O'Reilly: Black Folks Can Be Just Like White Folks. Amazing!

[3113]

Having had little interaction with black folk, I, myself, had no idea that African-Americans could dress nicely, even wear tuxedos Just like white folks! Amazing.

Bill O'Reilly ventures into another culture

Ever walked into a Middle Eastern restaurant fearing being drafted into some sort of jihad? Gone out for dim sum and dreaded being challenged to an algebraic throwdown by a master mathlete? No? Then you couldn't possibly relate to Bill O'Reilly.

Last week, while regaling listeners of his radio show with a generally inane story of dining with the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Fox News personality started talking about how normal black people seemed...."They're just trying to figure it out: 'Look, I can make it. If I work hard and get educated, I can make it.' " Just starting to figure it out? Holy crap. Then again, O'Reilly has a spotty track record when it comes to understanding race relations. Last year, while discussing why few New Orleans locals had been hired by contractors rebuilding their city after Hurricane Katrina, O'Reilly reasoned that the "homies, you know ... I mean, they're just not going to get the job." This shouldn't be surprising given that in 2005, as the city was drowning, O'Reilly charged that those who didn't leave the city were "thugs" and were "drug-addicted" and simply chose to stay in order to avoid getting "turned off from their source." But while eating coconut shrimp and meatloaf with Sharpton at Sylvia's, a restaurant in Harlem (which his on-air guest, NPR senior correspondent Juan Williams joked must've been like "going on a foreign venture" for O'Reilly), something clicked and O'Reilly figured that people in his grandmother's generation were wrong to fear black people. You don't say.

"I had a great time, and all the people up there are tremendously respectful. ... And I couldn't get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia's restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it's run by blacks, primarily black patronship. It was the same, and that's really what this society's all about now here in the U.S.A. There's no difference...."

"I went to the concert by Anita Baker at Radio City Music Hall ... and the blacks were well-dressed," O'Reilly said. "The band was excellent, but they were dressed in tuxedoes, and this is what white America doesn't know, particularly people who don't have a lot of interaction with black Americans." Then he went back to Sylvia's, where he said, "There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M-Fer, I want more iced tea.' ... It was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense of people were sitting there, and they were ordering and having fun. And there wasn't any kind of craziness at all." By saying he's surprised, ("couldn't get over" the fact) that black people were dressing well and behaving properly, O'Reilly is saying is that good breeding and manners are to be expected only from white people.

Why would anyone perceive his comments as racially insensitive, or, at the least, condescending or shockingly naïve? Don't ask Bill. He cried foul on how CNN reported the exchange. His quotes were taken out of context, he cries. And Williams, who is always a class act, defended O'Reilly because, he reasons, it's hard for a guy like Bill O'Reilly to talk about the touchy subject of race without riling people up. I don't think it's the subject that's the problem. The trouble lies in the fact that he repeatedly holds up white culture as the high watermark of civility and normalcy to which other races should aspire.

I dunno. I myself, would be quite disappointed if the black restaurant I was patronizing didn't have customers yelling, "Motherfucker, I want more iced tea!" I mean, what's America coming to if the customers at a black restaurant are as well behaved as white suburbanites at the local pizzeria? Where's my local color, Motherfucker?

 

[cloudy]

good lord. People are amazing, aren't they?

 

[S-Des]

This story is several days late. The two quotes (which happened in seperate conversations, minutes apart) were placed together by media members not overly friendly to O'Reilly. The point he was trying (rather clumsily) to make is that many white people (he cited his grandmother as a specific case) were afraid of blacks because they didn't know them, except for how they were portrayed in the media. A place like Sylvia's (one of the best soul-food restaraunts in Harlem) isn't frequented by a numberr of whites because they're concerned they wouldn't be welcome or would feel uncomfortable with the "atmosphere". Anyone who's gone into any ethnic restaraunt has seen that the environment is usually tailored to that specific culture. His comments about Sylvia's were about how mainstream it was, with no specific cultural bias, either in the attitude of the patrons, or in the menu.

The Anita Baker thing started with Ms. Baker explaining that in her concert, there would be no swearing, or un-family friendly content. The band was dressed in tuxedos and the audience was all races and ages. His point again, was that people avoiding a "black" concert because they expected it to be some unusual experience, were missing out on something wonderful. It wasn't the first time he had attended such an event, so indeed there was no actual "surprise" from him.

What's really interesting about your post, 3113, is that CNN had a guest on who twice called Juan Williams a "happy negro", and was not challenged by the host. So O'Reilly isn't allowed to try to show how blind some white people are by not sharing in the rich culture of African Americans, because it makes him racist, but someone calling a black man a "happy negro" is perfectly OK because he's got the wrong opinion?

BTW, both Sharpton & Jesse Jackson appeared on his show and agreed that his remarks were not due to any racist views on his part (although Jackson in particular wasn't thrilled with the way he tried to make his point).

 

[Le Jacquelope]

You know, I had him pegged as a racist a few days ago.

I'll be glad to leave this issue in the "jury's out" mode for now.

O'Reilly has done plenty of horrible stupid things - some of which he's being sued for - that this incident would only be a face in a huge crowd.

 

[Guest]

I want more coffee.

Motherfucker.

 

[Papa-Joe]

Oh wow somebody figured it out

 

[3113]

What's really interesting about your post, 3113, is that CNN had a guest on who twice called Juan Williams a "happy negro", and was not challenged by the host. So O'Reilly isn't allowed to try to show how blind some white people are by not sharing in the rich culture of African Americans, because it makes him racist, but someone calling a black man a "happy negro" is perfectly OK because he's got the wrong opinion?

Tsk, tsk, S-Des. Two wrongs don't make a right and your point is irrelevant as my post was entirely on what O'Reilly said, not anyone else. If you'd like to discuss this nasty guest who called William a "happy negro" by all means, do so. I'd be happy to agree that this person should be chastised as brutally as O'Reilly was. And if CNN didn't chastise him for this comment, I'll be happy to wag my finger at them and say, "naughty CNN!"

But you're missing the larger and more important point here which, ironically enough, is exactly the one you're bringing up, riding to O'Reilly's defence: O'Reilly is complaining about how he was taken out of context http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/thirteen1031/sad32.gif,and I'll grant he was, and now you're saying, "CNN's being hypocritical! Poor O'Reilly!" And that, in the end, is my REAL point. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. If the man hadn't done the same to others, time and again, cutting them off, taking them out of context all for the purpose of sticking it to them, defending those he liked who made an error while coming down like a ton of bricks on those he didn't like who made the same error, other people might not be so gleefully reaming and screwing him, smashing down on him and taking him out of context at this moment.

If you want people to treat you fairly, to not take you out of context, you should offer them the same courtesy. I blame people like O'Reilly, (Fox News as a whole) for transforming CNN and other News shows into ones who go for the "sensational" out-of-context reporting and bias treatment of guests and information. HE is directly responsible for the transformation of modern news into this sort of fiasco. So you'll forgive me if I shed no tears for poor O'Reilly being so unfairly treated. To me he's like the bully on the playground who just got his lunch money stolen and is wondering why no one cares. Was it wrong for someone to steal his lunch money? Yes. Two wrongs don't make a right. But it's pretty absurd for him to suddenly cry foul when someone uses his methods to do to him what he's done to so many others. And it's especially ridiculous when he's been part of a gang that's made it seem like the only way to have lunch money is to steal it.

And out of context or not, he really fucked up in what he said and how he said it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

3113

The only people that give a flip about this stuff is weirdo-whites.

My daughter is married to a black guy. She often calls him a 'gaddamned nigger.' It doesnt seem to bother him too much. When she goes to his family reunions and someone sez "You look familar,' she's pretty quick to point out "Thats because I'm the only white person here!"

I wish white's would get over their racism and their phoney caring about it.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

The problem with O'Reiley and his racism is even deeper and more insidious than it appears. Who was his guest on his show a couple days after his racist remarks? And what did they talk about?

Gee. Jessie Jackson, can you believe? And together they sat there and bitched about how much worse every comment they could find was than what Bill O said.

What tiny bit of respect I had for Jessie Jackson is now in the shitter along with Bill O.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JENNY JACKSON

Here's the deal. No one in America gives a shit about racism anymore. They feel about it like they feel about....oh!...virginity. All of THAT mattered in 1955. It is now 2007 and the Poverty Pimps need a new act.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

JENNY JACKSON

Here's the deal. No one in America gives a shit about racism anymore. They feel about it like they feel about....oh!...virginity. All of THAT mattered in 1955. It is now 2007 and the Poverty Pimps need a new act.

Really? I'm sure Imus would disagree, James.

 

[Darkniciad]

And out of context or not, he really fucked up in what he said and how he said it.

Speaking of which, John Edwards' recent foray into political suicide.

What do we do to stop inner city violence?

"We cannot build enough prisons to solve this problem. And the idea that we can keep incarcerating and keep incarcerating - pretty soon we're not going to have a young African-American male population in America. They're all going to be in prison or dead. One of the two."

Quoth the raven: What the hell?!

 

[S-Des]

If you want people to treat you fairly, to not take you out of context, you should offer them the same courtesy. I blame people like O'Reilly, (Fox News as a whole) for transforming CNN and other News shows into ones who go for the "sensational" out-of-context reporting and bias treatment of guests and information. HE is directly responsible for the transformation of modern news into this sort of fiasco. So you'll forgive me if I shed no tears for poor O'Reilly being so unfairly treated. To me he's like the bully on the playground who just got his lunch money stolen and is wondering why no one cares. Was it wrong for someone to steal his lunch money? Yes. Two wrongs don't make a right. But it's pretty absurd for him to suddenly cry foul when someone uses his methods to do to him what he's done to so many others. And it's especially ridiculous when he's been part of a gang that's made it seem like the only way to have lunch money is to steal it.

And out of context or not, he really fucked up in what he said and how he said it.

Agreed. O'Reilly is a bully and has made a very good living out of telling his side of the news. I don't know if I'd say it's his fault that other agencies do it as well, Crossfire was two opposing sides screaming slanted opinions at each other long before I ever heard of Papa Bear. I also agree that we shouldn't shed crocodile tears for him in his hour of misery. But you printed the original quote without enough commentary for me to get context, so if your point was that he's getting his just desserts, I missed it. My point was just that I listened to the whole quote, listened to his show the next day to hear his explanation, then listened to the Sharpton and Jackson interviews, before I made up my mind (and his defense of his quote was entirely reasoned).

I've listened to talk radio most of my life (driving jobs since I was a kid), everything from news, to sports, to comedy. When those people talk for 3 - 4 hours a day, they tend to express something poorly on a regular basis. His quotes here were nothing more than that, but as you said, "Live by the sword . . . ." I will say that it's sad that he got in trouble (well, truth be told he probably is more listened to now than ever) for trying to say something positive in the hope of helping race relations. Listening to him, he seems sincerely interested in finding a way to improve it (abeit from his personal perspective of what's right and wrong).

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Yes. Two wrongs don't make a right. But it's pretty absurd for him to suddenly cry foul when someone uses his methods to do to him what he's done to so many others. And it's especially ridiculous when he's been part of a gang that's made it seem like the only way to have lunch money is to steal it.

OMFG, I know some people who desperately need to hear this from you.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

Was it wrong for someone to steal his lunch money? Yes. Two wrongs don't make a right. But it's pretty absurd for him to suddenly cry foul when someone uses his methods to do to him what he's done to so many others. And it's especially ridiculous when he's been part of a gang that's made it seem like the only way to have lunch money is to steal it.

OMFG, I know some people who desperately need to hear this from you.

Funny as hell, especially coming from someone who vehemently advocates two wrongs making a right. At least when it's being used to defend his own actions. But I digress..

I think you misunderstood the point 3113 was making there. O'Reilly can't cry foul when his own tactics are used against him, but the person responding to him in kind is just as wrong as he is. 3113 can correct me if I have misunderstood her point, but I don't think I have.

Neither has the "high ground" to lambaste the other, two wrongs don't make a right. Those that respond to O'Reilly using his own tactics are no better, nor are they any worse than he is.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Funny as hell, especially coming from someone who vehemently advocates two wrongs making a right. At least when it's being used to defend his own actions. But I digress..

I think you misunderstood the point 3113 was making there. O'Reilly can't cry foul when his own tactics are used against him, but the person responding to him in kind is just as wrong as he is. 3113 can correct me if I have misunderstood her point, but I don't think I have.

Neither has the "high ground" to lambaste the other, two wrongs don't make a right. Those that respond to O'Reilly using his own tactics are no better, nor are they any worse than he is.

As usual, you missed the point again. The part in bold. That part in bold accurately condemns you and a lot of your friends on the GB.

 

[mellowyellows]

Glad you figured out

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

JENNY JACKSON

Here's the deal. No one in America gives a shit about racism anymore. They feel about it like they feel about....oh!...virginity. All of THAT mattered in 1955. It is now 2007 and the Poverty Pimps need a new act.

I live in Mississippi. I /strongly/ disagree. Like, wow... fuck all totally disagree.

Its an undercurrent of so many things here. Its not blatant (most of the time), but there's a concern--constantly--about racism in education, in employment, in benefits, in zoning.

 

[S-Des]

I live in Mississippi. I /strongly/ disagree. Like, wow... fuck all totally disagree.

Its an undercurrent of so many things here. Its not blatant (most of the time), but there's a concern--constantly--about racism in education, in employment, in benefits, in zoning.

But like so many things in America, it's verboten to talk about. If you're on the Right and do so, you're being judgemental or intolerant. If you're on the Left, you're treated like a whiner (or someone begging for the government to run people's lives). This situation is a perfect example of how things are not going to get better. Each side claims the moral highground and attacks whoever disagrees. Nothing changes, people suffer, all the pontificators get to beat their chest and proclaim their brilliance and virtue. Welcome to the US.

 

[Seattle Zack]

The problem with O'Reiley [sic] and his racism is even deeper and more insidious than it appears.

Hmm. Not sure where to go with this one. So. let's see, Bill-O's knee-jerk racism somehow has a deeper ramification. JJ will explore it for us, surely?

Who was his guest on his show a couple days after his racist remarks? And what did they talk about?

Gee. Jessie Jackson, can you believe? [sic]

So, Bill-O was somehow "more" insidiously racist because he had Reverend Jackson on the show? This seems to be a really disjointed argument with no point. Oh, sorry, you weren't done ...

And together they sat there and bitched about how much worse every comment they could find was than what Bill O said.

"They could find was than what"? I'm not even sure what that means. I hate to see gerunds strangled so abruptly. Can I buy a noun?

 

[Guest]

. . .

"They could find was than what"? I'm not even sure what that means. Can I buy a vowel?

Sure.

O is my favorite.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

As usual, you missed the point again. The part in bold. That part in bold accurately condemns you and a lot of your friends on the GB.

Still with the blanket accusations against me without even a shred of anything to back it up. You can't point to a single time I've either condoned such behavior or used it myself. You point to the actions of a handful of others and make blanket indictments against everyone who disagrees with your position, myself included. You just keep flinging shit, hoping that some of it sticks. I think the Pit Bull analogy Black Shanglan used fits you perfectly. You tried to paint the noble steed with the same brush you slop over anyone that disagrees with you on this subject. http://forum.literotica.com/showpost.php?p=24314357&postcount=152

I'll wait for 3113 to clarify her statement re: "two wrongs making a right" rather than rely on your interpretation of what she said. Given your history of embellishment, cherry-picking, and denial of reality when it suits you. Your use of the partial quote to back your view is typical of your tactics. I'm sure she'll be happy to know that her words are being taken out of context and are being used to defend your "fight fire with fire" mantra.

While it is true that the statement you bolded does condemn O'Reilly's reaction to his own tactics being used against him you conveniently ignore the other condemnation in the post 3113 made, the one that indicts the person "fighting fire with fire" right along with him. Which has been my position all along and the real point of contention between us. Because you see the person responding in kind as righteous and justified and I see them as just as bad as the instigating party for stooping to the same level and rolling around in the muck with them.

 

[DeeZire]

Bill O is a buffoon. Trying to analyze the actions of a buffoon is an exercise in futility. One might have more success trying to analyze the actions of a two-year-old with diaper rash.

 

[cantdog]

He's a very well-paid buffoon, with a very tall soapbox. I say, every time he has egg on his face, it's a service to all to paint it bright yellow and point it out.