Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly republishes atheist propaganda
By Erik Wemple
December 4 at 9:46 AM
At first glance, O’Reilly’s campaign against atheists is bad for them: In front of an audience of millions, the host bashes their attempts to end governmental recognition of a religious celebration — Christmas, that is — as a federal holiday. He ridicules them. He has called them a “merry band of fascists.” In denouncing them, however, O’Reilly also promotes them. Last year around this time, the Erik Wemple Blog reported that donations to American Atheists Inc. spike after an appearance on “The O’Reilly Factor” or “Hannity.”
And surely American Atheists were thrilled with Tuesday* night’s “War on Christmas” installment. For more than five minutes, O’Reilly criticized a campaign by American Atheists to place billboards in southern U.S. cities and Milwaukee. They showcase a child wearing a Santa hat and a message: “Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is to skip church. I’m too old for fairy tales.”
As he trashed the billboard, O’Reilly also showed the billboard. Three times, for a total of about 40 seconds. Helpful producers provided close-ups of the sign as well as wide views of the sign, just so the viewers could sample it from different angles. PR types know this as “earned media.”
“I have no complaints there,” says Danielle Muscato, spokeswoman for American Atheists. “Part of the reason that we do these billboard campaigns the way we do them is for press attention as well as just for people driving by.” Muscato says that the group attempted to get a sign placed in Mississippi, but the billboard company declined to put it up because of its “content.” Perhaps the group last night got through to some Mississippi viewers of “The Factor.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2014/12/04/tis-the-season-for-fox-newss-bill-oreilly-to-republish-atheist-propaganda/
5:16 video at link.
On a side note, I'm glad he got Danielle Muscato's name right.
= new reply since forum marked as read
