In case you missed it, here is the segment by OLielly regarding dailyKos:
A clear smear, and easy to refute. So why do our Senators and Presidential candidates legitimize OLielly's (frankly) absurd argument by responding to it, or attacking it, rather than merely pointing out that it is absurd?
Follow me ...
While it does warm my eheart to read all the statements of support coming out against OLielly, (see here and here), it occurs to me that they are taking the wrong approach.
By even having this conversation, they are : a) providing more fodder for OLielly and his next segment (the only thing he really cares about) b) creating a false equivalence of left vs right.
First, I greatly admire anyone who publicly stands up for OLielly. The man is a bully and an unqualified hack.
See OLielly journalism for yourself:
Second, it is admirable for our candidates to directly engage the smear mongers and the news media that threaten our democracy. Thank you to Hillary Clinton and Chris Dodd for speaking out.
The only problem is, in refutation, you offer terrible things that OLielly has said, or point out terrible things that his guests have said on the show. In the first instance, you are legitimately quoting OLielly. It is nearly impossible to argue that the statements are not representative of his views. In the second case, you are demonstrating OLielly's editorial choice in his selection of guests, assuming his full knowledge of their positions and past statements, and further he is rewarding the more provocative and hateful snakes with an invitation to return. Again, it is very difficult to argue that OLielly does not consciously endorse the views of his guest on some level. Listen, I've never been invited to spew my hate to millions of Americans. I guess my hate is not the type that sells on The Factor. OLielly wanted these guests. And he wanted them on again.
On the contrary, our community does not tolerate, let alone endorse anything claimed by OLielly.
My argument is that by refuting OLielly with his actual statements and endorsements, our presidential candidates are legitimizing OLielly's segment. They are saying, "Look you say that about the left, but you yourself also make such statements." They do not explain why OLielly is being absurd. It is a bad idea to parallel fact against fiction in such a deliberately engineered attempt at truth distortion. It devolves into "he said, she said," and in this case, it would appear both parties are guilty.
No where do they give the very obvious answer to this junk journalism : Any anonymous person on the internet can post on the Dailykos, including OLielly himself. It is as absurd to claim these statements are representative of Dailykos as it would be to call Markos on the phone, record yourself spewing hatred to him, and then airing that recording publicly, claiming that Markos has hatespeech conversations on the phone. These jokers OLielly highlights might be talking, but we are not listening (or responding with anything other than donuts).
I would challenge any OLielly viewer to make such statements and see how long they are a member of our community. This is a statement that should be made by our candidates. OLielly should be called out for his absurd misrepresentation of both the technology behind this site and the community. To my knowledge, this has not happened.
OLielly's segment is patently absurd. It is a mistake to dignify such absurdity with any response other than to call him a clown and end the coversation.
!!!! POWER UPDATE !!!! read and this diary about hitting OLielly where it hurts
UPDATE: my poll response, "No, it is wrong to talk to these clowns" should be clarified. I mean that they should not reply in a way that perpetuates the conversation. as in, the conversation should not continue, regardless if they get in a zinger or two. this option is meant to say that I believe the correct response would be to point out the absurdity of olielly's "reporting". He really should be laughed out of the room.
Lithium Cola puts it much better than I can in his comment here.
UPDATE 2: hey, why hasn't anyone commented on the Inside Edition mario bit with olielly. i thought that one clip would validate this entire diary!!