The O'Reilly Factor
A daily summary of segments aired on The O'Reilly Factor. A preview of the evening's rundown is posted before the show airs each weeknight.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
The Factor Rundown
Talking Points Memo & Top Story
Impact Segment
Impact Segment II
Unresolved Problems Segment
Factor Follow Up Segment
Personal Story Segment
Back of Book Segment
Factor Mail
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Comments
Confronting Iran
Guests: Congressman Albert Wynn (D-MD)

"French President Jacques Chirac told reporters it's no big deal if Iran gets a couple of nukes. Then Chirac changed his story, but I believe much of Europe and the American left are not willing to confront Iran over anything. The problem for those of us who understand the true danger Iran poses is that the chaos in Iraq has made it difficult to rally any aggressive action toward Iran. Talking Points has made this comparison before: If Europe and the USA had united against Hitler in the 1930's, perhaps 50-million human beings could have been spared death. But little was done to stop Hitler, even though his intentions were clear, just as Iran's intentions today are clear. It's an absolute disgrace that Europe has not joined America in confronting Iran. I believe the Western powers should talk to Iran, but the conversation should be one-sided - either you stop threatening the world or nobody does business with you. No guns, no bombs, just strangle them economically. But it won't happen, leaving the USA and Britain once again to deal with a complicated fanatical enemy."

The Factor welcomed Congressman Albert Wynn, a vehement opponent of any military intervention in Iran. "There's no basis for a preemptive attack," Wynn pronounced. "We need a new approach that emphasizes diplomacy. We ought to try strong economic sanctions, and we should bring in the other countries in the region who have a vested interest in not having Iran obtain nuclear weapons." The Factor questioned whether Wynn would endorse a military response under any circumstances. "Neville Chamberlain said exactly what you're saying in the 1930' - bring other nations in, negotiate with Hitler, but we can't use any military force. I don't believe you will ever say we should go in militarily."

News Link: Chirac: It's OK for Iran to have a few nukes
New Hornbeck case details
Guest: Greta Van Susteren

There are photos of Shawn Hornbeck, the young man held captive for more than four years, showing him clowning for the camera. FNC host Greta Van Susteren explained the significance of the pictures. "The photos are important because they're a catalyst for a further investigation. But we don't know the facts and circumstances surrounding the photos - when and why they were taken. The thing that trumps everything for me is that Shawn was just eleven when he was taken, so I'm very sympathetic with him." The Factor concurred that Hornbeck deserves understanding. "I agree that you have to give the boy the benefit of the doubt. This kid was brutalized and he's a victim no matter how it comes out."

News Link: New Hornbeck details and pictures
Mayor Newsom sex scandal
Guest: Debra Saunders, San Francisco Chronicle

After San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom admitted to having an affair with the wife of his former campaign manager, columnist Debra Saunders accused the mayor of treachery. "I think having an affair with your campaign manager's wife is going too far. This is a fundamental betrayal of a friend, and a betrayal of his staff." The Factor cited this as one more indicator of a troubled city. "With the secular progressives controlling the city, you have seen chaos everywhere. And it all comes back to the fact that their view of life is undisciplined - it's do what you want when you want it. I believe San Francisco has suffered dramatically."

News Link: S.F. Mayor admits to affair with colleague's wife
Mary Cheney's pregnancy
Guest: Laura Ingraham

Vice President Cheney's daughter Mary, a lesbian who is pregnant with her first child, says the baby is a "blessing from God, not a political statement." Radio host Laura Ingraham gave her analysis of the controversy. "There are a bunch of liberals out there who want to make this a big issue because they have a particular agenda, that one family situation is not better than another. I have a brother who's gay, but I think men and women together as husband and wife is the optimum." Ingraham also criticized The Factor for using footage of barely clad women. "What is the purpose of your running the coffee shop babes in their bikinis? You can talk about cultural issues without running the constant loop of the video. It's ridiculous! I don't know if there's a rampant midlife crisis at this network among male anchors, but people are tired of this."

News Link: Mary Cheney says her child isn't "a political statement"
More race-based politics?
Guest: Political analyst Dick Morris

Senator Joe Biden apologized after describing Barack Obama as the first "mainstream African-American" candidate who is "articulate and bright and clean." Political analyst Dick Morris sounded the death knell for Biden's presidential hopes. "Every political grave has an epitaph on it, and this is his. Gaffes like this are a problem if people believe it reveals a window into the politician's real thinking. At a certain level, Biden was reflecting the establishment opinion on Capitol Hill that Obama is a class above run-of-the-mill African American congressmen." The Factor defended Biden's comment as an innocent mistake. "There isn't any history where you would say Joe Biden wants to denigrate African Americans. The bottom line is that no politician in the United States should ever address race on any level - you can't win!"

News Link: Sen. Biden's racial gaffe
Whoopi on celebs and politics
Guest: Whoopi Goldberg

Actress Whoopi Goldberg, host of a new morning radio show, entered the No Spin Zone and outlined her opposition to the war. "We went in under misguided ideals and with no real way to get out. Nobody knows how to get out of this because it's a mess. Everyone who said 'let's go in and do this' helped create this instability in the Middle East." The Factor questioned whether Goldberg and other anti-war activists have considered the consequences of withdrawal. "Your good point is that people like me who supported the war in the beginning were wrong for two reasons - because there were no weapons of mass destruction and the Bush administration has fouled up the execution. But you don't compound one mistake with another - if you cut and run from Iraq now, you create more problems for the USA."
Analysis of celebrities and politics
Guests: Fox News media analysts Bernard Goldberg & Jane Hall

FNC analysts Jane Hall and Bernard Goldberg commented on the interviews with anti-war celebrities at last weekend's rally in Washington. "I thought the questions were legitimate," Goldberg said. "If these people are going to make statements about a war, we have every right to ask them if they understand the consequences of their positions. You can see how breathtakingly shallow some of them are - people in Hollywood don't think about the consequences of their positions. But the bad side was the relentlessness and the repetition of the questions. It sounded like your reporter had an agenda." In contrast, Hall commended both the questions and answers. "I thought the questions were respectful. But I also thought the celebrities gave pretty good answers. Susan Sarandon gave a good response, and Jane Fonda was brave to risk the kind of coverage that she got."
Viewers sound off
Factor Words of the Day
Many of you wrote about those celebrities who attended last weekend's rally. Some excerpts:

Capt. Erik Hansen, Lackland AFB, TX: "Bill, please tell Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, and Jane Fonda that I appreciated their comments. Not because I agree with them, but because it's proof we are protecting their rights."

Michelle Snyder, Fort Wayne, IN: "They all want out of Iraq but none of them have answers about what to do then. Stardom must suck all the common sense out of a person."

Bob Smith, Pennsylvania: "Bill, you should be ashamed. Asking Jane Fonda about specific issues regarding Vietnam and Iraq? That's like picking low-hanging fruit."

G. Seely, Winter Springs, FL: "Mention O'Reilly, see Jane run!"