Bill O'Reilly In Abortion Record Tangle
Kansas Clinics Want Fox TV Host, State Attorney General Investigated
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Fox News' Bill O'Reilly has been targeted by abortion clinics in Kansas for a statement he made about seeing information from Kansas abortion records. (CBS/AP)
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During a campaign stop in Wichita on Monday, Kline called the request to the Kansas Supreme Court for a special prosecutor "frivolous." It came from Dr. George Tiller and his Wichita clinic and a clinic operated in Overland Park by Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.
Their attorneys also asked the court to seize the records of 90 patients from the two clinics. Kline, an abortion opponent, obtained edited versions of those Oct. 24 from a district court judge after a two-year legal battle with the clinics.
The court's appointing a special prosecutor would be unprecedented. There is no record of the court ever appointing one before, spokesman Ron Keefover said.
The clinics' attorneys want O'Reilly investigated because they fear his information came from the records turned over to Kline. On Friday night's "The O'Reilly Factor" the host said an inside source gave information that Tiller performed late-term abortions because patients were depressed, which he called "executing babies."
Pedro Irigonegaray, a Topeka attorney representing the clinics, also called on Fox to fire O'Reilly.
"I think the attorney general's conduct has been shameful," he said after filing his documents with the court. "Mr. O'Reilly demonstrated callous disregard for women all over this country and his statements about the records were simply false."
It's the second time in six days that a Kline critic has sought an investigation of the attorney general. On Wednesday, former Attorney General Bob Stephan, a fellow Republican who broke with Kline, asked the state Governmental Ethics Commission to examine Kline's fundraising and activities involving churches.
Kline, seeking his second term, is in a bitter race with Democrat Paul Morrison, the Johnson County district attorney. Morrison has attacked Kline repeatedly for seeking the abortion clinics' records, saying Kline abused his authority and invaded patients' privacy.
"There is no basis for such a motion before the Kansas Supreme Court ... it is a political move," Kline said.
Kline said he did not know what information O'Reilly has or where he got it. Asked if it came from someone within his office, he replied "absolutely not."
Kline has said he's reviewing the records to investigate crimes, including rapes of children, forcible rapes, incest, illegal late-term abortions, failure by doctors to report child abuse and making "false writings." He also has said no one in his office provided any information to O'Reilly from the records Kline obtained.
During his Friday night broadcast, O'Reilly also said he had evidence that Tiller had failed to report abortions on girls aged 10 to 15 to authorities, suggesting the doctor was covering up sex crimes against children.
O'Reilly didn't say whether his information came from the 90 records Kline obtained, or whether he or his staff had seen documents themselves.
David Tabacoff, executive producer of "The O'Reilly Factor," issued a statement: "We stand by our story."
Meanwhile, Kline spokeswoman Sherriene Jones questioned whether the Supreme Court is the proper place for the clinics' request.
"Any Kansan who paid attention in civics class would know that the Kansas Supreme Court is an appellate court, and they only hear cases on appeal from a lower court," Jones said. "They do not do any investigating. They don't have any authority to hear this motion because it has not been ruled on in lower court."
Irigonegaray said: "That would be for the Supreme Court to decide."
The clinics' petition not only named Kline as a defendant, but Shawnee County District Judge Richard Anderson. Although the petition criticizes O'Reilly, he isn't a named defendant.
Keefover said the justices didn't have a timetable for handling the clinics' petition, though the defendants in the case have five days to respond to the petition.
Anderson subpoenaed the records at Kline's request in September 2004, and the clinics then asked the Supreme Court to intervene. Although Anderson did not contemplate giving Kline unfettered access to the records, the Supreme Court imposed new guidelines in February for handling the records and returned the case to Anderson.
The judge took possession of the records in August, two months before turning them over to Kline, redacted so that individual patients could not be identified.
"It is apparent that Kline and/or Anderson have failed to maintain the medical records without specific protections in place to protect the privacy of patients," the clinics said in their petition.
The clinic said they want the Supreme Court to intervene because they don't know how O'Reilly obtained his information and a leak could have occurred in "either the judicial or executive branch of the government." The clinics' petition accused Kline of having a "cavalier attitude."
The clinics noted that Kline has joked about the criticism that his pursuit of the records invaded women's privacy.
During a GOP rally Sunday night in Topeka, Kline provoked laughter from thousands of Republicans when he said, "You know, it's great to see all of you in such good health, but, of course, I already knew that. I've seen all of your medical records."
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See all 55 CommentsIt appears they really want to take away as many of the freedoms our forefathers deemed so precious away from the American people. In this instance a woman's right to choose for herself. It seems to me they would like to have only one national religion, theirs (whatever theirs is - from where I sit it certainly isn't Christian.)
Most intelligent people understand you cannot leglislate morality.
First Rush Limbaugh, then Ann Coulter, and now Bill O'rielly...lol. Why dont you libs try arguing with facts (oh yeah you have none to back up your claims) instead of trying to dig dirt. The libs are dirt diggers and the conservatives are intellectuals and debaters.
A conservative defeats a liberal in their arguments and a liberal attempts to digg dirt on the conservative...or anyone that gets under their skin..lol (i.e. Linda Tripp, Lewinski...trailor trash etc, John Kerry makes a stupid comment and blames it on the republican hate machine..lol gotta love it)
The GOP/Republican/conservative movement has lost ALL sense of what it is to be a Republican.
If your a CEO of GM or something or you watch "Fox News", then you'll probably still vote for a GOP'er, but you are just perpetuating the corruptness and the ignorance. Don't do it!
Complacent Republican fools.
Mr. President and GOP/Republicans everywhere:
You and your talking point robots of a constituency have lost my confidence. My vote is not going to be aligned with the GOP. Your party shows no willingness to show individuality, intelligence, and a freewill.
Mr. President, you and the GOP have failed us. WE WILL REMEMBER.
Tell me, what is it to be a Republican?
Cause for the life of me the only thing I can come up with is, "anti-abortion".
Got any more clues for me?
Got the usual courtesy call from the local GOP campaign office over the weekend, reminding me to vote.
I said, "but of course"
then when asked if they can count on me for my support.
I replied, "Nope"
"I'm going to vote for Arnold for obvious reasons, to long to list, but after that... for the first time in my 30+ years of voting, I'm voting democrat straight across the board regardless of issues or stance and I will continue to do so in future elections until "my" party rids itself of all these bible pushing morons..."
end call
I suppose it could be all yet another right wing conspiracy, but what if the allegations are true? What if Dr. Tiller has been performing abortions on children as young as 10 and not reporting it to the proper authorities?
I wonder if the respone on this site would have been different if Katie Couric undcovered something like this in a CBS investigation and then reported it.
It is possible to favor a woman's right to choose, to favor the confidentiality of medical records, and yet not want to allow child rapists to go unpunished. You don't have to support Mr. O'Reilly's position on abortion to feel that any medical professional who fails to report the sexual assault of a child is failing to perform his duty and is violating his oath as a doctor.
Not everything is about the president, democrats, republicans, and christian zealots--you can't legistlate morality, but I find it hard to accept that ignoring sexual abuse of children is anything but wrong.
As a Republican from a working class family (that means I am not rich, I work three jobs, and I won't finish paying off my college loans until 2036--that is the actual date) I am more than delighted to hear that you are giving up on us and going with the Democrats.
I share your concern over the drift right of the party, I consider myself a moderate. But, I also believe that people like Christopher Dodd, Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi are not the people I want to see in charge. All voting for the Democrats will do is push the Republican party further to the right.
My advice, and I have not as much experience as you having only been a voter for the last 15 years, is to change your party affiliation, formally go over to the Democrats so we need not count you among us anymore.
No party needs members who want to teach it a lesson by electing the opposition. As a Republican, you can't always support the Republican candidate (I have voted for Ted Kennedy and will tomorrow because, though I agree with nothing he does nationally and in fact find most of his position repugnant, he has been an outstanding senator for my state as far as serving the daily needs of his constituency) but teaching the party a lesson is just as bad a blindly voting based on the letter next to a candidate's name.
So, billpl, I, speaking for at least a few of my fellow Republicans say, goodbye, good luck, good riddance.
Um, yes, we are. You moral majority folks are all gay drug using, torturing, lying corrupt incompetent neo-nazi's. You start wars on a whim and can't do that right. You couldn't make a job if your lives depended on it. Your whole taxpayer hours are spent covering up your conspiracies.
I wonder who killed more iraqi civilians...hussein or bush?
BOTH LOVE TO G USH ==
THEIR NAMES THE SAME
WE SPELL THEM %u2026LAME ==
THEY PREACH AND SCOLD,
THEIR LIES ARE OLD.
WE DON'T BELIEVE
ONE THING THEY' VE TOLD. ==
ITS UP TO USH
TO MAKE THEM SHUSH ==
CAUSE WHAT THEY GUSH
MAKES FOLEY BLUSH ! ==
BUT LETS NOT HUSH
THAT ONE'S A LUSH ==
THEY MAKE A FUSH
AND TALK PURE MUSH ==
SO KISH MY TUSH =======
PILL POPPIN' RUSH!
BOTH LOVE TO G USH ==
THEIR NAMES THE SAME
WE SPELL THEM %u2026LAME ==
THEY PREACH AND SCOLD,
THEIR LIES ARE OLD.
WE DON'T BELIEVE
ONE THING THEY'VE TOLD. ==
ITS UP TO USH
TO MAKE THEM SHUSH ==
CAUSE WHAT THEY GUSH
MAKES FOLEY BLUSH ! ==
BUT LETS NOT HUSH
THAT ONE'S A LUSH ==
THEY MAKE A FUSH
AND TALK PURE MUSH ==
SO KISH MY TUSH =======
PILL POPPIN' RUSH!
Our tomorrows
So what you are saying is If charles manson was a republican you would vote for him. I say you are one sick puppy.
and all I can say is ..... "I'm Sorry"
the GOP is an embrassing mess and the first step on the road to recovery is admitting there is a problem.
I'm man enough to take the first step...are you?
and while you're at, think about a little something
the first few hours after 9/11
where was Bush?
where was Rudy?
Protecting Rapists under the name of "choice" is extreme to the extreme, and way out of step with the american people.
A great many conservatives are under the mistaken impression that if they vote for Republicans, that such politians will work toward the eventual overturn of Roe vs Wade.
Republicans like keeping the issue alive because it brings them votes nationwide but let's take a look at Republican achievements over the last 40 yrs in this regard.
Of the 4 Republican presidents over this period, (Nixon, Reagan, Bush I, Bush II) every single time a position opened on the Supreme Court, giving them an opportunity to effect a change on this issue, those presidents appointed (& Republican senators approved) capitalists (primarily interested in protecting the rights of corporations, the wealthy & powerful) to those slots rather than moralists (who might be interested in ending the majority of abortion.)
It doesn't take 40 yrs (or even 20 yrs) to change a law. Republicans are really not interested in changing the status quo in this regard. They are simply using the issue to deceptively obtain votes. If they really wanted to change the law it would have been done 25 yrs ago.
Amen. Just a quick glance of these posts will show you that conservatives are routinely called neo nazis, perverts, pill poppers, theives, liars, chickens and charletons.
While you can find disgraced politicians in any party that have personal failures, its hardly helpful to attack someone of a conservative point of view with the lowest form of name calling. High School is over, join the grownups in the debate.
Ever heard of the term "Borked?"
I mean there have to be limits to everything, doesn't there? What good does "name-calling" do? We should get back to allowing good horse-sense to prevail. How much more stupid can mankind get?
The political campaign going on right now barely touches on the choices we have. Most of it is name-calling, mud-slinging, back-stabbing ***. And I mean from all parties.
O'Reilly reported on something that should be throughly investigated. That is the bottom line.
I mean there have to be limits to everything, doesn't there? What good does "name-calling" do? We should get back to allowing good horse-sense to prevail. How much more stupid can mankind get?
The political campaign going on right now barely touches on the choices we have. Most of it is name-calling, mud-slinging, back-stabbing ***. And I mean from all parties.
O'Reilly reported on something that should be throughly investigated. That is the bottom line.
"No person shall perform or induce a partial birth abortion when the fetus is viable unless such person is a physician and has a documented referral from another physician not legally or financially affiliated with the physician performing or inducing the abortion and both physicians determine that: (1) the abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant women; or (2) a continuation of the pregnancy will cause substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman."
Its very simple. Either he is following the law or he is not. If there are allegations of illegal activity, then the Atty Gen. should investigate and take the appropriate actions. If there is no illegality, then the matter should be dropped.
In any case, the files should be turned over to the authorities so that the truth can be discovered. Whoever wins the election for Atty. Gen. in Kansas has the obligation to the law and to the state constitution to follow through even though the doctor himself has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race.
Dubya has caused thousands more to die than Manson did. Manson ain't in Dubya's League.
Why is it we worry about someone else that isn't causing you 1 minutes sleep. Ain't costing you 1 penny! It's nobody's business what a women want's to do with her life. People would be better served if they mind their own business.
A second important matter is whether O'Reilly has had access to anyone's medical records. These are supposed to be confidential. I worked in a hospital for over 13 years, and patient confidentiality is something that is pushed constantly. Some hospitals and doctors' offices have had to physically alter their offices to maintain this confidentiality. I would be extremely irate and ready to sue anyone who gave access to my records to someone in the media, no matter whether they are on Fox, CNN, ABC, or any of the others.
a vengefull god on thier side, "just like the taliban."
You sound like a Limbaugh, O'Really regurgitation machine. Your post is a heaping pile of carp. Nothing of substance to say on voting day?
1. Why has the NIA declared Iraq a cause celeb and recruiting bonanza for terrorists?
2. How does the GOP congress justify giving themselves a raise every year but hasn't been able to raise the minimum wage since Bush has been in office?
3. How are exporting jobs and a burgeoning federal debt good for America?
4. Why do the top 2% of tax payers deserve a tax cut in a time of war?
5. Why does Halliburton deserve no-bid contracts in Iraq and New Orleans?
6. Why do D. Chaney and big Oil Company executives get to write the energy policy for America?
7. What makes a GOP majority more important than getting a pedophile away from Congressional pages?
8. Why does your party run racist ads in the South?
9. How does putting our troops in the middle of a civil war make us safer at home?
10. Abramoff, Cunningham, DeLay, Reed, Frist... the list of GOP scandals is vast. What's up with that?
An excerpt from your comment describing John Jerry:
He opens his yap and starts talking before he realizes what he has said.
Books have been writtn on Bushism's so I want go into detail here. If you want to see someone who speaks before thinking you only need to look at Bush. "Bring em On" "Mushroom cloud" " Liberators"
I will say to you as so many of your neocon buddies said to me prior to the invasion of Iraq which I fiercely protested, " If you do not like this country , get out." Such rhetoric has gotten us to this point in time. The tides are changing so I would advise you to adjust accordingly.
BOTH LOVE TO G USH
THEIR NAMES THE SAME
WE SPELL THEM %u2026LAME
THEY PREACH AND SCOLD,
THEIR LIES ARE OLD.
WE DON'T BELIEVE
ONE THING THEY'VE TOLD.
ITS UP TO USH
TO MAKE THEM SHUSH
CAUSE WHAT THEY GUSH
MAKES FOLEY BLUSH !
BUT LETS NOT HUSH
THAT ONE'S A LUSH
THEY MAKE A FUSH
AND TALK PURE MUSH
SO KISH MY TUSH
PILL POPPIN' RUSH!
We need to replace him with an individual who has been in the vietnam, or the gulf war.
I believe in the statement "I would'nt have someone do what I would'nt do myself"
EXACTLY WHAT BRANCH OF SERVICE DID BILL CLINTON SERVE ???
Bush/Cheney must have learned war deferments from Bill
I also served in the Army during Vietnam. Because my brother was already in country, I ended up training tracking dogs. I did my best to insure the troops I trained had every chance of coming back standing up with all parts attached.
Believe me; it was not easy being drafted. It was a difficult decision not to leave this country and live in Canada when I got my summons to service. I did not believe the war was just or based on any danger to this country. However, when the time came, I held up my hand and took the pledge to defend this country and did my duty to the best of my ability. Therefore, it p*sses me off when the suits and powerties that started this fiasco in Iraq are the ones who cut and ran when it came their turn. These same chickenhawks think nothing of spending our troop%u2019s lives like they spend tax our money.
Fearless Leader%u2019s dad volunteered in WWII and was shot down in the Pacific. I respect him immensely. I have not the smallest single shred of respect for his son. He couldn%u2019t even be bothered to finish his stint in the %u201CChampagne squadron%u201D, but got into politics before his tour was over. I am beginning to believe no man or woman should be allowed to be president unless they have put themselves on the line for this nation. Maybe then, we won%u2019t have wars started to make cronies rich(er).
In a matter hours you will see that.
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