I think Bill O’Reilly is one of the most arrogant men on television today, and this saddens me. I saw him in person a year or two ago at a local Economics Club function and was impressed with his humility and knowledge. Today, one of those attributes has definitely disappeared. In its place is an attitude of self-righteousness. Perhaps it’s due to his ratings.
O’Reilly is quite popular, what with his No Spin Zone aura on things, particularly things political. At the same time, he has become increasingly rude to his guests, particularly those who don’t share his opinion on any given subject. He interrupts, he opines, he chastises — rather than attempts serious debate. For this reason, I avoid his show.
Tonight, however, I watched about five minutes after my partner, Earl, suggested I hadn’t given O’Reilly a fair shake. I believe his comment was that I didn’t watch the commentator enough to have an informed opinion. That I hadn’t given O’Reilly a fair chance to express himself. So I gave five minutes.
The issue was illegal immigration, and the guest speaker was an attorney in favor of helping illegal immigrants. Now I don’t necessarily side with this point of view. But this attorney barely had a chance to speak before O’Reilly butted in, regaling her opinion as wrong, and overriding any comment she wanted to make. It wasn’t debate, which is the presentation of both sides of an issue with facts that are documentable and rhetoric that is persuasive but not abusive. Rather, it was tirade, which is berating and over-riding. And it was tirade on one side only. The guest speaker barely had a chance.
I don’t think I’ll give Bill O’Reilly another five minutes of my time. I realize we are on different sides of many issues, but that isn’t the reason why I’m tuning out. The real reason is that he’s out of control.
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