(Charles Sykes/Associated Press)
I announced yesterday that Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes had been invited on The O'Reilly Factor to present his side of things following the Southern Poverty Law Center's Mark Potok's attack on the previous night. Regular readers here know Potok is continuing to sing an old tune, repeatedly trying to affiliate those who honor their oaths to uphold the Constitution with violent haters.
O'Reilly embraced that meme, beginning his segment with a "Tracking Hate Groups" graphic, and presenting Potok's most outlandish characterization of the group for the back story.
Asking Rhodes why it is legitimate for Oath Keepers to even discuss government disarming Americans, Rhodes properly cited exactly that happening in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. When O'Reilly brought up a state of emergency, Rhodes shot back by challenging him to show "where...it say[s] in the Constitution that bad weather suspends the Constitution."
"It's not a matter of bad weather," O'Reilly replied. "It's a matter of can't control the city."
O'Reilly doesn't get it if he thinks citing the Constitution as a reason not to generally disarm Americans, regardless of reason or pretext, is "a pretty extreme position."
"Being necessary to the security of a free state," particularly in time of need, is "extreme," Bill?
You admit the government can't control things, that is, it can't fulfill its prime function of protecting life and property, and your solution is to render those trying to protect their own defenseless, and to leave good people at the mercy of roving mobs?
You consider peaceable Americans exercising unalienable rights in the time when they most need them a threat to authority and control? Who do you think the true controlling authorities are? Just what document do you think authorizes state powers?
And the people who would argue that point are "extreme"?
The Founders would be doing a facepalm.
It's not surprising. What gets me is how many people consider O'Reilly a "conservative," totally stripping any meaning from the word.
I think Stewart did a great job in the time allotted. Click here to watch.
And I notice a lot of people catching on that O'Reilly really stuck his foot in it. It'll be interesting to see how he spins it, or if he just ignores it and hopes it goes away.
UPDATE: John Longenecker weighs in.
Comments
I saw that last night, unbelievable...
Some might call that fascism sir.
The government can protect the lady in the video better than she can huh, he's getting senile...
A week or two ago when Maryland recieved 2 consecutive, massive snow storms, a State of Emergency was declared and anyone out in it could be fined. My first though was along similar lines as Stewart's. 'So, because the state doesn't have the resources to handle this amount of snow, I can be fined? They can't perform the basic functions we pay them to perform and we get punished?'
How does that make any sense?
I watched this last night in total disbelief. So, the Constitution can be suspended at will by any governmental agency for the "right" reason? Wow have we strayed so far from our founding father's beliefs'.
Oath Keeper's are in line with our founding fathers.
FYI - O'Reilly is not a conservative. In fact I no longer watch his show.
the line in the sand between true conservatives and the dead elephant party gets thicker every day.
O'Reilly and Glenn Beck have always been on my DVR. Until O'Reilly's comment on guns. I will no longer watch him. Glenn Beck should distance himself from O'Reilly before he goes down with the ship.
I stoped watching o'REILLY two years ago. I noticed somthing odd about the way he ran his show or the lack of when he would let libiral mouth pieces spew their crapp without shutting off the mike.
PURE B.S. CERTAIN PEOPLE AND FACTIONS WISH TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.BUT THE HELL WITH THE SECOND CLASS CITIZEN. I JUST QUIT WATCHING THE BOOB. IT'S BEEN HELL SINCE THE DEATH OF COMMONSENSE
I always take effort to correct anyone who dares call Bill O a conservative.
I've known his progressive bent for years when I saw him engage in basic class warfare ages ago.
All O'Reilley did was proved to the world that he is a idiot.
I stopped watching that moron a couple years ago. I can't stand his BS.
I watched Glenn & Bill when they did their show together. Can't stand Bill, I wished he would just shut up so Glenn had more stage time. His 'Spin' drives me batty, I don't care what the subject. It only takes me 3-5 mins for me to start yelling at the TV when watching him. He is such a compromised centrist.
And in other news Lautenberg got stomach cancer at 86, but will reseek election in 2014. Talk about a control freak!
O'Reilly has ALWAYS promoted gun confiscation.
I can't believe anyone would take this blowhard seriously.
If he loses a debate - which is taped - he cuts and pastes to make his adversary appear to be the loser.
I've read about this fact and seen videos that confirm it.
One can only hope that he finds himself in a position of needing a gun. That possibility becomes greater every day.
Mr. O'Reilly really stepped on his privates this time!
I don't waste my time watching O'Reilly's ridiculous show. In my opinion, he should be held accountable for defamation of character for comparing law-abiding citizens to "haters." His type of name calling was quite common in certain parts of Europe in the 1930s and 1940s.
It is ironic that Bill O'Reilly would probably be yelling the loudest if he was suppressed in any way and citing his 1st Amendment rights to free speech and free press.
How sad! He used to keep his head out of his ass...
Bill O'reilly never has been a conservative. He has applied a lot of common sense to reporting socio-political news for many years but--- .
The second amendment never has been a part of his life so he will not defend it. "Fair and Balanced" according to Mr. O'Reilly is giving air time and credence to openly anti-american organizations. The common sense has gone away - maybe it is the money and fame.
O'Reilly, like many of his fellow-Irish during WW-2, is a NAZI. "Habeas corpus" is the only Constitutional "thing" that may be suspended, and only during "insurrection". Rights in the Federal Constitution are unalienable - meaning one may not place a lien against them. Mr. O forgot to read the very law (the US Constitution) he thinks can be trampled when the mobs are on the street. I pray he has to have a gun someday, but is totally disarmed at that instant. Let HIM eat cakes!
Beck and O'Reilly are both Judas sheep. Beck showed what kind of hypocrite he was when he went after Medina for her answer regarding 9/11 and he said the same thing previous year in September. They're both establishment shills that care more about American empire than American liberty.
I disagree with O'Reilly much more than I agree, when I have occasion to watch his show anymore that is. He was way off base with his rebuke of extremism against Stewart Rhodes and Oath Keepers. The Southern Poverty Law Center hasn't done a damn thing worthwhile in probably 25 years or better. They are the poor man's redneck ACLU and O'Reilly is shameful in pandering to them while diminshing the Oath Keepers.
Great piece David.
Keith A. Wimer
Wilmington Religion & Politics Examiner
O'Reilly has not supported 2nd amendment rights for years. You need to remember he graduated from Harvard and lives in New York.
O'Reilly is no conservative. Not a Liberal either. He is the epitome of a moderate. Actually, I would consider him a "Progressive". Glenn Beck is the true "original-intent" kind of guy that I originally though O'Reilly was. I stopped watching O'Reilly regularly about a year ago when I realized how wrong-headed he is on a lot of issues, particularly the right to keep and bear arms. Most of the media and our leaders, even the ones with NRA A ratings, support some kind of infringement on the 2A. The 2A makes no exceptions. "The People", all of them, have the right to possess and carry (loaded) arms. It is an extension of our right to life. If you don't want felons and the mentally ill to have access to them lock those people up. There is no such thing as an illegal gun but all gun laws are illegal.
O'Reilly must be stupid not to see the contradiction in his own premise. As he kept stating "emergency situation", "city out of control", how can the lamebrain not see that that is exactly when you don't want the law abiding disarmed?
I watched that and I really did not believe he said it. I thought he just mis-spoke!
O'riley is for sale and will say whatever the $$ tell him to say -if he can make bank spewing freedom he'll do it - if he can make bank spewing gun control - he will do it - if there is $$ in it o'riley will sell out in a new york second!!!
- i hope Glen Beck distances himself from the mouth of o'riley and i hope Beck is not following the same path. i feel Beck says things that need to be said - o'riley blurts nonsense at the drop of a hat.
Ain't no such critters as "conservatives" and "liberals"; just authoritarians and people who respect the liberties of others. No middle ground there. You either do, or you don't. Bill O'Reilly (another "B.O.") doesn't.
I am so glad I found this article and like minded comments. When he called the OK's haters and I do believe "fringe" group as well, I wanted to spit. I was screaming so loud at the tv my husband thought I fell down the steps (teehee) Yea, here's lookin' out for the folks, sic. More like here's lookin' out for my purse. I can't stand watching him anymore.
OReilly is a jerk, trying to be politically correct. This bum does not understand the saying...Outlaw guns,and only outlaws will have guns.His arrogance is enought to make me puke at times,so i started watching Wrestling till Hannity comes on.
O'Reilly is not a Conservative by any stretch. He is an ego
maniac nut job that is in love with himself. He always has to have the last word and cuts everyone else off before they even finish their remarks. I Don't watch him anymore.
I used to think Bill was a straight up guy.... After the 2nd amendment problem taking away guns..... Out of my cold dead hand you Idiot.... why the hell do you think we have
guns in the home.... to keep the idiots out... now your included.
The man is an idiot. All he knows how to do is support big business, if that is "conservative". He fills his shows with tabloid garbage and projects a "holier than thou" attitude. He is by no means a libertarian type "conservative"; this believer in the ridiculous "drug war" and now this. Sure he can hide in his fortress if an emergency takes place but what are the rest of us "peons" supposed to do to protect ourselves?
He read a couple responding emails on the show tonight and he dug himself in even deeper. If I can find a transcript I'll post it tomorrow.
Let him take his place in history with the rest of those with his mentality , dictators tyrants and mass murderers who had the same philosify.
The federal judge ruled in the favor of the citizens and told the Mayor of La. to return the firearms back to the people. I think the judge knows a little more about our 2nd Amendment rights than Bill O'Reilly. I won't be watching his show anymore. Join the NRA!!!!!!!!!!
If Bill O'reilly thinks its ok to disarm law abiding citizens in an emergency, when they most need firearms, then he's defenately not looking out for you. I Don't trust Beck anymore ether after the attack he made on Debra Medina.
O'Reilly is not a conservative, but he is not a progressive. He is a pragmatic moderate. The problem with that position is that he often is willing to bend the Constitution to accomplish things that he feels are necessary, but not to the extent that Progressives do. Many of us here are oringianl intent types. There is a wide range of issues for which prgamatic moderation works, but not for Constitutionally guaranteed rights.
I think Washington had a weather emergency when he crossed the Delaware and all his guys had guns!!
Not to mention the City of New Orleans was sued by SAF and the confiscation was ruled unconstitutional.
SAF Stops New Orleans Gun Confiscation
SAF has negotiated with the City of New Orleans to return the guns they illegally-siezed from law-abiding citizens in the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina. If you had a gun siezed, read these instructions on how to get it returned to you. If you have any problems please contact us.
I watched O'Reilly for years, but lately he has seemed to side with the left more and more. I finally realized that it is all about the ratings and not principles. I am joining the "no more O'reilly' crowd...I hate feeling used and hood-winked!!!
O'Reilly is very wrong and I told him so the first night after he said, " The local authorities in N.O. could not control what was going on in the city. And you had looters going in and stealing things."!
I sent him an e-mail with links which show that a US Judge ruled what N.O. did unconstitutional and illegal. Just google New Orleans loses court case to NRA and you will find links from Fox news of all places and gunreportsdotcom.
Tonight he said what N.O. did was legal until a U.S. Judge ruled it wasn't.
Well Judge Carl J. Barbier presided over the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Judge Barbier signed the permanent injunction against the City of New Orleans.
The city admitted the firearm confiscations carried out by Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Chief Warren Riley were unconstitutional and illegal.
You would think Mr.O could do a little research before he stuck his foot in his mouth on National TV! He is the epitome of arrogance!
O'Reilly certainly isn't a conservative, he's more of a populist/progressive. Just look at how he demonized the oil companies for charging more money for gasoline when they had to pay more for crude.
Bill O'Reilly has moved to this eltie fair and show all sides thing since Glen beck has taken the spotlight away from him. He is trying his best to show he is a reasonbable guy so he can appeal to the loony left. Beck has now become a characature of his old self and even he one night said he thought it would be crazy if everyone had guns. Beck has provided the tea party a place to absord his daily dose of gloomn and doom. He never offers any realistic solution and dismisses the idea of anyone ever actually refusing to obey an illegal order or even exercise the rights given to us in any meaningful way. Beck also threw Medina under the bus twice this week and tried to distort her answer on a peripheral issue, the truthers. He totally misrepresented her view and cause her campaign great harm. These people are about money, ratings , and whatever sells. It was Rush and hannity who helped defeat huckaby and we ended up with McCain. True respecters of our constitution are labeled extremist.
PS. I left the oathkeepers because they refused to arrest fellow police officers who violated the constitution...even though it is a felony. They wont violate their oath, but they wont encourage arrests for those who do. That would stop some of the illegal crap once some of these guys spend the night in the hoosegow for a felony. Any politician or elected official or government attorney can be charged if anyone in oathkeepers enforced the law that is on the books. I was banned from them for stating this point. It is a paper tiger and afraid of really taking a serious stand against those who rape the constitution daily. They remind me of alexander hamilton and you know what I did to him.
The last thing I want with cutthroats running around is to be disarmed.
O'Reilly is a rude arrogant blowhard, that doesn't really care what an opositions opinion is. His opinion is the only one that matters to him
WOW You people really need to go and pay attention to what he said.....HE SAID "It is law and the only way to change it is the supreme court" "I agree disarming people is wrong but IT IS THE LAW" The man never said he agreed with it you idiots, ffs you people jump all over the left for half truth media and here you are blindly following the same damned thing!
I watch O Reilley faithfully. I never thought that I would ever hear him say anything like that. The only people who would disarm are the honest people. This would leave them wide open for the criminals.
ORilley has the bad habbit of trying to know more than any guest of his shoe, it often get's him in trouble. In this case I think he was in such a hurry to make points that he didn't let the other side fullu explain their's. The Constitution always trumps the Government. A rouge government wouldn't allow a honest court of any type to operate, surly even ORilley must know this.
D Becher--we need to let everyone know you are citing from O'Reilly's letter response comments from Friday night. This report and these comments are about what he said on Thursday night.
Besides which, you're ignoring that the Katrina confiscations were ruled illegal and also Public Law 109-295 SEC. 706. FIREARMS POLICIES:“(a) Prohibition on Confiscation of Firearms.–No officer or employee of the United States (including any member of the uniformed services), or person operating pursuant to or under color of Federal law, or receiving Federal funds, or under control of any Federal official, or providing services to such an officer, employee, or other person, while acting in support of relief from a major disaster or emergency, may–(1) temporarily or permanently seize, or authorize seizure
of, any firearm the possession of which is not prohibited..."
You need to be careful about calling people idiots.
Yup, I'm done with O'Reilly too. He's just too willing to "compromise" the law if he "thinks" it's wrong. He disagreed with the Weihl lawyer lady the night before about the ruling re. the 17yr old girl performing "art" even though she was reading from "the LAW" too. Either someone believes in the rule of law or not. Don't like it, work to change the law. But don't criticize a judge that actually rules IAW the law vs being an activist and making law from the bench. In the Oathkeepers segment, O'Reilly mentioned that the Constitution allows the President to suspend Habeaus Corpus seemingly as justification for suspension of fundamental rights during emergencies. WRONG! First, the authorization for suspension of the Writ of Habeaus Corpus is found in Article I, Sec. 9. Art. I deals with Legislative powers. Second, it specifically states "...shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of REBELLION OR INVASION [emphasis mine] the public safety MAY [emphasis mine] require it."...
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