A Conversation With Bill O'Reilly
The Kid From Levittown-Turned-Fox News Host Tells His "Only In America" Story
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Play CBS Video Video Bill O'Reilly: The Good, The Bad Early Show anchor Harry Smith talks with Bill O'Reilly about politics, power, and what it's like to be one of the most loved (and hated) people on TV.
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Bill O'Reilly has an easy answer for why he has kept his cable audience: "If you're a phony, they know." (CBS)
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"Oh, none of this was your fault! Oh, no. People lost millions of dollars. It wasn't your fault. Come on, you coward! Say the truth!"
Bloviation … O'Reilly be thy name, as witnessed October 2, by guest Rep. Barney Frank.
"What do you mean 'coward'?" Frank asked.
"You're a coward," O'Reilly said. "You blame everybody else. You're a coward."
Bill O'Reilly is judge, jury and executioner on his Fox cable show. When reason fails ... rage wins:
"Number one, you hate your country. Number two, you're a loon!"
"Bill, here's the problem with going on your show: You start ranting. And the only way to respond is almost to look as boorish as you!" Frank said.
O'Reilly is right about everything … just ask him.
"The point I always try to make to people is, the people who hate me the most are the people who never watch my show," O'Reilly said to Smith. "They read the press. They listen to the far-left kooks or the far-right kooks, 'cause the far-right hates me. But they never sample. And once they do sample, they go, 'You know, this guy's no ideologue. He's holding them accountable.'"
"The O'Reilly Factor" and its "No-Spin Zone" has been at the top of the primetime cable news heap for the past eight years, with around four million loyal viewers a night.
Loyal because, he says, he's like them: A kid who was lucky to be born in America, a notion he explores in his latest book, "A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity" (Broadway Books).
"It's not particularly dramatic," Smith.
"No, no, it isn't; it's basically an American story," O'Reilly said. "But nowhere else on this planet could a wise guy from Levittown, with no uncle in the business, no social skills at all - I'm sure you'd agree - kiss nobody's butt ever, rise up and command the position that I command. That couldn't happen in Switzerland. It couldn't happen in Japan! It happens in America! And I'll tell you how ..."
Born in 1949, William James O'Reilly Jr. grew up in the New York City bedroom community of Levittown, an experience he says made him what he is today.
"As I read through this, you had a pretty comfortable life in Levittown," Smith said. "Dad had a job."
"I don't know if my life in Levittown was, now it is. We lived in a little box house with no air conditioning," he said. "I mean, it wasn't real comfortable in the middle of August when it was 112°. All right? And I was sweating. And I was eatin', you know, fish sticks and stuff. They weren't delicious, Harry. (laughs) So I don't, I'm not, you know …"
"I can't feel sorry for you!" Smith.

"Sure. 'Food on that table' was number one."
"Yeah. Comfort? You know, my father would [say], you know, 'If it's hot, go outside!'" (laughs) You know?
"After World War II, the people in Brooklyn and the Bronx and some of the other boroughs moved en masse to Long Island because they built all these little houses for the GIs. My father was in that crew.
"So, you basically moved Brooklyn to Nassau County, Long Island. Well, it was a tough neighborhood. You know, you walk out, you had a fight. You had a fight. There were no play dates! (laugh) I wasn't wearing a little helmet on the bike. All right, there wasn't any, 'Mom! Mom!' It wasn't Beaver Cleaver. It was like, you know, you had to hold your own."
He survived, and after a brief career as a high school teacher, young Bill O'Reilly began a series of TV reporting jobs, including a stint at CBS in Miami.
In 1996, O'Reilly settled at the newly created Fox News, where he remains commentator-in-chief.
Every week, "O'Reilly Factor" staffers pitch segment ideas for his approval, like the library board in Helena, Mont., voting unanimously to keep the book "The Joy of Gay Sex" on the library shelves. ("It's not in the kids' section or anything, right?")
"What do you think happens if McCain gets elected president?" Smith asked.
"Not much I think McCain is a traditional politician," O'Reilly said. "I think that he will keep the economy in a low tax grade. He'll be friendly to business because he wants business to expand, to employ more people. I think he'll be a tough guy overseas - not a crazy guy, but a tough guy. And I think he'll govern in a traditional manner. I'd go to the bank on that.
"If Obama's elected, I don't know what's gonna happen. His whole career has been left wing. Is he an ideologue? Is he gonna bring a far-left sensibility into the White House? My instinct says no, because he's cautious. When I interviewed him, I saw a very cautious guy. I didn't see some crazy bomb thrower. I can read people pretty well.
"So, I think he took the avenue to power that he had to take. I think he'll govern to the center like Clinton did. I think Clinton is his role model for governance. I think JFK is his role model for the campaign. And Obama has waged a brilliant campaign."
The most popular cable news host in the country has some very public enemies.
Take Keith Olbermann, who referred to O'Reilly as "Bill-O the Clown" on MSNBC's "Countdown," among other choice terms:
"The Fox News host presents himself as an independent. You know they could have also gone with 'Official Loofah Inspector,' or a 'Neilson Ratings Conspiracy Theorist,' or a 'Bold Fresh Piece of Expletive.'""What do you think of Keith Olbermann?" Smith asked.
"You know, I ignore all of those gutter snipes because they're just in it to hurt people," he said, "whether it's some guy on MSNBC or talk radio or wherever. Why would I engage that?"
"I think it bugs you a little bit," Smith said.
"Naah, the meanness of the discourse, in general, bothers me," O'reilly said. "Okay, now some people say, 'Well, you were mean to Barney Frank and you were mean to this one or that one.' Sometimes I go overboard, okay? But that's not my theme."
David Letterman bantered with O'Reilly on the subject: "Now, I joke about walking around and people say 'There he is ...get him!' But in your case it's true, isn't it?"
Letterman may have been only half-joking: O'Reilly says his views have made him a target.
"My life is dangerous now," he said. "You know, I have bodyguards and security. I can't go many places. I can't be in certain crowd situations. When I do a book signing, I gotta have a phalanx of state troopers there because there are crazy people. And then there're the Web sites and all of that, which are just totally out of control.
"They encourage these nuts. You know, I was thinking about John Lennon, you know, and John Lennon was tryin' to be a nice guy, signing the guy's thing and [Chapman] pops him. So, that is the worst part of the whole 'Factor' experience. The best part is I get to look out for the folks. And the folks know it. They know it. I've been doing this for more than 12 years.
"If you're a phony, they know."
In O'Reilly's case, you could take the boy out of Levittown, but you'd better not - no, you dare not even try to take the Levittown out of the boy.
"Do you know why you're so successful?" Smith asked.
"Yeah, I know, 'cause I'm one of the folks, that's why, and because I look out for them and they know that," O'Reilly said. "We had six million people watch us last night. And they know that now in the media there's somebody on their side, sincerely on their side, not some phony. So, why wouldn't you watch the guy like that?"
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."





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See all 59 CommentsTo me, in the last eight years poor leadership has created a big mess. Senator Obama is well aware of the mess. A President needs to know what the issues are, know how to negotiate and find and convince quality people to work with and beside him with the skill sets needed in each particular area. When I look at the candidates, Senator Obama has all of those qualities while Senator McCain does not. Senator McCain talks of fighting while Senator Obama talks about working together. With Senator Obama there seems to be hope again. America needs that.
"What do you think happens if McCain gets elected president?" Smith asked.
"Not much %u2014 I think McCain is a traditional politician," O''Reilly said. "I think that he will keep the economy in a low tax grade. He''ll be friendly to business because he wants business to expand, to employ more people. I think he''ll be a tough guy overseas - not a crazy guy, but a tough guy. And I think he''ll govern in a traditional manner. I''d go to the bank on that.
"If Obama''s elected, I don''t know what''s gonna happen. His whole career has been left wing. Is he an ideologue? Is he gonna bring a far-left sensibility into the White House? My instinct says no, because he''s cautious. When I interviewed him, I saw a very cautious guy. I didn''t see some crazy bomb thrower. I can read people pretty well.
"So, I think he took the avenue to power that he had to take. I think he''ll govern to the center like Clinton did. I think Clinton is his role model for governance. I think JFK is his role model for the campaign. And Obama has waged a brilliant campaign."
"Not Much". Yes, we''ll have the same *** we''ve had for the last 8 years. Thanks Bill!!
Now, trust me, that would be a h elluva show
Article from Yahoo! Just another example of republiCON distain for our country.
Bush team rushes environment policy changes
Whether it''s getting wolves off the Endangered Species List, allowing power plants to operate near national parks, loosening regulations for factory farm waste or making it easier for mountaintop coal-mining operations, these proposed changes have found little favor with environmental groups.
Even some free-market organizations have joined conservation groups to urge a moratorium on last-minute rules proposed by the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others.
John Kostyack of the National Wildlife Federation, which joined Lehrer''s group to call for a ban on these last-minute rules, said citizens are cut out of the process, allowing changes in U.S. law that the public opposes, such as rolling back protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Industry is likely to benefit if Bush''s rules on the environment become effective, Madia said.
"Whether it''s the electricity industry or the mining industry or the agriculture industry, this is going to remove government restrictions on their activity and in turn they''re going to be allowed to pollute more and that ends up harming the public," Madia said in a telephone interview.
What is unusual is the speedy trip some of these environmental measures are taking through the process.
You have spoken my feelings better than I can. Thank you.
I pray that for our country, Obama loses, spends four years learning how to be a statesman and then comes back for a second try. I think he is bright, has great leadership abilities, but at this point in his career he cannot be trusted."
Posted by Machineguy
Obama''s ten years in the Illinois Senate, plus his experience teaching Constitutional law make Obama exceptionally qualified.
So, in four years, after serving as President, will you come up with other excuses to suggest anyone else but Obama, for the next presidential election?
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Americans don''''t know many details about Obama -- but they know they don''''t know, and they know they don''''t know because the media won''''t investigate Obama. A steady stream of disconcerting reports of voter registration fraud, combined with an extremely heavy-handed approach to dealing with mild critics (like the illegal release of Joe the Plumber''''s private tax and divorce data) only adds to the feeling of unease.
I bet McCain will win.
-Ezra Levant
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Posted by iamdemocrat at 11:53 PM : Nov 02, 2008
You have spoken my feelings better than I can. Thank you.
I pray that for our country, Obama loses, spends four years learning how to be a statesman and then comes back for a second try. I think he is bright, has great leadership abilities, but at this point in his career he cannot be trusted.
ABC, CBS, CNN, and NBC are truth-manglers and have been for years. Their true colors are wide-open for all to see this election because they are propogandizing TO THEIR UTMOST to get Obama in office. Bill O''Reilly, the patriot, respects the intelligence of American citizens to digest the unbiased information and analysis he presents and make their own conclusions.
Bill O''''Reilly, as an American patriot, was right to blast Barney Frank since he was one of the chief Democrats as they caused the whole financial mess with their Clinton-signed legislation in the 1990''''s which lifted the Glass Steagal act, and then blocking legislation to fix Fannie and Freddie in 2006. And Barney Frank had the unmitigated gall to deny ANY culpability (Barney Frank has negative credibility). Bill O''''Reilly is all about America, which liberals do not understand or appreciate because they don''''t understand patriotism and they don''''t want to understand it. But they can sure dream up the lies to throw at people; like O''''Reilly says, they want no rules, no limits ..... on anything.
There is much to dislike about John McCain. But he is transparent, and Americans can know and weigh his flaws. I think Americans sense that they haven''t been let in on Obama''s true identity; they''re buying a pig in a poke. And the MSM''s increasingly absurd lengths to prop him up and tear down anyone opposed to him are backfiring. The MSM isn''t just running defence, they''re seen to be running defence -- the Los Angeles Times'' partisan decision not to release a videotape of Obama meeting with a Palestinian radical being the perfect example. Americans don''t know many details about Obama -- but they know they don''t know, and they know they don''t know because the media won''t investigate Obama. A steady stream of disconcerting reports of voter registration fraud, combined with an extremely heavy-handed approach to dealing with mild critics (like the illegal release of Joe the Plumber''s private tax and divorce data) only adds to the feeling of unease.
I bet McCain will win.
-Ezra Levant
I DID notice, however, that McCain has been lying about Obama''''s tax plan. Obama didn''''t change the plan - McCain is just lying about it. To summarize the plan: $250K: taxes won''''t increase.
$200 K: you will get a tax break.
Simple.
...
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Posted by smurfcrusher at 08:39 PM : Nov 02, 2008
OK, here are a couple examples:
1. "Hes just a guy in my neighborhood" (of course there is that book review I wrote for him, and that meeting at his house when I announced my entry to politics)
2. "I challenge the other candidates to accept public financing and limit their campaign to public financing rules so we can have a fair and ethical election" (of course when I found out how many people would pay me to get them a tax break I decided to not do this but I didnt tell anyone right away)
3. "Rev Wright is the preacher at my church and I have never heard him say anything against our country" (of course he married me and Michelle and baptised our kids and I think that video they show on YouTube must have happened one time when I wasnt at church.
Come on people, he lies better than the rest but he is a liar and you know it.
Lets talk again when the tax plan cometh.
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Posted by ZykraCosmos at 09:36 PM : Nov 02, 2008
Sadly, I agree with you far too much. We have lost our pride, our ingenuity, our ability to work together. Instead we sit on the left and right and throw stones. The politicians do it and so do we. The greatness we seek begins with working together, rebuilding our factories to compete with foreign workers, rebuilding our faith in one another. In the 70''s I marched to bring freedom to all Americans and today it has become a class war. Demands for tax breaks instead of demands for oportunities. fair distributions, not fair play. Its sad and I am seeing the fall of a great society.
About as middle of the road as Rush DimWitBaugh
As of Wed, goodbye republiCONS
Don''''t let the door hit you on the way out !!!
Power to the people, not corporations
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Posted by joe68sg1 at 08:49 PM : Nov 02, 2008
We need both corporations and people.
Without corporations we are a backward country dependent on farming and Home made products. There are no cars, planes, clothes, etc. Corporations used to be the way we made things for ourselves, and we were proud.
Without people we are for naught, nothing matters. So, people first but corporations need to be healthy so we can be healthy.
Why does it have to be one or the other? Another war we dont need.
About as middle of the road as Rush DimWitBaugh
As of Wed, goodbye republiCONS
Don''t let the door hit you on the way out !!!
Power to the people, not corporations
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