Racially insensitive comment by Bill O’Reilly?

msnbc.com ^ | April 15 | A Scarborough Country interview

[modern_orthodox]

We all make mistakes. And we all say things we regret sometimes. But tonight, many conservatives on Capitol Hill are shocked by a racially insensitive comment that was made by the most powerful figure in cable news — Bill O’Reilly. Lloyd Grove reported this column in his column “The Reliable Source,” which appears in “The Washington Post,” and talked to Joe. LAST SATURDAY, Fox’s Bill O’Reilly was emceeing a benefit for disadvantaged school children in Washington, D.C., something that he should be commended for. But apparently O’Reilly found himself filling time before an African-American boy’s group named “The Best Men” were to come on stage. And he said this to the entire audience, quote, “Does anyone know where The Best Men are? I hope they’re not in the parking lot stealing our hubcaps.”

JOE SCARBOROUGH: Did Mr. O’Reilly really make that statement in front of a Washington audience?

LLOYD GROVE, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: I’m afraid so, Joe. He did. And a lot of people didn’t hear it because it was a noisy room with a bunch of people in it and weren’t paying attention. But those who did are certain he said it. And I talked to Bill yesterday, and he didn’t deny it. He just said any talk about it was foolishness and ridiculous.

SCARBOROUGH: It’s interesting that you said that he just dismissed it and said it was foolish. When Trent Lott got into the mess he got into this past winter for his remarks that he made at Strom Thurmond’s birthday party, Mr. O’Reilly said, “Excusing bad behavior by the powerful is a dangerous game. Trent Lott offended millions of Americans and probably didn’t even realize he was doing it. There comes a point in every person’s life when they either surrender to prejudice and ideology, or they become independent thinkers. It’s easier to surrender. The people of the United States must hold those in power responsible for what they do and say.” Now, isn’t what Bill O’Reilly said the other night about the same as what Trent Lott said in an off-the-cuff remark this past winter?

[vetvetdoug]

Bill O'Reilly is a blowhard but what he said is racist only if perception and reality are the same. Unfortunately they are in Washington D.C. and it rings too true. Bill cannot be accused of telling a lie.

[FrankR]

1. O'Reilly is a news commentator, not an elected official.

2. His job description includes the expression of opinions that are usually straight to the point, and hard hitting.

3. He is not an elected official.

4. Finally, if there is NO TRUTH in a remark, people usually slough it off and go about their business.

It's the left's new surge of an old, old, ploy: their goal is to try and pick off conservatives - in the media and in the government - by use of innuendo and accusation of a racial or sexual orientation faux pas.

The entire conservative world should just give them a dirty look, and say....."So?.

[reelfoot]

The one and only time my hubcaps were stolen was when my vehicle was parked at a rec. center next to "project" housing inhabited almost exclusively by blacks. Is it racist for me to relate this fact?

[FreedomCalls]

The difference between Lott and O'Reilly is that Bill O'Reilly holds no public office. He can say what he wants. Or do only liberal public figures like the Dixie Chicks, Garafalo, and Sarandon have that right?

[Jorge]

I think O'Reilly is an idiot. I'm not at all surprised that he would say that of Lott and do the same himself.

First of all O'Reilly made this comment about a small group of people who happened to be black. I don't know that he said it because they were black...or that it means he thinks all blacks steal hub caps.

This is quite different from what Lott said...which was that he wished a man who ran on a segregationist platform was elected President...which had serious political consequences.

[MozarkDawg]

Another cruddy JD with a hubcap ... sooooo typical!!

[Jael]

I think it's racist of people to think that only one races steals hubcabs. If they think that O'R said something racist, it's because of where their minds are, not what he said.

[ThomasMore]

The libs have been and are running scared.

[Jorge]

The one and only time my hubcaps were stolen was when my vehicle was parked at a rec. center next to "project" housing inhabited almost exclusively by blacks. Is it racist for me to relate this fact?

Of course not.
When I lived in a mostly black neighborhood in Miami...I actually had to remove my car battery every night and carry it up to my Apt..because otherwise it would get stolen.

Is this a racist comment about blacks? No.
It's a comment about having crack heads for neighbors, who happened to be black.
I've had no such problems with other black neighbors, in other places.

[Marysecretary]

O'Reilly explained that on Russett's show the other night. It's just another witch hunt by people who hate him. How many of us have just said something like that as a joke? He does more for inner city kids than most people do and the people who were there had no problem with that. People need to get a job, really! The politics of personal destruction make me ill.

[nanny]

Trent Lott was talking about an ancient and long time friend of his on his birthday. His remarks only became politicially incorrect when President Bush and other Republicans realized it would be a good way to get him out of his leadership. Everyone wanted him gone, so they jumped on this despicable way to go about it. It is wrong for anyone to use racism for their agenda - it is beyond words for a President of the US to do it.

[Marysecretary]

I'm sick of all this PC crap, Mears. I don't think he meant to be offensive at all. We ALL do these kinds of little jokes from time to time and it doesn't mean diddly squat.

[ampat]

Whether he said it or not, its not racist. When I was growing up (I'm about bill's age) teenage hoodlums stole hubcaps. It had nothing to do with race. Those who inject race into this matter must think only black teenagers steal hubcaps.

[Capt. Tom]

The ex-Klansman vowed never to fight "with a Negro by my side. Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."-Robert KKK Byrd

There is a lot of Baghdad Bob in Byrd.

[Conservative4Ever]

I agree....if the guys themselves were not offended...why should I be. Geez...it was a joke. Have we all become soooo PC that we can't even laugh at ourselves once in awhile.

Red

[Marysecretary]

Yes it has. I used to love ethnic jokes or jokes like O'Reilly's. Nowadays I'd be crucified if I told them. America has truly lost something here.

[sweetliberty]

" What I have yet to figure out is, if someone says he's offended, why should I care?"

Excellent point, especially given the regularity with which our moral and intellectual sensibilities are offended incessantly, but how many of the professional offendees think that OUR offense is deserving of consideration? And I dare say that our complaints have far greater validity, being genuine, while theirs is predominantly contrived.

[John Jorsett]

This one didn't strike me as 'insensitive' (as such things are called these days). However, on one recent Factor show he referred to illegals as 'wetbacks,' which I expected a lot of flack about. The Mexican-American guest kind of reared back at that, but otherwise there wasn't a peep that I heard of.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

The PC stuff has gone too far........the bigotry of the political-correctness movement has gone too far

And, if OReilly farted in front of the audience, people would be making the same hay. The guy is a lighting rod for a lot of people. You get a feeling, also, that OReilly kinda does this stuff on purpose to get more attention.

[Lee'sGhost]

"Isn't it racist to assume that this remark (jokingly asking where are they, out in the parking lot stealing hubcaps?) is racist?"

Why, yes it is. Especially when you consider that they weren't there so he could see them. Of course, I would also maintain that BEING an African-American boy’s group is iteself racist.