On the October 22 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, during the “Pinheads and Patriots” segment of the show, host Bill O'Reilly said Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards “may be in the political center if we're all living in Cuba,” and falsely claimed that “abolition of all anti-terror measures” is one of Edwards's “major campaign themes.” O'Reilly's comments came after he aired a clip of Edwards' appearance on the October 19 edition of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, during which Edwards said: “That's the best endorsement a Democrat can get is to have Bill O'Reilly be against you.” But in claiming that Edwards is for the “abolition of all anti-terror measures,” O'Reilly ignored Edwards' September 7 speech at Pace University titled "A New Strategy Against Terrorism." In that speech, Edwards called for “a comprehensive new counterterrorism policy that will be defined by two principles -- strength and cooperation” and suggested the creation of “a new multilateral organization called the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Treaty Organization (CITO).” According to Edwards, CITO member nations would “voluntarily share financial, police, customs, and immigration intelligence. Together, nations will be able to track the way terrorists travel, communicate, recruit, train, and finance their operations. And they will be able to take action, through international teams of intelligence and national security professionals who will launch targeted missions to root out and shut down terrorist cells.”

From the September 7 speech:

EDWARDS: It's the right time for a bold new direction.

As president, I will launch a comprehensive new counterterrorism policy that will be defined by two principles -- strength and cooperation.

The centerpiece of this policy will be a new multilateral organization called the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Treaty Organization (CITO).

Every nation has an interest in shutting down terrorism. CITO will create connections between a wide range of nations on terrorism and intelligence, including countries on all continents, including Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. New connections between previously separate nations will be forged, creating new possibilities.

CITO will allow members to voluntarily share financial, police, customs, and immigration intelligence. Together, nations will be able to track the way terrorists travel, communicate, recruit, train, and finance their operations. And they will be able to take action, through international teams of intelligence and national security professionals who will launch targeted missions to root out and shut down terrorist cells.

The new organization will also create a historic new coalition. Those nations who join will, by working together, show the world the power of cooperation. Those nations who join will also be required to commit to tough criteria about the steps they will take to root out extremists, particularly those who cross borders. Those nations who refuse to join will be called out before the world.

It's important to note that CITO is not a panacea, nor will it be perfect. But it would represent the first step in a new direction. As President John F. Kennedy observed when he signed the treaty that first limited the testing of nuclear weapons, we must begin with the common recognition of a common danger. President Kennedy said then, “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” Today, this new anti-terrorism organization would be such a first step.

Organizations are only as strong as the people who help make them run, and so we must also improve the quality of our human intelligence -- agents better able to understand local culture and make local connections in countries with active terrorist cells. As president, I will lead efforts to improve human intelligence through 1,000 new annual scholarships to improve language skills for students who pursue careers in intelligence and diplomacy.

A terrorist should not be able to escape detection in Europe or the Middle East if a foreign agency could have caught him with the help of American technology and advice. Within six months of taking office, I will direct the secretary of State, working with the attorney general and other national security officials, to launch comprehensive strategies to support agencies in other countries.

From the October 22 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: On the pinhead front, our pal Bill Maher actually told John Edwards that I believe Edwards doesn't have a chance for the presidency.

[begin video clip]

EDWARDS: That's the best endorsement a Democrat can get is to have Bill O'Reilly be against you.

MAHER: Why does he think you're so left-wing?

EDWARDS: I have no idea. Maybe he thinks I'm actually saying something. You know, somehow, if we don't say something, we're not -- we're in the center. But if you actually say something, they put you in the left wing.

[end video clip]

O'REILLY: No idea what he said. Edwards may be in the political center if we're all living in Cuba. But with income redistribution and abolition of all anti-terror measures as his major campaign themes, he is not only far left, he's a pinhead.