Joan Walsh: Why I Went On 'The O'Reilly Factor'

[Hissyspit]

http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/politics/2009/06/12/oreilly_walsh/?source=newsletter

FRIDAY JUNE 12, 2009 19:13 EDT

Why I went on "The O'Reilly Factor"
(UPDATED after The O'Reilly Factor aired)

I was surprised when so many people I respect told me not to appear on "The O'Reilly Factor." I'd attacked Bill O'Reilly for his jihad against Dr. George Tiller, and he asked me on to discuss my "accusations." I thought that was fair. I could explain my point of view to his face; to say no felt like being a punk. But smart and supportive friends, family, co-workers, Twitterers and media stars all over the country reached out and suggested I skip it.

I thought about it, but not for long. I like doing TV. I'm not terrible at it. I criticized him, I should have the guts to repeat it to his face. I also need to say that when I announced I'd said yes, every one of the doubters, and more, sent me great advice and good wishes. (Thanks to Media Matters who, unbidden, just had staff start sending me clips to watch, about O'Reilly's lies. And if you're not on Twitter, well, Twitter rocked for me.) My daughter coached me; so did my litigator ex-husband, so did my friend and Salon co-conspirator Kerry Lauerman. It takes a village to debate Bill O'Reilly!

His producers also helped by doing that thing they do: "Hey, Bill really respects you for coming on the show! He wants to have a conversation! It'll be fine!" (And they promoted my appearance on the show by identifying me on the Web site as "Joan Walsh of Slate.com.")

Well, it was so not fine. I think the high or low point was when he shrieked at me, "You have blood on your hands!" At one point he also either told me to "Shut up" or "Be quiet," I can't remember. (If I'm wrong about that, when I see the clip, I'll correct it. UPDATE: Actually, he shouted "Stop talking!") He called me "vile." I think I said he was vile, too. There were a couple of "I know you are but what am I?" moments that I'm not totally proud of. It was a kaleidoscopic nightmare, a TV acid trip, and I don't do acid. It almost seems like O'Reilly does, but I don't think so. The man is driven by demons. God bless him and save him.

Now all I can really do is wait for the edited, taped version to air at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. And as one media friend, urging me not to do it (while sending me great newsy tidbits of O'Reillyisms that I used), explained, I'm not likely to feel good about it: "This is not about debate nor offering an alternate point of view. This is the Harlem Globetrotters, and if you're too good to be the Washington Generals, he will make you into them by editing and lying."

MORE AT LINK

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I saw the video, and am in awe of her calm and rational appearance.

It was a contrast to the screaming, spitting, shouting irrationality of O'Lielly. She held her own, and never lowered herself to his level. The more he screamed, the softer she spoke. She drove him crazy...er..crazier than he was. I was hoping o"Lielly's head would literally explode.
I admire Ms Walsh's courage and ability to stay focused and coherent when faced with a charging bull....an ugly, screaming, insane bull.

[BlooInBloo]

2. I want to feel sorry for her, but the only thing going thru my head is "Heh. Sucker"....

I wonder if Greenwald or Franken were among the "so many people I respect told (her) not to appear"?

[madeline_con]

4. Why? She did fine and made him look like an ass.

[Berry Cool]

16. I wouldn't be surprised if Keith Olbermann was.

He may well have been the one who warned her it was going to be Globetrotters vs. Generals, no matter what Billo had to do to make it so.

The man is not interested in healthy debate. He's only interested in making those who oppose him look bad. The game is fixed for him to win no matter what. Liberals are fools for taking him up on it. By doing so, they turn themselves into Charlie Brown, really believing that Lucy will hold the football until they kick it. I have never understood why they continue to go on his show. I guess it's because so many of them have just enough ego to think they will be the exception to the rule. Um, no. No matter how good you are, you won't be, because he's going to make sure you lose. I guess their egos is what he banks on to provide him with a steady supply of "debate opponents."

[madeline_con]

3. He actually told her to stop talking. The look on his face was that of

a totally sexist control freak. I know that look, I used to be married to a sexist control freak. He was SOOO pissed! She powned him. :rofl:

[JDPriestly]

5. Bush united the Democratic Party.

Obama is tearing it apart. This is despicable. Silence is golden.

[parasim]

6. Is there a video of it somewhere? I missed it. nt

[Hissyspit]

9. Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x323890

[JDPriestly]

7. Joan Walsh was wonderful. Very poised and well spoken. She

really has class.

[lapfog_1]

8. Wait a few months...

When Senator Al Frankin subpoenas Bill O'Liely to testify before his subcommittee on Extremist Violence and the Media.

:) :) :)

(Get him on a perjury charge... yeah, that's the ticket!)

[armyowalgreens]

10. I think it's always a bad idea for any liberal to go on O'Reilly...

She isn't able to say what she wants to say. Her words are constantly being twisted by Bill. The audience isn't actually getting the real story. It only falsely represents Walsh and our movement. It did nothing but empower Bill and his followers.

Just bad all around.

[Enthusiast]

11. While Joan was wonderful

her appearance on there was a boost to asshole's credibility. My theory is to starve them of credible left wing guests.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. I think she missed an opportunity.

Though I think she did well, I always wish his guests would educate his audience and not allow his mantras to stand.

When people are defending Dr. Tiller, why do they let asswipes like O'Reilly get away with the same meme that he kills late-term fetuses...as a blanket statement?

Why don't they ever talk about the REAL situations of these late-term abortions. How most of the fetuses are ALREADY dead or they will be within hours of being out of the mother's womb.

The right-wing hatemongers give the impression that there are thousands and thousands of completely healthy babies that welfare queen mothers are aborting because the pregnancy is suddenly "inconvenient" (wtf?), and no one challenges that. The liberal guest just confirms that it's legal.

As with EVERYTHING, the sheeple need to be educated about the reality of the vast majority of these late-term abortions, not just say "it's legal." Not if they want to educate anyone listening, that is.

I would hope people go on there to educate his viewers -- however few they may be who are open-minded enough to LISTEN and learn -- not just argue with him.

[Hatalles]

13. Does Joan have a public e-mail address?

For reader/viewer feedback? Thanks in advance.

[tomreedtoon]

14. Face it, folks. She LOST. O'Reilly WON.

He managed to humiliate a liberal icon for most of the interview. He got a chance to show how OUTRAGED he was that such a traitor to the United States of O'Reilly wasn't shot dead on the spot.

Take a look at the 500-odd responses to her post on Salon, at the link in the OP. Most people agreed she was stupid to even approach that bastard and give him authenticity.

[spanone]

17. he has nothing to win. his audience is neanderthals....ms walsh lost nothing. imho

[tomreedtoon]

21. She wasted time and her reputation. He WON.

The great fallacy of liberals in general, and intellectuals like Walsh in particular, is they believe in the power of their ideas. They believe that if people would just sit down and listen to their ideas, people would be convinced of their rightness and would abandon those ignorant right-wing beliefs.

O'Reilly and the right wing know better. They know that people are moved by emotion. They are moved by fear, anger, violence and madness. Oh, people might eventually feel ashamed by the way they have been used, but they don't think when they're being stampeded.

The only thing Walsh could have done that would have won over people to her point of view is if she broke her conditioning, her mind-numbing belief in ideas and her fear of physical action. If she had been in the studio and kicked O'Reilly in the crotch as he mouthed his nonsense, she probably would have alienated everyone on DU - but she would have won the respect of O'Reilly's audience and perhaps changed THEIR minds.

[magellan]

15. I couldn't watch the whole thing

O'Reilly is the biggest, most vile drama queen going. He doesn't know how to debate without being abusive and constantly talks over and down to people. NO ONE on the left should give this piece of human trash the time of day. It's a waste of time.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. She should have followed her friends' advice

Billo won that one. Yes, she tried. Yes, she fought valiantly. Yes, she was full of facts to refute him at every turn.

The only way to win against Billo is to follow the paths set by Franken and Olbermann - attack him hard and often, but not on his air. And answer everything he says after that. Everything.

[gauguin57]

19. "God bless him and save him"? Sorry, Joan. Not down with that.

There's a bible verse about God "spitting you out of My mouth."

That's what I'm talkin' about!

[merh]

20. Just an FYI on that expert that billO kept referring to:

Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Morrison threatens to sue Kline abortion witness

Expert witness Paul McHugh, a psychiatrist, could face disciplinary action for revealing information in Wichita abortion records

The Wichita Eagle - June 13, 2007

Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison on Tuesday threatened to sue a psychiatric expert hired by his predecessor if he doesn't stop making public statements about medical records from an investigation of Wichita abortion provider George Tiller.

In a letter, Morrison told psychiatrist Paul McHugh that if he persists, the attorney general's office will "pursue all available remedies."

That could include legal action to get a refund of $5,000 the state has paid McHugh and possible disciplinary action against him in his home state of Maryland.

Morrison said McHugh should have kept the information confidential to protect the integrity of the investigation and the medical privacy rights of the patients involved.

"Rather than complying with those obligations, you have chosen to engage in a politically driven media campaign," Morrison wrote. "Your actions do a disservice to you, the medical profession and Johns Hopkins University." . .

http://evolvinginkansas.blogspot.com/2007/06/morrison-threatens-to-sue-kline.html