Apparently Bill O’Reilly took quite a lot of heat from the Right over his article in Parade Magazine last month entitled What President Obama Can Teach America’s Kids. In fact, he dedicated a segment of one of his shows to discuss the article and defend what he had said.
O’Reilly speaks to the humble beginnings of President Obama and the adversity he faced. He outlines this adversity in Lessons 1-5 and uses the theme of forgiveness, respect, persistance, hard work and possibilty. The respect O’Reilly shows for Obama is apparent. He rises above the usual claptrap and emphases that children growing up today face many thingsmost kids 50 years ago didn’t have to deal with.
It is a very worthwhile read, especially after hearing so much negativity.
Parade Magazine: What President Obama Can Teach America’s Kids
O’Reilly is an idiot, but at least he has some degree of pride. If you love your country, you should respect the President. The fact that he’s African American shouldn’t be an opportunity to foment hatred. It should be a source of pride for all Americans, just as O’Rielly said. But now that the Loony-Becks are running the Republican party, everything Obama say sor does is suddenly a reason to go nuts and get hateful. How long is this going to go on?
When I was a kid, President Reagan had this really cool deal with the public schools. It was called the Presidential Phisical Fitness Badge, or something like that. If I could do 50 situps in a minute, 10 pull-ups, run the 50 yard dash in 7.5 seconds, and run 600 yards in 2 minutes, I got the badge and a certificate that had a stamp that looked like Reagan’s signiture.
It never occurred to my parents, to go nuts and get hateful. They didn’t care much for Reagan, but they still gave me props for being a good athlete. What is causing the right wing fringe to become a permanent hate machine?
I absolutely agree with O’Reilly that the President has much to offer. I read that article a month ago and was amazed that Bill O’Reilly had written it. If Obama concentrates on similar themes when he talks to students, then I will be all for it. But he will have to avoid the temptation to discuss social issues.
“If you love your country, you should respect the President” Funny I didn’t hear a lot of that over the last 8 years. “How long is this going to go on?” Well, my guess is for about three more years.
I thought O’Reilly did a fabulous job of accentuating the positive and rising above some of his colleagues. However, unlike some others, he has very strong academic credentials. I often disagree with him and he can be very rude to guests, but the 20% of the time I agree, I feel he is right on.
Slowpoke, you didn’t talk to the right people. You hung out in polarized circles.
Apparently there is not enough raw meat on this thread. I thought it was a nice story. I guess people would rather fight than read something nice for a change…or it is because O’Reilly spoke decently about the Great Satan?
Do you think he let his base down? Who is O’Reilly’s base? He is light years beyond Beck, Limbaugh, Savage, Hannity, etc.
It was a nice story. I read this when it came out and was impressed that O’Reilly expressed these things about Obama. Obama did overcome a lot and, against the odds, became President. Whatever one may think of Obama’s views on issues, and I don’t agree with most of them, his personal story is very compelling. I don’t think O’Reilly let his base down at all, he has become very successful by expressing his opinions.
IWK, I agree with you. He did say that he got a lot of negative mail over it. I am not sure who his base really is. I agree with him 20-25% of the time.
I get angry with him when he starts screaming over people, even if they are jerks. I just think he makes enough money to be in control. I do like what he has done protecting kids. He has stayed on top of lazy judges who release criminals back into society to pray on kids. For that he deserves special accolades.
Justin, I meant to respond to you and forgot. I don’t think O’Reilly is an idiot. I think he has different politics and a different world view from you. I also expect he is at least a generation older.
It makes a difference.
I tend to look at what I feel is good about him rather than our political differenece (most of the time at least.)