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Clinton Sinks to O'Reilly's Level

Posted by ZP Heller, Brave New Films at 10:55 AM on May 1, 2008.


When will this faux news cycle end?

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Hillary Clinton appeared on the O'Reilly Factor last night and will again tonight. FOX has already begun releasing highlights like this one, in which Clinton criticizes Jeremiah Wright and his speech at the National Press Club on Monday. And while we'll have ample time to dissect Clinton's appearance and why on earth she agreed to go on O'Reilly in the first place, what needs to be addressed now is the possibility that an ardent Clinton supporter arranged Rev. Wright's press club speech.

According to the NY Daily News and the LA Times blog Top of the Ticket, Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds organized the press club event. Reynolds has praised Clinton in the past, writing on her own blog: "My vote for Hillary in the Maryland primary was my way of saying thank you." She has also been unduly critical of Obama: "It is a sad testimony that to protect his credentials as a unifier above the fray, [Obama] is fueling the media characterization that Rev. Dr. Wright is some retiring old uncle in the church basement."

So to recap, a Clinton supporter arranges to give Wright a national spotlight to make incendiary remarks, forcing Obama to once again denounce his former pastor. Then, Clinton goes on FOX News to criticize Wright (and by extension, Obama) and the controversy that one of her supporters helped create. O'Reilly and his FOX pals, in turn, will use this as an excuse to rehash a stale news story that Obama has already distanced himself from. And then, to top it all off, the rest of the mainstream press will continue to play excerpts from this interview for days on end. When will this faux news cycle end?

Digg!

Tagged as: bill o'reilly, hillary clinton

ZP Heller is the editorial director of Brave New Films. He has written for The American Prospect, AlterNet, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Huffington Post, covering everything from politics to pop culture.


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Headline should be
Posted by: zizizzi on May 1, 2008 11:24 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Clinton STINKS to O'Reilly's Level...

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tart
Posted by: andrewstromotich on May 1, 2008 11:59 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
freakin political tart just like the other two..

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ick
Posted by: fluffmuffinmom on May 1, 2008 12:08 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Talk about a couple of souless slimeballs....I need a shower...*shiver*

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Hen In The Fox-House
Posted by: QQOblivion on May 1, 2008 12:07 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Those in the liberal blogosphere made a pretty big deal about Obama appearing on Fox. Now Hillary has appeared on O'Reilly, of all places, and I have read very little about this anywhere.
Chris Wallace put Obama on the defensive about Obama personally --That interview wasn't as much about hurting Hillary. While Hillary is using her interviews as a way to again bash Obama. I would like to see Hillary on the defensive to at least the same extent that Obama was on the defensive in his interview. But since Hillary's primary mission is to stop Obama from being president, even if this means getting a Republican elected to the White House, then I expect Fox to only help her along in that regard. (Remember, Murdoch gave Hillary a big donation. And Ann Coulter endorsed Hillary over McCain -- because Hillary is supposedly more pro-torture than McCain, or at least according to Coulter.)

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Mission Accomplished
Posted by: master09 on May 1, 2008 12:42 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Here is what the Clinton campaign will not tell you that they knew having McCauliff saying how fair and balance fox news network was to Hillary that this would make the Obama campaign respond; they also knew that Obama would not sit down with Oriley or Hannity&Combs but that she would and could handle either one or both format especially oriley because they are both of Irish descent (wink, wink) both are citizen of new york and rich . I think this stunt will hurt her because it a sign desperation. This would give the super delegates something to think about because of Obama's problem with Rev Wright; but she might have destroy the democrats chances at the white house because this stunt add to her already negatives with a lot of voters. I felt Obama might have jumped the gun to quick when they granted a full interview with fox; they should have let the campaign manager or some else respond to McCauliff praise of fox news and then follow their lead instead of trying to get ahead of them.

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surprised?
Posted by: JoshuaLudd on May 1, 2008 1:45 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Is anyone REALLY surprised that Hillary would do this? She will take any and all support she can get... even from Fox and O'Reilly.

For those who haven't figured it out yet... there is a reason that there is such a strangle hold on our electoral system. Corporations own the parties and the media... and the parties and the media help keep that lock on the system so the corporations can benefit.

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» RE: surprised? Posted by: richieb
» Was he? nm Posted by: JoshuaLudd
Its a make beleive world! I wonder if barbi and ken are gonna vote...
Posted by: The Big Raven on May 1, 2008 3:44 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
for mrs. clinton. Really the more I hear and read about this whole pastor wright stuff the more I know we all live in a scripted world.
Look at the state of things we have right now, insane people pretending to be non-bias news people whos racist slants are nothing more than cheap made for T.V. drama produced for barbi and ken who are living off thier credit cards and are about to loose thier house.
And then enters Mrs. clinton with her poorly chozen and feeble ways and means to add to the script just to win at any cost even the truth.
Peace is for everyone!

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Her Fox News interview changes nothing
Posted by: RobNLA on May 1, 2008 4:38 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Lately, Hillary has not pulled any huge victories to catch up on assigned delegates and is slowly losing ground to Obama on super delegates.

And the nominee will be chosen based on the delegates.

All this media hype doesn't change any of that.

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Hillary ROCKED!
Posted by: Ky Lake Dave on May 1, 2008 4:52 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hillary accepted the challenge and rocked. I am sick and tired of Hillary and Obama accepting these powder puff interviews with reporters just gushing. The reporters act like they are star struck, like they just met a long time hero. Now O'Reilly did not pull punches. He asked questions me and many others wanted the hear answered. Questions about Health Care, Fuel Taxes, Drilling in ANWR, Nuke Power and many many other issues frendly reporters did not dare ask. O'Reilly was respectful but not cowed or star struck. Hillary looked ole Billy in the eye and answered his questions. O'Reilly did not let her off easy on canned responses withnot real answers. He called her on it. I oppose Hillarys views but she did get my respect by facing the tiger, jaw out and ready to rumble. Where is that coward Obama? Ducking tough interviews and running from debates. Obama has feet of clay. His cracks are showing and McCain will be our next President.

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» RE: Hillary ROCKED! Posted by: desidid
Hillary was GREAT.
Posted by: arclight7 on May 1, 2008 6:03 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
She handled the question and Bill with ease. You won't see Obama being able to do that. The guy is a mess without a teleprompter.

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» Of course she did... Posted by: JoshuaLudd
Backfire!
Posted by: harvestmeister on May 1, 2008 6:05 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I don't know what Clinton was hoping to accomplish with this one, but she has just lost any chance of my vote this fall. So if Obama isn't nominated, that leaves...

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» Please don't say it Posted by: warriornation
Solution
Posted by: Jeanne on May 1, 2008 6:49 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Don't watch.

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Looks like Hillary is ready to...
Posted by: christee on May 1, 2008 9:53 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
get in line with Al Gore, and John Kerry. Damn it! I thought she might stand up to the evil, but she is going to just fall in line with the others and suck up. Gore, Kerry, and Pelosi wimpered under the Bush Plan, and now with Hillary, it loks like business as usual....sad isn't it.

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Lobby delegates
Posted by: venkat on May 2, 2008 12:25 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Now that Super Delegates Matter Even More…
LobbyDelegates.com Lets Ordinary Voices Be Heard

The unconstrained votes of some 800 top Democratic Party officials, known as Super Delegates, now matter even more following the Pennsylvania Primary, which continued to leave both Presidential candidates short of the 2,024 primary-pledged delegates needed to secure the nomination.

Those believing these Party insiders (who include governors, mayors, state and Congressional lawmakers) should be more accountable to rank-and-file Democrats, can now have their voices heard through www.LobbyDelegates.com. This one-stop portal is the first and only one empowering grassroots Democrats to directly communicate with their state’s Super Delegates – via email, fax or postal letters.

LobbyDelegates.com maintains lists of Super Delegates who have endorsed Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or are still uncommitted. Users can, with one click, target all uncommitted Super Delegates and urge them to publicly endorse a certain candidate, or remain uncommitted. Users can similarly lobby Super Delegates to keep an existing commitment, or switch to the other candidate.

Although Sen. Obama leads with 1,490 pledged delegates to 1,336 for Sen. Clinton, neither would attain 2,024 even if one or the other won two-thirds of the remaining primary delegates. While Clinton leads among Super Delegates, 259 to 235, Obama has narrowed this gap steadily over the past six weeks. Over 300 Super Delegates remain uncommitted.

The LobbyDelegates.com website is strictly independent, and is not aligned with any political party, candidate, campaign or advocacy group. LobbyDelegates.com was created as a public service under the auspices of the nonprofit StateDemocracy Foundation, whose similar civic engagement website, www.StateDemocracy.com, is dedicated to delivering democracy to your desktop by connecting citizens and lawmakers.

Thousands have visited LobbyDelegates.com since it was launched on April 3. Since then, the website has been upgraded by adding a blog, the ability to invite friends, and free email delivery.

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Double standard
Posted by: surfreality on May 2, 2008 5:15 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Many have been critical of Obama's 20 year relationship with Rev. Wright; and I have to wonder how many Catholic politicians have been asked to disassociate themselves from a church with a long history of covering up sexual abuse by Priests. The Catholic hierarchy has fought tooth and nail for years to limit the public's right to know about these crimes.
The point Im trying to make is that despite this malfeasance, that reaches to the top of it's power structure, the church has bright and redeeming facets enjoyed by the vast majority of it's flock. They do many good works and support many programs that help the poor.
Are Catholic politicians asked if they condone Priests buggering acolytes?
Will Hillary say to Catholic politicians "I would have left the church?"
So how is Obama's situation that different?
Why does McCain get a free pass for Haggee, Robertson and Falwell?

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» RE: Double standard Posted by: Brez
Well they Work for the Same Team- a cheerleading meet!
Posted by: Purple Girl on May 2, 2008 5:42 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Both Whores for the Corporationists who have successfully suck the life, Rights and Freedoms out of this Country!
I never Watch BillO - he's offensive to my intellect. I avoid any coverage of Hillary becasue she is offensive to my gender and my Principles.Why are they 'aghast' by Rev Wright- because he lifted the veil of lies which have been perpetuated by the Cheney Doctrine.
9/11 was no surprise (shocking, yes- but not a surprise)Fro anyone who Remembers the '70's- it was the accumulation of anger which has been brewing because of Incs who refused to leave the ME (per our Demands, not just theirs) and the Oppressive Regimes who allowed their people to be used and abused for their own gains (maintaining power & Wealth). These Incs used OUR Flag as Camoflague, The 'Royals' used US as Scapegoats, and the oppressed bought the Charade- to a point. Just consider the Targets of 9/11- not malls or churches- but Money, Military and Gov't. the 'Chickens' were Never OUR Chickens they were the Incs & 'Shadow' Gov'ts. One only need recall the hostage Crisis and th enumerous highjackings (and the last oil shortage)to see since OUR Demands were ignored by these entities to Get the Hell Out of the ME, such attacks were inevitable. WE were Used as Human Shields to Protect THEIR interests.Come On we have wanted to have alternatives to Oil for 30 yrs!
As for AIDS- the Epidemic was actively Ignored until it finally reached the Blood supply and started effecting Whites. People Were Screaming to do something about 'GRID' in the late '70's & early '80's. The Gov't may not have invented the diease- but they certainly allowed it to spread to almost pandemic proportions during the '80's- because it was thought to only be a Black or Gay disease.
maybe it's because I still smoke, but the Drugs they are putting in the 'Koolaid' are not working on Me. I Remember Very Clearly and am still seeing their BS today!

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Why we need Dr. Ron Paul.....
Posted by: xvictor on May 2, 2008 6:42 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
McCain, Obama, and Hillary: products of a dumbed-down nation.

It's not too late.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig9/quinn1.html

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This country is hopeless
Posted by: iraqiamerican on May 2, 2008 7:07 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Utterly hopeless. Last summer an African-American friend and I were speculating on the imminent presidential race, and when I asserted that I thought Obama had a strong chance, my friend rolled his eyes and said, "He's Black!" Obviously, my friend knew what he was talking about, a knowledge he'd personally imbibed daily in this terminally hope-, thought-, empathy-, and progress-killing nation of ours.

Frank Zappa said it best: "I ain't black, but at times like these, I wish I weren't white"

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» RE: This country is hopeless Posted by: bobtr900
She is a Republican at heart
Posted by: mdnees on May 2, 2008 8:16 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This isn't surprising. The Clintons are GOP. Bill ran as a liberal Democrat and governed like a moderate Republican. NAFTA and CAFTA; the telecommunications act; welfare "reform"; allowing banks, insurance companies and investment houses to merge; privatizing the military; lowering the top income tax bracket (the largest tax cut in history;)renting out the Lincoln Bedroom, etc., etc., etc. All basic GOP ideology. (Except for the Lincoln Bedroom -- that was the Clintons' own tacky touch.) Now Hillary is running a schizo-like campaign of far right tactics, Republican policy and a little liberalism tossed in to fool those who still think she is a left-wing Democrat. The "peace and prosperity" of the Clinton years only look good because this administration is such a complete disaster.

I have my doubts about Obama, but I know what I'm getting with Hillary and McCain. And it's not good.

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Ugly in Pink
Posted by: 2dogarage on May 2, 2008 10:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Who dresses this woman? If someone tried to dress me this badly I would have fired them long ago.

Obama has a tailor that is above reproach, even his barber is "on-message".

Frivolous issue? Perhaps. But just imagine the POTUS meeting with other world leaders dressed in (ugh) pink? Sorry but I think pastels are completely inappropriate for a presidential hopeful.

But seriously, I have heard the entire speech by Rev. Wright and find I agree with him in every way. What's really disappointing is to have Obama repudiate him in such unequivocal tones. In fact it makes me wish the good Reverend was the candidate and not a hypocrite who apparently had no problem with his pastor's message until the lamestream agents of smear and frivolous distraction got their tentacles into this made-for-tv scandal.

Personally I think all three candidates suck but I had the audacity to hope that Obama was possibly not as bad as the other two, I was hoping there was SOMETHING that would inspire me to exercise the hard-earned privilege of casting my vote.

The situation is well-nigh hopeless the way I see it. It is beyond belief that race or gender are issues in the 21st century.

Cut me, cut you, both our blood is red.

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rockymthi
Posted by: patt on May 2, 2008 11:33 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Since the Rev Wright issue has been almost worn out on the MSM outlets, we should reflect on how important an issue is one's pastor when electing a president? This totally media driven expose` was much ado about nothing, despite the views of Hillary, Sean, and Billo. I used to watch Fox occasionally just to see what they were up to. But, nausea prevents even small doses now.

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Hillary and O'Reilly
Posted by: bobtr900 on May 2, 2008 4:35 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That was one strange interview, or maybe not, I stopped watching Faux News a year ago. They are just degenerate slimballs who are all about damaging America and making money at the expense of our democracy or what is left of it.

I thought O'Reilly was trashing Hillary by involving her in a trashy discussion. His talk was nothing more than locker room talk. O'Reilly, oh he of the Moral Majority and Pro-Life and Family Values. I'm glad he is aligned with the Pope, and that is why I'm not. I'll take America,democracy, the American people, and all the other groups that the Catholic Church, my religion, does not like. That includes Muslims, blacks, Jews, Protestants, atheists and agnostics, Hindus, Buddhists and Gays; and all of the other religions in America and throughout the world. Because they too are children of God just as much as we Catholics are. Maybe someday the Pope will learn that. But in 2000yrs it/he hasn't so mayhap it will take another 2000yrs. But I don't have that kind of time so da Pope goes his way and I goes my way.

Maybe O'Reilly didn't trash Hillary, maybe she was a willing participant. Maybe she was trying to prove how tough she can be. But whatever, she didn't gain any of my respect, in fact she lost a bit more. Any Dem who goes on Faux News ought to have their head examined. I wouldn't give those scum any of my time. They have been trashing America as have all MSM, and I do not intend to ever let them forget it. Just as they have trashed America, I will trash them as long as I can.

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oxheadone
Posted by: oxheadone on May 3, 2008 1:03 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The republicans want to run against Mrs Clinton. Her endorsement by the Scafe newspaper in Pittsburgh is good evidence. They are afraid of Obama because of his appeal to new voters. All that Mrs Clinton is doing is hurting democratic chances in the '08 election. Over 70% of Americans disapprove of Bushy's government; McCain is just more Bush. The democrats should be attacking McCain as Bushy III and stop knocking each other.

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Why won't obama go on O'reilly?
Posted by: rneyman on May 11, 2008 8:49 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I would like to see him answer some real questions, with unscripted answers. oh, that;s right. won't do that again. Why should he? He's managed to get your support, without even letting anyone know what he's really all about. oh, we know he had a white grandmother, we know this because this is one thing he's mentioned repeatedly, he grew up poor and black, yep, mentioned that too. "but race doesn't matter. Not to this great man, who i've heard compared to lincoln, Reagan, and Kennedy. I'm assuming, since he has no experience to speak of, "oh, that's right, he voted against the war". oh, and he also. well he gives good speaches, I mean, they sound good. change we can believe in. anyone care to explain to me: what change? just what is he going to do, and hows he going to do it? why did he refuse to where the flagpin? and in reply to your reply. this flagpig is symbolic of everything that is america, many brave suols gave their lives willingly, to protect everything that flagpin symbolizes. gave their lives. and he can't even put on a symbolic pin. I'm sorry this is important. just like his calling for imus to be fired for saying three words. nappy headed hoes. But sees no problem with his revs comments untill, he saw no way of getting around it. now, all of a sudden revs comments are unacceptable. He hasn't said anything different, why is it now, offensive? Look, how many times have you seen a movie, and thought man, that is one hell of an actor, had me convinced he was actually that character. obama is that actor. comes out with his practiced and polished speeches, and you can't get enough. but hit him with questions he hasn't had answers prepared for, he stumbles. pay close attention and you see his contradictions. more than just words, but what's the problem with my saying the bitter people clinging to.... Let's go ask the nappy headed hoes. Ask yourself one question. would you vote for this man if he was white? as far as the race card, obamas been playing it from the start. as far as dirty politics, well if you can't see it,I'm wasting my time. I can only pray that some of you can get your head out of your asses in enough time to see who this man really is. remember you can dress a piece of shit in whipcream, but it's still a piece of shit

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