You don’t need to be a psychologist or a body expert to figure out that Bill O’Reilly’s justifications tonight for his bullying attack on Alan Colmes last week are a lot of hooey. In fact, there was so much hooey, I’m not sure I can catch it all in one post. But for starters, there was the hooey that O’Reilly likened Colmes’ “lie” about federal spending cuts to the danger posed by Al Qaeda (which included the hooey that Colmes had his facts wrong in the first place), plus the hooey that O’Reilly attacked Colmes out of a public-spirited desire to draw attention to this big danger, plus O’Reilly’s "admission" that he shouldn’t have called Colmes a liar – even though he immediately afterward described Colmes as lying. And my favorite hooey: O’Reilly said he’s not in his job for money or fame, but to look out for us.
The hooey started right in the Talking Points commentary that opens the show.
…It was interesting watching the anti-Fox media try to exploit the shootout I had with Alan Colmes last week. These hacks flailed around, trying to diminish me and this network.
I think you did the diminishing all on your own, Bill.
…The reason I got angry with Alan Colmes – who’ll be on the program tomorrow – is that he refused to acknowledge President Obama’s refusal to cut federal programs.
Unfortunately for Bill, that is false. Kirsten Powers pretty well set him straight on the subject and I noted that PolitiFact rated House Speaker John Boehner’s similar claim as Pants on Fire.
…So in order to get everybody’s attention, I got angry with Colmes and I believe my anger was absolutely justified.
…Now all Factor viewers should know one thing about me. I’m not in business to make money or to accumulate fame. I don’t care about that.
Right. That’s why O’Reilly threatened to quit working if his taxes went up. Twice.
I’m here to look out for you and to look out for the most defenseless Americans. I’m here to protect as many children and babies as I can. And to resolve brutal situations like the Marine unjustly incarcerated in Mexico.
O'Reilly is being modest here. He left out his other accomplishments such as saving Christmas in Great Barrington, MA.
Also, I’m here to tell you when you’re in danger – from Al Qaeda, from out-of-control federal spending – whatever it may be. This is my job.
Yes, and part of “looking out for you” is scaring people into thinking the federal budget is as dangerous as Al Qaeda.
In the next segment Fox News contributors Juan Williams and Mary Katharine Ham spent most of their time reassuring O’Reilly he’s just the kind of great guy doing a great job he just told us he is.
For extra suck-up points, Williams threw in props for O’Reilly’s vicious attacks on the gay Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives:
When I think about some of the stuff you’ve done defending children in this society from people who are perverts and abusers – the whole Jessica’s Law thing – that’s deserved righteous indignation.
Williams did – in the gentlest possible way – kinda, sorta chide O’Reilly for his behavior toward Colmes:
I’m not sure I agree with you. I think Alan’s right. I think the president has reduced the trajectory of spending in our country. But when you stand up and make the case, I listen, Bill, and I must tell you something: I don’t think it helps you when you yell, ‘Liar,’ when you call people ‘BS agents’ and all that. I think it diminishes attention to the substance of what you have to say and you do have substance. You have an argument.
O’Reilly’s answer? I shouldn’t have said the word, “liar,” even though Colmes was lying:
Well, look, I said that the use of the word, ‘liar’ was not a good – that I shouldn’t have done that. But Colmes wasn’t telling the truth. Simple as that. He wasn’t.
…If you’re not going to acknowledge (that Obama has refused to cut a single program) or Alan’s not going to acknowledge it, then you’re misleading the public, you know, and I don’t buy that.
Ham did her part for the cause:
Chill out, whiny babies. Sometimes we have fights and then we apologize after we’re done.
Then O’Reilly revealed how his behavior is merely a tactic for the greater good:
Don’t you understand that when I engage in this kind of hyperbole (as he did with Colmes), that the whole nation, indeed the whole world is engaged then on the subject? I don’t really give a hoot what people think about me. I don’t care.
That’s why O’Reilly devoted an entire later segment to the Denver Post’s takedown of him on his Jessica’s Law attack on the Colorado Speaker.
…So that’s part of the modus operandi here, when I get so frustrated ‘cause people aren’t paying attention to this, and they have to, that I use that technique to get everybody involved.
That’s right. It’s all for us, not for him.
Williams gushed:
It works! …I’ve been here, you know, about 16 years with you and the idea of real, honest, robust, fiery, angry, impassioned debate is The Factor. It’s the No Spin Zone.
…Look, you’re doing your job when you stand up and you say, ‘I don’t think that’s right. I think it’s wrong.’ …You are making a point that the entire world is now in touch with, Bill.
O’Reilly concluded, “That’s right. And then that’s the greater good that’s served from some of this over-the-top stuff.”
Next thing you know O’Reilly will be chiding liberals for not appreciating all his magnanimous efforts on our behalf.
'Bullying' Or 'Righteous Anger'? O'Reilly And Guests Debate His Outburst Against Alan Colmes
It's been nearly a week since Bill O'Reilly shouted down Alan Colmes for "lying" about President Obama's willingness to cut spending, but Monday night the showdown was still the top story on The O'Reilly Factor.