On Thursday's The O'Reilly Factor, FNC host Bill O'Reilly hosted a discussion with FNC analyst and former CBS News correspondent Bernard Goldberg, as the two pointed out the mainstream media's double standard in "obsessing" over how protesters who have been challenging ObamaCare were organized, but have shown no interest in the organization of protesters by left-wing groups. After O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo" addressed the subject, Goldberg observed:
The word "hypocrisy" in your "Talking Points" is the key word. Civil rights demonstrations, anti-war demonstrations, pro-abortion rights demonstrations, environmental demonstrations, I don't remember the media obsessing about who got these people out to the demonstration site, who orchestrated the demonstration, who manufactured, to use another of their words, the anger at the demonstrations. ... But the media only feels an obligation to look behind the curtain at the forces that are orchestrating and manufacturing the demonstrations when it's a conservative demonstration.
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Thursday, August 6, The O'Reilly Factor on FNC:
Story Continues Below Ad ↓BILL O'REILLY: Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly. Thanks for watching us tonight. The health care protests, that is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points Memo." As you may know, there is a great debate going on over health care in this country. It's very intense and some Democratic politicians have within harshly treated in town hall meetings. You may have seen the video, but here's another look.
[CLIPS FROM TOWN HALL MEETINGS SHOWN]
O'REILLY: Now, the White House believes many of the protesters are organized right-wing zealots. And there's some evidence to back that up. For example, a Web site called Americans for Prosperity actually instructs people on to how to disrupt the health care meetings. How much reach that Web site has is impossible to ascertain.
But here's the hypocrisy. During the Vietnam era, protests against the war were almost always organized by the far left. There was an entire industry devoted to undermining that war. Millions of dollars were spent doing it. Yet, the press had little problem with the anti-war movement. In fact, it was glorified.
Just a few years ago, the Minutemen were shouted down at Columbia University. Certainly that was organized. And then speakers like Ann Coulter have been assaulted by left-wing kooks, throwing pies at her, shouting her down. The radical left Code Pink shows up all over the place in organized protests. The list goes on forever.
"Talking Points" has not justified bad behavior by pointing to other bad behavior. I don't like insulting rhetoric at town hall meetings by anyone. People should be able to state their case without personal attacks. And I suggest all Americans bring some measure of civility to the debate.
However, organized protests is not un-American. And the left is now getting a big taste of its own medicine. Again, it's impossible to know what emotions are spontaneous and what are contrived. But if you want to know the truth about health care, the polling tells the tale. Most Americans now believe President Obama's health care vision is not good for them. And all the spin in the world will not disprove that fact. And that's the Memo.
Now for the top story tonight. How is the media covering the intense health care debate? Joining us from North Carolina, Fox News analyst Bernie Goldberg. In virtually every report, CBS Evening News, ABC Evening news, NBC Evening News, CNN, every hard news report in the first paragraph or two, it's well, this could be organized, da, da, da. And I don't remember hearing that about the other protests. Do you?
BERNIE GOLDBERG, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: No. And the word "hypocrisy" in your talking points is the key word. Civil rights demonstrations, anti-war demonstrations, pro-abortion rights demonstrations, environmental demonstrations, I don't remember the media obsessing about who got these people out to the demonstration site, who orchestrated the demonstration, who manufactured, to use another of their words, the anger at the demonstrations.
And nor should the media have looked behind that curtain. Americans have every right to demonstrate. Just as the people who go to these town hall meetings do. Nobody's holding a gun to their head. They go because they want to. Nobody's saying if you don't go, we're going to kidnap your kids. But the media only feels an obligation to look behind the curtain at the forces that are orchestrating and manufacturing the demonstrations when it's a conservative demonstration.
O'REILLY: But here's the rub.
GOLDBERG: That is the hypocrisy.
O'REILLY: The town hall meeting's open to everyone. Everybody can show up. So you could have just as many people fervently wanting Obama's health care plan.
GOLDBERG: Right.
O'REILLY: But you don't. They're either not there, not talking. And then when one of these demonstrators gets up there, maybe the person's a professional plant, maybe a far right zealot, who knows? We don't know. But the crowd is with them. So what are you telling me, that everybody who shows up is organized and that there's nobody on the other side showing up? Doesn't make any sense.
GOLDBERG: No, it doesn't. But I want to look at this from a media point of view. And I'm really glad that you use the word hypocrisy, because that's what runs through all of this. Yesterday, somebody in the Obama administration, Linda Douglass, who I know and I think you know, said if you have any fishy, her word, fishy information, misleading information about Obama's health care plan, send it to us at the White House.
Look, I'm not one of those paranoids who thinks that oh yeah, they're going to get the names of the people and then, you know, sick the IRS on them. I'm not saying that. But can you imagine, Bill, can you imagine if somebody in the George W. Bush administration-
O'REILLY: Sure, they would have gone wild.
GOLDBERG: -said if you disagree with the, if somebody disagrees with the President, send us those emails. The New York Times would run a month long page one series. And the stories about the fascistic Bush administration would be under headlines the size of the U.S. bomb Hiroshima.
O'REILLY: No doubt. And it's interesting you mentioned that because in the block after you, the B block after you, we're going to discuss that very thing with Judge Napolitano who says there is a fascistic element to it.
All right, now, so that once again, we know that the reportage in America, we're talking hard news reportage now, isn't fair and balanced. That if it is a left-wing cause, and organized by Internet sites or whatever on the left, that's fine. There's no problem with that. We're not even going to bother to cover it.
But if it is a conservative movement, or organized by the right, then there's something dastardly about it. And I don't think it's any -- that's as clear as it can get.
—Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.





















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Well sure
Mon, 08/10/2009 - 10:48 ET by 10ksnookerThey know the DNC and the Joker are behind the Astroturffers on the left ... What's new there to learn.
Oh you mean you thought the media was supposed to inform people of the facts. Silly you.
Why doesn't the SRM try to walk and chew gum at the same time?
Mon, 08/10/2009 - 11:15 ET by Red JeepWhy doesn't the SRM report on the health care legislation that has people so angered? Try to understand why.
Try doing two things at once. Report on the demonstrations, the protests, but also report on what is causing these things to happen. It is a very important issue after all.
Perhaps an agenda is getting in the way of reporting the whole story.
2005 vs 2009
Mon, 08/10/2009 - 11:16 ET by slickwillie2001Last night I pointed out in a link provided that when the democratics successfully shut down debate over Social Security reform in 2005 via meetings with representatives, the democratics were proud of the astroturfed machine created to do so. The supplicant old networks showed the buses and the mass produced signs and the instructions to protesters as to how to be disruptive, and presented the level of organization as a compliment to the democratic party. To them that was a demonstration of the power of democracy and a sign that the democratics were right on the issues.
Four years later the process is a real grassroots movement, and suddenly it's thuggery. What changed?
The people will
Mon, 08/10/2009 - 11:30 ET by jessieHThe people will shout. the govt. will deny. The people will ask. The govt will lie. The people will march. the govt. will cry. The people will fight. the govt. will die. Congress doesn't deserve any respect.
Organizing for America
Mon, 08/10/2009 - 11:32 ET by FAQsIt's not like journalists have to investigate who organizes the left wing activists. Last week Obama sent a please commit to attending an event email. I'm guessing most journalists are on his email list since they got signed up when donating to his campaign. A copy of that email is on his web site.
Media Focus
Mon, 08/10/2009 - 11:34 ET by GatorEdThe Dems will focus the media on the conflict, not the substance of the medical debate. First, call it astro-turfed protests, then send out their astro-turfers...then the whole thing becomes a Jerry Springer epsiode and no one is paying attention to the matter at hand. The media is being played, they are a just a tool, and they don't even know they are a tool.
Media Focus
Mon, 08/10/2009 - 11:37 ET by Sergeant ROCKAn astute observation. You should be on TV.
However, I don't think the MSM is as gullible as you believe.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Media Focus
Mon, 08/10/2009 - 12:00 ET by GatorEdVery correct! No they are not gullible, but their biases have blinded them to the point that they lost the ability to be objective...therefore becoming tools of left.