Caplis falsely defended O'Reilly's statements about controversial CWA panel being invited back to Boulder High

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

Talking about a controversial panel discussion about sex and drugs that was held at Boulder High School in April, 630 KHOW-AM co-host Dan Caplis on June 1 mischaracterized the comments of Fox News' Bill O'Reilly regarding whether the same panel would return to the school again next year. When a caller who identified herself as a Boulder High student said O'Reilly's assertion that members of the Conference on World Affairs panel “were asked to come back” was “definitely not true,” Caplis told the caller she was making “such a fringe point.” He then stated, “What Bill's [O'Reilly] saying there is that they're going to continue having the conference at the school.”

From the June 1 broadcast of 630 KHOW-AM's The Caplis & Silverman Show:

CALLER: You kept saying that you're trying to present that information fairly, and trying to tell the truth, and I feel like a lot of the stuff that O'Reilly has been saying isn't true. For example, when he said that the panelists were asked to come back, that just seems like a lie, 'cause that's definitely not true.

CAPLIS: Well -- and, and, and listen -- what's being said -- and that is such a fringe point. What Bill's saying there is that they're going to continue having the conference at the school.

CALLER: But --

CAPLIS: That's what he's saying. But let's deal with the real meat of it. You know, I've been a part of most of those shows with Bill. The quotes that he's offered up are in fair context, [caller], and I challenge anybody, including the wonderful students who came on the show earlier to disagree, show us where they're out of context. And they can't, because they aren't.

Contrary to Caplis' comments, O'Reilly had stated on his May 29, 30, and 31 broadcasts that the panelists themselves, whom he accused of having “recommended drugs and unrestrained sex” to Boulder High students, have been invited back by school officials. For example:

  • On the May 29 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly stated, "The people who recommended drugs and unrestrained sex to the kids are being invited back to Boulder High School next year. What a pathetic scenario."
  • On May 30, interviewing Fox News contributor and comedian Dennis Miller, O'Reilly again stated on The O'Reilly Factor that the controversial panel had been invited back:

    MILLER: Well, I'm more astounded if what you said is correct. Have they been invited back --

    O'REILLY: Yes.

    MILLER: -- for next year?

    O'REILLY: They've been invi -- but it's gonna be an optional assembly. They're not gonna force the kids to go. But they've been invited back.


  • On the May 31 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly said, “Folks have a right to be angry with these cowards [Boulder Valley School District officials], who, unbelievably, have invited the same loons back again to Boulder High next year.
  • Also on May 31, O'Reilly asked, ”Is something going to happen to these three administrators who actually inviting these people back again next year?"

From the May 31 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: But the outcry against these three Boulder officials is based upon their gross irresponsibility. Folks have a right to be angry with these cowards, who, unbelievably, have invited the same loons back again to Boulder High next year.

[...]

O'REILLY: Joining us now from Denver, radio talk show host Dan Caplis, who has been covering the story on KHOW. Is this building in Colorado? Is it, is it -- is something going to happen to these three administrators who actually inviting these people back again next year?

From the May 30 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: But isn't it hard to believe in America in 2007 that this is happening? I mean, I'm just astounded.

MILLER: Well, I'm more astounded if what you said is correct. Have they been invited back --

O'REILLY: Yes.

MILLER: -- for next year?

O'REILLY: They've been invi -- but it's gonna be an optional assembly. They're not going to force the kids to go. But they've been invited back.

From the May 29 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: Secular progressive movement is dangerous, especially to children. The people who recommended drugs and unrestrained sex to the kids are being invited back to Boulder High School next year. What a pathetic scenario.