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O’Reilly Rips Columbia’s Invitation To Ahmadinejad As ‘Revolting,’ But Admits He Invited Him Too»

Last night, Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly criticized Columbia University’s decision to invite Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak on campus. O’Reilly, who spent much of last week railing against Columbia’s invitation, called the event “revolting” and singled out Columbia University President Lee Bollinger as being “hypocritical beyond belief” for his invitation.

But moments later, O’Reilly revealed that he had also offered an invitation to Ahmadinejad to appear on his own show. In response to a viewer email asking why he didn’t invite the Iranian President on his show, O’Reilly said:

We actually did invite him, sir, but he knows the no spin zone when he sees one. Ahmadinejad doesn’t answer questions; he bloviates. But I’d love to tell him that face to face. And I would.

Watch it:

Screenshot

O’Reilly has maintained that his objection to Ahmadinejad’s speech does not stem from fear of an open exchange of ideas, but rather of giving him a high-profile platform:

REED WERNER: Well, I would like to know what are you afraid of by him coming.

O’REILLY: I don’t think we’re afraid of anything, but we don’t want to - I don’t think anybody’s afraid of anything, but we don’t want to give status and credibility.

O’Reilly appears to acknowledge that speaking at Columbia lends status and credibility to a speaker, while appearing on his own show does not.

(HT: Newshounds)




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50 Responses to “O’Reilly Rips Columbia’s Invitation To Ahmadinejad As ‘Revolting,’ But Admits He Invited Him Too”

  1. Your Conscience Says:

    BWHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!

    What an a$$clown.

    Bill Falafel do enlighten us on how Blacks are ’starting to think for themselves”


  2. hellinabucket Says:

    Kudos to Lee Bollinger for his blistering introduction of Ahmadinejad. Just read it in the Chicago Tribune. He used this opportunity to show the world what free speech is all about.


  3. toasterhead Says:

    O’Reilly appears to acknowledge that speaking at Columbia lends status and credibility to a speaker, while appearing on his own show does not.

    Well, duh!

    Appearing on The Factor just makes you look like an idiot.


  4. rastaman Says:

    please bill…..go to iran to do your interview.


  5. Vet Says:

    Ahmadinejad and Billdo have a lot in common, and both demonstrate the benefits of allowing free speech: Give a lunatic an open mic, and he’ll prove exactly how crazy he is.


  6. spearNmagicHelmet Says:

    billy, your missing a golden opportunity to take the man to Slyvia’s.


  7. Marie Says:

    O’Reilly’s recent comments regarding blacks are outrageous, condescending, bigoted and ignorant.
    Typical for the jerk.

    Check this out if you haven’t already heard:
    http://mediamatters.org/items/200709210007


  8. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    Does this mean Dild O’ will publicly rip HIMSELF a new one?

    Please… please, please, please…


  9. MCMetal Says:

    Kudos to Lee Bollinger for his blistering introduction of Ahmadinejad. Just read it in the Chicago Tribune. He used this opportunity to show the world what free speech is all about.

    Comment by hellinabucket — September 25, 2007 @ 3:05 pm

    Ummm , Bollinger is an asswipe ; a host doesn’t invite someone to be a speaker , in anticipation of skewering them , to cover their own ass because of the uproar the invitation itself created…….


  10. Wilco Says:

    “Does this mean Dild O’ will publicly rip HIMSELF a new one?”

    It’s difficult since he’s already a giant one.


  11. Vet Says:

    Comment by Marie — September 25, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
    ————-
    Good Lord. Billdo is indeed lower than whale sh*t!

    I’m sure his people have since told him that those po black folk was just acin’ nice on account o’ him bein’ dere…

    You’ve got a short trip to Hell, Billdo!


  12. dim wit Says:

    O’Reilly appears to acknowledge that speaking at Columbia lends status and credibility to a speaker, while appearing on his own show does not.

    O’Reilly has a point. His objection is to Columbia’s ability to lend status and credibility. O’Reilly has neither and could offer neither to Ahmadinejad.

    Apparently Ahmadinejad’s standards aren’t so low that he would actually be willing to appear on O’Reilley’s show.


  13. missmolly Says:

    Perhaps Bill is just ticked off that Ahmadinejad accepted Columbia’s invite but not his, and this is just sour grapes.

    And calling Bollinger “hypocritical beyond belief” is over the top, since Bill is making an assumption that Columbia invited Ahmadinejad as a gesture of honor. Considering the intro Ahmadinejad got, my guess is that he was invited to show the students what a narrow-thinking nut case sounded like.

    At least Bill is just expressing his opinion as he usually does, and not attempting to cut off funding for the university as certain members of Congress are doing.


  14. raynman Says:

    I wonder if his invitation is similar to Limbaugh’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize?

    Figments of their limited imagination concocted to make themselves appear more important than they really are.


  15. AngryOne Says:

    The third visit to New York by the bombastic Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is producing predictable howls of protest. But largely lost in the build-up of the Ahmadinejad-Bush confrontation are the striking - and disturbing - similarities between the two men and their respective followers.

    For the details, see:
    “Ahmadinejad and Bush: Parallels and Second Comings.”


  16. Squegeeboo Says:

    You guys are all missing Bill’s valid, eloquent point.

    By allowing Ahmadinejad to speak at Columbia, you give him a pedistal around the youth of America, some of whom he may influence.

    However the youth of America don’t watch the O’reilly show, due to their political leanings, and their preference for shows such as the Colbert Report and The Daily Show.

    This means that if Ahmadinejad went on O’reilly, only adults, capable of understanding, and resisting, the evil influence of the Iranian would be exposed to him.

    So really, theres nothing contradictory at all about what O’reilly said.


  17. Starve-A-Bush_Feed-A-Beaver Says:

    So is O’Reilly accusing himself of being revolting? Has he at last seen the light?


  18. Nature Rules Says:

    Comment by Squegeeboo — September 25, 2007 @ 3:27 pm

    LOLOLOL BAHAHAHAHAHA

    You are so moronic it’s funny.


  19. toasterhead Says:

    I think Bill O is actually relieved that Mahmoud didn’t come on his show. After seeing Ahmedinejad’s bombastic right-wing blather for 20 minutes, Fox might have decided to give him his own show.


  20. bilbobaggins Says:

    That’s too funny because the President of Columbia University was very critical of Ahmadinejad. Like most of the Righties, O’Reilly criticized Columbia’s president before they heard what he had to say to Ahmadinejad.

    O’Reilly, King of the Hypocrites.


  21. Anti-Treason Says:

    Bill O: Made in China


  22. Wayne Says:

    By allowing Ahmadinejad to speak at Columbia, you give him a pedistal around the youth of America, some of whom he may influence.
    Comment by Squegeeboo — September 25, 2007 @ 3:27 pm

    Ahmadinejad sure influenced them. He showed the audience what kind of an idiot he is.
    Did you hear the catcalls from the audience when Ahmadinejad stated there were no homosexuals in Iran?

    I say it was a good thing to let the students hear him and judge for themselves.


  23. hellinabucket Says:

    No spin there huh squeegeeboo? You must be in the advanced Rovian logic course.


  24. hellinabucket Says:

    The boos and laughs were great to hear.


  25. Daniel Says:

    There is no shortage of insincerity here. While all three news channels complained about Columbia giving a platform to Ahmadinajad, they all televised the speech. What’s up with that?


  26. Zimzone Says:

    Caption: ‘Now I ask you, Americans, who’s better looking?


  27. Squegeeboo Says:

    hellinabucket
    No spin there huh squeegeeboo? You must be in the advanced Rovian logic course.
    I’m not just in it, I teach it.

    Wayne
    Did you hear the catcalls from the audience when Ahmadinejad stated there were no homosexuals in Iran?
    I didn’t listen to it, just read a bunch of articles on it, so I heard of the heckling, and the protesters outside, and the Columbian presidents remarks before hand.


  28. Zimzone Says:

    Hillbilly produced a Current Affair, apparently.


  29. Marie Says:

    The Columbia University event was a forum for world leaders. We must engage with global leaders if we are ever to function diplomatically in the world.
    I am no fan of Ahmadinejad, but I thought Bollinger was out of line. The school was the host for a forum where students could and would ask pertinent and direct questions; it was out of place for the president of the school to insert political opinions into this supposedly neutral forum. I realize he was pandering to the critics of the school for hosting Admadinejad as he expressed those views - and everyone is entitled to his own opinion, that goes without saying - but I felt uncomfortable with the opening remarks.
    That journalists are not allowed similar freedoms in his country, that citizens don’t have certain privileges and rights in his country, are matters that were to be addressed by the questioners in asking him to defend such actions.
    The man showed himself to be disingenuous at best, but we didn’t do ourselves any favor by stooping to his level.


  30. Anti-Treason Says:

    Comment by Marie — September 25, 2007 @ 3:45 pm

    You’re absolutely correct. Lee Bollinger misrepresented the school and should resign.


  31. Squegeeboo Says:

    spit take
    Squegeeboo, don’t let ‘em get to ya. I can tell satire when I see it, and yours was tops. Well done.

    Thanks, I’m guessing that Wayne and a bunch of the other regulars also got it.


  32. Witch1 Says:

    Interesting realy…..Has it occured to any one else here that Ahmadinejad and Bush are very much alike….The big diffrence of course is, bush is the one who has a record of bombing the shit out of a country that was not a threat…While this guy is accused of going to the rescue of the country bull shit bombd the shit out of…Where is the logic.?……We have no right to tell other countries what to build or not…..Untill we become the peace maker’s and stop the bushco madness we can not tell any one what to do…..Stop the war’s..Impeach before it’s to late..

    O’lilie is a nut bag, his claim’s to fame are self proclamed, he and bush also have a lot in common, none good may I add…….Blessings


  33. dim wit Says:

    Comment by Billy Hill — September 25, 2007 @ 3:40 pm

    ???


  34. ForTruth Says:

    This feels like gradeschool. When everyone was trying to get 2 kids to fight at the end of the day.

    Sorry to the home-schooled, you don’t know what I’m talking about.


  35. Doc Rock Says:

    Bill’s a little bloviated himself, I think. By the by, does Bill now admit that he didn’t grow up in penury and went to a private school?


  36. Badmoodman Says:

    All those people worried about Ahmacrazyguy’s speech can relax. Turns out he was funnier than Carrot Top or Gallagher. Solid routine with audience improv. A very good show that anyone interested in the lighter side of politics should see.


  37. Wayne Says:

    Thanks, I’m guessing that Wayne and a bunch of the other regulars also got it.
    Comment by Squegeeboo — September 25, 2007 @ 3:53 pm

    yep =)


  38. Squegeeboo Says:

    Badmoodman
    All those people worried about Ahmacrazyguy’s speech can relax. Turns out he was funnier than Carrot Top or Gallagher. Solid routine with audience improv. A very good show that anyone interested in the lighter side of politics should see.
    Some ones a regular on Fark


  39. ForTruth Says:

    Its difficult to be funnier than Carrot Top these days. Just look at it.


  40. ForTruth Says:

    Just because I don’t like Bush, does NOT mean I like this ass-hat. Ahmadinejihad is another crazy man.


  41. Wilco Says:

    “he was funnier than Carrot Top or Gallagher”

    Who isn’t?


  42. Wayne Says:

    Just because I don’t like Bush, does NOT mean I like this ass-hat. Ahmadinejihad is another crazy man.
    Comment by ForTruth — September 25, 2007 @ 4:10 pm

    Yes, Both Bush and Ahmadinejihad are crazy f*ckwits, I agree.


  43. Leftside Annie Says:

    Oh, fer the sweet lovva Jebus….!!

    Could that giant assclown Billdo take himself any more seriously?

    Yikes.

    Where I come from, they call that “delusions of grandeur” - and prescribe serious medication.


  44. tarazan Says:

    O’Reilly would love to have Ahmadi Najad on his show to help his show’s sagging ratings


  45. bilbobaggins Says:

    This means that if Ahmadinejad went on O’reilly, only adults, capable of understanding, and resisting, the evil influence of the Iranian would be exposed to him.
    Comment by Squegeeboo

    You certainly give the young people of today very little credit. Personally I think that our college students are much more capable of critical thinking than O’Reilly and his audience.

    So, how was Ahmadinejad supposed to “influence” these young people? The only “influence” he showed was to show them that he is as big a nutjob as is Bush.

    I am sure that you would rather our young people only be allowed to hear the “truths” that you and Bush’s minions think they should hear, like Betrayus’ “truths”.

    I have great faith that our young people today possess the critical thinking skills necessary to hear all sides of an issue and make up their minds for themselves. They are not lemmings like you and yours following Bush off the cliff.


  46. Xisithrus Says:

    O’Reilly was explaining that if Bush were to hold “talks” with Imanutjob it would “lend status and credibility” to the little dicktater. This should make you wonder what else is getting by you when you take other peoples word for things….. especially the blue blogs. -Billy Hill

    This is statement is illogical at best. Reagan held many talks with Gorbachev that led to the end of the cold war. The talks did nothing to lend status or credibility to him.


  47. Squegeeboo Says:

    bilbobaggins
    I am sure that you would rather our young people only be allowed to hear the “truths” that you and Bush’s minions think they should hear, like Betrayus’ “truths”.

    That would be best. At least until they hear enough to cancel out the 12+ years of public school propaganda with some good ol’ fashioned American values lessons, like what the Bush Administration can teach us.


  48. Juan C. Says:

    Bigfoot…links.


  49. Leftside Annie Says:

    Bush is a terrorist, pure and simple. His government supports terrorist organizations such as Blackwater. The minute he strayed from the path from the airport to the U.N., he should have been arrested and charged as a terrorist.

    Hear, hear.


  50. rollotomasi Says:

    O’Reilly objects to giving Ahmadinejad a “high-profile” platform? Now, that’s rich. In furthering their fear-mongering agenda, O’Reilly, Fox News, Bush/Cheney and the rest of the right-wing propaganda machine have done nothing but given those such as Ahmadinejad a platform and exposure beyond their wildest dreams. The right-wing has served the marketing aims of these bozos very well.

    Their general over-reaction to Ahmadinejad’s visit is yet another example of overkill borne of self-righteousness actually generating sympathy for those who would otherwise deserve and receive none.



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