A Conversation With Bill O'Reilly

The Kid From Levittown-Turned-Fox News Host Tells His "Only In America" Story

(CBS)  Bill O'Reilly's "The O'Reilly Factor" is a very big factor in the world of cable TV. Early Show anchor Harry Smith has prepared this Sunday Profile:

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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.

"I don't wanna ask you to," O'Reilly said. "But you gotta put it in perspective. Comfort really was like 16th on the priority list at the O'Reilly house."

"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?"

[eroosevelt08]

When the stock market really tanked not long ago I saw Karl Rove and Bill O''Reilly snitting at each other. It was a hoot!

To 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.

[trumpetmomx2]

Well I think Bill O''Reilly summed it up pretty good in his interview with Harry Smith on Sunday morning...

"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!!

[tejasdemo]

I would also love to hear him argue with a 50 something woman in full blown menopause on a bad day...you know, where she lost her advil.

Now, trust me, that would be a h elluva show

[tejasdemo]

I would like to see this guy''s opinion on menopause and the effect on everything from driving down the road to shopping for fruit.

[joe68sg1]

What does Billy have to say about this?

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.

[smurfcrusher]

"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."

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?

[longtree-2009]

bill o''reilly is all about ratings, sensationalism, and his earnings. he does a good job of ranting and raving but o''reilly has never changed anything. he does foment anger, hatred, frustration but there is no positive result excepting for venting his own frustrations and that of his viewers. but bottom line, nothing changes. he is not the only one to have had a tough upbringing. he is fortunate enough to make a good living just ranting and raving. but bill o''reilly does not change a thing in anyone''s life, the political system, the nation, nothing. pure entertainment if you like that sort of thing.

[eus109937]

O''Reilly makes over $30 million a year. He will keep saying what he says and doing what he does because he makes a ton of money doing it. He cares nothing for this country or our political system or the people of the USA. He only cares about the almighty dollar.

[McHineguy]

I believe many Americans are uneasy because Obama has masked himself (with the media''''s aid). He''''s masked his past, his friendships and alliances, his philosophy, and even his family details. But every now and then the mask slips and reveals a cultural radical; a constitutional radical; a socialist radical; a foreign affairs radical. And though the mask is quickly fixed back on, and the slip duly papered over by the MSM, I think doubts linger with middle America.
...
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.

[logicnothuff]

Bravo Bill O''''Reilly the patriot. Liberals can''''t stand him because he''''s got the floor on his show and liberals were spoiled by OWNING the networks (ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC) for the years before FOX. Look at O''''Reilly''''s approach; it focused on facts and data and analysis.

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.

[logicnothuff]

Bravo Bill O''Reilly the patriot. Liberals can''t stand him because he''s got the floor on his show and liberals were spoiled by OWNING the networks (ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC) for the years before FOX. Look at O''Reilly''s approach; it is data focused. He deals in facts, not innuendo and omitted information, which is what ABC, CBS, CNN, and NBC have been doing for years. FOX news drives the liberals insane, and they respond by ranting and raving and shouting fact-less lies. Note that none of the liberals have stated facts in their attacks; it''s all ranting and raving. 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. 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.

[lucasnico]

O''Reilly''s a liar....he makes stuff up..... traditional marriage in Sweden collapsing, US no longer trading with France...and how about the millions he paid former coworker Andrea Mackis to destroy his "special phone messages."

[iamdemocrat]

I believe many Americans are uneasy because Obama has masked himself (with the media''s aid). He''s masked his past, his friendships and alliances, his philosophy, and even his family details. But every now and then the mask slips and reveals a cultural radical; a constitutional radical; a socialist radical; a foreign affairs radical. And though the mask is quickly fixed back on, and the slip duly papered over by the MSM, I think doubts linger with middle America.
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

[heuristic1]

A lot of good Americans would fail the Bill O''Reilly patriot test. O''Reilly''s "good American" falls along predictable religious, class, race and political ideologue lines. It is narrow and exclusive, a white, Christians only country club for people of a certain income who live in paranoid gaited communities. It is no wonder he arouses strong emotions, mostly negative.

[hazelknows]

He bullies people in interviews, tells them what they really mean, and shuts the mike off or tells them to shut up when he does not want to hear their point of the discussion. He is a loyal-right winger, water carrier of the neocons and a rube. I can see how his show, The Factor, is regularly loosing in ratings to MSNBC%u2019s Countdown and Rachel Maddow show, he is lucky to be third, enjoy your new contract with Faux News la ooz rr.

[McHineguy]

... But since you brought it up, I noticed you didn''''t mention "how" Obama supposedly lied. Accusations without evidence? Seems like something from the Billy O playbook.

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.

[McHineguy]

I''''m convinced.. that O''''Reiley''''s convinced.. that he''''s "lookin'''' out for the people." Sad. Can''''t hate a guy like this. Can''''t hate people who follow him. Just sad. I guess the Europeans are right, actually.. we aren''''t all that bright as a group of people- we Americans. Look who we''''re choosing as our leaders. Though we are still able to control the world''''s economy, we''''ve sure enough lost our leadership role in all other respects.. and that''''s - ... sad.


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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.

[zykracosmos]

I''m convinced.. that O''Reiley''s convinced.. that he''s "lookin'' out for the people." Sad. Can''t hate a guy like this. Can''t hate people who follow him. Just sad. I guess the Europeans are right, actually.. we aren''t all that bright as a group of people- we Americans. Look who we''re choosing as our leaders. Though we are still able to control the world''s economy, we''ve sure enough lost our leadership role in all other respects.. and that''s - ... sad.

[McHineguy]

Bill O''''Reilly = republiCON idiot

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.

[joe68sg1]

Bill O''Reilly = republiCON idiot

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