I have read with great amusement the antics of Mike from Florida on Keith Olbermann's show, kickin' some O'Reilly ass.
But it's so small time. Why is that pervert still in a media chair? O'Reilly is a sexual predator. He should have lost his job over the Mackris case. He should be a media pariah. It is our fault he isn't. He gave us the sharpened sword, and we refused to run him through. Why?
We need to finish O'Reilly off. Right now.
Bill Clinton, loved around the world, guilty of little more than Prosperity-gate, was
ruined over
consensual sex.
Ruined. He could not even fight back against al Qaeda without the Right screaming "Wag the Dog!" and "No war for Monica!"
O'Reilly sexually harassed and stalked a co-worker. Then he threatened her. Those are crimes, people. She gave us the transcript. He settled, after issuing all manner of vile threats to her. This is not (just) funny. The guy is a criminal. Just because he got her to "shut up!" doesn't mean we have to.
O'Reilly should've been toast after settling with Mackris. Seriously, what the HELL? O'Reilly should be washed up. On skid row somewhere. Period.
We can still do it. We can still do the right thing. We can still hold that dangerous pervert accountable. But we need to be relentless. We need to be as ruthless as O'Reilly is to his critics on this one. For the nation's sake, and for what sanity we might possibly rescue from his viewers.
O'Reilly is a sexual predator. No one should be saying or writing or thinking "Bill O'Reilly" without the words "sexual predator" attached to it. No one should be interviewed about BOR on the air without calling him a "sexual predator." Every one of us who calls into him should get the words "you are a sexual predator" in before he pushes the "dump" button. Media people should be asking if BOR is allowed around children, and if parents feel safe with kids near BOR. Every argument BOR makes should be dismissed as the vile oozings of a sexual predator. Boycotts and protests of FOX should be centered around FOX's celebration and promotion of a sexual predator. Complaints to advertisers should be prefaced with asking them why their "family conscious" company advertises for a sexual predator. What message are they sending to the kids? Such companies should be accused of sponsoring sexual predation.
Bill O'Reilly is after our children. He even wrote a book targeting kids. A book for kids! By a sexual predator! FOX parents should be reminded every day that every time they turn on BOR, they are letting a sexual predator in the house, to influence their kids. Any parent who buys BOR's book is buying the work of a sexual predator for their kids. How is that responsible parenting?
It would have been wonderful if Olbermann had raised enough to rescue the actual Mackris tapes. We do have the transcript, and plenty of people who can do a dead-ringer BOR voice, and who can make dance-mixes and raps and Wagner pieces with them. But what is dangerous about this is the temptation to view the Mackris incident merely as an irresistible chance to ridicule.
We must get past the joy of ridicule to the righteousness of outrage, at least as it should be modeled to these holier-than-thou sex-police right wingers. Why should one of the Right's main defenders (and Clinton evicerators) get away with sexual harassment and stalking, when they butchered our guy over consensual sex?
We need to master this talking point, and spread the word so that it blankets blogsylvania and penetrates the SCLM. We should at least be able to take this page from the "Rove frame" playbook, since it involves fact. Bill O'Reilly is a sexual predator. He should not be in a media position to influence kids. He should not be left alone with kids. He should not be allowed to buy his way out of the social consequences of harassment and stalking. FOX should be ashamed of promoting sexual predation by retaining BOR. We will not rest until BOR is run out on a rail.
By the way, if BOR decides to sue over this, won't the discovery process be fun?
UPDATE: I guess I need to explain that although I am serious about the critical nature of sexual harassment and stalking, and my belief that someone guilty of it in his own workplace should not retain his job as a bully-pulpit sexual morality pundit, my tone and word-choice are meant as a satirical mirror of Right-Wing-Hysteria-Speak. I think a little targeted parody, by using their own language against them, can go a long way here, and should. The Right's own thugs should be held to the standards they pontificate about every day, IMHO.
But for those of you who are truly squeamish about playing hardball (ugh) with O'Reilly, how about a parallel campaign (as I mentioned below) to get O'Reilly to sign an affidavit--sound familiar?--swearing that the Mackris allegations against him are untrue?
"Mr. O'Reilly, we are disturbed by the implications of this lawsuit, and your agreement to settle without explanation. These are serious charges. Please relieve our concern by swearing to your innocence on paper, under oath. It will take five minutes. Thank you."
Then the perjury trial. Then the discovery process. Then the tapes in O'Reilly's own voice. Or, it comes out that Mackris made it all up and somehow got millions of dollars out of O'Reilly because, well, he is easily intimidated and just plain likes gutsy women. And he is exonerated in a crescendo of tubas and violins, an innocent man vindicated at last. (Anyone want to take bets on the probability of that outcome, btw?)