Bill O'Reilly's Obama Interview Shows Media Irresponsibility

[babylonsister]

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/susan-milligan/2011/02/07/bill-oreillys-obama-interview-shows-media-irresponsibility

Bill O'Reilly's Obama Interview Shows Media Irresponsibility

By Susan Milligan

Posted: February 7, 2011


Bill O’Reilly asked a very revealing question of President Obama during his pre-Super Bowl interview with the chief executive. But the revelation was about O’Reilly and modern media, and not the subject of the interview.

"Does it disturb you that so many people hate you?" Fox's O’Reilly asked Obama.

snip//

O’Reilly seemed almost disappointed by the answers—what did he expect, to make Obama cry?—but the exchanges, while saying little about the president’s real or imagined internal angst, said a great deal about the role of the media in exacerbating a hostile political environment. O’Reilly knows that. He is surely aware that people hate him (or more likely, hate what he says and represents), but I doubt it bothers him. You don’t get the high ratings O’Reilly and other combative TV hosts across the political spectrum get unless you are polarizing. And it’s maddening to flame-throwers when their target doesn’t fight fire with more fire. O’Reilly is capable of both graciousness and responsible journalism; he kindly thanked the administration for helping Fox’s correspondents out of a dangerous situation in Cairo, and he asked legitimate questions about healthcare and the future of the Middle East. Yet he had to placate his viewers by presenting the nation as one divided between people who hate the president and those who don’t.

The anonymity of the Internet has allowed a mob of cowards to post nasty comments and inaccurate accusations on websites, naming their victims but hiding behind the safety of screen names. And in moments of sincere frustration or just cynical self-promotion, people go on television or make YouTube videos in which they brutally malign people in public office. The First Amendment, thankfully, allows people to say both brilliant and idiotic things. What’s irresponsible is fueling fights for ratings or Web traffic. Obama’s behavior indicates he is unwilling to engage in petty political food fights, instead choosing to just do his job. The media might consider following suit.

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Pelosi: O'Reilly question to Obama on hate 'completely inappropriate'
By Michael O'Brien - 02/07/11 10:37 AM ET


It was "completely inappropriate" for Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly to ask President Obama about the people who "hate" him, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Monday.

Pelosi said O'Reilly's question, during an interview before Sunday's Super Bowl, made her wince upon hearing it again on Monday.

"Just seeing it again ... I thought was a completely inappropriate question, of course beautifully handled by the president," Pelosi told host Gayle King on the Oprah Radio network.

"To hear this used in the presence of the president of the United States — I think we all have to recognize that while we disagree with people, and may think that they are wrong," the word "hate" should never be used, Pelosi said.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/142437-pelosi-oreillys-question-to-obama-on-hate-completely-inappropriate

[glowing]

1. It made me wince too. My son is taught never to hate.

Hate is fear and anger and does nothing but make the person "hating" feel worse. It takes control away from you to hate: useful energy that could be going towards finding a solution towards dealing with that which we disagree with. That question was not only inappropriate for a "news" journalist; it's completely the wrong way to think about our nation as a whole and the people we are all have to live with.

[randr]

2. As is usually the case, BO had no intention of listening to answers

His questions are loaded so as to make some childish point he wants to advocate.
He is a totally unprofessional, sycophantic, narcissistic, undereducated, bore.
He likes to boost his ego with claims of overwhelming public support, as if 1% of the American population constitutes a mandate.

[underpants]

3. "hate" "Muslim Brotherhood" "liberal" - O'Reilly was just tossing out talking points

he knows that the utterance in front of any President is disrespectful. He also knows that the rightwing would coo's at the fact that Obama HAD TO FACE IT because they are basically children.

[indepat]

4. Why would O'Reilly want to show himself as a really big fu*k-head-wad for the TV world

to all see and hear? :shrug:

[Bluenorthwest]

5. That word is thrown around DU like a nerf ball

So Billo is on par with many here. Pelosi said it well I think.

[SkyDaddy7]

7. I agree. nt.

[Doctor_J]

6. Not bad for US Snooze

but I actually do hate O'Reilly.

[Sheepshank]

8. Bill O could take some lessons from Maddow

regarding interviewing techniques and showing cursory courtesies of letting a member of the opposition party finish a sentence or thought.

Bill O came across as someone who was fearful of actually having his questions answered.