An Iraq War widow called out the mainstream media’s anti-military bias, and the only national news outlet to pick it up was Fox News Channel’s "The O’Reilly Factor." Appearing on the October 24 edition of the mentioned show, Ginger Gilbert, whose husband died providing infantry cover and sparing Iraqi civilians, spoke out against the media running an Al Qaeda video of her husband’s downed plane, but not focusing on his heroism.
Mrs. Gilbert called it "heartbreaking and upsetting and frustrating" that "this is what American journalists would chose to show and there was never a mention of the 22 lives he saved." Gilbert continued that airing such a video is "lending credibility" and "just furthering terrorism propaganda."
O’Reilly also noted the mainstream media’s very limited coverage of Lt. Michael Murphy’s Congressional Medal of Honor. Mrs. Gilbert noted that "The O’Reilly Factor" was the only national media outlet that picked up on her story.
For the record, Ginger Gilbert’s late husband, Major Troy Gilbert USAF, was a fighter pilot who was shot down near Fallujah on November 27, 2006.
The entire transcript is below.
BILL O’REILLY: As we told you last night, many media operations, including CNN and MSNBC, ignored the Medal of Honor recipient, Lieutenant Michael Murphy, in prime time when his family received the honor from President Bush this week. Lt. Murphy, a Navy seal, was killed in Afghanistan. It’s just an example of anti- military media matters in the USA. Joining us now from Phoenix, Arizona is Ginger Gilbert, whose husband, Major Troy Gilbert, an Air Force fighter pilot, was killed in Iraq. Al Qaeda videotaped the remains of the major after his plane crashed. Feded out to the despicable Al Jazeera network, and the story was picked up by the Associated Press and other American news agencies. So what did you think about all of that, Mrs. Gilbert? I mean it just, I can’t even put myself in your shoes, the shock and the grief that you must be feeling, and then these animals, you know, videotaped this and they get it out on these news outlets. How did you feel?
GINGER GILBERT: Well, it was heartbreaking and upsetting and frustrating that this would be the way that they would choose to bring out my husband, who is an American hero. Again, that this is what American journalists would choose to show and there was never a mention of the 22 lives that he saved on the ground, or the American military, or his focus on the safety of Iraqi civilians, and therefore he was flying so close to the ground that, that he did not realize and-
O’REILLY: In order not to kill civilians, he was providing cover for infantry, American infantry, in order to not kill civilians. He was very close to the ground and that’s why the plane went down. Now, the American media didn’t say anything bad about your husband. They just reported Al Qaeda video taping this and throwing it up on Al Jazeera. So do you think the American media did anything wrong?
GILBERT: Just by lending any credibility, this, this was never even confirmed by the Air Force that this is Troy’s body to begin with. Just by lending any credibility, it’s just furthering terrorism propaganda.
O’REILLY: Alright, so just by publicizing what Al Qaeda did, it encourages Al Qaeda to do it again because they get publicity out of it.
GILBERT: We just fed right into their hands by, by putting it on the news and watching it.
O’REILLY: Alright, now, I think that’s a very legitimate point. You couple that with many media absolutely ignoring what happened this week with the Congressional Medal being awarded to Lt. Michael Murphy -- you couple what happened to your husband to that, alright, and what conclusion do you draw about the American media?
GILBERT: The conclusion that I would draw, and the reason I made a statement several days after this came out -- the point of it was to say can we please stop? Can we please just focus on the amazing amounts of good that are being done in Iraq and Afghanistan and how these men and women are selflessly sacrificing sometimes their lives? But selflessly sacrificing being in the war just to protect us and to keep the hate and the death from entering and reaching our borders and where are stories, the positive stories about, about that?
O’REILLY: Alright, but with most of the media being against the Iraq War and despising the Bush administration, they’re not going to do that. They are going to spin negative all day long to further their political agenda. Now, today it was announced and we’re going to do this story with Dick Morris tomorrow, that casualties are way down in Iraq, the surge is working, at least temporarily, very little coverage, very little coverage. Now, so the reality is that politics is trumping the war effort. And that’s just where we are.
GILBERT: Yes, and it’s, it’s the wrong place to be. It’s, it is an untruth and I would like for there to be many more stations and media outlets like yours. Yours is the only show that has reached out to me since I made my statement. And, here I have lost -- I have a catastrophic loss in my life and in the life, lives of our five children. And I can still find some positive and some good in what is going on.
O’REILLY: So no other, no other news organization in this country contacted you?
GILBERT: No, no local media here in Phoenix did a good job of covering it, but otherwise, no national, no.
O’REILLY: Well Ms Gilbert, look, we understand that your husband died because he wanted to protect Iraqi civilians. We understand that. And we understand your passion and we understand that you have an excellent point that reporting on Al Qaeda doing these atrocities, war crimes, just encourages them to do more of it. So that’s why we had you on and our condolences. If we can ever help you and your five kids in anything, please call us. We’d be happy to do it. And we appreciate you appearing this evening.
GILBERT: Thank you so much. I appreciate your time.





















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Comments Policy
MSM drops the ball, again
October 25, 2007 - 14:36 ET by BacchusI'm inclined to believe now that "liberals" watch MSM strictly for the entertainment. They watch Fox for the news.
The question is...
October 25, 2007 - 14:59 ET by ammo john...would the MSM show a lib reporter being dragged through the streets? Heck no! That'd be too terrible for the American people to witness!
Mrs. Gilbert,
October 25, 2007 - 15:42 ET by rx4musicGod bless your husband and those who fight the good fight. Thank you for your courage and service to our country. By supporting your husband you are serving our country just as he did. Please continue to fight as well... Bless you and your family, RX
I send my prayers to Mrs.
October 25, 2007 - 15:42 ET by EvilRoyI send my prayers to Mrs. Gilbert and her children that their pain will be eased by the knowledge that her husband was indeed a hero and that many people saw and heard her story. Her husband exempilfies the courage and heroism that is our American Military. God Bless Major Gilbert and Lt. Murphy and all the rest of our men and women in harm's way.
Second that
October 25, 2007 - 16:06 ET by KC MulvilleThe honorable pay the price for the rest. We can't repay those debts, but at least we can acknowledge them. Prayers for the family ...
Justin McCarthy --
October 25, 2007 - 16:12 ET by dervishDo you by chance have a transcript of the entire program? Dennis Miller followed this lady, and I can't remember his exact words to her (I was watching the W.S. at the same time) but they brought tears to my eyes.
Never mind --
October 25, 2007 - 16:35 ET by dervishI remembered that his bits are played on FoxNews.com. Turns out it wasn't as eloquent as I remembered -- maybe I was crying at seeing Yaz again -- but still, not bad:
"God bless that woman you just interviewed in Phoenix. My heart breaks for you. You're owed so much more, and like Bill said, you can't believe how many of us out here are crushed for you and say prayers for you."
That was Dennis' righteous
October 25, 2007 - 17:13 ET by Gary P JacksonThat was Dennis' righteous indignation over the whole thing. He seemed to be really hot.
Justin, Thank you so very
October 25, 2007 - 18:45 ET by drillanwrJustin,
Thank you so very much for posting this wonderful woman's and her husband's story.
I was both lucky and blessed to see her on Bill O`Reilly last night. I was/am so deeply touched by her strength, bravery and loyalty to her husband's memory, and making sure the media doesn't get away with the laziness and vindictiveness they have exhibited during this war.
Her last words to O`Reilly said it all for me about the lame and lazy news media: I appreciate your time.
The media is sinfully lax in actually spending time researching and investigating and properly covering a story ... especially stories about the war ... and our heroes.
Slight correction...
October 25, 2007 - 19:53 ET by m4ster chiefTo whomever typed the above transcript:
A "seal" is an animal that balances a ball on its nose, claps its flippers, and eats whole fish, while a Navy SEAL is the finest warrior in the world. Thank you.
JTS, Master Chief Petty Officer, (Surface Warfare), U. S. Navy (Ret.)
Great Formula: (Fox finds
October 25, 2007 - 19:53 ET by mgerardnGreat Formula: (Fox finds person with right leaning views and interviews them) + (Newsbusters states that since no other news outlets interview said person, media is liberal) = Proof that Fox is fair and balanced and media is liberal. You guys are great!
How do you know she's "right
October 25, 2007 - 20:02 ET by mastersofdeceitHow do you know she's "right leaning"?
Mainly because Bill
October 25, 2007 - 20:03 ET by mgerardnMainly because Bill O'Reilly didn't attack her
Well that settles it then!
October 25, 2007 - 20:08 ET by mastersofdeceitWell that settles it then! :o
Why not attack her?
October 26, 2007 - 05:07 ET by Unsane1) That would be in poor taste
2) Bill O'Reilly is not Right-wing. He may lean that way but ultimately he is a populist.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Fox News IS the balance...
October 25, 2007 - 20:03 ET by m4ster chiefIf you are suggesting that Fox News should go out and find some liberal to sit across the table from this war widow and present an opposing view...are you completely nuts or what?
Fox News does, in fact, have a balance on their talk shows (Hannity & Colmes, Jerry Rivers aka Geraldo Rivera, Greta Van Sustren, etc.) But some interviews don't call for an opposing view, such as this one.
But, although Fox is fair and balanced, it is the BALANCE for the rest of the lamestream media, which are all TOTALLY LIBERAL.
Sunrise at sea; a breeze across the deck, salty spray tickles the face, the aroma of fresh coffee, stack gas, and haze-gray paint is in the air. Another Navy day aboard ship as a Navy Chief...the perfect life!
This could be the funniest
October 25, 2007 - 20:17 ET by mgerardnThis could be the funniest post ever - point by point here:
Hannity and Colmes: Guests on the fair and balanced are predominantly Republican
The fact Hannity gets his own show and Colmes doesn't seem to sway the balance ?
Geraldo Rivera - mainly liberal on illegal immigration, tows right wing line on other mainstream issues - (even GW is liberal on illegal immigration)
Great Van Sustern - ???? This is the funniest of them all - I see her going after a lot of right wingers when she's covering Natalie Holloway, Britney Spears, and OJ Simpson
Again, as long as you guys think that Fox News is fair and balance, it'll make sense to you that the rest of the media is left wing - once your perspective is skewed correctly, it'll make a lot more sense.
mg
October 25, 2007 - 20:27 ET by BlondeYou wouldn't have a clue if I personally put one in your hand.
Try again.
We need a better class of troll, here.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
that's your comeback?
October 25, 2007 - 20:33 ET by mgerardnthat's your comeback? Wow. Sorry you couldn't respond. Grta Van S, classic reference!!
troll???
October 25, 2007 - 20:30 ET by LionKingI noticed no indictment on Brit Hume...a journalist. The others are supposed to be opinionated...at least they actually try to get representatives from both sides. Hannity has had Rangel on his show many times, for example.
Thanks for serving up that
October 25, 2007 - 20:40 ET by mgerardnThanks for serving up that curveball:
On Fox News Sunday - HUME: Who are we fighting there now, Juan? Al Qaeda in Iraq. They were there before we got there, and they're there now.
Nice slip up on the news...
The Senate Judiciary Committee's latest deadline for the White House to comply with its subpoena for documents relating to warrantless -- allegedly warrantless wiretaps has come and gone.
Here's some fair reporting:
Al Gore may be contributing to global warming in more ways than just using large amounts of energy at his Nashville mansion.
Cold Water
October 26, 2007 - 05:14 ET by UnsaneHume, on "The Grapevine" segment of his show, actually pointed out that Obama (IIRC) had the best Senate attendance record of the Presidential candidates in the Senate.
Yep, he sure is skewed to the Right.
Besides, why do you have such FEAR of a cable news channel that might reach 1 million viewers a day? Why do you feel so threatened?
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Weak
October 26, 2007 - 05:12 ET by Unsane...and ALL of them with the exception of the grating Greta van Susteren are commentators.
"Guests on H&C are predominantly Republican" - Link or slink. I have seen quite a few Leftists on that program. Also, you seem to conveniently omit that Colmes is a Leftist, to counter Hannity. Colmes might not be the shrieking Leftist you are and want, but he is a Leftist.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Mentally Deranged Liberals
October 26, 2007 - 08:16 ET by Sergeant ROCKAs we told you last night, many media operations, including CNN and MSNBC, ignored the Medal of Honor recipient, Lieutenant Michael Murphy, in prime time when his family received the honor from President Bush this week. Lt. Murphy, a Navy seal, was killed in Afghanistan.
What part of this are you having trouble with, brainiac?