Fox News host Bill O'Reilly, in his "Talking Points Memo," lumped together as “extremists” those “who think that documentary Outfoxed tells the truth" about Fox News with those who “admire the philosophy of the Third Reich.” O'Reilly defined an extremist as a “someone who rejects facts and holds on to opinions no matter what,” which he said was a “neurosis,” and then provided a “short list of indicators.” Those who believe that Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism “tells the truth about this [Fox News] network” took their place alongside those who “agree with Reverends [Jerry] Falwell and [Pat] Robertson that gays and abortionists caused God to allow 9-11”; those who “agree that Allah is OK with slaughtering civilians”; and those who “admire the philosophy of the Third Reich.”
Media Matters has previously documented the false claims O'Reilly used to defend his network against charges made in Outfoxed. The producers of Outfoxed responded to O'Reilly's claims with this video.
From the August 24 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:
O'REILLY: Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly. Thanks for watching us tonight. Are you an extremist? That is the subject of this evening's “Talking Points Memo.”
The loony left is furious that we have outed Cindy Sheehan as a radical, diminishing her credibility. Ms. Sheehan's latest is calling foreign terrorists who infiltrate into Iraq freedom fighters. Very nice. And the loopy right is mad because I said Jesus might not be down with Reverend Pat Robertson putting out a contract on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
There are no shortage of extremists here in the land of the free. However, there's a problem with labeling someone an extremist. And that is they may be rational in most areas, but off the wall in a few.
But I think we can safely establish some rules for the road here. An extremist is someone who rejects facts and holds on to opinions no matter what. Millions of Americans wanted Richard Nixon to stay in office despite overwhelming evidence he covered up a felony. That was an extreme position.
Millions of others thought it was perfectly fine for President Clinton to lie under oath in the Paula Jones deposition. Another extreme position.
Extremists aren't born. They evolve. Baby Brandon doesn't pop out of the womb, demanding to watch The 700 Club or Fahrenheit 9/11.
In my opinion, extremists have a neurosis. They really don't want to hear anything other than the conclusion they've arrived at, no matter what the evidence suggests.
So are you an extremist? “Talking Points” has devised a short list of indicators.
If you think Michael Moore reports accurately, you're an extremist.
If you think that documentary Outfoxed tells the truth about this network, you're in the extreme zone.
If you agree with Reverends Falwell and Robertson that gays and abortionists caused God to allow 9-11, you're an extremist.
If you still think Terri Schiavo is aware of her surroundings, this extreme is for you.
If you believe an open border is good for the USA, you have entered extreme territory.
If you feel foreign terrorists have constitutional rights, and convicted child sex offenders should not serve long prison terms, say hello to the extremist label.
If you agree that Allah is OK with slaughtering civilians, you're extreme.
If you admire the philosophy of the Third Reich, you're there.
And if you agree with everything President Bush has done, you're an extremist. And if you think everything he's done has been wrong, put a big “E” on your forehead as well.
And finally, if you applaud when Barbra Streisand talks geopolitics or when a right-wing talk show host urges a nuclear strike on Iran, welcome to the wonderful world of extremism. And that's the Memo.