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| All content taken from The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News Channel. Each weeknight by 6 PM EST a preview of that evening's show will be posted and then updated with additional information the following weekday by noon EST.
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"As we've been reporting, there is ethnic tension at Live Oaks High School in California, driven by the new Arizona law that broadens local police power over illegal aliens. The fuse was lit on Cinco de Mayo when five students wore clothing bedecked with the American flag. They were sent home, while some Hispanic students were allowed to wear Mexican flag apparel. The superintendent admits that sending the boys home was a mistake, but little has been resolved. That reflects a controversy nationwide - some Hispanic Americans believe they are being punished because of the immigration chaos. On the other side, millions of Americans are simply fed up with the failure of the federal government to control the border and impose order on the immigration process. Years ago I taught high school in Miami and there was some tension between Anglo and Cuban students. I told them it was a total waste of time, that we are all Americans and should be looking out for each other. Three decades later, ethnic tension is on the rise again and will not diminish until the federal government effectively deals with the illegal alien problem."
The Factor invited two pro-immigration activists to challenge the Talking Points Memo. "You're absolutely right that tension is rising," said Enrique Morones, "and this bill in Arizona adds to the tension. It allows racial profiling and allows civilians to act as federal immigration agents. I believe people should be able to wear the flag of any country they wish, but not in a provoking manner. It's important to not antagonize." Francisco Hernandez argued that the media is inflaming the situation in Arizona and elsewhere. "There is no tension between Hispanics and Anglos or Hispanics and blacks; it is being fueled by extremists on both sides who are just nuts." The Factor attempted to rationalize the frustration felt by Arizonans. "The state is bankrupt, crime is through the roof, and the federal government will not solve the problem. The Arizona people don't want any more illegal aliens crossing over, period."
Political analyst Karl Rove laid out the predicament facing President Obama, who opposes the Arizona immigration law. "73% of Americans say people should be required to produce documents showing they have legal status," Rove said. "President Obama said we're going to have comprehensive immigration reform this year, but Congress said 'no way' and he stepped back. Then, when the Arizona law passed, he sensed a political opportunity and he's now saying he wants Congress to begin dealing with this. But the president has done zip, zero, nada to prepare the groundwork for what is going to be a very thorny bill. Nothing's going to happen except that he's going to use this to inflame racial feelings." The Factor agreed that President Obama has put himself in an untenable position: "By doing nothing, he's losing ground in the job approval area. People are screaming for something to be done." |
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| During an interview last week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seemed to take an oblique swipe at President Obama's economic policies. Political strategist Dick Morris suggested that Secretary Clinton may be positioning herself for 2012. "President Obama is facing," Morris asserted, "the biggest wipeout any president has ever faced in an off-year election. We are talking about the obliteration of a whole generation of Democratic politicians. It is possible that President Obama's ratings will crater into the 20's and 30's, and it's also possible that a grass-roots swell arises for a new candidate, and people turn to Hillary." The Factor contended that Clinton, if called upon, would not turn down a chance to run: "I know how much Hillary Clinton wants to be President - she wants it more than you want your book to sell 5-million copies. And I don't think she has the patience to wait." |
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| CBS News and various blogs have raised questions about Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan's sexual orientation. The Factor welcomed veteran reporter Sally Quinn, who traced the story's origins. "This came from a blogger who didn't have great credentials," Quinn said, "and CBS should never have put it on their website. Then the White House did something stupid by saying 'she's not gay, she's not gay,' which is like saying there's something wrong with being gay. I don't think her sexual orientation should be an issue here." But The Factor explained why Kagan's sexuality could be germane: "Gay marriage and other issues are going to come before the court, and Americans have a right to know if a Supreme Court justice has an orientation that may dictate which way she votes on a particular issue." |
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| The Factor welcomed the Sage of Southern California, aka Dennis Miller, who began with the issue of Elena Kagan's sexuality. "I owe Kagan," Miller said, "what I owe every other human being regarding their sexuality - my complete and utter indifference. This woman is taking Stevens' place and it's fine. And you know what, the President should get some vigorish for being elected, and he's going to pick people who are sympathetic to him." Miller also weighed in on Attorney General Eric Holder, who has shifted his position on reading Miranda rights to suspected terrorists (and who bears more than a passing resemblance to Oprah's former boyfriend Stedman Graham.) "All of a sudden Stedman is Jack Bauer," Miller quipped. "Shahzad must have said something that scared the hell out of those guys, because Stedman came in over the weekend like he's Curtis LeMay. Between the unmanned drones, retaining the Patriot Act, and keeping Gitmo open, can waterboarding be far behind? Yippee, I like what I'm seeing." |
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| FNC anchor Jane Skinner viewed footage showing a Texas teacher administering a serious beat-down to a 13-year-old male student. "The sheriff's office is investigating this," Skinner reported. "I interviewed the boy's mother, who said it wasn't until this video aired on a local TV station that the teacher was fired. The boy also said there were other teachers standing around watching and doing nothing." Skinner then watched a public service announcement depicting a gruesome accident caused by teens who are texting while driving. "This will run on about 20 stations in South Carolina. A lot of kids have seen a more graphic version on the Internet, and this will be good for adults to see as well." |
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Michael Plumley, Oklahoma City, OK: "Bill, it's unfair of you to say Justice Ginsburg doesn't care about the Constitution unless you back it up."
Jim Bedwell, Vancouver, WA: "Bill, once again you were right and Megyn Kelly was wrong about a legal matter. Justice Ginsburg does base her judgments on what she perceives to be 'good.'"
Bill Dyess, Tortola, British Virgin Islands: "Stossel is right again! Gambling should be legal because people need the freedom to err."
Gerald Faulk, Ponchatoula, LA: "Colmes asked what would Jesus do about the border. Mr. O, you should have told him that Jesus would obey the law." |
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| Finally, Bill aired some clips from his Wednesday appearance on "The View" with Whoopi, Joy, Elisabeth and Sherri. Viewers were left to decide for themselves who among that motley quintet were the Patriots and/or Pinheads. |
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