Bush's TV Ally Joins Chorus Of Criticism (Bill O'Reilly)

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 2-11-2004 | David Rennie

[blam]

Bush's TV ally joins chorus of criticism

By David Rennie in Washington
(Filed: 11/02/2004)

A cheerleader for the invasion of Iraq apologised to Americans yesterday for supporting pre-war claims that Saddam Hussein harboured weapons of mass destruction.

Bill O'Reilly, the host of the highest-rated talk show on US television and one of the most powerful conservative voices in the country, told viewers that he was sorry he had given the Bush administration the benefit of the doubt and promised to be more sceptical in the future.

"I was wrong, I am not pleased about it at all, and I think all Americans should be concerned about this," Mr O'Reilly told viewers of ABC television's Good Morning America show.

In March last year, he said: "If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologise to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again."

Mr O'Reilly is the star of the Fox News Channel, a station so patriotic it carries a fluttering American flag in the corner of the screen at all times. He said yesterday he did not believe President George W Bush intentionally lied, but blamed bad intelligence.

His remarks capped a miserable fortnight for Mr Bush as the failure to find Iraq's WMD finally became an issue for voters, after the admission by the former chief weapons inspector, David Kay, that "we were all wrong" on pre-war intelligence.

Other critics have accused Mr Bush of presiding over huge increases in public spending, leading to an explosion in the national debt.

[ServesURight]

Maybe O'Loud Mouth should go back to hosting "Inside Edition."

[BasketballAsAKid]

What's the record for how often the same story can be posted, even if it is written by different people?

[Always Right]

O'Reilly is not a conservative.....for the hundreth time. Of course compared to the typical media, he leans to the right.

[Keith in Iowa]

O'Reilly's a putzhead.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

When our military *does* find the WMD will he once again alter his stance? What a putz.

[Hazzardgate]

This story was spammed to me today by many of the liberal apologists whom I work with. Their glee was sickening.

[SunStar]

Bush's TV Ally Joins Chorus Of Criticism (Bill O'Reilly)

This is spin... O'Reilly doesn't claim to support any politician. Though, I guess to the Guardian, providing fair reporting for a Republican is the same thing as being an "ally".

[Cubs Fan]

I normally support O'reilly, and think he's good for our side. But on this one he's lost his mind.

If a man who killed before were holding a hostage and threatening to kill them gets shot by police but ends up not having a gun whose fault is it?

EVERYONE, including the most vcant headed leftists thought Saddam had WMDs. That was NEVER an argument used against the war.

Its sad to see that O'reailly got taken in this utterly silly game of partisan hindsight. It may very well hurt his ratings.

[exnavy]

This is amazing, does anyone remember the photos of the Kurd victoms of chemical weapons in northern Iraq. Saddam had 'em, used 'em, and didn't destroy them out of goodwill.

So the question is, where are Saddams WMD's? They(WMD'S)exist somewhere, eventually will be found.

[petercooper]

I still think Bush and Rove are setting a trap and I think the WMD's will be found. It's not time yet.

Patience, politics is chess.

[Lancey Howard]

Other critics have accused Mr Bush of presiding over huge increases in public spending, leading to an explosion in the national debt.

LOFL, why am I not surprised that this Euro-scumbag ended his piece with this gratuitous swipe, a swipe which has absolutely nothing to do with all the blather which preceded it?

[Consort]

O'Reilly is as much obsessed with the WMD thing as he is with the phony Fair and Balanced thing. When he praises the Right, he joins a few others on the Right, but when he critizes the Right, he joins many more on the Left. Fair and Balanced?

[Timmy]

I have never liked Mr. O'Reilly and always wondered what others saw in him. He has a lot of liberal tendencies and very full of himself.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Even if they never do find WMD, O'Reilly's saying he'd risk it and let a dictator who is known to have funded terrorism, hosted al-Queida training camps, used WMD in the past, and made threats against us stand. What a putz. 9/11 taught him nothing; better safe than sorry.

[mountaineer]

O'Reilly ... one of the most powerful conservative voices in the country

Just shows how worthless this scrap of British analysis is, if the writer truly believes this statement.

[Laverne]

Bill O'Reilly must not have read the Kay report; oh well, he is appealing to the Kerry viewers; for him its all ratings. Principle and conviction for O'Reilly, I think not. He showed his colors with this apology, and I for one will continue NOT to watch him. I tuned him out quite some time ago.

[ServesURight]

O'Loud Mouth has an authoritarian streak in him. If he was President, guns would be banned, the drug war would increase ten-fold, and spending on public education would top $1 trillion.

[Paul Atreides]

Well, I'm glad to hear this. I know I base my every opinion and thought on what Bill O sez. /sarcasm