Posted on 12/18/2005, 6:53:08 PM by Pikamax
Nicholas Kristof/Bill O'Reilly Feud Heats Up
By E&P Staf
Published: December 18, 2005 11:45 AM ET
It all started exactly one week ago when New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, taking note of Bill O'Reilly's focus on keeping the Christmas in Christmas, suggested that the Fox personality might honor the season better by exposing the continuing genocide in Darfur, which the TV host has allegedly "ignored." O'Reilly responded by denouncing Kristof as a "left-wing ideologue."
Today, in his column, Kristof replied in kind, while disclosing that he puts up a "Christmas" tree himself, not a "holiday" tree.
"Perhaps I'm particularly sensitive to religious hypocrites because I've spent a chunk of time abroad watching Muslim versions of Mr. O'Reilly - demagogic table-thumpers who exploit public religiosity as a cynical ploy to gain attention and money," Kristof explained. "And I always tell moderate Muslims that they need to stand up to blustery blowhards - so today, I'm taking my own advice."
Then he went on to call O'Reilly "a self-rightheous bully in the style of Father Coughlin or Joe McCarthy," suggesting that perhaps he was a leftwing plant meant to make conservatives look bad.
"So I have a challenge for Mr. O'Reilly: If you really want to defend traditional values, then come with me on a trip to Darfur," Kristof concluded. " I'll introduce you to mothers who have had their babies clubbed to death in front of them, to teenage girls who have been gang-raped and then mutilated - and to the government-armed thugs who do these things.
"You'll have to leave your studio, Bill. You'll encounter pure evil. If you're like me, you'll be scared. If you try to bully some of the goons in Darfur, they'll just hack your head off. But you'll also meet some genuine conservative Christians - aid workers who live the Gospel instead of sputtering about it - and you'll finally be using your talents for an important cause.
"So, Bill, what'll it be? Will you dare travel to a real war against Christmas values, in which the victims aren't offended shoppers but terrified children thrown on bonfires? I'm waiting to hear."
We're sure to hear something from O'Reilly this week--although it may not be what Kristof hopes to hear.
Never heard of Nickolas Kristof --- looks like he's trying to make a name for himself via O'Reilly.
O'Reilly should have replied, that Kristoff is not concerned with the plight of endangered toads in the Australian desert. With a completely straight face.
"Perhaps I'm particularly sensitive to religious hypocrites because I've spent a chunk of time abroad watching Muslim versions of Mr. O'Reilly - demagogic table-thumpers who exploit public religiosity as a cynical ploy to gain attention and money," Kristof explained.
Strawman. Kristof should be ashamed. And it's not as if I even like BOR.
O'Reilly is an egotistical hothead, so it doesn't surprise me he'd do this. The fact that Kristof plays along is interesting though. I guess it pretty much shows that he's in the same vein.
O'Reilly is a world class pr-ck but I Kristoff is far worse. I am going to enjoy the blowback from this little p-ssing match.
Nicholas Kristof seems like a rather dilusional fellow. Darfur seems to be the focus of his attention. I guess it's convenient to loft a place we haven't invaded, to shout "Why?"
All the things Kristof wants O'Reily to see did take place in another nation. That was a nation where we did step in and the left has never forgiven us for doing so.
Why was it okay for children to starve in Iraq Mr. Kristof? Why was it okay for Iraqi girls to be raped and mutilated? Why was it okay for women to be raped and their children killed before them, or the reverse.
Has Kristof defended Bush for entering Iraq and putting an end to this type of inhumanity taking place there?
I tend to doubt it. And until he does, STFU Kristof. You're not fooling anyone.
Oh... My.
It's rather typical, isn't it, that the first thing liberals do is prance on a pile of corpses to prove how very much they "care" and to defuse any criticism concerning their idiotic policies.
What the hell has the Left done about Darfur? Nothing. What has the UN done? Sided with the killers? The Left doesn't even mention Darfur, lest they offend against multicultural tolerance. Most of the coverage concerning Darfur has been on the political Right.
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"might honor the season better by exposing the continuing genocide in Darfur..."
Yeah, right. That has a LOT to do with the Christmas season.
Maybe if Kristof had any guts, he'd do more than just talk about it.
Agreed. His position appears to be "I'll show you why we shouldn't celebrate Christmas as a Christian holiday...just look at what happens in Muslim countries!"
Utterly illogical. The Left ain't even fun to argue with anymore.
If I want in-depth, comprehensive reporting on the world at large, I'll look elsewhere. But if I want complex political debate reduced to screaming matches, or to learn about the latest missing blonde, then I'll always have FOX.
If the military goes to Darfur, Mr. K will be among the first to re-denounce U.S. Imperialism.
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