On the September 26 edition of Fox News' The Big Story, during his nightly “My Word” segment, host John Gibson asserted that billionaire philanthropist “George Soros is after Bill O'Reilly and he's enlisted the help of CNN and NBC,” adding: “This is the fabricated flap over some benign remarks Bill made on his radio show, but it has been turned on its ear by George Soros' Media Matters, a website that was funded by Soros and is dedicated to discrediting conservatives and folks like Bill, who don't toe the Soros line. They do this by the purposeful misinterpretation of one's words.” Gibson provided no evidence for his accusation that Media Matters for America “misinterpret[ed]” O'Reilly's words; in fact, in noting his remarks following his dinner at a Harlem restaurant, Media Matters provided the transcript and audio with their full context. Moreover, as repeatedly and exhaustively demonstrated, Soros has never given money to Media Matters, either directly or through another organization.

During the show, Gibson also stated: “It isn't just Bill. Media Matters has done it to me too. NBC News has been using Media Matters as a script service for some time now, with certain anchors over there just lifting misinterpretations wholesale from the website and sending the Media Matters words directly to the teleprompter. Yes, great journalism at a place with names like Russert and Williams, and now CNN has joined in.” Gibson did not identify the “certain anchors” who have purportedly been “just lifting misinterpretations wholesale from the website and sending the Media Matters words directly to the teleprompter.”

Gibson concluded his “My Word” segment by asserting: “I can't speak for Bill, but as for myself, I am proud to be on the Soros hit list. As for NBC and CNN, they should be embarrassed. It's real journalists inside those two places, they need to stand up and revolt.”

Gibson also falsely asserted that Media Matters was a “George Soros-funded operation” on the September 25 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program. Gibson made the claim in response to a recent Media Matters item documenting his September 21 statement that while there are “black devils stalking their streets,” those protesting in support of the so-called Jena Six only “wanna fight the white devil.”

From the September 26 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson:

GIBSON: And a liberal, far-left website that aims to discredit conservatives is going after Fox's own Bill O'Reilly, taking a benign comment and turning it into something it is not. I have some ideas of why Bill O'Reilly is being targeted. “My Word,” coming up next on The Big Story.

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GIBSON: Now it's time for “My Word.” George Soros is after Bill O'Reilly, and he's enlisted the help of CNN and NBC. This is the fabricated flap over some benign remarks Bill made on his radio show, but it has been turned on its ear by George Soros' Media Matters, a website that was funded by Soros and is dedicated to discrediting conservatives and folks like Bill who don't toe the Soros line. They do this by the purposeful misinterpretation of one's words.

It isn't just Bill. Media Matters has done it to me, too. NBC News has been using Media Matters as a script service for some time now, with certain anchors over there just lifting misinterpretations wholesale from the website and sending the Media Matters words directly to the teleprompter. Yes, great journalism at a place with names like Russert and Williams, and now CNN has joined in. Why? O'Reilly's the big kahuna of cable news, and neither of those networks can break out of 10th place in a three network race, unless they bring him down.

Remember the name Soros. His Open Society Institute has just released its 2006 report on the way it has spent Soros' millions, $74 million just this year. Did you know that in addition to funding groups to try to kneecap Bill O'Reilly and me, Soros' stooges have also cut a $720,000 check to the so called NASA whistleblower who claimed the U.S. government was covering up global warming? Investors Business Daily has outlined all of this in a series of recent editorials after checking the records. Soros money has funded lawyers to defeat President Bush on his efforts to track terrorist cell phone calls and matching airline passenger lists with the names of known terrorists. As the IBD asked its readers, “Do you feel safer now that you live in Soros' world?” I would think not. I would also think you would think about the way George Soros' has funneled his millions into the bank accounts of groups dedicated to sliming and destroying people. Soros' money is behind MoveOn.org, too, and you've seen what they do. Soros doesn't like Bill, and Soros doesn't like me. I can't speak for Bill, but as for myself, I am proud to be on the Soros hit list. As for NBC and CNN, they should be embarrassed. It's real journalists inside those two places, they need to stand up and revolt. That is “My Word.”