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.
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Factor Rundown
Guest Host
Juan Williams fills in tonight.
Top Story
Impact Segment
Factor Follow Up Segment
Fridays with Geraldo Segment
Personal Story Segment
Factor Flashback Segment
Pinheads and Patriots
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Discontent spreading across America
Juan began Friday's program with a new poll showing that 70% of Americans believe the country is on the "wrong track," while President Obama is touring the country excoriating "the rich." Conservative blogger and author Andrew Breitbart accused the President of fanning the flames of discontent. "This is a very dangerous strategy," Breitbart said, "because I'm worried about class warfare. There's a bad economy, high gas prices, and now Americans are being pitted against one another. I'm very nervous about the tone President Obama is setting for this country. We are in the middle of a philosophical battle." In contrast, liberal radio talk show host Leslie Marshall endorsed the President's call for higher taxes on the wealthy. "He is going back to his original promise to those of us on the left who voted for him. He has always said he didn't want an extension of the Bush tax cuts. And we already have class warfare - the 'haves' are not taking care of the 'have-nots' and the middle class is being annihilated in America." Juan worried about the President's overall tone, saying "President Obama promised that he would be the 'unifer' who would bring us together, but here he is playing the class card."
Could criminal activity be elevating gas prices?
With gas prices nearing $4 a gallon, President Obama wants the Justice Department to investigate the possible role of traders and speculators. Juan welcomed two guests with widely divergent views of the oil market. "Speculators are driving oil prices far beyond the supply and demand fundamentals," said consumer advocate Tyler Slocum. "We have had cases of energy companies and hedge funds committing fraud and manipulation. BP paid a fine for manipulating the entire U.S. propane market, and a hedge fund was found guilty of manipulating natural gas." But investment manager Jim Lacamp accused the administration of playing politics. "Oil prices are going higher for a number of reasons and this is nothing more than a political power play by Obama. Chinese demand for oil is accelerating and problems in the Middle East are not going away. When you cut down the nuclear industry and you shutter all the upcoming projects, you're going to have to use more oil and gas. We aren't drilling in the United States and we have no coherent energy policy."
Lawmakers go back and forth on Libya
After visiting Libya, Senator John McCain is requesting more U.S. support for the anti-Qaddafi rebels. Juan asked Fox News military analyst Lt. Col. Ralph Peters to assess the situation in the war zone. "John McCain is a hero who has stood up for freedom all his life," Peters declared, "and he is trying to do the job that our fraidy-cat president refuses to do. The rebels are willing to stand up against Qaddafi's mercenary thugs and tanks and artillery because they want better lives and a little freedom, so I'm 100% on Senator McCain's side. Libya matters strategically, and if we had allowed Qaddafi to triumph and slaughter his own people, it would have turned back the whole 'Arab awakening.'" Juan worried about the possibility of ever-escalating American involvement: "We're now seeing predator drones to fly over Libya. This is the first step that may wind up with American boots on the ground."
Geraldo on the chaos in Libya
Juan invited Geraldo Rivera to opine on Libya and Ralph Peters' assessment in the prior segment. "I have deep respect for Col. Peters," Rivera said, "and I agree that sending the drones is a step that is absolutely necessary. The rebels in the eastern part of Libya are disorganized, ill-equipped, undisciplined bunch of semi-cowards. But people in Misrata in the western part of Libya have kept their city free of Qaddafi by fighting block-by-block and they are having some success." Rivera turned to California, where former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is under fire for commuting the sentence of convicted murderer Esteban Nunez, son of a powerful politician. "No pardon or commutation is popular," Rivera conceded, "and you can hate Governor Schwarzenegger for this, but he has the absolute right to do it." Juan decried the obvious favoritism that is allowing a convicted killer to walk free: "This is only possible because his daddy is the former Speaker of the Assembly and a friend of Governor Schwarzenegger. Where is the justice?"
Bullying leads to apparent suicide pact
Two 14-year-old Minnesota girls, both of whom had been bullied at school, killed themselves last week, apparently carrying out a suicide pact. Fox News medical contributor Marc Siegel analyzed the effects of bullying. "Both the people that are bullied and the bulliers," Siegel reported, "end up with isolation and depression and loneliness. Middle school is where it all happens, and I think it's because parents think the kids are now teens and they start to pull back a little bit. I say parents have to stay involved at this age." Juan also asked Siegel about a new study that claims coffee drinking is perfectly safe, even for folks with high blood pressure. "I'm a huge coffee drinker," Siegel said, "but I am not buying this. We know that caffeine raises your blood pressure - what about getting off coffee and replacing it with exercise?"
James Caan in the No Spin Zone
Finally, Juan reprised Bill's recent interview with 71-year-old actor James Caan, best known for his role as Sonny in 'The Godfather' and one of Hollywood's few admitted conservatives. "I've become conservative because of the position we're in right now," Caan said. "If we are going to wear that badge that we've earned of 'sheriff of the world,' then we'd better act like Wyatt Earp. But I'm being kind of a hypocrite here because I don't like when actors talk politics." Caan also reflected on his long career. "I used to say acting is a silly thing for a grownup to do, it's not really a job. But as I grow older I do believe in the art and I've studied it. I'm really lucky because in the 70's and 80's I had the chance to work with the best actors and directors."
You make the call!
Friday's Patriot or Pinhead: Actress Reese Witherspoon, who boasted about her close relationship with the President and First Lady. Is she patriotic or pinheaded? Cast your vote here on BillOReilly.com. Thursday's P or P asked about Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, whose character on "Glee" warned against anonymous insults on the Internet. 60% of you called the message - and the messenger - absolutely patriotic.