Geraldo Sticks it to Bill O'Reilly

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 11:35:39 PM EST
Tags: Bill O'Reilly, Geraldo Rivera (all tags)

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Crooks and Liars has the video, you have to see it. Bill O'Reilly almost busted a gut.

GERALDO: "Cool your jets! It has nothing to do with illegal aliens…it has to do with drunk driving! Don't obscure a tragedy to make a cheap political point. It is a cheap political point and you know it!!"

Background from Oliver Willis:

"A young girl was tragically killed by a drunk driver. But this was not enough for O'Reilly. Instead, because the criminal was an illegal alien he added this incident to his ongoing crusade against the brown people. Luckily Geraldo was on the show and he - to his credit - called out O'Reilly's xenophobia for exactly what it was. This drove Bill O'Reilly insane. I was almost certain he was going to reach across the table and hit Geraldo."

The issue is drunk driving, not immigration -- as correctly noted by the victim's family and the town Mayor.

More...

The mayor and Tessa Tranchant's father both said that making an issue out of immigration loses the focus that the girls were killed by a man that police said was driving drunk. Ray Tranchant said, "We need to heal, and to bring immigration, that's disrespectful to a family who's just mourning."

I wonder if O'Reilly will have Tom Tancredo on tomorrow night to try and help him bail from his wanton performance tonight.

Update: For the most colorful description of the segment, check out TRex at Firedoglake, who also suggests the proper punishment for O'Reilly: He should be "soundly spanked and sent to the Hague without any dinner."

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Geraldo Sticks it to Bill O'Reilly | 55 comments (55 topical)

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Celebrity death match (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Repack Rider on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 07:52:29 AM EST

It's like a fight between Dick Cheney and Trent Lott.

Who CARES which guy wins? You want them both to lose.

It's Theater (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by Stewieeeee on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 08:13:04 AM EST

At the very end of the "argument", Geraldo says "Seriously, one of the wonderful things about our network is...."

It's a theater. It was the big bully professional wrestler letting himself get beat to earn some sympathy.

The whole purpose of that exchange had absolutely nothing to do with what they were talking about. It had nothing at all to do with drunk driving or immigration

It had everything to do with, the ONLY purpose of that exchange was to prop up the idea that fox news channel is somehow open to differences to opinion, that it's a fair and balanced free exchange of ideas.

The headline at Crooks and Liars should not be...

Bill O'Reilly's head practically explodes as he screams at Geraldo...

the headline at firedoglake should not be:

Conservatives UNHINGED!!

the headline at TalkLeft should not be:

the headline should be:

BILL-O AND GERALDO FAKE AN ARGUMENT!

it seems awkward to me that progressive blogosphere doesn't get this.

Remember. They both calm down. Smile at each other. And then. At the very end of the "argument", Geraldo says "Seriously, one of the wonderful things about our network is...."

And why do you think (none / 0) (#14)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 09:50:22 AM EST

that people can't have a political disagreement and then agree to disagree and get on with life??


oh i'm sure they can (none / 0) (#17)
by Stewieeeee on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 10:23:59 AM EST

but it doesn't prove what a great network fnc is.


True, but you have no proof it was staged.... (none / 0) (#21)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 10:54:36 AM EST

: My only proof (none / 0) (#26)
by Stewieeeee on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 12:15:16 PM EST

is what Geraldo said at the very end of the clip.

: Staged Entertainment (none / 0) (#54)
by squeaky on Sat Apr 07, 2007 at 02:48:50 PM EST

What do you think, the TV is reality. You must have believed in the game shows as well.

Clueless (1.00 / 1) (#2)
by jarober on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 12:58:07 AM EST

Since you're fixated on race, substitute "skipped bail" for illegal immigrant".

If that were the story, would you still not care? Ponder the phrase "illegal immigrant" a few times, paying close attention to the term "illegal". As a member of the bar, it really should sink in after awhile.

liberal misunderstanding (1.00 / 2) (#5)
by cgz2001 on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 03:49:12 AM EST

Geraldo is an idiot. He's too self-rightous to see what Bill is even saying.

All Bill is trying to say is that if the illegal alien, which isn't supposed to be in the country in the first place, wasn't here like he shouldn't be, both teenagers would be alive. It has nothing to do with latinos. It has nothing to do with drunk drivers. The man behind the wheel just happened to be both in this case.

Next week we'll here about another person who was shot or something by an illegal immigrant. Maybe he'll be brazilian, or whatever. The situation does not change the core problem: illegal immigrants are pouring into this country, illegally, against the law, and some of them are causing harm to our countrymen / countrywomen. Let me repeat - IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LATINOS / DRUNK DRIVERS. I can't believe that's all Geraldo saw! This is why Bill was so infuriated, justly so because of Geraldo's self-rightous attitude. Next time it should be his daughters!

Again, let me reiterate: IF THE ILLEGAL ALIEN WAS NOT IN THIS COUNTRY, TWO TEENAGERS WOULD BE ALIVE. THE ILLEGAL BROKE OUR LAW BY COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEPORTED. HE WAS NOT, STAYED **ILLEGALLY** AND THEN KILLED TWO OF OUR LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.

And, if the Illegal alien (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Peaches on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 08:17:40 AM EST

didn't get behind the wheel drunk, two teenagers would be alive. Plus, if the the teenage girl would have stayed home for five more minutes to finish her dessert with her family, she would still be alive. In fact, there are a whole host of random events that took place leading up to the horrible tragedy. Focusing on one (illegal alien in the country) does not mean that this one event is the cause. Solving the Illegal Alien problem will not lead to less individuals in the USA dying from the hands of drunk drivers. If you want less individuals to be killed by drunk drivers you write and enforce tougher laws against driving under the influence. Likewise, if you wish to reduce the number of illegal Aliens in the country you write and enforce laws against illegal immigration. THey are two separate issues and you don't mix the two up.

Writing laws to further restrict illegal immigration so you can lower the incidence of teenagers killed by drunk drivers is asinine. Likewise for lowering the homocide rate in the USA.


Can you imagine (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by squeaky on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 08:24:29 AM EST

O'liely arguing banning booze because people drink, drive and kill.

That would be a bit more logical than his argument, even though also false.


Hmmmmm (1.00 / 1) (#12)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 09:44:26 AM EST

You are absolutely correct regarding random events.

But one thing is for certain.

If the illegal alien had not been in the US, the random events in this particular tradegy would not have occurred.

Ergo. The root cause was his presence.

Unless, of course, you are prepared to argue that "what is to be will be."

The old Woman of Fate sits at her spinning wheel, cackling shrilly while weaving the web that controls us all...

And by extension, all problems created by illegal aliens would not happen if the illegal aliens did not exist.


not logical (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by squeaky on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 09:55:29 AM EST

If the illegal alien had not been in the US, the random events in this particular tradegy would not have occurred.
Ergo. The root cause was his presence.

The root cause doesn't stop where you want it to stop, just so you can bash hispanic immigrants. That is foolish, there can be no root cause unless you are able to trace back to the beginning of time.


You are making things up (1.00 / 1) (#19)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 10:47:26 AM EST

when you claim I am bashing hispanic immigrants. I did not use the word, refer to his ethinic background, or even say unkind words about him.

Making things up and charging people with having said/done them is called smearing. And given that you admit that you operate that way, it often leads me to believe that you know you are making things up. There is a word for such actions.

As proof, I offer the reader your own words.

Posted by Squeaky at September 19, 2005 11:19 PM
Rove never needed proof for his smear machine, why should I.

And the facts are simple. The root cause was the actions of the illegal alien, which includes being in the US illegally.

That is an indisputable fact.

If he had not been here, this would not have happened.

There are 15 million illegal aliens in the US. It is not unreasonable to understand that some of them will be involved in criminal acts.

This fact is not a "bash" of anyone, no more than any other fact is a bash of anyone.

Removing the 15 million will remove, the "bad" along with the "good."


Lying again ppj (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by squeaky on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 11:25:58 AM EST

Your position on hispanic immigrants is well known on TL. We have been given your Jacksionan racist link over and over. You don't have to spell out your disdain for spanish speaking immigrants, we get it. Ant the subtext to this whole issue is bigotry and racism, that is a given. O'liely and you are on the same page. Substitute jew for illegal immigrant in the same example and you will understand what the Nazis did and what you are doing.

The fact that he was an undocumented immigrant had zero to do with the accident. To suggest that the solution to saving lives in America is to get rid of all undocumented immigrants is very much like 'final solution' arguments.

As for smearing, you are the emulator of Rove, as well as all your swiftbaoters and faux news propagandists whose whole program is smearing.

The quote that you are so fond of repeating, taken out of context, shows how utterly dishonest you are. I have never emulated Rove, one of your heros. To suggest that I am emulating Rove is a baldfaced lie.


squeaky writes (none / 0) (#30)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 01:10:25 PM EST

I have never emulated Rove, one of your heros. To suggest that I am emulating Rove is a baldfaced lie

Squeaky. These and your previous comments illustrate perfectly what you do. You made a claim re Hispanic, and when I pointed out:

..when you claim I am bashing hispanic immigrants. I did not use the word, refer to his ethinic background, or even say unkind words about him.

Those words were absolutely correct.

Yet your response is to make another unsupported claim, and call me a liar.

That's a smear, squeaky. Pure and simple.

And I love it when you make wild claims about something you obviously haven't read. Here you are folks. Read what Squeaky claims is racist.

Really, squeaky, thank you for again proving my point.

BTW - Driving while intoxicated is not an accident.

It is a willful breaking of the law and taking actions that are known to cause death, injury and property damage.

The fact is that this man is an illegal alien. I would guess that this means that he has either no license, or a fake one. This means that he mostly likely has had NO driver's training, and if he has had other driving problems, they are not known, and were ignored by him.

You see, that is one of the very real and very large problems of tolerating illegal aliens. Since they are outside the law, they have a tendancy to remain outside the law because they aren't reported. Many times this works to the disadvantage of the illegal aliens, but it also works to the disadvantage of society.


: BTW - Squeaky (none / 0) (#34)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 01:24:54 PM EST

O'Reilly said Alfredo Ramos should have been deported after a previous drinking charge.

: Horrible (none / 0) (#36)
by squeaky on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 01:33:46 PM EST

You are clearly engaging in bigotry and it is revolting. Nothing new.
If it were a certain time in the South and a black person was at the wheel, the same racist bigotry would come spewing out, calling for death to blacks.
And the same goes for germany in the 30's. If a jew ran someone over while drunk it would be a cause celebre for putting them all in death camps.
The fact that you cannot see your own participation in promulgating hate against hispanic immigrants is amazing, not surprising though.

And if his status had been legal (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by Molly Bloom on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 11:47:00 AM EST

Would the death not have occured anyway?

Its not his legal status, at best, its his presence. His status, legal or illegal has nothing to do with it.

Yes, you are correct, Likewise (none / 0) (#16)
by Peaches on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 10:08:55 AM EST

all problems created by terrorists would not exist if terrorists did not exist.

All problems created by soldiers would not exist, if soldiers did not exist.

All problems created by Italians would not exist, if Italians did not exist.

All problems created by unemployed would not exist, if the unemploeyed did not exist.

All problems created by dark people would not exist, if dark people did not exist.

All problems created by men would not exist if men did not exist.

All problems created by humans would not exist, if humans did not exist.


I think I had this discussion (none / 0) (#20)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 10:52:47 AM EST

after a few beers when I was 17.... ;-)

The question becomes, what should be done in advance to prevent the problem.

And who defines the problem??

BTW - Is the cold snap hurting your gardening efforts? I am in a frenzy of covering and fighting the cold.

Where, oh where, I ask, is Global Warming when I need it??


: I don't have much outside, yet. (none / 0) (#22)
by Peaches on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 10:58:28 AM EST

The warm spell a couple of weeks ago, had me taking off the winter mulch over my Garlic and Strawberries, so I worry a little bit about them (it wa in the single digits last night), but they should be all right. I have somethings planted in coldframes getting ready for transplant, but they should be fine too. Everything else is in the greenhouse. I'm just getting antsy because I want to get out and start working in the dirt.

Actually, strictly speaking, (none / 0) (#37)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 01:57:11 PM EST

Solving the Illegal Alien problem will not lead to less individuals in the USA dying from the hands of drunk drivers.

this is untrue.

If by "solving" you mean removing illegal aliens from our country, there certainly should be less deaths at the hands of drunk drivers because there will be less drivers - and less drunk drivers - on our roads.

Of course, we'd accomplish the same result if we removed all sarcastic guys and guys named after fruit instead. ;-)


Faulty Logic (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by squeaky on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 02:10:08 PM EST

Some of the undocumented immigrants who you would send away will have stopped others who are either citizens or documented immigrants from getting in their car while drunk. They will have saved lives.

Many germans did not think that the Jews had anything to contribute to their society either. America lucked out on that one as many of the refugees made it over here and contributed big time.


: I bow to your intellect, squeaky. (none / 0) (#39)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 02:19:39 PM EST

Proximate cause (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by Molly Bloom on Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 08:24:01 AM EST

Why not jail the employer? If the employer hadn't been willing to employ an illegal alien, the illegal alien wouldn't be here...

Meet Helen Palsgraf