O'Reilly called Media Matters' Brock a "liar," but the falsehood was O'Reilly's

On the October 10 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly purported to defend his false October 8 assertion -- documented by Media Matters for America -- that Sen. Barack Obama did not cast a vote on a Senate amendment denouncing both an ad by MoveOn.org that targeted Gen. David Petraeus and "Swift Boat" attacks on Sen. John Kerry (D-MA). O'Reilly claimed that in his October 8 remarks, he was not referring to an amendment sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), which Obama voted for, but rather to an amendment "sponsored by [Sen.] John Cornyn [R-TX] that also condemned MoveOn," which Obama did not vote on. But on October 8, O'Reilly explicitly said that the amendment Obama did not vote on was one that condemned both the MoveOn Petraeus ad and "the Swift Boating of Kerry." While both amendments condemned the MoveOn Petraeus ad, the Cornyn amendment did not condemn the Swift Boat attacks, while the Boxer amendment -- which, again, Obama voted for -- did.

On the October 10 broadcast, responding to the Media Matters item noting his October 8 falsehood, O'Reilly said: "[Media Matters for America CEO David] Brock tells his Kool-Aid drinking audience that Barack did vote for an amendment sponsored by Barbara Boxer that denounced MoveOn and attacks on John Kerry. What Brock does not tell his Kool-Aid drinking audience is that Obama refused to vote on another Senate amendment, this one sponsored by John Cornyn that also condemned MoveOn. That was the vote I was referring to." He continued: "Now, I should have pointed out there were two amendments. Obama did vote for the Boxer amendment, but he did not vote on the Cornyn amendment. So that's my fault. I should have been clearer on that, but I am not a liar, and Brock is, in addition to being a pinhead."

But during his October 8 radio show, O'Reilly said: "You know, we did some research into [Obama's] vote on MoveOn. MoveOn ran the Petraeus ad. They had a vote in the Senate condemning that action, along with -- and I did not know this -- condemning the Swift Boating of Kerry." O'Reilly then said, "It was in the same amendment -- same amendment -- that, you know, when you challenge someone's patriotism, that is wrong. Obama did not vote."

However, of the two measures, only the Boxer amendment condemned both "the Petraeus ad" and the "Swift Boating of Kerry." As Media Matters has documented, Obama did, in fact, vote for the Boxer amendment condemning the Petraeus ad, as well as other attacks on past and present members of the military, including Kerry. From the Boxer amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008:

(4) In 2004, a Senator from Massachusetts who is a Vietnam veteran and the recipient of a Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts, was personally attacked and accused of dishonoring his country.

(5) This attack was aptly described by a Senator and Vietnam veteran as ''dishonest and dishonorable.''

(6) On September 10, 2007, an advertisement in the New York Times was an unwarranted personal attack on General Petraeus; who is honorably leading our Armed Forces in Iraq and carrying out the mission assigned to him by the President of the United States.

In contrast to the Boxer amendment, Cornyn's amendment makes no reference to Kerry or the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The Cornyn amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 in full:

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:

SEC. 1070. SENSE OF SENATE ON GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS.

(a) FINDINGS. -- The Senate makes the following findings:

(1) The Senate unanimously confirmed General David H. Petraeus as Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, by a vote of 81-0 on January 26, 2007.

(2) General Petraeus graduated first in his class at the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

(3) General Petraeus earned Masters of Public Administration and Doctoral degrees in international relations from Princeton University.

(4) General Petraeus has served multiple combat tours in Iraq, including command of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during combat operations throughout the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which tours included both major combat operations and subsequent stability and support operations.

(5) General Petraeus supervised the development and crafting of the United States Army and Marine Corps counterinsurgency manual based in large measure on his combat experience in Iraq, scholarly study, and other professional experiences.

(6) General Petraeus has taken a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.

(7) During his 35-year career, General Petraeus has amassed a distinguished and unvarnished record of military service to the United States as recognized by his receipt of a Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two Distinguished Service Medals, two Defense Superior Service Medals, four Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the State Department Superior Honor Award, the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, and other awards and medals.

(8) A recent attack through a full-page advertisement in the New York Times by the liberal activist group, Moveon.org, impugns the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all the members of the United States Armed Forces.

(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE. -- It is the sense of the Senate --

(1) to reaffirm its support for all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, including General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq;

(2) to strongly condemn any effort to attack the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all the members of the United States Armed Forces; and

(3) to specifically repudiate the unwarranted personal attack on General Petraeus by the liberal activist group Moveon.org.

From the October 10 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: Time now for "Pinheads and Patriots." Unfortunately, we don't have a patriot tonight because we have two pinheads. First, the liars at Media Matters are at it again. This man, David Brock puts out daily deceit on the Internet, and the latest is this quote: "O'Reilly falsely claimed Obama did not vote to condemn attacks on Petraeus and Kerry," unquote. Brock tells his Kool-Aid drinking audience that Barack did vote for an amendment sponsored by Barbara Boxer that denounced MoveOn and attacks on John Kerry.

What Brock does not tell his Kool-Aid drinking audience is that Obama refused to vote on another Senate amendment, this one sponsored by John Cornyn that also condemned MoveOn. That was the vote I was referring to, and Brock knew it, but Brock is a weasel and a liar, and he always does this.

Now, I should have pointed out there were two amendments. Obama did vote for the Boxer amendment, but he did not vote on the Cornyn amendment. So that's my fault. I should have been clearer on that, but I am not a liar, and Brock is, in addition to being a pinhead.