time purport to innocence. [End clip.]
OREILLY: Just vile. Churchill went on to say that many killed in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were little Nazis, something he has said before. But, who is the real Nazi here? Hitler and his crew killed millions of civilians and justified it. Churchill believes that American civilians are legitimate military targets. Theres no question Churchill is echoing the Nazi philosophy. Ward Churchill is not a danger to America - hes insignificant - but he is bringing pain to people who lost loved ones on 9/11. Thats cruel. What is not insignificant is that the University of Hawaii embraced Churchill, provided him a vacation and the audience gave him three standing ovations, while outside just a few demonstrators spoke out against this misguided individual. What is wrong at UH? This is disgraceful. That institution will never command my respect again. In addition to being a propagandist, Churchill is unrepentant about anything he has said.
VIDEOCLIP of Churchill at Manoa, HI: "Contrary to Bill OReilly for whom we may also thank for this evening (laughter, cheers) I did not justify, I did not advocate the events of 9/11. I considered the events of 9/11 natural and inevitable ... [Clip ends mid-sentence.]
OREILLY: Natural?! Murdering civilians is NATURAL?!! And the University of Hawaiis payin this guy?! And people are applauding and yucking it up?!! Once again, this controversy is not about Churchill, who is desperate for attention. Its about major colleges in the USA legitimizing the man. (Louder) SHAME ON THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII!! SHAME ON YOU!! And thats the memo.
Now for the top story tonight. Reaction to Churchill from a man who lost his brother on 9/11. Joining us from Denver is Michael Faughnan. His brother sold bonds for Cantor Fitzgerald inside the World Trade Center. Mr. Faughnan wrote an article entitled "My brother, the Eichmann referring to the fact that this vile Churchill has called people [who] died in the Trade Center "little Eichmanns. Your brother had three children, left a wife?
FAUGHNAN: Thats correct.
OREILLY: How do they feel? How do the kids and his widow feel about this Churchill guy?
FAUGHNAN: Well, I think theres a lot of - a lot of feelings going on here. Certainly, the rhetoric, the comparison to the Eichmann - its hurtful to anybody. So, from that perspective, its difficult to deal with and weve actually reached out. As you indicated, I , I wrote a letter to Mr. Churchill and I asked him to, to step away from the rhetoric and asked if there was other meanings he has that can help us with 9/11. I invited him to expand on those but, certainly the rhetoric itself is very hurtful.
OREILLY: Did you get a reply from Churchill?
FAUGHNAN: Yeah. Surprisingly, he did, he called me. He left me a message and acknowledged my letter to him - it was in the Boulder paper - and said that he intended to respond. And, in a sense, what I picked up from the message - we havent spoke [sic] live - but inviting a dialogue, which, as hurtful as ....
OREILLY (interrupts him): Let me give you some advice, Mr. Faughnan. Dont. Its not worth it, you know, for you and your family to engage a guy like this, whos so misguided and so detached from reality. Now, how old are the children that your brother left?
FAUGHNAN: Currently - I better get their ages right (smiles) - they are 6, 8, and 11.
OREILLY: Alright. So. Theyre kids. And are they aware of this controversy? Are they aware that a professor at the University of Colorado called their father a little Eichmann? Are they aware of that?
FAUGHNAN: No. I think my brothers wife, she has done a tremendous job of explaining things and shielding them from things that may be hurtful to themselves.
OREILLY: OK. Good. Good.
FAUGHNAN: So, I would have to say its doubtful.
OREILLY: OK.
FAUGHNAN: Certainly as they grow, as they grow, Bill, they look for answers as our family looks for answers and ...
OREILLY: Oh, absolutely. But I just dont want those kids to have to deal with any more stuff than they have to deal with. I mean, imagine being 6 and 8 and 11 and your father doesnt come home from work. And, the reason Im sayin you shouldnt engage this guy CHurchill is because hes beneath you. Alright? Hes not a person you can reason with. Hes unreasonable.
VIDEOCLIP of churchill walking onto stage at U of HI and having floral leis put around his neck.
FAUGHNAN: Well, you know, I think that, as I said, we search for answers and well make that determination whether hes beneath us or not.
OREILLY: Alright. Thats fine.
FAUGHNAN: Yeah. Weve certainly called him on his analogies and his hurtful-speak, but, if there is a message that he wishes to convey to provide his beliefs, I think that, you know - certainly he has stepped on sacred ground with us. And we can tolerate that. We really can. We can tolerate hurtful-speak and were willing to explore a dialogue with somebody who is trying to give us a belief that he may hold on what happened, because ...
OREILLY (cuts him off): Well, youre a better man than I am. Because I reject - he -he I know what he is. Ive studied his rhetoric. Ive studied his background. He justified the Oklahoma City bombing. He hates America. And I dont think youre ever gonna get him to stop hating America. Now, hell want to rationalize what he said with you. Hell try to - ya know - explain it. But, to me - But, Ill give you the last work, Mr. Faughnan. Once again we really appreciate ya comin on.
FAUGHNAN: Sure. He - you know - he is not gonna change. I am not confused. My family is not confused about who my brother was. He was a beautiful man and, and theres nothing anybody could say that could change that. What is ..
OREILLY (interrupts): Alright. And I hope the University of Hawaii - I hope the University of Hawaii is listening to this segment and listening to your words because they need to wake up out there. Mr. Faughnan, thank you very much. We appreciate ...
FAUGHNAN: Bill, can I say one more thing? Can I say one more thing?
OREILLY; Sure.
FAUGHNAN (holds up his right hand, making the "V for Victory sign): Happy Birthday, Dad!
OREILLY: OK.
UPDATE (Posted 2/26/05 at 3:49 A.M. EST)
Michael Faughnan made the following comment to this post, which I thought I should add:
"At the end of the segment, it wasn't a 'victory' sign, it was a peace sign."
