O'Reilly “runner-up” in “Worst Person” for failing to acknowledge error about the Constitution in his book

Written by Andrew Ironside

Published

Bill O'Reilly received “runner-up” in Keith Olbermann's nightly “Worst Person in the World” segment for not acknowledging that he falsely suggested in his book Kids Are Americans, Too that the phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is from the U.S. Constitution.

During the January 4 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, host Keith Olbermann awarded Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly “runner-up” in his nightly “Worst Person in the World” segment for, as Media Matters for America documented, not acknowledging that he falsely suggested in his book Kids Are Americans, Too that the phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is from the U.S. Constitution. Olbermann stated: “In his book, Kids Are Americans, Too, Bill O. opined, quote, 'For openers, the Constitution guarantees all of us, in a famous phrase, ”life liberty and the pursuit of happiness." ' " Olbermann continued:

OLBERMANN: For openers, that famous phrase is in the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. Bill O. was called on this fabulous error by a kid. He had the nerve to read the letter on the air and turn it into a plug. And when the girl named Courtney Young asked, “Isn't that from the Declaration of Independence?” He replied, “Another excellent question, Courtney. The reason the Constitution was forged was to assure new American citizens the right to free life and access to pursue happiness in his or her own way. The Declaration was the statement. The Constitution, the instrument.”

Olbermann responded: “No. No, bonehead. The Declaration was the thing that had 'life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness' in it. The Constitution was the thing that didn't. Just say 'oops' and get out.”

From the January 4 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:

OLBERMANN: The runner-up, Bill O. We know he doesn't know the difference between a falafel and a loofah or between World War II Nazi war criminals and their American victims. But he doesn't know the difference between the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence? In his book, Kids Are Americans, Too, Bill O. opined, quote, “For openers, the Constitution guarantees all of us, in a famous phrase, 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' ” For openers, that famous phrase is in the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. Bill O. was called on this fabulous error by a kid. He had the nerve to read the letter on the air and turn it into a plug. And when the girl named Courtney Young asked, “Isn't that from the Declaration of Independence?” He replied, “Another excellent question, Courtney. The reason the Constitution was forged was to assure new American citizens the right to free life and access to pursue happiness in his or her own way. The Declaration was the statement. The Constitution, the instrument.” No. No, bonehead. The Declaration was the thing that had “life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in it. The Constitution was the thing that didn't. Just say “oops” and get out.