On the October 23 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly teased his nightly “Talking Points Memo” segment by asserting, “Stunningly, some television news organizations ignored the Medal of Honor awarded to Lieutenant Michael Murphy” -- a Navy SEAL who was killed during a rescue mission in Afghanistan that is chronicled in the book Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 (Little, Brown and Co., June 2007) by Murphy's fellow SEAL, Marcus Luttrell -- and telling his audience: “We'll tell you who did and who did not cover this story.” During the segment, O'Reilly said that “apparently Lieutenant Murphy was not ready for prime time on our cable competition” and later claimed: “On their prime-time broadcast last night, CNN and MSNBC just said no to Lieutenant Michael Murphy and his proud family.” O'Reilly added, “The hard truth is that MSNBC and CNN are not going to report stories that reflect well on the American military because those people over there despise the Bush administration and believe anything positive like American heroes in war zones, detract from their negative assessment of the administration.” In fact, on October 22, while they did not cover the story during the 8-11 p.m. ET prime-time period, both MSNBC and CNN provided extensive coverage of the Medal of Honor ceremony: MSNBC reported on Murphy at least five times, including carrying the award ceremony live, and CNN covered the Murphy story on at least seven distinct occasions.

On the 2 p.m. ET segment of CNN Newsroom, anchor Don Lemon introduced a report on Murphy by CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr by asserting, “The ultimate sacrifice, the highest honor, a Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan, he makes history [as the first to receive the Medal of Honor from the war in Afghanistan],” a report that also aired on the 7 p.m. ET segment of The Situation Room. CNN also noted the award on the 6 a.m., 7 a.m., and 8 a.m. ET segments of American Morning, as well as the 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. ET segments of CNN Newsroom.

On the 11 a.m. edition of MSNBC Live, anchor Contessa Brewer questioned MSNBC military analyst Jack Jacobs, a retired Army colonel and himself a Medal of Honor recipient, about Murphy's award. The 2 p.m. edition of MSNBC Live aired live coverage of more than 11 minutes of the award ceremony, including the entirety of President Bush's speech, which ran more than seven minutes.

Murphy's award was also reported on the 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. ET editions of MSNBC Live.

O'Reilly suggested that the military has become “a casualty of a committed left ideology that is in play on our competition” and asserted, “I don't want to hear CNN or NBC News say they support the troops. I don't ever want to hear that.”

Later in the segment, O'Reilly went further and suggested that CNN and MSNBC ignored Murphy altogether, asserting, “CNN and NBC News can't get enough of negative war zone stories. They run them all day long. And really, how many heroes are there these days? And you ignore, ignore a Medal of Honor winner? Awful.”

From the October 23 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: Stunningly, some television news organizations ignored the Medal of Honor awarded to Lieutenant Michael Murphy. We'll tell you who did and who did not cover this story.

[...]

O'REILLY: Last night, our lead story on the Factor was the Medal of Honor awarded to Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy who was killed in Afghanistan trying to save his unit. Lieutenant Murphy's bravery is chronicled in the best-selling book, Lone Survivor, and it is truly an incredible saga.

Why, then, did CNN and MSNBC fail to report the Medal of Honor story in prime time last night? Easy question, disturbing answer. Katie Couric on CBS News gave Lieutenant Murphy more than three minutes; Charles Gibson on ABC News more than two minutes; Brian Williams didn't report the ceremony although he did cover the story last week.

But, apparently, Lieutenant Murphy was not ready for prime-time on our cable competition even though they had hours to get any mention of it on the air. The hard truth is that MSNBC and CNN are not going to report stories that reflect well on the American military because those people over there despise the Bush administration and believe anything positive like American heroes in war zones detract from their negative assessment of the administration.

Thus, the military becomes a casualty of a committed left ideology that is in play on our competition. There's no question about it. And it is ideology that's driving those people, not which stories are worthy or an effective business plan.

Here's the proof: Over the first three weeks of October, this month, the Fox News Channel has doubled CNN and tripled MSNBC in the ratings at 8 p.m. The Factor beats those two combined with about a million viewers to spare. Nobody wins that big in television.

So ignoring great stories like Lieutenant Murphy can't be based on news value or business. It is just stupid ideology.

Now, I don't want to hear CNN or NBC News say they support the troops. I don't ever want to hear that.

Lieutenant Murphy is the only person to receive the Medal of Honor for action in Afghanistan, a war zone that is directly dealing with Al Qaeda and their Taliban enablers.

Don't insult the American people by saying you are behind the troops when you ignore their heroism. CNN and NBC News can't get enough of negative war zone stories. They run them all day long. And really, how many heroes are there these days? And you ignore, ignore a Medal of Honor winner? Awful.

“Talking Points” has said this before. There is no accountability for the media in America -- no election, no oversights. Only you, the folks, can hold them responsible.

On their prime-time broadcast last night, CNN and MSNBC just said no to Lieutenant Michael Murphy and his proud family. There is no excuse.

From the 10 a.m. ET hour of the October 22 edition of MSNBC Live:

MIKA BRZEZINSKI (anchor): Well, nearly six years after the war in Afghanistan began, a soldier from that fight will receive the Medal of Honor for the first time. The parents of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy will receive the award from the president today. Lieutenant Murphy was killed in 2005 as his Navy SEAL team hunted for Al Qaeda in the Afghan mountains. He managed to call for help despite being wounded twice resulting in the rescue of one of his fellow SEALs.

From the 11 a.m. ET hour of the October 22 edition of MSNBC Live:

BREWER: In just a couple hours, President Bush will posthumously award the country's highest award, the Medal of Honor, to Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy. Murphy was killed in Afghanistan in June 2005, as his SEAL team hunted for Al Qaeda. He managed to call for help despite being wounded twice, which led to the safe rescue of one of his fellow SEALs. This is his picture. Let's talk to MSNBC military analyst, Colonel Jack Jacobs, also a Medal of Honor winner.

JACOBS: Recip- -- recipient --

BREWER: Colonel, nice to talk to you.

JACOBS: -- 'cause you didn't win it, they --

BREWER: Receive it.

JACOBS: -- and you represent all the people who did great things but didn't receive anything.

BREWER: Thank you for the correction. When you get it posthumously, is it still a comfort to the families? Do you think it's still going to relieve them of some of the pain?

JACOBS: I think it does, actually. You know, the large majority of Medals of Honor have been awarded posthumously in history, and so, this is the rule, not the exception. It's unusual to have a live recipient. I think it does alleviate a lot of the pain in the loss of a service member, because it demonstrates that he is representative of all those brave men and women who are still out there, and those who did things that were not recognized. It has a very good effect on the family.

BREWER: You mentioned the people who are also out there doing brave things and never receive this kind of recognition for their bravery. What does it take to get the attention of the people who decide --

JACOBS: Well, it's a very interesting question. Somebody once asked Bob Kerrey, who used to be a senator and a governor from Nebraska, who was also a Medal of Honor recipient -- he was also a SEAL when he lost his leg in Vietnam: What does it take to receive the Medal of Honor? He says, “Well, you've got to do something. People have to see it. They have to be able to write. And they can't hate you.” In other words, there are lots of people who do lots of things, and it doesn't get seen. Somebody sees it, and they themselves are killed. They don't write it up. There are lots of brave actions that take place all the time that don't get recognized, and we have to remember that --

BREWER: Thirty-five members --

JACOBS: -- in situations like this.

BREWER: Thirty-five members of the Taliban killed in this particular firefight. It seems like he accomplished a lot.

JACOBS: Yes, he did. He -- there was one other -- there was one lone SEAL who managed to survive, and it was because of Lieutenant Murphy. Lieutenant Murphy knew what the odds were, knew that they weren't good, and he exposed himself anyway to hostile -- a lot of hostile fire from more than 100 Taliban in order to communicate with the higher headquarters and eventually saved the life of one of his fellow SEALs.

BREWER: The fourth Navy SEAL to receive this award. The first since the Vietnam War.

JACOBS: Yes, and the only one in Afghanistan, too.

BREWER: Colonel, thank you for your time.

From the 1 p.m. ET hour of the October 22 edition of MSNBC Live:

TAMRON HALL (anchor): Well, just a short time from now, President Bush will award the first Medal of Honor for combat in Afghanistan to the parents of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy. He was killed in June 2005 as his SEAL team hunted for Al Qaeda members. He managed to call for help despite being wounded twice, which led to the safe rescue of one of his fellow SEALs.

From the 2 p.m. ET hour of the October 22 edition of MSNBC Live:

MONICA NOVOTNY (anchor): I want to take you now to Washington where President Bush is about to award the first Medal of Honor for combat in Afghanistan posthumously to the parents of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who was killed back in June 2005 as his SEAL team hunted for Al Qaeda. Let's listen to the President.

[...]

NOVOTNY: An extraordinary story of heroism as President Bush awards the first Medal of Honor for combat in Afghanistan posthumously to the parents of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy. An incredible honor for Lieutenant Murphy and for his family. You can see his mom taking a few moments to gather her emotions there. Quite a moment.

Over the next few months, MSNBC will be searching for heroes of another kind: unsung civilian heroes. The Above & Beyond Awards will be hosted by NBC's Brian Williams and will air on MSNBC next March and we're looking for you help in finding fellow citizens deserving of the nation's most prestigious civilian award. The awards will be presented by the living Medal of Honor recipients, so to nominate someone for our Above & Beyond Award, just log onto AboveandBeyond365.com.

From the 3 p.m. ET hour of the October 22 edition of MSNBC Live:

NORAH O'DONNELL (chief Washington correspondent): In other news, the first Medal of Honor for combat in Afghanistan was awarded to the family of a Navy SEAL just a short time ago. And here's part of the ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

BUSH [video clip]: Today, we add Lieutenant Michael Murphy's name to the list of recipients who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Deep in the mountains of Afghanistan, this brave officer gave his life in defense of his fellow Navy SEALs.

O'DONNELL: NBC's Jeannie Ohm is at the White House -- and Jeannie, of course, we're talking about Lieutenant Murphy in Afghanistan. And remind everybody about how heroic he was there.

OHM: Hi there, Norah. It was quite an emotional ceremony here at the White House. At one point, the president reached out to steady and comfort the mother of Michael Murphy. Now, his parents describe him as someone who was very focused and intense at a very young age. They say even as a child growing up on Long Island, he was always looking out for others and always knew right from wrong. Well, the president in his remarks this afternoon said that Murphy was born to be a Navy SEAL and now he becomes the first service member to be awarded the military's highest honor for combat in Afghanistan.

Now, on June 28th, in 2005, Murphy was leading a Navy SEALs team when he left his protective cover to make a phone call so that they could get backup. Now, unfortunately, the helicopter that was responding to that call crashed, killing all 16 on board. But Murphy and his team were able to engage enemy fighters for about a two-hour firefight and they were able to kill dozens of enemy fighters before Murphy himself was killed -- Norah.

O'DONNELL: Yeah, Jeannie, we're watching pictures of what you described when Lieutenant Murphy's mother just really broke down there and the president put his arm around her. I understand that they came to the White House with a gift for President Bush. What was it?

OHM: Norah, apparently there was a very touching moment before that public ceremony. In a private meeting, the parents gave the president a gold dog tag. Now, on one side, it had the date June 28th, 2005. On the other, there was actually a picture of Lieutenant Murphy. And they say the president immediately put on that gold dog tag, put it under his shirt and he wore it throughout the ceremony. And they say the president afterwards told them that it gave him comfort to have Michael close to his chest; it inspired him and it was something the parents were very grateful for that the president did.

O'DONNELL: All right, Jeannie Ohm. Thanks so much.

From the 7 p.m. ET segment of the October 22 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:

BLITZER: President Bush today presented the nation's highest combat award, the Medal of Honor, to the family of a Navy SEAL, Lieutenant Michael Murphy, two years after he was killed in a firefight in Afghanistan. The president said the medal is acknowledgment for a debt that can never be repaid. Once again, our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. Barbara?

STARR: Wolf, three Navy SEALs were killed on that mountain, as well as 16 other commandos who tried to rescue them. Their helicopter was shot down. It became the worst day ever for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.

[begin video clip]

STARR: June 2005, in the 10,000-foot mountain peaks of Afghanistan's Hindu Kush, Lieutenant Michael Murphy led his four-man Navy SEAL team on a mission they knew could turn deadly.

DAN MURPHY (Murphy's father): He was an incredible person. Honest, kind, caring, probably the antithesis of what you'd consider a warrior.

MAUREEN MURPHY (Murphy's mother): He was, like, very protective of other people, and he always stuck up for the underdog.

STARR: Dan and Maureen Murray and Michael's brother, John, now more than two years later, are receiving Michael's Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor and combat; 29-year-old Michael and two teammates would be killed.

LUTTRELL: He was my best friend, you know, he was a good man. He's, you know -- I mean, everybody loved him.

STARR: Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell was the only man on the team to make it out. The SEALs were searching for a wanted terrorist, but they were spotted. A massive firefight broke out. It was four SEALs against more than 40 insurgents. Michael kept the men together.

LUTTRELL: He was in a horrible position. He left himself open so he could move back and forth to each individual guy. We were hurting bad. We were -- we were out of ammo.

STARR: All four men were shot. Then Michael walked into the open to try to radio for help, exposing himself to enemy fire.

LUTTRELL: When I looked back up at Mikey, and he took two rounds to the back and sat back up, hung up the phone and finished the transmission -- hung up the phone and then he flanked left again, and that was the last time I saw him.

[end video clip]

STARR: Michael Murphy's parents say they always supported their son's desire to join the U.S. military, but Dan Murphy had his worries about his son. Dan was badly wounded on a mountain in Vietnam when he served in 1970. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right. Barbara, thank you. What a hero. Barbara Starr reporting. Let's go to Jack Cafferty in New York. You know, those stories of those heroes, this guy, Murphy in Afghanistan, you know, it's painful to have to hear that, but these are the guys who are doing the work out there, the heavy lifting.

JACK CAFFERTY (CNN correspondent): Yeah, and you just wonder what it's all for, don't you, sometimes, what exactly we're accomplishing over there, as these young people like that young man, their lives get cut short in the pursuit of what I'm not exactly sure.

From the 2 p.m. ET segment of the October 22 edition of CNN Newsroom:

LEMON: The ultimate sacrifice, the highest honor, a Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan, he makes history.

BUSH [video clip]: Today we add Lieutenant Michael Murphy's name to the list of recipients who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Deep in the mountains of Afghanistan this brave officer gave his life in defense of his fellow Navy SEALs. Two years later the story of his sacrifice humbles and inspires all who hear it.

By presenting Michael Murphy's family with the Medal of Honor that he earned, a grateful nation remembers the courage of this proud Navy SEAL.

LEMON: We're more than six years into the war in Afghanistan. A U.S. Navy SEAL who fought and died there receives a Medal of Honor. The presentation ceremony just wrapped up at the White House, and the Medal of Honor is America's highest combat award. Lieutenant Michael Murphy is the first G.I. from the Afghan war to receive it. He and two other SEALs were killed in an ambush in 2005, as were 16 troops sent to rescue them. CNN's Barbara Starr has their story.

[begin video clip]

STARR: June 2005, in the 10,000-foot mountain peaks of Afghanistan's Hindu Kush, Lieutenant Michael Murphy led his four-man Navy SEAL team on a mission they knew could turn deadly.

DAN MURPHY (Murphy's father): He was an incredible person. Honest, kind, caring, probably the antithesis of what you'd consider a warrior.

MAUREEN MURPHY (Murphy's mother): He was, like, very protective of other people, and he always stuck up for the underdog.

STARR: Dan and Maureen Murray and Michael's brother, John, now more than two years later, are receiving Michael's Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor and combat; 29-year-old Michael and two teammates would be killed.

LUTTRELL: He was my best friend, you know, he was a good man. He's, you know -- I mean, everybody loved him.

STARR: Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell was the only man on the team to make it out. The SEALs were searching for a wanted terrorist, but they were spotted. A massive firefight broke out. It was four SEALs against more than 40 insurgents. Michael kept the men together.

LUTTRELL: He was in a horrible position. He left himself open so he could move back and forth to each individual guy. We were hurting bad. We were -- we were out of ammo.

STARR: All four men were shot. Then Michael walked into the open to try to radio for help, exposing himself to enemy fire.

LUTTRELL: When I looked back up at Mikey, and he took two rounds to the back and sat back up, hung up the phone and finished the transmission -- hung up the phone and then he flanked left again, and that was the last time I saw him.

STARR: Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

[photo montage of Michael Murphy]

From the 12 p.m. ET segment of the October 22 edition of CNN Newsroom:

LEMON: Navy SEAL Michael P. Murphy was part of a unit tracking terrorists in the mountains of Afghanistan in June of 2005. The unit was ambushed and outnumbered nearly 10 to one. What he did next trying to save his fellow troops cost him his life. Later on in the CNN Newsroom, the president will present the Medal of Honor to his family.

Congratulations to him. Sorry it had to be such a sad note. And you'll hear a survivor's firsthand account of that as well.

From the 10 a.m. ET segment of the October 22 edition of CNN Newsroom:

HEIDI COLLINS (anchor): Welcome back, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. You are in the CNN Newsroom. Honoring a fallen warrior.

LUTTRELL [video clip]: He was in a horrible position. He left himself open so he could move back and forth to each individual guy. We were hurting bad. We were -- we were out of ammo.

COLLINS: A Navy SEAL. He laid his life on the line for his men and his country. And today the president honors Lieutenant Michael Murphy.

From the 8 a.m. ET segment of the October 22 edition of CNN's American Morning:

KIRAN CHETRY (co-host): Also new this morning, the nation's highest honor for a man who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. President Bush today will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy. The Navy SEAL gave himself up to try to save his four-man team during a fierce firefight with the Taliban back in 2005. Only one of them made it out alive.

LUTTRELL: He was in a horrible position. He left himself open so he could move back and forth to each individual guy. We were hurting bad. We were -- we were out of ammo. When I looked back up at Mikey, and he took two rounds to the back and sat back up, hung up the phone and finished the transmission -- hung up the phone and then he flanked left again, and that was the last time I saw him.

CHETRY: The Long Island native's family will be accepting that medal from the commander in chief, 2:15 in the White House Rose Garden. CNN will have that live.

From the 7 a.m. ET segment of the October 22 edition of CNN's American Morning:

CHETRY: President Bush awards the Medal of Honor today to Lieutenant Michael Murphy, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Afghanistan. Murphy sacrificed his life trying to save his four-man team during a fierce firefight with the Taliban back in 2005.

From the 6 a.m. ET segment of the October 22 edition of CNN's American Morning:

JOHN ROBERTS (co-host): New this morning, the nation's highest honor for a man who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. President Bush today will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy. The Navy SEAL gave himself up to try and save his four-man team during a fierce firefight with the Taliban back in 2005. Only one of that team made it out alive. The Long Island native's family will accept the medal from the commander in chief at 2:15 in the White House Rose Garden. CNN will have it live. Murphy's story is told in a recent book by that surviving SEAL team member, Marcus Luttrell, the book titled Lone Survivor.