Bill O'Reilly vs. George Tiller
Linking the Fox News star's rhetoric to an abortion doctor's murder
Bill O'Reilly (Corbis)
The man accused of killing late-term abortion doctor George Tiller has a ready-made defense, said Steve Young in The Huffington Post. Bill O'Reilly made him do it. And psychology experts say lawyers for suspect Scott Roeder might get some mileage out of saying that Roeder was influenced by exposure to Fox News host O'Reilly's repeated references to Tiller as a killer with the blood of unborn babies on his hands. (listen to O'Reilly criticizing Tiller in 2006)
"Let's be serious here," said Jay Bookman in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. O'Reilly "clearly went well overboard in his condemnation and demonization" of Tiller, but "it's irresponsible to link O’Reilly" to Tiller's murder. There's no evidence the suspect even watched O'Reilly's show, and even if he's a fan "you would need a much stronger showing of cause and effect to justify such a serious accusation." (watch Bill O'Reilly respond to critics linking his rhetoric to Tiller's death)
Bill O'Reilly constantly draws lines between entertainers and the behavior of their fans, said David Knowles in Politics Daily, especially when he's venting against gangsta rap. O'Reilly "never actually directed anybody to go out and shoot" Tiller. But it's certainly fair to ask whether he incited the likes of Scott Roeder by accusing Tiller of "executing babies" and running a Nazi-style "death mill."
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12 Comments
Posted by Jennifer, Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 3:59 pm Rubbish. O'Reilly is responsible for what he says on the airwaves and he must be held accountable. He said he wanted to get his hands on Tiller. Could that be less ambiguous? Why are people apologists for this supporter of domestic terrorism?
Posted by Becky, Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 7:29 pm Tiller is/was a baby killer, O'Reilly did not exaggerate.
Posted by Mike, Thursday, June 4, 2009, 9:46 am Whether Tiller was a baby killer or not is a matter of personal opinion. As far as the law is concerned, he was not. The abortions he performed were legal. If you have a problem with that, change the law. But 36 years of GOP promises to do that resulted in nothing. Even the 6 years under Bush when they controlled both houses of congress, the White House and had a conservative majority on the Supreme Court . . . nothing. We are better off with a president dedicated to reducing the number of abortions, than one who promises to end them.
Posted by BT, Thursday, June 4, 2009, 9:49 am Jennifer how did he end the piece? He said please no vigilantism didn't he. But you left that part out...why?Because it overrides his statement about getting his hands on Tiller and speaks to O'Reilly's core belief system that he is nonviolent and overtly supports nonviolent protest and free speech. Hey I think a guy named Gandhi also felt that way.
Posted by Mike, Thursday, June 4, 2009, 9:51 am Oh, yes, and O'Reilly is guilty of inciting Scott Roeder to kill Dr. Tiller, just as surely as he has convicted gangsta rappers of inciting violence. O'Reilly is convicted by his own standards. Judge not Bill lest ye be judged.
Posted by Matt, Thursday, June 4, 2009, 10:12 am Yes, words have influence, but so what. People are Responsible for their actions. Full Stop. I despise O'Reilly, I defend his right to speak his mind. Free speech is for everyone.Furthermore, from the murderer's POV, I dont see how he could think what he did was wrong. If abortion is murder, then killing an abortion doctor prevents murder. On our bravest day, who wouldnt kill one of histories great tyrants, knowing it would prevent the killing of many people?I do NOT subscribe this POV. But prolifers cant have it both ways.
Posted by Mike, Thursday, June 4, 2009, 10:42 am When I said O'Reilly was guilty, I didn't mean legally. He advocates assigning blame for violence to those who incite it. By his own definition he incited Roeder to kill Dr. Tiller, by dehumanizing Dr Tiller. As Matt mentioned, if you think of Dr. Tiller as a killer, who wouldn't want to stop him in any way possible. O'Reilly called him Tiller the killer labeling his legal abortions as executing babies in a Nazistyle death mill.Again, by O'Reilly's own definition, he incited Roeder's actions.He meets his own standard of guilt.
Posted by Don, Thursday, June 4, 2009, 11:52 am WOw, the leftwing loons who are supposedly sooooo in favor of the Bill of Rights are now trying to stop free speech. Big Surprise in the Obama Socialist Republic.I'll tell you what, if O'Reilly gets ANY and I mean ANY grief for this we should arrest Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr for the murder of Sharon Tate...And we should round up all the leftwing TV propagangilists and arrest them for the Army Recruiter Shooting.
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