Monday, April 23, 2007
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
Buying political power: Investigating Soros
Guests: Author Phil Kent & radio host Monica Crowley

"The Factor has been investigating far-left billionaire George Soros, a man who wants to impose a radical left agenda on America. Soros has set up a complicated political operation designed to do two things - buy influence among some liberal politicians and smear people with whom he disagrees. Most of Soros' political money flows through his 'Open Society Institute,' which has given nearly $20 million to the 'Tides Foundation.' Tides, in turn, has donated millions to the vile propaganda outfit 'Media Matters,' which specializes in distorting comments made by politicians, pundits and media people. 'Media Matters' directly feeds its propaganda to some mainstream media people, including elements at NBC News, columnists Frank Rich and Paul Krugman at the New York Times, columnist Jonathan Alter at Newsweek, and Bill Moyers at PBS. The goal of Soros and other radical financiers is to buy a presidential election. In the past, big business has been accused of doing just that. Now it is the likes of George Soros, an extremist who wants open borders, a one-world foreign policy, legalized drugs, euthanasia, and on and on. This is off-the-chart dangerous, but completely legal under the McCain-Feingold Act. In the weeks to come we'll have more on Soros and his operations, including naming more of the mainstream media who are actively helping him."

The Factor welcomed two journalists who have studied George Soros and his tactics. "This is an incredibly well-oiled, brilliantly orchestrated machine," declared radio host Monica Crowley. "Here you have all this power in the hands of one guy with a billion-dollar fortune, and he has been able to fly under the radar. The mainstream media protects him because they are on the same ideological page." Author Phil Kent elaborated on Soros' radical agenda. "Soros is really the Dr. Evil of the whole world of left-wing foundations. He once said the main obstacle to a stable and just world is the United States. He really hates this country, he believes wealth controls culture, and he wants to control the political scene in the United States." The Factor added that Soros has transferred his considerable skills from finance to politics. "You've got to admire George Soros for coming up with this organization. He knows how to move money around, and now he's set his sights on changing the basic fabric of this country."
Impact Segment
San Francisco's sanctuary policies?
Guest: Hightstown, New Jersey Mayor Robert Patten

Mayor Gavin Newsom has reaffirmed San Francisco's status as a "sanctuary city," meaning it will not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Newsom has declined to appear on The Factor, but the mayor of another sanctuary city explained his policy. "If we know a criminal is an illegal alien," declared Mayor Robert Patten of Hightstown, N.J., "we would tell Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But we don't have enough personnel to go around looking for undocumented aliens. And we won't ask someone about their immigration status." The Factor questioned the wisdom of refusing to determine whether a drunk driver is in the country legally. "Your resources are small and you can't be chasing illegal aliens. But this seems pretty dangerous if you arrest someone, you let them go without knowing who they are."

News Link: SF declares itself a "sanctuary city"
Unresolved Problems Segment
New gun control legislation to be introduced
Guest: Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

In the wake of the Virginia Tech killings, some members of Congress are proposing new gun legislation. Senator Charles Schumer explained the bill and its main provision. "This requires the states to put someone in a database if they're judged mentally incompetent. To its credit, the NRA has said it is not opposing this." Schumer lashed out at extremists on both sides of the gun debate. "I resent the people on the left who say the First Amendment should be expanded to the end of the universe but the Second Amendment should be seen through a pinhole. Where I disagree with the extreme pro-gun people is that even the Second Amendment has limitations." The Factor praised the pending legislation as simple common sense. "This should pass easily, and it's a reasonable first step. It's your obligation, and mine as well, to try to encourage as much safety as possible in this country."

News Link: Gun control bills submitted
Personal Story Segment
Richard Dawkins on the existence of God
Guest: Richard Dawkins

Atheism, already the dominant "religion" in much of Europe, is also growing in the U.S.. The Factor welcomed author Richard Dawkins, who laid out the case for atheism. "We have a very full understanding of why life is there. Science is piling on the evidence and piling on the understanding. The onus is on you to say why you believe in something." The Factor gladly took up that challenge. "I think it takes more faith to be an atheist than to be a believer like me. I just don't think we could have lucked out and have the tides go in and out, the sun go up and down. I'm throwing in with Jesus rather than with you guys because you can't tell me how it all got here."
Factor Follow Up Segment
Debating the Alec Baldwin tape
Guests: Fox News analysts Laura Schwartz & Michelle Malkin

Last Thursday The Factor had access to the tape of Alec Baldwin berating his daughter Ireland, but refused to run the audio. "We would have been first with the tape," Bill explained, "but I said no. I knew Ireland would be harmed and I didn't want to be a party to this, even though we did lose audience by not playing the Baldwin stuff." FNC analyst Michelle Malkin expressed her agreement with that decision. "I applaud what you did and I wish more of our colleagues would have shown similar restraint. I feel nothing but pity and compassion for this poor girl. She was victimized by her unhinged father, by the reckless adults who leaked the tape, and by every media outlet who ran the tape over and over." FNC's Laura Schwartz agreed that 11-year old Ireland should come first. "You did something that Alec and Kim didn't do - you took Ireland into account. She's become a pawn in this divorce and it's so sad."

News Link: Baldwin leaves scorching voicemail on daughter's cell
Back of Book Segment
The Great American Culture Quiz
Guests: Martha MacCallum & Steve Doocy

Martha MacCallum and Steve Doocy again matched wits in the Great American Culture Quiz. The Factor posed five questions, including these: "Elvis Presley met with President Nixon to discuss what?" ... "Rosie O'Donnell played a movie role based on which cartoon character?" As they did just once before, MacCallum and Doocy both got every single question correct. And as he has done before, The Factor vowed to come up with some tougher questions.
Factor Mail
Viewers sound off
Your weekend e-mails dealt with a variety of recent segments. Some excerpts:

Dan Johnson, Watertown, SD: "Bill, relax. Most of the people in the world dislike Bush, not America."

Miranda Diggs, Amarillo, TX: "O'Reilly, hardly anyone would have heard those far-left comments if you hadn't broadcast them."

Curt Fletemier, Indonesia: "I've lived throughout Asia and the press is rabidly anti-American. And, guess what, they get their best stuff from the American media."

Richard Bailey, Henderson, NV: "Bill, the gun laws in Virginia work. The problem is the law abiding gun owners couldn't carry on campus."