Bill O'Reilly Says He's Being Smeared

Out of curiosity, who did he smear?

I can see why liberals would not like O'Reilly. He doesn't reflect hardly any of the views shared by liberals and so of course they wouldn't like him. I have only watched bits of his show if I happen to be flipping channels and they have some interesting topic on, but from what I have seen O'Reilly seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

I think your opinions might be biased.

Out of curiosity, who did he smear?

You've never actually seen this show, have you?

Again. What hate for Muslims? What hate for African Americans? Because he is willing to talk about something that is real. How dare a white man talk about African Americans!??!? Give me a break. Stop speaking out of your @!$%#s people and repeating the same old crap that you heard someone say that someone else heard someone say. Is this high school??

Also, most people are sheep, and sheep listen to and go with the media which is mostly liberal so that is why 'most' people hate him. Not that you are in any position to speak for 'most' people.

Also, how about this. BLACKS! Ewwwwwww.. That's not a bad word! I am lazy and African American is too much to write out when you can substitute it with 'black'. I am not the actual color white and that doesn't insult me to call me white. Can some black person reading this tell me if being called a black man is an insult to you?

My verdict is still out on O'Reilly but why does everyone else have such strong opinions about a person whos show you likely never saw and if you did see it you apparently didn't like what you heard but that is no reason to call him a racist!

I'm sick of this crap. if you don't have specifics to add in then by all means share your opinions but stop speaking for people around you and helping to spread false claims. I am open to hearing differing views than mine but come on already!

I think he is using "smearing" to combat "smearing" actually. I believe that if he had made remarks that showed him as having racists views that he would have been apologetic about it. Just doesn't seem to be the case.

Bull. That's my thread, and the general consensus is that he was being intentionally racist, he just spoke out of ignorance.

This thread?
All I see there is oozing hatred of O'Reilly.

I see people talking about what he said, and debating whether he's a racist or just ignorant. I also see people discussing the difference between racism and white normative behavior.

Thankfully, I don't see anything oozing.

I agree Dennis. He may have been trying to have a positive conversation about race relations based on his experience at this particular restaurant but let's face it, his comments were typical of a passive racist.

"I just 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."

Why couldn't he get over it? Did it surprise him that a Black owned and frequented restaurant was "normal" according to the "white" standard? Angel C made a very salient point:

What whites often don't realize is that it is racist to be surprised that blacks are civilized--assuming that they are somehow "different" from us. Racism is a view of separateness.

I don't have a problem with people discussing race issues per se but they should be very aware that it is a sensitive subject and that they have to do so with tact and a social consciousness that many people simply do not have. Perhaps if O'Reilly had thought about the implications of his statement there wouldn't have been any fall-out.

It appears to me that he actually did think about the implications, and that he thought he was doing a good thing - fighting racism. He appears to be truly ignorant of the fact that his comments were racist.

What a @!$%#ing moron.

when Bill suddenly stops making the kinds of underhanded racist remarks

What a frickn' moron.

damn that guy needs a punch in the face lol.

Bill's photo would suppress appetite/thirst

What about a can of iced tea up the arse instead, Rukh? Motherf!cker brand Iced Tea, of course. Now with extra added billsh!te !

No, but his bedsheet an' cross were in th' car outside, just in case.

Amidst all that are two or three actual discussive posts, but the vast majority is simply hatred.
If you don't see that, you may want to reexamine what behavior you have normalized for yourself.

I didn't see the comment about the punch in the face. That is over the line.

The rest, though? If you put them back in context, you'll see that people are just joking.

It's racists to be surprised? No Angel. If anything it would show enlightenment on the part of someone who is otherwise ignorant. Racism is the act of prejudice based on a persons race by assuming negative traits have something to do with race/color. A person not knowing that skin color is not what defines an individuals character is better to be called ignorance though because at least you give the person room to explore and build new opinions. Without policies or actions based on that ignorance it can hardly be called racism.

Either way, I could risk myself being viewed as having ignorant views by pointing out my personal experience that is the restaurants near where I grew up were shabby rat holes that probably had real rat holes and were owned and operated by blacks. Not that I had a problem eating there growing up but it was not what you would expect to pay $20 per person or more for a meal. Other restaurants in the area that were run by whites were not priced so different but offered a much better environment as far as cleanliness and service went so it could almost seem like there is a huge difference in restaurants run by whites. If you go from there to a big city where there are stricter regulations being enforced and the cost of starting a restaurant is greater as well as the competition factor then it really shouldn't be a surprise that a black owned restaurant is going to offer italian food, nice decor and a pleasant atmosphere. It probably has a lot to do with the customers and their expectations though and less to do with the race of the owners.

You would never find an experience like this little BBQ place my dad took me to in New York. This BBQ joint in Florida was clean and the food was outrageously good but you want into the place and it's not a restaurant. It's a house. There are some unmatching chairs and unique decor that is more suitable for the average living room than a restaurant. If you are from a big city and somehow find this place then it would be easy to see how one would disapprove or feel awkward standing in some black guys living room waiting for your meal to be done. All is forgotten once you try the food but the fact remains that it is not typical of how a white guy would set up shop.

Although, I have been in some road side restaurants to get some craw fish and other Louisiana delicasies that were run by whites and could better be compared to the BBQ place and make McDonalds look upscale. Same thing goes for the food though, them country boys, regardless of race, make the best @!$%#ing food hands down.

Opinions can only be formed by what you are told or by what you see and experience for yourself. I am not racist because I have met enough people who I would call friends that shatter stereotypes but it is not hard to see how negative images can be formed around their race by people who live more sheltered lives. If you would choose to approach those people with hate over their ignorance I would say it's the anti-racism campaign that is itself an attack of hatred and not the person who's only crime is lack of enlightenment.

it really shouldn't be a surprise that a black owned restaurant is going to offer italian food, nice decor and a pleasant atmosphere. It probably has a lot to do with the customers and their expectations though and less to do with the race of the owners.

The surprise shows the racism. He didn't expect a black restaurant to be as nice as a white restaurant. And while I agree that restaurants differ in rural and urban settings, I don't think it's a function of blacks vs whites -- as you said, it's more a function of the setting.

A number of years back, I asked a black friend to introduce me to some of his black friends because I wanted to have more black friends. He laughed at me and told me I was showing my racism. I can see it now--I wasn't just looking for more friends, but specifically black ones, because I was curious as to their experience. And that is racist--having a certain expectation of someone because of the color of their skin. It's racist to expect a Hispanic American to understand all the ins and outs of immigration. It's racist to expect an Asian American to make better grades than you. If you are white and think you don't have any racist thoughts, you owe it to yourself to read up some more on race and racism.

Perhaps he didn't expect a restaurant in Harlem to be up to par with the eateries he likely frequents in mid-town.

Angel, lets not forget that there are truths to stereotypes. Chinese people DO tend to be more logic driven and of course I have met some HUGE IDIOTIC Chinese, I have been surprised by things like my buddy beating 3D Tic Tac Toe with his second game which is amazing to me because another buddy who is just a friggin genius can't seem to beat the computer. Was it luck? who knows.

But it's sometimes not so much truth in stereotypes as much as it's perception of truth. In my neighborhood the restaurant I spoke of earlier was a prime example of a black restaurant in disarray. And the customers who were mostly black wouldn't have a complaint about the mess so customer expectations were low and motivation to fix the place up equally low. I personally would have too much pride to have a business with that kind of mess so in contrast to my way of doing things and my experience of black restaurants being less than I would want it would be easy to imagine my own surprise to see that image shattered. Of course I am old enough and experienced enough to know that individuals are always capable of being more (and less) than stereotypical expectations would allow. I can't see how that would make me a racist simply by having a realization that a stereotype is false.

That said you are reacting to a small piece of a show you didn't watch and with your mind set the way it is even if you were to watch it you would be watching with this thing in the back of your head saying "Lets prove that he IS racist" and would probably be able to find other things said that could be viewed as further proof of racism.

Also, while we are on this subject. I'd just like to point out it is racist that when the term racism is used that it's almost always in suggestion that a white person is racist. AND I was about to smack this fool a while back for his story about how he was rejected from a job where he was fully qualified and how the guy interviewing him made it clear through his line of questions and body language that he wasn't going to be hired presumably because he was white. That part I believe but he was saying "It's kind of like reverse racism." NO, that would be simply called "racism" there is no such thing as reverse racism.

Perhaps he didn't expect a restaurant in Harlem to be up to par with the eateries he likely frequents in mid-town.

Was it Harlem?? Well @!$%#! That is a town known widely for it's image of gang bangers and the kind of scum that respectable blacks would and should have disdain for. Not knowing how that city is today I would assume it was kind of scuzzy in any black restaurants in that town. That's not for racist reasons that's just bad public image of how life in Harlem is. Perhaps O'Reilly was judging more based on the location?

It's like, you have bad neighborhoods, even in areas that are mostly white where you would rather just drive through rather than stop for a snack. I don't consider it racist to drive past some of the towns I know of. I consider it smart!

I really need to see this full show.

Not knowing how that city is today I would assume it was kind of scuzzy in any black restaurants in that town. That's not for racist reasons that's just bad public image of how life in Harlem is.

Of course it's not racist. it's just that all black restaurants there are scuzzy. I totally get it.

You got it.. Gooood foor yoouuu, Jack! Look, Mr. Sarcastic, why don't you take your one liners to a different site. My responses are sometimes like massive articles and you cherry pick my @!$%# just like Bill O'Reilly claims people do to him. Actually it's not a claim it's a fact.

Other facts include poor areas regardless of ethnicity have restaurants that you wonder how they could pass any inspections and it's obvious that they don't get inspected. You can live and die by being a cherry picker but that doesn't change the fact.

Not that I said restaurants in Harlem ARE scuzzy. I said I would ASSUME that they were based on the image that has been conditioned from movies and stories about a city that is not exactly winning awards for lack of crime. THAT SAID, let me make it clear to morons who might think otherwise, I DO NOT HAVE A @!$%#ING CLUE what Harlem is like today and I am sure it is not much different from other cities which have gone through phases over the years. There are probably nice areas and @!$%# areas just like everywhere else and I am pretty sure somewhere in my previous comments I mentioned that there are crappy towns that are mostly white which suffer from the same issues.

Collin,

Harlem isn't a city. It is a neighborhood.

Was it Harlem?? Well @!$%#! That is a town known widely for it's image of gang bangers and the kind of scum that respectable blacks would and should have disdain for.

I have never been to Harlem, however there's one thing I do know, it is not know for an image of "gang-bangers" but rather for rich Black culture. Music and arts, food, the Black Renaissance...not violence and what you thinks its known for based on popular rap music. Your ignorance is all over this thread Collin but this I could not ignore.

I actually just spoke to some co-workers about the imagery invoked when they think of Harlem (one of which grew up in the area) and they too said that Harlem is considered one of the rougher neighborhoods in NY. Perhaps I have a distorted image of Harlem on the positive side because I really just think about the Harlem renaissance. I really only think about gang-bangers when I think of LA - and I'm from LA.

kymlee: I admit when I am ignorant on most topics. I said somewhere in there that I don't know what Harlem is really like.

I'm getting too worked up on this issue and I don't even know why so it's time to stop following this thread. Don't mistake my destruction of the American language through with ignorance though. I often lash out and go to butchery in the form of @!$%#s and @!$%#s, which I attribute to being around people obsessed with appearances. Plus I am waiting on some divorce papers so I am likely to move towards anger and frustration as a response to anything I don't like hearing, especially when I can't come up with the right words to convey my thoughts.

TheJonesGirl

Harlem isn't a city. It is a neighborhood.

Thanks for correcting me, shows what I know about Harlem. I know they had some talented basketball players that would always hang around with Shaggy and Scooby Doo. :-)

Was it Harlem?? Well @!$%#! That is a town known widely for it's image of gang bangers and the kind of scum that respectable blacks would and should have disdain for.

Ah yes, and we should somehow respect that stereotype... why exactly?

I said somewhere in there that I don't know what Harlem is really like.

A bit of an understatement. Nonetheless, it just means that your last few comments have been nothing more than wild speculation.

Apparently, the Harlem Renaissance that kymlee mentioned rings no bells for you, so perhaps you might want to find out an iota more about Harlem before trying to mount a roundabout defense of negatively stereotyping it.

I'm getting too worked up on this issue and I don't even know why

It's hard to admit that you have prejudiced thoughts--that's all. I'm not saying you are any different than a lot of people who think they don't have a shred of racism or bigotry in them, when they have rivers of it, but it's never been pointed out. As I said before, whites mostly don't have a clue that it's prejudiced to stereotype and assume that non-whites are certain ways. They think they are being nice and complementary, as Bill R did. It's not though! It takes some thought and for me, a lot of reading about prejudice and racism to even see a little of my biases.

Going through a divorce is hard. I've been there. You have to go through a lot of tough stuff, but eventually you can come out in a better place. I hope you feel better soon.

Jack, The negative image of Harlem didn't come from me. Who knows how opinions are formed but I have trouble accepting your comments where you are trying to push that stereotype as my own personal image of Harlem. I had nothing to do with building that image and it's not falling on me to change the image to a more positive and accurate image. If it was my neighborhood then I would care more about correcting people.

The Harlem Renaissance is all well and good but I wasn't around in the 1920's and I doubt that it has anything to do with todays negative image. And let me be clear that I don't have a negative image of Harlem personally. I could have easily been talking about Compton, Oakland, The Bronx or other neighborhoods and cities that are thought of as tough places to live. There are a lot of places that stir thoughts of ghetto's and you would like to act like ghettos don't even exist and that it's just the white man stereotyping but that @!$%# is just not accurate and you can forget about making it MY personal problem.

I could have easily been talking about Compton, Oakland, The Bronx or other neighborhoods and cities that are thought of as tough places to live.

Really? You said:

Was it Harlem?? Well @!$%#! That is a town known widely for it's image of gang bangers and the kind of scum that respectable blacks would and should have disdain for. Not knowing how that city is today I would assume it was kind of scuzzy in any black restaurants in that town.

So all black restaurants in tough neighborhoods are "scuzzy."

Glad to know where your worldview stands.

There are a lot of places that stir thoughts of ghetto's and you would like to act like ghettos don't even exist and that it's just the white man stereotyping but that @!$%# is just not accurate and you can forget about making it MY personal problem.

Oh noes! I'm beating up on the abstract white man. Whatever shall you do?

Jack, you have no clue what my world views are. "all black restaurants in tough neighborhoods" are your words, not mine. You can twist my words around all you want though, it's all good. @!$%#ty parts of towns are hardly ever hot locations for shining restaurants. It doesn't matter what the @!$%#ing color of the residents.

Jack, you have no clue what my world views are.

Now that you've commented amply, that's no longer the case. (Unless you're misrepresenting yourself)

Not knowing how that city is today I would assume it was kind of scuzzy in any black restaurants in that town.

@!$%#ty parts of towns are hardly ever hot locations for shining restaurants. It doesn't matter what the @!$%#ing color of the residents.

You'll reconcile these two comments, I'm sure. Surely there was a reason to specify "black restaurants", right?

Oh, and by the way, about this: "Who knows how opinions are formed but I have trouble accepting your comments where you are trying to push that stereotype as my own personal image of Harlem. I had nothing to do with building that image and it's not falling on me to change the image to a more positive and accurate image."

You do (hopefully) have control over whether or not you believe in that image. Imagine if someone said that about stereotyping Jews as money-grubbing cheats. Would you expect people to simply accept that pathetic shadow of an excuse at face value?

Collin, I'm sure Jack's point is that it's extremely offensive to assume that just because the restaurants is in a Black neighborhood, it is "scuzzy." You'll find that many hole-in-the-wall restaurants are actually the best and most authentic. I've also gone into White neighborhoods to restaurants that I have gotten great reviews and been extremely disappointed with not only the food but the service as well. For example Fatburger is know for having some of the best burgers in town (LA) but to know this you would not go to the one in West LA or Huntington Beach, you'd go to the one on Pico which to this day is still a hole-in-the-wall.

Was it Harlem?? Well @!$%#! That is a town known widely for it's image of gang bangers and the kind of scum that respectable blacks would and should have disdain for. Not knowing how that city is today I would assume it was kind of scuzzy in any black restaurants in that town.

Having already admitted that you don't know anything about Harlem aside from the negative image you have in your head (based on what I don't know) you should assume nothing about the dining in the area or the culture. You don't know how widely held that image of Harlem is, and obviously don't know any of the cultural history of the burrow.

When you use the term ghetto to mean of poor quality as opposed to its real meaning - a high concentration of a particular group of people (originally Jews during the Holocaust) - you make it seem like any Black (or ethnic group besides White) neighborhood is of poor quality. On the contrary they are often cultural hubs where you can eat authentic food, see great art, hear great music and generally learn about cultures other than your own. Just because some of these neighborhoods have a reputation for being economically disadvantaged and therefore "rough" does not discount that culture.

Again you seem to be defending your ignorance when you really should concede and accept the fact that you have said some really offensive things in this thread. Perhaps expanding your cultural view of the world beyond the "White is right" norm is in order. If you live in the US there is little excuse for not having divers cultural experiences besides simply not wanting to, and I doubt if your experiences were more divers that you would continue to hold some of the opinions you have expressed in your comments on this thread.

Jack's point is that it's extremely offensive to assume that just because the restaurants is in a Black neighborhood, it is "scuzzy."

Indeed. I'd thought I'd made that abundantly clear, but oh well. There can never be too much clarification.

Again you seem to be defending your ignorance when you really should concede and accept the fact that you have said some really offensive things in this thread. Perhaps expanding your cultural view of the world beyond the "White is right" norm is in order.

My thoughts exactly.

Inanimate objects don't have recognition skills?

Dave A:

Diversify your cultural intake. All of the big media outlets you mention are owned by multinationals who tolerate only a limited diversity in issue coverage and whom rely heavily on the kinds of incidents that can be told as video stories. In fact, their coverage is shallow and nothing less than manipulative.

Turn off your tube and begin educating and enlightening yourself. Books from the library and the godsend of the internet--in which are copied many scholarly books and periodical scholarly publications, provide you access to thoughtful materials prepared not with commercial marketing in the background but with a focus on preparation, evidence and scholarly research.

Your mind is rotting boy. It is being rotted by the video rays you let enter through your eyes. This yacker O'Reilly and all of his video ilk aren't expert at anything--though clever at holding attention they don't deserve.

If you are young, take advantage of the new world available to you--a world that was denied your seniors who sat in front of their TV's and let the world pass by as they became ever less and less atuned to what was going on.

farsightedness is a function of available light, not heat--regardless of how inviting the heat might seem.

I appreciate you looking out for my cultural intake. But, please, there is no need to worry about me. I travel a lot and also read a lot about subjects that interest me. I disagree that my mind is rotting. Political campaigning is all over the TV, commercials and internet. It's hard to avoid it, and since it interests me, I tune in. Enlightening myself is outside the scope of this forum, it's just about the particular issue of O'Reilly complaining about being smeared.

Just curious, why even tune into this particular post if it's just about O'Reilly the yacker? You're not my father in disguise are you? :)

In drag!