BuzzMachine

The media pundit's pundit. Written by NYC insider Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine covers news, media, journalism, and politics.

Unspun

23 comments on Unspun

Unspun

: FoxNews’ Bill O’Reilly gives an interview to 60 Minutes — matter meets antimatter — and says:

Long a favorite of conservatives, O’Reilly’s stances on big issues came as a surprise to Wallace, as did his answer to whether he would vote for George W. Bush.

O’Reilly states he is pro-gun control, against the death penalty, for civil unions, for gay adoption (as a last resort instead of state custody) and mindful of the environment.

But when asked if he would vote for President Bush, O’Reilly left open the possibility he would vote for John Kerry.

“I’ve known Kerry for 25 years. He’s a patriot. I’m listening to what he has to say,” he tells Wallace.

Bill O’Reilly, undecided voter?

23 responses to “Unspun”

  1. Easycure Avatar
    Easycure

    It’s probably a calculated move to prop up his fair and balanced stance, which is exactly what he should do. (It’s his job.)
    In reality, and privately, I would bet he’s already decided to vote for President Bush.

  2. fat kid Avatar
    fat kid

    ^ lose the tinfoil hat.
    Why does this surprise you Jeff? What preconceived notions do you have about Fox News? Despite, you know, all media surveys indicating Fox is the most centrist of the MSM…

  3. fat kid Avatar
    fat kid

    Update:
    Oops.

  4. Dexter Westbrook Avatar
    Dexter Westbrook

    This stuff might be a surprise to Mike Wallace, but it isn’t surprising to anyone who actually watches O’Reilly’s show.

  5. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Dexter: I don’t watch the show. Can you explain further…

  6. aaron Avatar
    aaron

    I’ve never understood how O’Reilly came to be the face of conservative journalism.

  7. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I agree with Aaron. It would seem that O’Reilly does not hold many core conservative beliefs. I think the reason he became the face of conservative journalism was because he would shout down Liberal or Democratic guests on his show. Which displays what O’Reilly truly is, a TV host bully.

  8. Halley Suitt Avatar
    Halley Suitt

    Everybody’s doing a write-in vote of Paris Hilton, now come on, Jeff, you know that! (O’Reilly’s obviously thinking Paris.)
    Meanwhile, I’m beginning to think it’s politically incorrect to ask anyone who they are voting for — IT’S NOBODY’S BUSINESS — we all deserve that intoxicating little moment of exhilaration behind the curtain in private to pick whoever turns us on.
    There is one question that IS politically correct to ask and I’m asking it 50 times today: Have you registered to vote?

  9. Guy Avatar
    Guy

    I’m plannin on voting for Bush, but I’m listening to what Kerry is saying as well. There are a million things that’ve gone wrong, & I’d consider an alternative, but so far I remain unconvinced that he’s a better alternative.
    One of the things Kerry keeps talking about is “bringing allies to the table”, yet he seems to be trying to push the ones we do have away.
    Statements like “Coalition of the bribed & coerced” don’t exactly inspire the allies we do have.
    Another case in point is his sister’s recent trip to Australia where she says Australia’s relationship w/ the “US ‘endangers Australians’“, infering, if not stating outright that Australia should distance itself from the US. This is bringing allies to the table?
    Yesterday he went off about Allawi, & his campaign people are calling Allawi a puppet. If he gets elected & has to work w/ him in Iraq, isn’t he poisoning the relationship early on?
    Anyways, those kinds of things keep me from being convinced he’s a better alternative.
    Let’s see how the debates go.

  10. Brett Avatar
    Brett

    Bill O’Reilly is the face of conservative journalism because he’s the biggest draw on that horribly right-wing biased phony news network, Fox. Unlike those other more centrist networks…

  11. Steve Avatar
    Steve

    O’Reilly seems personally conservative, but if you listen to his show, he will usually defend the reasonable thing. He’s personally a Catholic, but he has renounced many of the actions of the Catholic church in recent years. He often takes the sensible view of, “Just ebcause I don’t like it, doesn’t mean other should be stopped from doing it.”

  12. B. Minich, PI Avatar
    B. Minich, PI

    O’Reilly is much more of a libertarian, than anything else. That puts some of his beliefs in both camps. Its just that the Dems have been pretty shrill lately.
    Actually, Jeff, O’Reilly has said something similar to you – that all this talk of Vietnam is just mud. He’s never really thought the Swift Vets relevant, nor does he think the TANG stuff relevant either.

  13. Chris McMahon Avatar
    Chris McMahon

    O’Reilly is positioning himself as a moderate. Rumor has it he wants to run for Senate.

  14. Franky Avatar
    Franky

    I noticed that when the Democrats selected Kerry and then supported him, despite the fact that he was what you would expect from a US Senator: a total douchebag, right-wingers jumped on this as a sign of terrible political decline: “What a grave mistake to vote along the lines of anyone but Bush”.
    Now the right-wingers Republicans are basically fessing up that they’re pretty much disappointed by Bush’s stellar performance in his first term (there’s a shocker!!!!) but don’t want Kerry in power.

  15. Nema Avatar
    Nema

    Shouldn’t the appropriate question be:
    O’Reilly, undecided voter or just another bigot looking for attention?

  16. carsonfire Avatar
    carsonfire

    Helloooooo-oooo! This isn’t a surprise at all to conservatives who watch Fox News. He is a loudmouth gadfly, and not a political partisan; he’s long railed against SUVs, for instance.
    The left badly needs to get out of their echo chamber and start exercising that “open mind” that they’re always lecturing the rest of us about.

  17. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    O’Reilly is the “O’Reilly Spin Zone”. Agre with him and he agrees right back. He has few gard core conservative views. He is definately not Republican in his views.
    He does not get the Swift Boat anger at Kerry. He wants it to be partisan. Then he can dismiss it. What he fails to understand is that it is non-partisan and decades old. The Swifties voice speaks for those whose honor was shat upon by Kerry and VVAW protests. O’Reilly and many others want to gloss over the harm that was done long ago.
    O’Reilly will probably vote for Kerry.

  18. Ginifer Avatar
    Ginifer

    Bill O’Reilly always say “I’m an Independent”. Used to watch him but he is so full of himself that I fear he may be turning into a Jr. Chris Matthews.

  19. tony Avatar
    tony

    o’reilly might be a cartoonish buffoon who found a perfect and fitting home at fnc, but he’s never been a boring cartoonish buffoon.
    call my cynical but i would be curious who o’reilly would have said he was voting for if he lived in a swing state.

  20. Angus Jung Avatar
    Angus Jung

    Who are you voting for, tony? Ha ha, only kidding. We all know you wouldn’t vote for George Bush if he pulled you out of a burning junior high school. Which is fine. Personally, I’m not a big fan of either one of them, but I’m willing to give Kerry a chance. So far he’s given me 10 good reasons to vote for him:
    1. He’s not Bush.
    2. He was against the war in Iraq.
    3. He was for the war in Iraq.
    4. He was against the war in Iraq.
    5. He’s not Bush.
    6. He served in Vietnam.
    7. He served in Vietnam.
    8. He served in Vietnam.
    9. He served in Vietnam.
    10. I’m pretty sure he served in Vietnam.
    So these are all things to consider. That and his abundant personal charm, which I’m trying not to be too swayed by.

  21. Sortelli Avatar
    Sortelli

    I hope items 6-10 are seared… seared into your memory, Angus.
    By the way, was Franky commenting on this thread or does he just type random jibberish now?

  22. Franky Avatar
    Franky

    Sortelli,
    Why would you look for me? Every single time, without exception, you’ve tried to argue with me, you’ve been destroyed. Why would you voluntarily look for that sort of punishment on a Saturday morning? Why?

  23. Andrew | BB Avatar
    Andrew | BB

    Bill O’ Reilly – a person who’ll say anything for ratings. An arrogant SOB, who I have no interest in watching – not because of his politics but because he’s the aforementioned arrogant and bullying SOB who can’t stand when someone tells him he’s wrong or not telling the truth. The better they do it, the louder he gets.
    Sounds like a Republican to me. ;)