Comments on: [update] Bill O’Reilly Insults Helen Thomas After Just One Obama Presser

By: Thomas Muster

Thomas Muster — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:26:50 +0000

Thomas Muster…

UPDATE: 2/12/09:Here’s the video of Courtney Martin on O’Reilly’s show. He tells h [...]…

By: Jillmz

Jillmz — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:53:42 +0000

Thanks Kritt – I'm also about to post an update to this post re: O'Reilly is going to discuss this on his show tonight.

By: kritt11

kritt11 — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:46:26 +0000

Helen Thomas is a Washington institution like the Smithsonian— the press corps wouldn't be the same without her. Love her or hate her- she doesn't let anyone intimidate her!

Bush had her moved to the back of the room- so I'm glad Obama put her back out front.

By: Jillmz

Jillmz — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:24:02 +0000

DaGoat – I don't watch O'Reilly and from a personal perspective, I don't care. But to not condemn such behavior when I become aware of it and to ignore the millions whom he does reach is being an ostrich – and I promise, I'm no ostrich on this issue. Likewise, it really doesn't matter whether Thomas has “overstayed her welcome.” That doesn't mitigate O'Reilly's crude and inappropriate insults. Why are offering up excuses for something that's inexcusable?

By: Michael Merritt

Michael Merritt — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:10:41 +0000

YouTube going overboard on the audio muting again?

By: DaGoat

DaGoat — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:24:10 +0000

Why would you care what a blowhard like O'Reilly thinks and why would you bother to watch his show? As for Helen Thomas, I'm afraid she's overstayed her welcome like Strom Thurmond did.

By: Jillmz

Jillmz — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:49:37 +0000

LOL – well – where's your petition? I'll check it out, how about that? (I actually don't watch Olbermann or Colbert or Jon Stewart or well, just about anything lol – I am not a tv person at all)

By: casualobserver

casualobserver — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:04:01 +0000

what he says is just 100% gratuitous

Now you know how I feel whenever Keith Olbermann opens his mouth.

Save your outrage and let's call it even.

By: Jillmz

Jillmz — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:59:43 +0000

D.E. Rodriguez – thanks, I appreciate that. I agree – look, we call men who are like Helen curmedgeons (ok – I don't know how to spell it!) and for sure, Helen is a crusty kind of lady – but what on earth does that have to do with anything related to the questions she asked etc. So – I agree with you – O'Reilly just plays for time with name-calling rather than substantive discussion. Very very low, to pick on an almost 89 year old person who has broken more barriers than O'Reilly will ever face.

By: Jillmz

Jillmz — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:56:59 +0000

Brainster, I'm not speaking one way or the other about Helen – I think that's clear from my post. The point is, if you watch the O'Reilly clip, what he says is just 100% gratuitous – it has NO value what.so.ever. As a pretty conservative guy I know said to me tonight when I mentioned this to him, re: what O'Reilly said, the guy asked me, “Why?” as in, why did O'Reilly say that. And the answer is? For no reason at all.

That's just wrong and it's not entertaining – it's pretty despicable. Frankly, it goes to show how shallow O'Reilly's knowledge or ability to talk about anything really is if that's all he could muster for a minute or two. Seriously.

But thanks for reading and commenting. I do appreciate it. I've met Helen – I live-blogged a keynote she did last year at a conference being held at MIT (Women, Action and the Media) and you know, she's feisty still. She's to be respected, period. Questioned, sure – but called names, by someone like O'Reilly?

No way.

By: D. E.Rodriguez

D. E.Rodriguez — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:31:48 +0000

Good for you, Jill.

Have just been to the site and signed the petition.

Regardless of what Helen said, Bill O'Reilly was way out of line, but it is not surprising to hear such verbal degradation and personal insults from this man who calls himself a journalist.

By: Brainster

Brainster — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:05:21 +0000

Did you by any chance see the question? Even Obama was wincing as he called on her; he knew he was going to get some bit of nuttery, and Helen, as always, delivered, with her “so-called terrorists” editorializing.

I suspect over the next couple years, liberals–err, that is moderates–are going to get just as sick of Helen as the conservatives have.