Monday, May 9, 2005
On The O'Reilly Factor...
Segment Summaries
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.
Talking Points Memo & Top Story
Hillary & the left-wing press
Guests: Fox News chief judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano & Josh Gerstein, New York Sun

"There's no question that Senator Hillary Clinton has a major ally in the so-called elite media, which is in step with her big government philosophy and social liberalism. Her support for partial birth abortion and her votes against parental notification put her squarely on the left. But the New York Times has announced that it will try to become less ideological on its news pages - not good news for Mrs. Clinton. We're happy the New York Times is trying to become more 'fair and balanced.' But talk is cheap in both politics and the media, and we'll see what really goes down."

Transcript/Video: FoxNews.com

The Factor was joined by two men who have been following an ongoing story that could affect Senator Clinton's presidential hopes. David Rosen, one of Mrs. Clinton's top fund-raisers, is on trial for alleged filing false financial reports. Josh Gerstein of the New York Sun speculated on why the story has received so little national attention. "Part of it has to do with the liberal media angle you're talking about. So many people are eager to see Mrs. Clinton run for President and no one wants to upset that applecart." Fox News analyst Andrew Napolitano elaborated on another intriguing aspect of the story - Ted Kennedy's brother-in-law Ray Reggie wore a hidden microphone and secretly taped conversations with Rosen. "Reggie was charged with defrauding a bank," Napolitano explained. "And so he cut a deal to record hundreds of hours of conversations with Rosen about this alleged fraud. I would look for some salacious stuff to come out - politically damaging for Hillary, but not legally damaging."
Factor Follow Up Segment
Judge rejects Md. sex ed curriculum
Guest: Eliza Byard, Gay Lebian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

As reported on The Factor, educators in Maryland tried to institute a new sex education program that was, according to some parents, too explicit and pro-homosexual. A federal judge has blocked the curriculum, saying the district crossed the line into proselytizing. "I think it's really unfortunate," gay activist Eliza Byard told The Factor, "that a small group of parents are thwarting the will of the majority. Sexuality education is about providing young people with potentially life-saving information." The Factor contended that the curriculum was pushing an agenda. "The judge said the parents have a legitimate reason to fear that they're being indoctrinated. And that's the big fear that Americans have - that they're being indoctrinated to accept something that they don't want their children to accept on religious grounds."
Impact Segment
Cops under fire
Guest: Former homicide detective Rod Wheeler

There was a shootout in California on Monday when police surrounded a suspect's vehicle after a fifteen-minute car chase - the suspect and one officer were shot and wounded. The Factor predicted that police will be criticized, and former homicide detective Rod Wheeler said cops are second-guessed far too often. "This suspect could have easily had an AK-47 or M-16. So the police have to respond in the best way they know how in order to protect the community that this knucklehead was in." The Factor said police should have the right to shoot anyone who uses a deadly weapon. "If there is a suspect with a firearm, and if that suspect shoots the firearm and any police are around, then it's shoot to kill."
Personal Story Segment
Investigating UN ambassadors
Guest: Author Jed Babbin

Actress Angelina Jolie has a high profile role as United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. Jed Babbin, who has written frequently about the UN, said Jolie's primary job seems to be garnering favorable publicity. "What she's doing is putting a pretty face on the UN, which is a pretty ugly organization these days. They're getting free advertising and it diverts from the problems they're having. And if you look at her trips, it always seems to be just before she has a new movie being released. She's obviously benefiting." The Factor pointed out that Jolie has refused repeated invitations to appear on the program. "She won't answer direct questions. If she's trying to do some good, then she should come on any program. Angelina Jolie may be very sincere, but I don't know what she's doing."
Unresolved Problems Segment
"Freakonomics"
Guests: Authors Dr. Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner

Self-proclaimed "rogue economist" Dr. Steven Levitt has co-written a best-selling book called "Freakonomics." Among his controversial assertions - the precipitous drop in crime is largely due to the legalization of abortion. "After legalization there were a million abortions a year. Those were more likely to occur among teenage mothers, single women, and women who didn't want the pregnancy. It's hard to understand how it couldn't have an impact on crime." Levitt also studied the illegal drug trade, and revealed that most drug dealers make very little money. "The drug game is like an American corporation - the people at the top have a lot of money, the people at the bottom are working for about minimum age. A lot of them are living at home with their mother." The Factor put forth another reason for the tremendous drop in crime. "Abortion could have impacted crime and probably has. But mandatory sentences have taken the real hard core bad guys off the street for a long period of time."
Back of Book Segment
Sexuality and Christianity
Guest: Author Lauren Winner

Professor Lauren Winner has written a book about Christians and premarital sex, and told The Factor why the book is needed. "The statistics indicate that Christians and those of us in the church have a problem with rampant premarital sex. So while I do say that Christianity asks people to wait until they're married to have sex, I also say that premarital sex is not an unforgivable sin. There is sometimes an unfortunate rhetoric in the church that you will be scarred forever by having premarital sex. Christians need to vigorously articulate a message of forgiveness and repentance."
Factor Mail
Viewers sound off
Many of you are still reacting to First Lady Laura Bush and her jokes about the President. Some excerpts from your e-mails:

Elizabeth Pickett, Shreveport, LA: "There are many things to complain about in this world. Laura bush is not one of them."

Len Durham, Nashville, TN: "I'm a Democrat and love Laura Bush. Anyone criticizing her performance has no sense of humor."

Rev. Henry Hemmerling, Spring Hill, FL: "So I'm an extremist because I think Laura Bush's routine was inappropriate? You're way out of line on this one, Bill."

Other Factor viewers wrote about Hillary Clinton and her pro-choice voting record.

Stanley Gershbein, Ft. Lauderdale, FL: "It's nice to see Geraldine Ferraro in the no spin zone sticking up for Hillary Clinton. It would be nicer if the Senator would stick up for herself."

Alisha Naccarato, Ontario, Canada: "I am furious that Mrs. Clinton voted against the 'protection of the fetus' act. I lost my son born prematurely. Just because he wasn't able to breathe on his own didn't take his humanity away from him."

Books Mentioned


Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

Read more...
 


Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity
by Lauren F. Winner

Read more...