O'Reilly falsely claimed he only "reported what groups" were calling Tiller (MediaMatters)

[struggle4progress]

June 02, 2009 11:31 pm ET

SUMMARY: Bill O'Reilly claimed of his previous references to George Tiller as "the baby killer": "I reported what groups were calling him. I reported accurately." In fact, O'Reilly himself has repeatedly referred to Tiller as "the baby killer" ...

* On the May 15 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly stated that Kathleen Sebelius, who was then the governor of Kansas and is now secretary of health and human services, "is the most pro-abortion governor in the United States. Based upon Dr. Tiller, the baby killer in her state, and all of that. All right? So there's no doubt."

* On the May 11 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly said Sebelius "is pro-abortion. She wants the babies done for. This is -- she supported Tiller the baby killer out there."

* On the April 27 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly said that Sebelius "recently vetoed a bill that placed restrictions on late-term abortions in Kansas. The bill was introduced because of the notorious Tiller the baby killer case, where Dr. George Tiller destroys fetuses for just about any reason right up until the birth date for $5,000" ...

http://mediamatters.org/research/200906020046

[47of74]

1. He is a cowardly sociopath

In addition, he is totally unable to accept responsibility for his words, which have led to the death of another human being.

[GReedDiamond]

2. Agreed, but unlike say, Ted Bundy...

...another Republican sociopath/mass murderer, O'Reilly has a Transnational Corporate Entity and his own personal "wealth" to defend himself in a "court of law" against the many justified claims of liability that may be levied against him, if only there really was a "Justice System."

[zbdent]

3. leave it to MediaMatters to do the work that "investigative journalists"

in the Media refuse to do ...

[ejpoeta]

4. what i heard that man say was from his mouth. he did not ever say that someone else said x or y.

he said dr tiller the baby killer and that this man will kill your baby for $5000. why orielly is still on the air i'll never know. could the tiller family sue him as I can't imagine that his slanderous words didn't help incite this crap. could they sue him and faux news for slander or libel or something?

[struggle4progress]

5. If O'Reilly ever tried to interview me, I think I'd seek a protective order, based on the

last few murders by O'Reilly wackos

[JenniferJuniper]

6. Sure they can sue him....and Fox News.

Glenn Beck as well. Whether the family can emotionally deal with going through long civil litigation is another issue.

But it wouldn't be for slander. It should be for wrongful death.

[ejpoeta]

7. i think it should be for wrongful death also, but apparently these clowns can say

whatever they want with no repercussions. free speech and all. though, even though you have the right to free speech, that does not mean you are not responsible for the consequences of that speech. i question whether they'd get anywhere with that, that was why i said that they should have a case for slander. Whenever olbermann shows that clip of o'rielly saying tiller would 'kill your kid for $5000' i get sick. how do these guys get away with this!

[JenniferJuniper]

8. Would they get anywhere?

Suing for slander wouldn't get them much. The doctor is deceased and the deceased don't have reputations anymore.

If it made it to a jury trial, I could most certainly see a substantial verdict in a wrongful death suit. Whether it would be upheld by higher courts is a question, but money really isn't the point here. I think it's time this country had that very specific discussion about Murdoch and Fox News. Is an incitement to violence and murder broadcast as "news" to millions and millions of people protected under the First Amendment?

[ejpoeta]

9. that's true. money isn't really the objective. it's a means to make people realize

culpability in things. i DO believe o'rielly and all these jerks are responsible for what this guy did. even if they never met him. they created an atmosphere, willfully lied and defamed a man's character... and they caused this man's death.

[ladym55]

10. Good question

I've been asking myself that for awhile. When does free speech become the equivalent of yelling "fire" in a crowded theater?

And why can an O'Reilly proclaim loudly that he only speaks "truth" and has "facts" when he has neither? If a network calls itself a news source, why can its personalities just blather with no regard to any evidence or data or even remote connection to reality?