O'Reilly's Take On Harlem Eatery Stirs Pot

Fox News Host Says Sylvia's Is Same As Any Other Restaurant "Even Though It's Run By Blacks"

(CBS)  By CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli

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Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has raised some eyebrows by saying his experience at Sylvia's, a famous Harlem restaurant, was "exactly the same" as any other restaurant in New York City, "even though it's run by blacks, primarily black patronship."

O'Reilly also said: "There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M-Fer, I want more iced tea.' "

O'Reilly talked about his visit to Sylvia's last week on "The Radio Factor," his syndicated radio program. ("The Radio Factor" is distributed by Westwood One, which is managed by CBS Radio.)

"You know, I mean, everybody was -- 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," O'Reilly said.

Media Matters For America, a liberal media watchdog organization, first reported the comments. Karl Frisch, a spokesman for Media Matters, told The Associated Press that O'Reilly's comments were "ignorant and racially charged."

On the Sept. 25 edition of "The O'Reilly Factor," his Fox News program, O'Reilly addressed the issue.

"Media Matters distorted the entire conversation and implied I was racist for condemning racism," he said.

O'Reilly added: "If a slime machine like Media Matters can get its far-left propaganda on CNN and NBC News, the nation is in trouble."

Bill Shine, senior V.P. of programming for Fox News, said discussion of O'Reilly's comments constitutes "nothing more than left-wing outlets stirring up false racism accusations for ratings. It's sad."

O'Reilly made the comments as part of a discussion of a dinner he shared with the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Sharpton spokesperson, Rachel Noerdlinger, said in an e-mail that Sharpton "was surprised that anyone would be surprised that blacks would act that way." She said Sharpton planned to ask O'Reilly onto his radio show Wednesday to discuss the issue.

Added Noerdlinger: "Nothing Mr. O'Reilly said at the dinner itself was offensive, according to Rev. Sharpton."

As part of his comments, O'Reilly said, "Black Americans are starting to think more and more for themselves. They're getting away from the Sharptons and the Jacksons and the people trying to lead them into a race-based culture."

O'Reilly contrasted his experience at the restaurant with the image "white America" has of a black culture "dominated by Twista, Ludacris and Snoop Dogg."

[redhoffer]

O''Reilly is a vile nimrod. Just wanted to make sure that was in here somewhere.
Talk about a purveyor of hate, he wishes to kill this nation.
Comments have little to do with this article, but the guy is a jerk with tons of power who complains about "liberal" or "big media" whenj he has fifty times the power of any liberal or "mainstream columnist.

[rafterman1]

Sort of like when Archie Bunker says a black man didn''t seem black, but more like a "regular" guy. What''s next Bill, you gonna tell us the Obama "speaks well"? Nah, no racism at all. It''s all just in the imaginations of "left-wing outlets".

[rushlimpdrug]

This scum will leave a legacy that will smell for years.

There won''t be one good thing to say about his role in America.

Wonder if he''s still making those obscene telephone calls?

[dogsoul]

Oh for God''s sake... even when a conservative states specifically that there''s no difference between black & white establishments - that any kind of stereotyping to the contrary is misguided... you STILL somehow find a way to cry racism... absolutely amazing - just when I thought the credibility of this issue couldn''t sink any lower after the OJ case, the Duke Rape Case, and the continual embarassments of Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton...

[vastr-wcon]

O''Reilly had dinner with the God Bigot, Lynch-the-Duke-Lacrosse-Players, "Tawana Brawley" Sharpton "and there wasn''t any kind of craziness at all". Now that''s AMAZING! He must have been been playing Uncle Tom!

.

.

[roger_inkart]

Yes, Mr. O''Reilly is a racist idiot. This is news?

[drew0101]

Yeah, this unacceptable! I mean to even hint that black people actually behave that way in a restaurant is preposterous! How dare he! I''ve never witnessed anything like that in my whole life. Its not racist if its factual.

[rushlimpdrug]

". . 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," O''Reilly said.

O''reilly is just to funny and stupid!
-an Italian restaurant in an ALL-WHITE suburb.

He sound more like the Ali-G guy on HBO.

[marcodele]

O''Reilly has always used ''republic-speak'' on racial matters, that''s why the neocons love him. He gets his racist stereotypes across, yet he doesn''t come right out and say it.

During the most horrible aftermath of Katrina when people were standing in flood waters, hundreds dying in their homes, O''Reilly kept pressing then police chief about whether or not he was going after the looters. He couldn''t even find half his police force, people were screaming and dying, and O''Reilly kept showing clips of the looters.

He has made his view of black Americans very clear over the years. That''s why he''s the neocon hero.

[hypnotoad72]

I think Bill''s point was that, with the stereotypes given to people by many media sources, he''s just attempting to point out something different, that flies in the face of what we''re led to believe by those other media sources.

Of course, he himself might be racist too.

But as I did not hear his speech to hear the entire thing, complete with vocal inflection of his words, I can''t exactly judge.

I dunno, but I don''t think he''s as bad as people are making him out to be. (but he''s not perfect, nor do I agree with him on every issue he talks about!) But a lot of people instantly denounce him as being racist, without thinking of other possible perspectives on the issue.

BTW: When somebody says "All Asians are intelligent", "Jews make the best lawyers", and so on, isn''t all that a form of racism too? (Some left-wing people unwittingly, when not deliberately, hype up what is known as ''reverse racism''. That is simply racism using positive examples to explain a whole group rather than negative examples. I thought people were just people, and that to segregate them out, one way or the other, was wrong?)

One way or the other, the truth is in the middle.

And if he was a racist, would he have gone to Harlem in the first place?

[cryonbrian]

Some day America will destroy itself from the inside with their stupid views!

[johnson4sum]

I apparently mistook Mr. O''Reilly as an intelligent person. If he feeds into these stereotypes he is no better than the average racist.

[johnson4sum]

I apparently mistook Mr. O''Reilly as an intelligent person. If he feeds into these stereotypes he is no better than the average racist.

[name_verify]

Lib = Race Hustler

[johnson4sum]

I apparently mistook Mr. O''Reilly as an intelligent person. If he feeds into these stereotypes he is no better than the average racist.

[my2centss]

Guess the media wants to turn him into the next Don Imus. Funny how whites cannot comment on any other race without being labeled racist.

[johnson4sum]

I apparently mistook Mr. O''Reilly as an intelligent person. If he feeds into these stereotypes he is no better than the average racist.

[marcodele]

"Gee, I ate at this restaurant in Harlem and I was so surprised, the people weren''t screaming M-effer, and they didn''t stink at all, and they weren''t eating watermelons, and...."

That''s about how any intelligent person should take his remarks. It''s a no-brainer. Bill knows he has to stay controversial to be relevant on Fox News. He loves to push the envelope, and he knew exactly what he was saying and why he was saying it.

[rushlimpdrug]

O''reilly should really get out a little more.
There may even be some black folk near where he lives.
Should he visit with them he may learn that:
1. Some are educated;
2. Some hold jobs;
3. Some have family values;
4. They are not all born in Africa and shipped here;
5. They don''t live in the jungle;
- he might even learn something from them.
C''mon o''reilly try shaking their hand (they won''t steal your watch-really).

[rafterman1]

===you STILL somehow find a way to cry racism.===

Because it was a back-handed compliment. Like saying a black man "speaks well". In other words, he speaks white.

[johnson4sum]

I apparently mistook Mr. O''Reilly as an intelligent person. If he feeds into these stereotypes he is no better than the average racist.

[johnson4sum]

I apparently mistook Mr. O''Reilly as an intelligent person. If he feeds into these stereotypes he is no better than the average racist.

[johnson4sum]

I apparently mistook Mr. O''Reilly as an intelligent person. If he feeds into these stereotypes he is no better than the average racist.

[name_verify]

Whats on the menu there? I though negros dined at KFC?

[rpres1]

It''s sort of like a black rapster going to a white club and saying: hey...these honkies have some rythym...I am surprised. The black entertainment industry has done alot to create an image of blacks. Why is anyone surprised? Glad O Reilley had the guts to differintiate the difference and that not all blacks are offensive, profanity riddled rapsters.

[glansing]

wonder if the imus police are going to take charge. I was sorry to see imus go,, but if they get this idiot, it''ll be hurrah for the world

[rushlimpdrug]

Maybe o''reilly can write a letter to his favorite restaurant and tell them of his experience.

They might start letting some of the better behaved "negro folk" into the establishment.

A "negro" eating in the same restaurant as o''reilly?
Nevermind, don''t want to stir up the other white folk.

[dogsoul]

"Because it was a back-handed compliment. Like saying a black man "speaks well". In other words, he speaks white."

Oh BS... I''m familiar with the "speaks well" Chris Rock routine & this isn''t the same thing at all. He was specifically pointing out how his actual experience was not in line with how some people stereotype black run & visited establishments...

And yet someHOW, someWAY - YOU still manage to cry racism... my God - do you ever get tired of whining about what a poor poor victim you are? Why don''t you try earning yourself some respect instead...

pathetic...

[dogsoul]

What''s really funny is that if Billy Boy Clinton said the same thing... they''d be all kinds of giddy about it. Fact is that it really doesn''t matter WHAT the circumstance - just like the OJ case... you''ll find ANY reason to cry racism - after all, your liberal caretakers have trained you to act that way...

And THAT''s what should bother you most of all...

[rfcnj68]

I think you all need to get off the mans back, he made a comment to try and let people know you need to stop stereo typing black people. But noooooooooooooo lets turn it into a race issue so the Al and Jessie get more air time.

[wfbdem]

What, we ar eto be shocked that Bill "Falafel" O''Reilly made a bigoted comment?
Have you ever whatched fox noise,... errr news?
Next you are going to tell me water is wet, and Rush does drugs and likes little boys. Thank you, mr. Obvious.

[bogusbones]

The politcally correct factor is far too high and there are far too many people to point out what they feel are mistakes in what people say, regardless of the subject. It is hard to keep up with the "right" thing to say when referring to anything racial. I am not a follower of O''Reilly, but I have to empathize. I think most of us try to PC and sometimes we miss. When we miss, not intentionally, why are we crucified by some self serving group that does nothing but survey broadcasts for people''s innocent errors. Imus is one thing, this statement by O''Reilly shouldn''t even make the news.

[name_verify]

So what is "negro" food anyway?

[yankeerebel7]

And Liberals accuse Conservatives of limiting freedom of speech in this country...

[infidel_us]

At least he didn''t call them nappy headed ho''s.

[tburzio]

Bigoted? To point out that we are all the same?

[perception5]

What Americans are seeing here is nothing more than CBS (Corrupt Broadcasting Station) who''s one of America''s most liberal news outlet ATTACKING someone from Fox News.

We''re sure the left-wing New York Times,partners of CBS (Crush Bush Station), fresh off their corrupt MoveOn.org scandel will have there own little liberal hit piece on O''Reilly.

CBS (Clinton Broadcasting Station) there is a concept you and your liberal staff need to start warming up to and that is ALL OF AMERICA KNOWS YOUR CORRUPT.

Diversity is what is needed at CBS (Cheney Bashing Station)

How much lower can CBS (Censoring Broadcasting Station) go?

[fairandbal]

Like all neo-cons in high positions, O''Reilly is above doing anything wrong. Just like his King, GW Bush II, they can do no wrong.

[dumbfounded5]

Out of the mouths of idiots. Why did he have to say anything at all about his dinner at Sylvia''s with Al? I mean really, what was his point? What a loser this dumba$$ is. I cannot stand the man and he makes my blood curdled. I feel so sorry for ANYONE who watches and/or believes anything this man says, especially anything on FOX NOISE. Him with his smirky face and heaven forbid you disagree with this jerk. I wish he would just disappear.

[rushlimpdrug]

I think this story is just funny!
but perception5 get a grip on life your CBS stuff is a little lame liven it up.

[finewoven]

How much lower can CBS (Censoring Broadcasting Station) go?
Posted by perception5 at 06:27 PM : Sep 25, 2007

That''s a good question. Here O''Reilly went into a eatery whose patronage was primarly black Americans. But if you go to one with primarly Hispanic Americans, they''re mostly abusing drugs according to this morning''s Health survey--so O''Reilly shouldn''t do that. What does CBS suggest?

[rushlimpdrug]

What does CBS suggest?
Posted by finewoven

Great, and he can''t eat chineeze cause that krap is contaminated.
And everyone knows the irish food of potato and steak is bland, not to mention the dog meat the koreans eat.
Guess he''ll have to eat crow, but from where?

[jimbosouth]

This is news? Get real.

[dumbfounded5]

Perception5 is very delusional if I''ve ever seen one. Anyone that would defend Bush/Cheney at this point in the game has to be. Please go anywhere but FOX NOISE to get your news. Anywhere - i.e. huffingtonpost.com - crooksandliars.com - dailykos.com - to name a few.

[my2centss]

Sounds like a free commercial for Fox, O''reilly, and Sylvia''s. I am sure if the business picks up, no one will complain.

[borismrm]

This guy is soo off base, but then again who is suprise?

[thelovegod]

O''Reilly is the Archie Bunker of our times. He knows it, the network knows it, the public knows it. That''s why people who love him watch; and why people who hate him watch. There are no negative viewers in TV land, only viewers. Ratings is ratings. The guy probably has dinner with Jon Stewart on his off nights.

[krenz4]

"Why is anyone surprised? Glad O Reilley had the guts to differintiate the difference and that not all blacks are offensive, profanity riddled rapsters."

I have a problem with why he feels he has to point out that all blacks do not act like the stereotypes whites have of blacks. Dont civilized Americans already know this? and If they dont, there lies the problem!

[dumbfounded5]

BILL O''LIELLY has NO filter.

[samael2014]

I would just like to say that I don''t find Mr. O''Reilly to be a jackass, a moron, a hypocrit or in any way un-American and anti-Christian in both sentiment and thought.

I would also like to point out that Bill O''Reilly is not a M''Fing racist pig or that there is not one decent and honest person who listens to him that would agree with that.