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O’Reilly Takes Credit For Release Of American Jon Hammar’s Release From Mexican Prison

Posted by Ellen -7859.80pc on January 05, 2013 · Flag

We can add Mexico to the list of countries and entities that Bill O’Reilly thinks he has vanquished from his mighty microphone. You may recall how his boycott of France cost them “billions of dollars” (a claim Media Matters proved false) and how Pepsi canceled a Ludacris ad thanks to him. I’m not sure what the result of his threats to Canada and Aruba were. But now that a former Marine has been released from a Mexican jail after an extensive on-air campaign by O’Reilly and Fox News, O’Reilly announced last night, “The only reason the Mexicans let him out in the first place is because I told them if they didn’t, there was going to be real trouble economically down there for them.”

The case involves ex Marine Jon Hammar who made the foolish decision to bring a shotgun into Mexico which is a serious crime.

The Daily News explains:

Hammar and a friend were en route to Costa Rica for a surfing trip when they passed through the border checkpoint in Brownsville, Texas, allegedly declaring the old shotgun to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.

The agents allowed the pair to continue, allegedly telling them the gun wouldn’t be a problem at the Matamoros, Mexico checkpoint. There, Hammar tried to declare the gun and both he and his friend, a former Marine, were immediately arrested. His friend was released days later.


Despite all the Fox News coverage, I never once saw an attempt to verify whether Hammar’s account about being told the gun would not be a problem was true. Instead, O’Reilly called the charges “bogus.” The charges may have been inappropriate but they were not bogus. As The Daily News article later notes, it’s a federal crime to carry a shotgun in Mexico.

Last night, O’Reilly interviewed Hammar’s father. Once again, the interview was used as an excuse to attack the Obama administration and the State Department - whose head, Hillary Clinton, just happens to be seen as a likely 2016 Democratic presidential candidate.

At about nine minutes into the interview, O’Reilly asked Hammar’s father, “Has the State Department contacted you? Anybody from the U.S. Government contacted you?”

Hammar said he had only heard from his congressional reps. News flash to O'Reilly, this case of a foolish American (supposedly) inadvertently breaking the law in Mexico and going to jail may not be a top priority for our State Department. Or maybe they're just not as interested in grandstanding as you are.

O’Reilly: You know, it’s kind of shocking to me that the State Department, number one, couldn’t get him out. And number two, hasn’t even called you and said, “How’s he doing? Can we do anything for you?” We just don’t want to throw Americans away. You know what I’m talking about here?

Yes, I believe we do, Bill. We don’t want to throw Americans away when you and your anti-Democratic network can make political hay out of it but we toss American lives right out the window when, say, a Republican administration invades a country over a false claim that they have weapons of mass destruction. Or if you’re an abortion provider named Dr. George Tiller and get murdered after years of being demonized on your show as a “baby killer.” Has anyone on Fox ever expressed remorse over THOSE lost lives?

O’Reilly continued:

And the only reason the Mexicans let him out in the first place is because I told them if they didn’t, there was going to be real trouble economically down there for them. And then finally, Nieto, the new president, got the message and told these guys to let him out. And bang, he’s out.

…As soon as the big shots in Mexico City realized they were gonna be punished by the American people – and that’s what would have happened, alright? I mean, there were already cancellations for people traveling down there. 

As it turns out, the State Department did help, at least to some degree. The Daily News reports, "For his own protection, prison officials, with the help of U.S. consular officials, moved Hammar out of the prison’s general population."

If O'Reilly or anyone else at Fox really cared about what the State Department did and did not do, you'd think they'd have actually reported some facts, rather than shoot off inflammatory soundbites. But I don't expect that information coming any time soon. Not unless they unearth something that tarnishes Clinton and/or the Obama administration.

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Dadeo commented 2013-01-06 22:50:45 -0500 · Flag
Let’s not forget Faux is an ENTERTAINMENT network.
Anne-claire Souza commented 2013-01-06 11:18:39 -0500 · Flag
@aap, Calling the Mexican President only by his last name,gives Bile the comforting feeling that his zonked out audience thinks he has a special relationship with the Mexican President,you know something like Bile issues his dreaded boycott threats and the Country caves.
Vile Bile seems to be getting worse day after day.
truman commented 2013-01-06 10:22:29 -0500 · Flag
First the French learned the hard way about the wrath of Bildo. (Read in the Paris Business Review about how Bildo’s boycott cost them at least 10 francs). Then the Canadians. Now the Mexicans. Bildo needs to up-the-ante and bring the Iranians and the North Koreans into line with what Merkans want.
Aria Prescott commented 2013-01-05 23:58:53 -0500 · Flag
AAP: Show me where I specified the Cartels. The non-drug traffickers and the criminal organizations outside of the cartels are just as dangerous (moreso, the closer you get to Guatemala), and just as self-delusional about how much say they actually have.

And they don’t have a sense of humour about pissing contests like this, either. They think it belittles or mocks them. I’ve read horror stories about what they do to people who made comments like Bill’s making, and high-profile does not always equate to safe.

Just the opposite, if the leader who takes offense is heartless/crazy enough.
Scott from Toronto commented 2013-01-05 23:09:16 -0500 · Flag
Well, all I can tell you is that Canada lost dozens of dollars when O’Reilly institued his boycott on us. It was a crippling move and we Canadians have certainly learned our lesson. We’re very, very sorry Mr. O’Reilly.
Aria Prescott commented 2013-01-05 18:24:53 -0500 · Flag
Just out of curiousity… does anyone in Mexico even watch Fox News?

I’m only asking because bill basically started a pissing contest with a few really dangerous groups that think they own the Mexican government when he claimed “who bows to whom?”. The people I’m thinking of kinda don’t have a sense of humour about that, so it stands to reason that the only reason Bill’s not double checking all his locks is that they haven’t heard.
Antoinette commented 2013-01-05 16:58:14 -0500 · Flag
Billy is a self-absorbed man with a huge ego larger than the Black Hole in space.

Billy made sure Hannocchio didn’t get credit for this huge story, and pulled a few strings.

It’s no secret that there is a huge rivalry between these two ego-maniacs. Billy will not allow Hannocchio to dominate in his time slot. Hannocchio is doing everything he can to get all the exclusive stories away from Billy.

There’s jealousy and bickering behind the scenes of Fox “News” between hosts, producers, and other staffers. What goes on inside that toxic skyscraper in mid-Manhattan is more entertaining that the Fox “News” shows.

NOTE TO BILLY

Your colleague’s bio on the Fox News website suggested you are not as influential as he is-and you know who we are talking about.
the Mike commented 2013-01-05 15:59:10 -0500 · Flag
all of my South American friends (also include my Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkish, South African, Korean, Japanese, and Egyptian friends I talk to frequently) laugh at fox news being called a news station in America. They also laugh at fat lazy Americans which, no doubt, are the ones sitting around all day watching fox news.
As Don King always said: “Only in America”
Zap Pow commented 2013-01-05 15:38:30 -0500 · Flag
The Defense Budget is definitely a waste. It would certainly be cheaper to clone Bill O’Reilly, and, given his power, the USA wouldn’t need a lot of clones to dominate the world. Just think about what it would do for the deficit !

Caveat : it would also be more painful for the American People.
mj - the same one commented 2013-01-05 15:25:55 -0500 · Flag
O’Reilly Takes Credit For Release Of American Jon Hammar’s Release From Mexican Prison

Well, we knew this was coming — I have the same reaction to this as I did the news that Tom DeLay was finally sentenced to three years in the federal pen yesterday: what took so long?

.
Bill Friday commented 2013-01-05 15:22:46 -0500 · Flag
What I truly loved about this and also what probably pissed Billo off the most was that this character refused to come out and kiss Bill’s ring! You have to wonder what really happened here! I’d love to hear the Mexican side!
Anne-claire Souza commented 2013-01-05 15:16:47 -0500 · Flag
Well its no news that the pompous ass was going to take credit for the release of the stupid kid in this incident.What makes it hilarious is that he actually believes that the Mexican Government quaked in their boots by the threats from ,said pompous ass.
Kent Brockman commented 2013-01-05 13:35:19 -0500 · Flag
Killer must answer a number of burning questions, such as why did “His Word” not result in a loss for the ( D )s? Waiting on that one Killer. After all you spent the last four years campaigning to have a defeat for all ( D )s.
Kent Brockman commented 2013-01-05 13:31:05 -0500 · Flag
- there was going to be real trouble economically down there for them.” – Killer O’Reilly

Down There? – What now? Killer was going to stick his dick out? The thought of that would make anyone run for cover, or sue him for $2 million.
truman commented 2013-01-05 12:46:27 -0500 · Flag
Tides go in, tides go out. Thank you Bildo.
Bemused commented 2013-01-05 12:41:54 -0500 · Flag
Bill is suffering from delusions of grandeur. How long before he starts posing with left hand tucked into his jacket à la Napoleon?
Jan Hall commented 2013-01-05 12:25:39 -0500 · Flag
Bellowing Billo brings another country to it’s knees! (Mirror Mirror on the wall who hath the biggest ego of them all?)








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