O'Reilly to caller: "I don't think your assessment" that Oprah's "voting for [Obama] because he's black" "is wrong"
SUMMARY: On his radio show, Bill O'Reilly took a call from a listener who said, "It sounds
like [Oprah Winfrey is] voting for [Sen. Barack Obama] because he's black."
O'Reilly responded: "I don't think your assessment is wrong." In a recent
speech, after naming several specific actions Obama has taken, Winfrey said: "We
need a president with clarity and conviction, who knows how to consult his own
conscience and proceed with moral authority. We need Barack Obama."
On the December 10 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program, Bill O'Reilly took a call from a listener who said of Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama (D-NY) for president: "It sounds like she's voting for him because he's black." O'Reilly responded: "I don't think your assessment is wrong." He added: "I would like to talk to her about it, but again, they kept Oprah away, as is the Barack Obama campaign." He later stated: "I think it would be an interesting interview to find out exactly what is it about Barack Obama that Oprah admires and thinks is worthy as far as how the country is going to be administered."
Earlier on the program, O'Reilly had aired three separate clips of Winfrey's speeches about Obama, two from her December 8 speech in Des Moines, Iowa, which was broadcast on CNN:
WINFREY: I not only care about this country, but there are times that I even worry about what happens to our country, and that is why, for the very first time in my life, I feel compelled to stand up and to speak out for the man who I believe has a new vision for America.
WINFREY: And because we only get to choose one, I came out in the cold today to tell you why I believe that choice needs to be Barack Obama.
And another from her speech in Columbia, South Carolina, on December 9:
WINFREY: The reason I love Barack Obama is because he speaks to the potential inside of every one of us. ... I believe that Barack Obama will lead with a sense of strength and conviction, with honor and compassion and with an unyielding focus on what we all can make together of our national future.
After airing these clips, O'Reilly stated: "OK. But she really didn't tell us why. She just likes him. Now, I guess she's against the Iraq war, and that's Obama's big deal, that he, in the very beginning, opposed that war. That's what he's got going. But, otherwise, as a senator and a legislator in Illinois, he hasn't really done that much. So, we really don't know his vision so much ... at this juncture."
In fact, Winfrey has recently spoken publicly about her reasons for supporting Obama. In her Des Moines speech, Winfrey said:
WINFREY: So I challenge you, I challenge you, I challenge you to see through those people who try and convince you that experience with politics as usual is more valuable than wisdom won from years of serving people outside the walls of Washington, D.C. I challenge you to think about that, because Barack Obama's early training in the trenches of community organizing, working in the poor neighborhoods to change the palette of poverty and crime and unemployment gave him a lot of experience in relieving the burdens of those who are beleaguered. His track record in the Illinois and national Senate show his bipartisan efforts to earn families across our great state of Illinois more than $100 million in tax cuts. His advocacy for legislation and support of early childhood education, because he knows education is the door of opportunity, and his opposition to racial profiling, offer a glimpse into his political pedigree.
And as a U.S. senator, again, from my great state of Illinois, Obama has fought for disability pay for veterans. He worked to boost the nonproliferation of deadly weapons. He advocated the use of alternative fuels to cure our national addiction to oil. He has spoken out against our government's indifference to the poor and to political incompetence in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
And he has rallied against genocide in Darfur, and long before it was the popular thing to do, he stood with clarity and conviction against this war in Iraq.
We need a president with clarity and conviction, who knows how to consult his own conscience and proceed with moral authority. We need Barack Obama.
Two days after O'Reilly made his comments, ABC's Good Morning America aired an interview with Winfrey, in which she said that she is supporting Obama "not because of the color of his skin," but "because of what he represents. And I do think that he represents a sense of hope." She continued: "He is a black man and I'm very happy about that. But that is not the reason why I would be supporting him is because he's black man -- because he's not the first black man who's ever run for president." When host Diane Sawyer asked, "One question somebody asked: Tell me what role both being of the same race plays in your relationship to him ... your feeling about him at this moment," Winfrey replied: "[T]o think that I would just be in support of somebody because of the color of their skin would mean we hadn't moved very far from Dr. King's speech in 1963, saying that we want people to be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin."
From the December 10 edition of Westwood One's The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:
O'REILLY: Now, the big news over the weekend was Oprah running around in support of Barack Obama, her guy. Now, again, do I have a problem with this? No. I don't have a problem with it. She's -- she thinks he'd be the best president. She's an American citizen, famous, of course, but she can do that. I don't have a problem with it.
Let me give you some stats here before we get to the analysis. This is from Pew Research, just came out, and -- no, it didn't. This is -- no, this is an old poll. I'm not gonna use this poll. That's a couple of months old. Let's use the Fox News poll. That's newer.
Here's the Fox News/Opinion Dynamic Poll. It just came out, and it says, "Does Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of Barack Obama make you more or less likely to vote for him for president?" And "more likely": 13; "less likely": 30. No difference: 54. Whoa. Hoo-hoo.
"Do you think it's appropriate for Oprah Winfrey to use her celebrity and TV show to encourage people to vote for Barack Obama?" Yes, appropriate: 49; no, inappropriate: 45; don't know: 6.
OK, so according to Fox News/Opinion Dynamic, not gonna help Obama, but where it will help, in my opinion, is in some of the primaries. Now, Oprah shows up in Iowa, New Hampshire, and big in South Carolina, and says this. Roll the tape.
WINFREY [audio clip]: The reason I love Barack Obama is because he speaks to the potential inside of every one of us. ... I believe that Barack Obama will lead with a sense of strength and conviction, with honor and compassion and with an unyielding focus on what we all can make together of our national future. [...]
I not only care about this country, but there are times that I even worry about what happens to our country, and that is why, for the very first time in my life, I feel compelled to stand up and to speak out for the man who I believe has a new vision for America. [...]
And because we only get to choose one, I came out in the cold today to tell you why I believe that choice needs to be Barack Obama.
O'REILLY: OK. But she really didn't tell us why. She just likes him. Now, I guess she's against the Iraq war, and that's Obama's big deal, that he, in the very beginning, opposed that war. That's what he's got going. But, otherwise, as a senator and a legislator in Illinois, he hasn't really done that much. So, we really don't know his vision so much, you know, at this juncture, although I think Barack Obama is very charismatic and certainly expresses himself very well -- I hope that's not insulting to anyone. I like his style. Substance, I don't know.
[...]
O'REILLY: Let's go to Cheryl, Buford, South Carolina. Go.
CALLER: How you doin' today, Bill?
O'REILLY: Hey.
CALLER: I was really put off by Oprah's endorsement of Obama. It came off to me -- she sounded like a preacher: the way she phrased things, the sound of her voice. She sounded very -- excuse me -- but very kind of fake preachy.
O'REILLY: Hmm-mm.
CALLER: I didn't -- it came -- I didn't like it. And then she made reference to the Dr. King, his dream, and now we get to vote his dream into office. It sounds to me like -- and she also said he has no experience. It sounds like she's voting for him because he's black.
O'REILLY: Well, I think Oprah Winfrey -- I don't think your assessment is wrong. I would like to talk to her about it, but again, they kept Oprah away, as is the Barack Obama campaign. Now, were you there? Or did you just see it on TV?
CALLER: No, I saw it on TV. I happen to be in Columbia just prior to her being there, and it was a big deal down here.
O'REILLY: Well, you know, you gotta -- I think you gotta cut Oprah a little slack on the presentation. I mean, she doesn't do this for a living. She doesn't really, you know -- she's out there. She's trying to get people jazzed up, trying to talk in a way that is maybe a revivalist style. But I, you know -- I think it would be an interesting interview to find out exactly what is it about Barack Obama that Oprah admires and thinks is worthy as far as how the country is going to be administered. Because we're living in a very complex time, and you know -- we talk about this every day. These issues that we're facing now are enormously complicated.
From the December 12 edition of ABC's Good Morning America:
SAWYER: One question somebody asked: Tell me what role both being of the same race plays in your relationship to him, your feeling about him, your feeling about him at this moment.
WINFREY: Well, I'm a little -- I get a little -- I can't -- well, maybe the word is "offended" -- to think that I would just be in support of somebody because of the color of their skin would mean we hadn't moved very far from Dr. King's speech in 1963, saying that we want people to be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. And as I said in my opening speech in Iowa, I, over the years, have voted for as many Republicans as I have Democrats.
WINFREY [audio clip]: Over the years, I voted for as many Republicans as I have Democrats.
SAWYER: Everyone says, "Which Republicans?"
WINFREY: Wait a minute. No. Yeah, I know. They want to know that. And then, which wasn't -- didn't go over very well in that crowd.
DENZEL WASHINGTON (actor): I bet!
WINFREY: Then I realized, "Oh, I'm with all Democrats. OK."
But no, it's not because of the color of his skin, it's because of what he represents. And I do think that he represents a sense of hope. He is a black man, and I'm very happy about that. But that is not the reason why I would be supporting him is because he's black man -- 'cause he's not the first black man that's ever run for president.
SAWYER: That's true.
O'Reilly is making more ridiculous statements this week than Imus, between comparing people who have different views than he does to serial killers and now this, he should get the stupid remark of the week award. Very bad Bill, very very bad.
Well Sueeld , the only thing I can think the reasoning behind this statement is that OReilly is back to being unable to control his stupidity. He is unable to have any self control with the stupidity that spews out of his mouth.
SUBTEXT:
There is no reason to support Obama OTHER THAN that he is black. Therefore, anyone who supports Obama cannot be doing it for VALID reasons of presidential fitness.
Way to go, BillO. Yet another log in the fire of RACISM that damns you to the title, no matter how vehemently you deny it.
Let me see if I can follow Bill's statement logically:
Oprah supports Obama only because he is black
Therefore, Oprah is a racist, as are all Obama supporters
Therefore, Bill O'Reilly is an Obama supporter, since he is also a racist
But since Bill O'Reilly is a racist, he can't be an Obama supporter, since Obama is black, and Bill O'Reilly hates blacks
Therefore, Bill O'Reilly is a lying media whore.
Brava Sue! It's nice in these anti-O'Reilly waters isn't it? Just keep in mind that we respond to his stupid attacks and misinformation rather than attack him on an ad hominem basis.
O'Reilly said he was "surprised" that a black-owned restaurant was pretty much like a lot of white-owned restaurants.
Now this.
Face it.
O'Reilly's true colors are coming out, and it's only one shade:
Lily-white.
ARCHAE,
And all it took was another like minded racist caller to get Bill to open up about his own deep seeded idiocy.......
I'm curious though...... even as it is beyond obvious that Oprah is going to vote for Obama because he brings authentic change to the table.... would it ultimately matter if Oprah was doing this simply because Barack happens to be black?
I think it would, somewhat. It's really only marginally better (if at all) than say, someone like Mister O'Reilly, NOT voting for him becasue he's black. Being black or being white is NOT a qualification for office, escpecially if there is a more qualified candidate.
For my part, I'm white and I'm voting for Obama (or a least I would be: He's not on the Michigan primary ballot! So I should say that I WILL vote for him, if he wins the nom. Hope, hope!) And I think there are WAAAY to many people like me (w/ re to Obama) to consider his race to be what's propelling him. IOW - he's not Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. I think Sen. Obama has a REAL understanding of equality for ALL people. That's something that both blacks and whites should appreciate and value and work to protect.
I agree with you absolutely. Thankfully a lot of us have moved beyond the old race baggage that BO and this caller can’t let go. Both Obama and Ophra are Black therefore she must support him because he's Black. Does BO support the Republicans because most of them are White? I believe she believes like I do that Obama is in tune with the Americans out here who want real political change and that we are tired of sitting back helplessly watching out current leaders enthralled in self indulgence and political one up manship at our expense. I sincerely believe that Obama is capable of facilitating that, I’m not so sure that the institution of political hand washing that has rigged the system for those who play by the rules that the DCErs have set up for themselves can be overcome. If he does win it will certainly indicates that that institution isn’t as indestructible as it appears to be.
O'Reilly's question about the degree of experience is certainly a fair question. What you should be concerned about is the Hilliary Clinton campaign's hatch job on Obama. The slush fund issue [as if she hasn't used one]; the muslim dirty trick; and the recent comment about possible drug selling are horrible.
Yah Sue, he gives every appearence of having no clue. Are rousing, dream positive speeches, and Democratic people oxymoronic in Bill's head?
The man has no experience at doing anything!!
Just because he is a good speaker doesn't make him a good candidate for president.
She would not be out on the campaign trail with him if he weren't black, and that's the truth.
She may have voted for him if he were white, but she certainly would not have done the extra effort.
That's the truth.
would it be fair to say that Winfrey is the best person to ask about 'the truth?' in this instance?
Ms Winfrey, are you supporting Obama simply because he's black?
You wouldn't ask her, because it's insulting. BUt O'Reilly feels qualified to make the assumption anyway.
On top of that, Obama is more than just a good speaker. Case in point - he would talk to the Iranian leadership rather than making threats of military action. Its a pretty obvious thing to do, but it has apparently escaped the grasp of most of the other candidates.
He has as much experience, and maybe more, than the current occupant of the White House had when he was elected. And, he can actually speak well, so I think he's one up, or more, on George W. Bush.
Who do you think has more experience than Obama? Rudy? Don't make me laugh about that one. Mitt? When was the last time he sat in on a foreign policy meeting, or made laws regarding such a thing. Obama has as much experience, and probably more common sense than most of the republican field.
And you know that because of those amazing mind reading powers you THINK you have that dont exist and that you continually trot out to make your stupid arguments. Did she go out on the campaign trial for Sharpton? Cynthia McKinney? Will you EVER make a cogent argument EVER? I wont be holding my breath
No never.
Maybe you should tun that prodigious mind reading ability to a better use, like a trip to AC or Vegas.
Imagine how long you could keep your pathetic blog going with your winnings.
Copious: The current occupant of the white house was a failure at everything until he was brought into a group that purchased the Texas Rangers simply because of his name. He then became Governor of Texas, again because of his name, and Texas Governors, due to their style of state Governors, do less than almost any other governor around. The man never traveled at all, there is no evidence that he read much, and there is no evidence that he knew (or knows) anything whatsoever about any other people on the face of this earth. But I bet that you were not concerned about his experience in 2000 at all, were you? By the way, if experience were so important, there were a lot more experienced Repubs than the current occupant in 2000 as well, and Gore had much, much more experience than the current occupant.
Great synopsis Mark! I have a feeling you won't be hearing from Copious is a while.:)
Don't bet on that, PJ. CompliantConsent is one of the thickest humans you'll ever run across.He's been getting the clown suit put on him for as long as I've been posting here, and doesn't even seem to know it.
Do you think that maybe all those people who voted for GW did so because he's White? Maybe I'll call Bill and ask him that. All those former Bush supporters who worry about Obama’s experience should ask themselves why they had no problem voting for a man with a proven track record of failure that spanned decades. Maybe folks like Bill really did give him the benefit of the doubt because after all he was a WCM and everyone knows they’re really SMART.
COPIUS,
You said, in part: "Just because he is a good speaker doesn't make him a good candidate for president."
For a moment I thought you said "Just because he isn't a good speaker" that you were talking about George Bush...... then I realized that you were talking about someone that can actually speak the English language and have a chance at bringing about real change.
With that in mind..... what exactly qualified Bush for the job that Obama (in your opinion) isn't?
COPIOUSDISSENT voluntarily joins the ranks of the overtly RACIST rightwingers. He does so by his special gift of MINDREADING Oprah, to discern the "truth."
When the Rightwing Ouija Board spells out the "N" word, they swear it's "the spirits" that control the action. 'No, not me, uh-uh. I ain't no racist!' Whoo-boy!
If Oprah had backed Hillary, they'd say it was only because she's a woman.
So since she's backing Obama of course there are those who claim it's only because he's Black.
Maybe she should have backed Edwards...what reason would they have come up with then? ;-)
Well, since she does a lot of "makeover" segments on her show, they might say it's because of the hair ;-)
BTW, d'ya think O'Reilly'd be saying this if she was backing a black Republican candidate like, say, Alan Keyes?
Interesting question.
On one hand I'd say yeah cause I get the feeling that O'Reilly probably can't imagine any African-American backing another African-American for any other reason than race.
But being Billy leans Right I'm not sure he'd voice that opinion...just kinda keep it to himself.
I'm gonna have to give this some thought....
"...But being Billy leans Right..."
- Leans Right?
Jeter, I appreciate moderation; we could perhaps use a bit more of it on this blog, but come on! That's like saying Fox News appears to be a rightwing propaganda organ. There are some things so obvious we don't need to qualify them, and there are times when a spade should be called a spade... Uh oh!
he never said how far.
If were leaning any further right, he would fall and break his right hip.
Even if it was true Oprah was voting for voting for Obama just because he's black, so what? You can be sure that there are plenty of individuals who would vote against him because he's black. Actually I think it says something good about Obama that he actually got Oprah out there on the campaign trail with him.
I agree with you, Bootsy. So what? I'm sure there are women out there who will vote for Hillary just because she's a woman....or so I 've heard. I, too, am glad he has the 900 pound gorilla, with all of her ratings, fame, and audience on his side. It just might counter the Bill effect that Hillary has. I know the R's have no chance this time around, and Obama looks a lot better than Hillary to me. The lesser of two evils.
So Bootsy, then what you're saying is you have no more problem with someone voting against Obama simply because he is black, than someone who votes for him for the same reason?
I believe both scenarios are racially motivated, and wrong.
Yeah Bill, that's all there is to it!
I haven't seen her backing Alan Keyes. And he's run how many times now?
If Oprah was backing Keyes, the conservatives would be singing her praises and telling us all how she's "thinking for herself"
But since she's backing Obama, of course it's because he's black. What other reason could there possibly be.
I don't know about that. I'm sure every single sane person in America irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity can tell after one speech that Keys is a raving lunatic. I for one would think that poor Ophra must have lost her mind as well if she supported him; but I really do understand your appoint. .
And o'Reilley's going to vote for a white man. But that's completely different, no doubt. .
Come on people. You know darn well that Oprah would not be endorsing Obama if he was white.
Who would she be endorsing, and why?
(Sorry, everybody else, I just can't resist sometimes)
KHOTWINGS joins BillO and COPIOUS in the overtly racist column.
This thread reminds me of the "stings" cops set up, like when they find a big bag of pot, and offer to return it to the rightful owner if they just come pick it up. DOZENS show. Or, when they gather outstanding warrants and send free tickets to a fake Ozzy Osborn concert ... the dummies show up in droves, and are herded into the paddy wagons.
Have a thread on anything having to do with being black, and the rightwing racists come running. I guess they can't help themselves.
I hope Fin weighs in on this one. I'm surprised he hasn't considering he knows the behaviors of all of the races and why they perform them.
Fried,
He is good for a laugh isn't he?
Lynn,
Laughter or tears with him. We went back and forth on the Nutty Professor thread if you want to see his current diatribes ;).
FACT: Bill O'Reilly will vote for a white man in the Primary and Bill O'Reilly will vote for a white man in the General Election.
How is he going to vote in a primary if he's an "independent"? *snickers*
BillO: I think it would be an interesting interview to find out exactly what is it about Barack Obama that Oprah admires and thinks is worthy as far as how the country is going to be administered. Because we're living in a very complex time, and you know -- we talk about this every day. These issues that we're facing now are enormously complicated.
Let me translate: "A black man and a woman can't be trusted with handling these important issues. This is a job for old white guys like me."
To be precise a White Christian male.
Personally I dislike Oprah immensely. She's a shameless media whore and possibly one of the most unauthentic people of all time. But I won't hold that against Barry. He's still my number 2 or 3.
Oh and I should have added that I hope that other people out there who have a similar opinion of Oprah don't hold her endorsement against Barry.
"WE SPEAK YOUR NAME!!!" hAHAHAH...what a bunch of hoohaa....
But she does do a lot of good. A LOT. I'm no fan, but I do think she is fundamentally a good person and seeks only to lift up others. Her judgment on presidential politics I would never consider however. I was for Obama before, and I'm still for him now.