O'Reilly on Navy vet Country Joe as Veterans Day chairman: "[W]hy don't you ask Fidel Castro?"
In remarking on a controversy surrounding upcoming Veterans Day activities in Berkeley, California, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly blasted singer-songwriter and Berkeley Veterans Day Committee chairman Country Joe McDonald for his involvement. On the October 19 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, O'Reilly said that "pinheads" in Berkeley named McDonald as chairman; he then quipped, "[W]hy don't you ask Fidel Castro?" But O'Reilly's comments misconstrue the controversy and misleadingly smear McDonald, the original event organizer.
The Berkeley controversy resulted from a proposal by McDonald to invite Bill Mitchell, a co-founder of anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan's Gold Star Families for Peace, to speak at a Veterans Day ceremony, according to Knight Ridder news service. Some city council members and veterans' groups raised objections, saying that Veterans Day is "neither the time nor place" for an "antiwar rally." Divisions over McDonald's proposal have prompted the apparent cancellation of the ceremony.
While the proposal of Mitchell did instigate the controversy, O'Reilly's understanding of McDonald's involvement in Veterans Day is inaccurate. O'Reilly misleadingly implied that McDonald had somehow hijacked Berkeley's Veterans Day, questioning the "pinheads" who would say, "[Y]eah, let's get Country Joe to be the Veterans Day guy." But as the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out, Berkeley avoided celebrating Veterans Day for years, and it was, in fact, McDonald who reinstated observance of Veterans Day in Berkeley and spearheaded several other efforts to honor veterans. McDonald, a noted peace activist and Vietnam War protester who wrote the antiwar song "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag," is a Navy veteran.
From the October 19 broadcast of Westwood One's The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:
O'REILLY: Talking about insane, Berkeley, California, the most insane town in the U.S.A., has canceled a Veterans Day ceremony because the organizing committee is split over the political content. This is great. This is really good. The chairman of the organizing committee for Veterans Day is Country Joe McDonald, of Country Joe and the Fish.
[...]
O'REILLY: You know nothing about your country. Anyway -- yeah, let's have Country Joe be the chairman of the Veterans Day committee. It's -- all right. You think I'm making this up. This is not made up. This is true. All right, so now they were going to have as their keynote speaker the founder of Cindy Sheehan's organization, Gold Star Families for Peace, on Veterans Day.
[...]
O'REILLY: No, I mean, the pinheads that walk around, you know, with the 18 earrings in the nose, they don't watch The Factor, they don't know I'm there. I mean, those aren't the kind of people that are -- yeah, let's get Country Joe to be the Veterans Day guy. That's a good idea. You know, why don't you ask Fidel Castro? All right, is he busy?
It's always amusing when O'Reilly jumps all over something without bothering to do a little research. How he loves to make a fool of himself.
Billy probably has a hard time keeping research people on staff. First the late night phone calls begin, then the wine and falafel come out and then they're gone.
It's one two three, what is he lying for?
Don't ask me, I don't watch his shows.
I think he sucks and blows.
And it's five six seven, open up the no spin zone.
Ain't no time to check the facts.
Whoopee, we'll gonna lie!
Hurry and copyright this because it is priceless!!!!!!!
Good one, phreak!
GIMME A B...!!!
Let's see, Anti-War Activist as head of Veterans Day Committee, humn......well.....i see.....NOT!!! How can you pinheads not see the conflict of interest here. War Protester-Veterans of Foreign Wars. The two just don't go together, which is what Bill was pointing out, if you happened to listen to the entire piece, not just the selected excerpts that are provided here. Why, in God's name ( I threw that in for you ACLU people ), would you even consider having someone who is opposed to war, any and every war, speak at a celebration for our brave men and women who have fought in any and every war that our country needed them in? Why aren't you pointing out that hipocracy, instead of taking Bill to task for a statement that was, in fact, given in jest, and not to mention, it was his opinion. No misinformation here, just another example of your liberal spin on anything and everything Conservative. Grow up.
chevyman,
You asked "Why...?"
For your answer, go here: [link to pqasb.pqarchiver.com]
The link was provided by the MMFA folks who, unlike some, do their research before they post.
Are you suggesting that someone who opposes war has no place in remembering and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice? As a vet, he has earned that right. The true hypocrisy here is that a chickenhawk blowhard like O'Reilly gets to criticize someone who has served in uniform because he doesn't agree with his views. Read the links provided and then question this guys motivation. This is the same mindset as the Swift Boat Liars who dragged Kerry throught the mud last year. Many who are called to actually fight the wars that are initiated by politicians come away believing that they should be avoided at all costs.
Why? Because he's a veteran. A veteran who wanted to resurrect the Veteran's Day observance in Berkeley. A veteran who can proudly say he served his country despite his beliefs on how unjust the war was. A veteran who wants to honor the sacrifices of those who answered the call.
If you feel that war is always the answer, and you're young enough, the Army's recruiting, 1-800-USA-ARMY.
Chevyman --
Country Joe is a veteran and if you bothered to read the article you'd see he was instrumental in getting the holiday reinstated at Berkeley. He did his time and continues to do the right thing. Unlike, BO or any anyone who would support him on this matter. Every soldier I have ever met, hopes for peace, readies for war, and prays to God the Commander-in-Chief acts wisely (no chance of that with this administration)in their deployment. BO and other chickenhawks, should kiss his feet at a Vietnam vet, but instead they continue to attack those that served but disagree with the questionable policies that happen be Iraq. My question is why conservative hate the US and its vets so much?
Phreak, that made my day.
Some good points made here, one of which I would like to amplify and question:
Why, indeed, does this administration and those who support it fail to stand up for veterans and active duty soldiers? Why were there insufficient numbers of armor reinforced personnel carriers when needed? Why are Guard units and reserves constantly being re-upped? Why are multibillions being spent for the latest supergadgets i.e. Star Wars, and veteran's benefits slashed? Where is the concern for the fighting man in the field and those who have nobly served before? No wonder our military is having a hard time meeting its recruting goals.
Great posting Phreak!! Chevyman asks "why"... to which I would answer that who is better to speak out against the inhumanity of war than one who has been there. And in so doing, possibly force an end to an immoral and illegal commercial venture which has caused the death and dismemberment of so many. The refrain of "how many deaths will it take till they know that too many people have died" is particularly poignant for a veteran. The Vietnam veterans agains the war were a crucial part of the decision to withdraw from another illegal and immoral venture. Chevyman (who deserves the Fish cheer) talks about "hipocracy" (should use his spell check) but the real issue is the deceit of a corrupt White House aided and abetted by chicken hawk "pundits" like O'Reilly and Limbaugh. And it's 1,2,3 what are we fighting for, don't ask Bill, he's such a hack and now we're stuck in old Iraq. p.s. Thanks to Bill I dug out my old Country Joe album. Forty years later and we still don't know what we're fighting for!!
"Hipocracy" is government by the cool, isn't it?
It is the right that disrespects veterans who dare hold political views other than theirs. It is the right that lies about who disrespects the vets.
The left will use a vet for political purpose, if the vet agrees, but either way, they will still offer comfort and healing from the war sickness, without predicating the aid upon political ideology.
Liberals; just too damn sympathetic.
Conservatives will offer a hurricane's wind worth of lip service in support of the troops, secretly happy their son is a member of his University's College Republican Chapter instead of an infantryman. In a decade, these same conservatives will forget their promises, and loudly complain about their tax dollars being wasted at the VA, helping no-account bums.
It is, it has been, it will be.
his formula - LINK Category A: any nonneocon that provides a storyline TO Category B: socialist / commie / Castro / fascist / anti-American / unpatriotic, you get the idea... OR (in those moments of statistically purrrfect projection) call them a "propagandist".
Many Vets support any and all U.S. wars no matter what. Many Vets do not, and become peace activists because of what they saw and did. Innocents die in every war. Good soldiers are put in awful situations. Soldiers die to protect their friends. The shame is in not seeing the shame of war...and in believing the ancient lie, that war is glorious.