Open Letter: Star Jones Checks Bill O'Reilly's Racist Remark

[Thinking Skins]

Open Letter: Star Jones Checks Bill O'Reilly's Racist Remark

Posted Feb 26th 2008 9:11PM by Jawn Murray

Filed under: BV Buzz, Elections

By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

Star Jones Reynolds has never been one to mince words.

It's no wonder that when Bill O'Reilly's most recent controversial (see also: racist) comments about Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama, were discovered by Media Matters, the TruTV legal analyst was infuriated!

O'Reilly, the curmudgeon host of Fox News Channel's 'The O'Reilly Factor,' was talking to a caller that was angry that Obama had said on C-Span that "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country."

The 58-year-old television commentator, who privately settled a sexual harassment lawsuit against him in 2004, responded to the caller by offering that of course they'd have to check the facts first.

He said: "I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there's evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels. If that's how she really feels - that is a bad country or a flawed nation, whatever - then that's legit. We'll track it down."

"Lynching party? Track it down?"

In the words of Whitney Houston: "Hell to the naw!"

Even better are the prolific words of Reynolds.

With her permission, The BV Buzz is running the current 'Today Show' legal contributor and the former 'The View' host's entire 'Open Letter' about Bill O'Reilly.

"I'm sick to death of people like Fox News host, Bill O'Reilly, and his ilk thinking that he can use a racial slur against a black woman who could be the next First Lady of the United States, give a half-assed apology and not be taken to task and called on his crap.

This week O'Reilly gave the following response to a caller on his radio show who was making unsubstantiated negative charges against presidential candidate Barack Obama's wife, Michelle Obama.

'And I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there's evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels. If that's how she really feels -- that is a bad country or a flawed nation, whatever -- then that's legit. We'll track it down.'

What the hell? If it's 'legit,' you're going to 'track it down?' And then what do you plan to do?

How dare this white man with a microphone and the trust of the public think that in 2008, he can still put the words 'lynch and party' together in the same sentence with reference to a black woman; in this case, Michelle Obama? I don't care how you 'spin it' in the 'no spin zone,' that statement in and of itself is racist, unacceptable and inappropriate on every level.

O'Reilly claims his comments were taken out of context. Please don't insult my intelligence while you're insulting me. I've read the comments and heard them delivered in O'Reilly's own voice; and there is no right context that exists. So, his insincere apology and "out-of-context" excuse is not going to cut it with me.

And just so we're clear, this has nothing to do with the 2008 presidential election, me being a Democrat, him claiming to be Independent while talking Republican, the liberal media or a conservative point of view. To the contrary, this is about crossing a line in the sand that needs to be drawn based on history, dignity, taste and truth.

Bill, I'm not sure of where you come from, but let me tell you what the phrase 'lynching party' conjures up to me, a black woman born in North Carolina . Those words depict the image of a group of white men who are angry with the state of the own lives getting together, drinking more than they need to drink, lamenting how some black person has moved forward (usually ahead of them in stature or dignity), and had the audacity to think that they are equal. These same men for years, instead of looking at what changes, should and could make in their own lives that might remove that bitterness born of perceived privilege, these white men take all of that resentment and anger and decide to get together and drag the closest black person near them to their death by hanging them from a tree -- usually after violent beating, torturing and violating their human dignity. Check your history books, because you don't need a masters or a law degree from Harvard to know that is what constitutes a 'lynching party.'

Imagine, Michelle and Barack Obama having the audacity to think that they have the right to the American dream, hopes, and ideals. O'Reilly must think to himself: how dare they have the arrogance to think they can stand in a front of this nation, challenge the status quo and express the frustration of millions? When this happens, the first thing that comes to mind for O'Reilly and people like him is: 'it's time for a party.'

Not so fast...don't order the rope just yet.

Would O'Reilly ever in a million years use this phrase with reference to Elizabeth Edwards, Cindy McCain or Judi Nathan? I mean, in all of the statements and criticisms that were made about Judi Nathan, the one-time mistress turned missus, of former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, I never heard any talk of forming a lynch party because of something she said or did.

So why is it that when you're referring to someone who's African-American you must dig to a historical place of pain, agony and death to symbolize your feelings? Lynching is not a joke to off-handedly throw around and it is not a metaphor that has a place in political commentary; provocative or otherwise. I admit that I come from a place of personal outrage here having buried my 90 year-old grandfather last year. This proud, amazing African-American man raised his family and lived through the time when he had to use separate water fountains, ride in the back of a bus, take his wife on a date to the 'colored section' of a movie theater, and avert his eyes when a white woman walked down the street for fear of what a white man and his cronies might do if they felt the urge to 'party'; don't tell me that the phrase you chose, Mr. O'Reilly, was taken out of context.

To add insult to injury, O'Reilly tried to 'clarify' his statements, by using the excuse that his comments were reminiscent of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' use of the term 'high-tech lynching' during his confirmation hearing. I reject that analogy. You see Justice Thomas did mean to bring up the image of lynching in its racist context. He was saying that politics and the media were using a new technology to do to him what had been done to black men for many years -- hang him. Regardless of if you agreed with Justice Thomas' premise or not, if in fact -- Bill O'Reilly was referencing it -- the context becomes even clearer.

What annoys me more than anything is that I get the feeling that one of the reasons Bill O'Reilly made this statement, thinking he could get away with it in the first place, and then followed it up with a lame apology in a half-hearted attempt to smooth any ruffled feathers, is because he doesn't think that black women will come out and go after him when he goes after us. Well, he's dead wrong. Be clear Bill O'Reilly: there will be no lynch party for that black woman. And this black woman assures you that if you come for her, you come for all of us." -- Star Jones Reynolds

http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/02/26/open-letter-star-jones-checks-bill-o-reilly-s-racist-remark/

[rincewind]

Hell to the naw?? Brilliant. :doh:

[Larry]

Assuming O'Reily's quoted accurately, then I don't see any reason for people to be labeling the guy "racist".

(And frankly, I don't really see Media Matters mis-quoting the guy by making his words seem nicer, either.)

I have a lot of really negative opinions about O'Reily. I'd suspect that the a-hole is a racist, first class.

But this quote doesn't say so.

[Sarge]

This was already done...........about a month ago

[Larry]

This was already done...........about a month ago

Well, actually, technically, it's some mouthpiece giving his recent opinion about Old News. So that makes it News, right?

[SkinsGuy]

Since when is the word "lynch" a racial word? :doh:

[chipwhich]

This was already done...........about a month ago

ad nauseum if i might add.

[Thinking Skins]

This was already done...........about a month ago

Do you mean a similar story or this one in particular? I checked the past week and didn't see anything, and since the story is dated 2/26/8, I figured it couldn't have been posted yet. But maybe this is a reprint of another story.

[Oldskool]

Since when is the word "lynch" a racial word? :doh:

Since a minority said so. Sad how this world works now. If used in a proper context and as a threat, yes it probably is a racist remark. But if I say "lynch" in a sentence, does it make me racist?

[The_cavalierman]

The funny thing here is people were more willing to accept the "out of context" excuse for O'Reilly but not for Michelle Obama. O'Reilly has the excuse of being a terminal idiot but Michelle Obama has already been labeled a traitor. Michelle Obama did not express her thoughts as clearly as she would have liked but most folks (who are not looking for negative ammo) knew exactly what she meant.

Many of the Tuskeegee airmen and others asked that same question after serving with honor and distinction overseas for America only to come home and be treated like crap. As a black man/woman how do I feel about my country and how does my country feel about me? That might be something people minus that life/perspective have a hard time understanding.

Many black people are still asking that question today despite our progress in matters of race.

[Oldskool]

The funny thing here is people were more willing to accept the "out of context" excuse for O'Reilly but not for Michelle Obama. O'Reilly has the excuse of being a terminal idiot but Michelle Obama has already been labeled a traitor. Michelle Obama did not express her thoughts as clearly as she would have liked but most folks knew exactly waht she meant.

Many of the Tuskeegee airmen and others asked that same question after serving with honor and distinction only to come home and be treated like crap. As a black man/woman how do I feel about my country and how does my country feel about me?

Many black people are still asking that question today despite our progress in matters of race.

And this is where the problem is. People who look at themselves as a class/race/religion first and Americans second are what's wrong.

Not once do I say "gee I wonder how this country views me as a hispanic american?". Its absolutely idiotic and its what keeps the progression of race relations in this country from going forward instead of being at a standstill the last 30 years. This sense of me versus them cos of the color of my skin/sexual preference/religion is going to kill us all.

[honeydont]

What he said is not a big deal- cool down, he just phrased the word in a general subtext reference. Cmon, wake me up when you have something real important to tell me.

[Thinking Skins]

What he said is not a big deal- cool down, he just phrased the word in a general subtext reference. Cmon, wake me up when you have something real important to tell me.

I guess you're in the camp that "words don't mean anything?"

[The_cavalierman]

And this is where the problem is. People who look at themselves as a class/race/religion first and Americans second are what's wrong.

Not once do I say "gee I wonder how this country views me as a hispanic american?". Its absolutely idiotic and its what keeps the progression of race relations in this country from going forward instead of being at a standstill the last 30 years. This sense of me versus them cos of the color of my skin/sexual preference/religion is going to kill us all.

You are absolutely right but America also cannot stick it's head in the sand about it's history with regard to blacks. The fact is people who lived through the era of lynchings/segregation etc. are around still so when people say DUMB stuff like that some black folks are going to be offended and speak out against it. These people know the hate associated with lynching parties first hand so try telling them that words don't matter....goodluck:rolleyes:

Obama has run a colorless campaign to his credit. The only people bringing up race now are his detractors. These detractors are trying to label Obama Muslim and a terrorist in addition to a racist by association.

I think Obama has moved the bar up a notch in race relations but as O'Reilly shows their are people who love to kick the bar back down.

[Thinking Skins]

You are absolutely right but America also cannot stick it's head in the sand about it's history with regard to blacks. The fact is people who lived through the era of lynchings/segregation etc. are around still so when people say DUMB stuff like that some black folks are going to be offended and speak out against it. These people know the hate associated with lynching parties first hand so try telling them that words don't matter....goodluck:rolleyes:

Obama has run a colorless campaign to his credit. The only people bringing up race now are his detractors. These detractors are trying to label Obama Muslim and a terrorist in addition to a racist by association.

I think Obama has moved the bar up a notch in race relations but as O'Reilly shows their are people who love to kick the bar back down.

And the thing is that O'Reilly is known for throwing in these racist comments that he thinks will go under the radar or that he can argue his way out of.

But since when is making a statement about a 'lynching party' not a reference to racism? Would people talk about a lynching party with Bill Clinton or Hillary Clinton? Would they talk about one with any non-Black person in this world? I don't know, but the fact that O'Reilly used the term 'lynching party' in reference to a Black women in a context that he was referring to a historical lynching party should cause alarms to go off like WTF is this dude saying and why is he allowed to say this stuff?

Forget calling the man a racist because I don't even want to get to that level. It just shows that he's insensitive towards those who are offended by the such a word. And the fact that he used it in a normal conversation on his show makes me think that either it was planned or he uses it in normal conversation. If it was planned then I feel like he was trying to stir the pot and get people excited and saying his name in stories like this. If he uses it in normal conversation enough for it to just slip out on his show, then it really does make me question the context in which he uses this word.

[WVUforREDSKINS]

And this is where the problem is. People who look at themselves as a class/race/religion first and Americans second are what's wrong.

Not once do I say "gee I wonder how this country views me as a hispanic american?". Its absolutely idiotic and its what keeps the progression of race relations in this country from going forward instead of being at a standstill the last 30 years. This sense of me versus them cos of the color of my skin/sexual preference/religion is going to kill us all.

Great post.

[wysknz1]

Forget calling the man a racist because I don't even want to get to that level. It just shows that he's insensitive towards those who are offended by the such a word. QUOTE]

THERE! That's the problem. Everyone wants to be offended so they can feel special.

[The_cavalierman]

THERE! That's the problem. Everyone wants to be offended so they can feel special.

No..

I do not know anyone that is desperately seeking to be offended do you? I have been offended many times in my life and it certainly did not make me feel special.

Lynching is not something black folks bring up. Infact the last two times it has been a public issue it has been White people using the word lynch in a manner demeaning to black folks.

The fact is black people are forever scared by lynchings so as much as we want to move forward it will be difficult until people stop bringing it up. Keep in mind black folks aren't the ones bringing it up.

[chipwhich]

Do you mean a similar story or this one in particular? I checked the past week and didn't see anything, and since the story is dated 2/26/8, I figured it couldn't have been posted yet. But maybe this is a reprint of another story.

Search is your friend.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239280&page=1&pp=40

[chipwhich]

No..

I do not know anyone that is desperately seeking to be offended do you? I have been offended many times in my life and it certainly did not make me feel special.

Lynching is not something black folks bring up. Infact the last two times it has been a public issue it has been White people using the word lynch in a manner demeaning to black folks.

The fact is black people are forever scared by lynchings so as much as we want to move forward it will be difficult until people stop bringing it up. Keep in mind black folks aren't the ones bringing it up.

In 2008 Black folks aren't scared about lynchings. Get real.

[GibbsFactor]

And this is where the problem is. People who look at themselves as a class/race/religion first and Americans second are what's wrong.

Not once do I say "gee I wonder how this country views me as a hispanic american?". Its absolutely idiotic and its what keeps the progression of race relations in this country from going forward instead of being at a standstill the last 30 years. This sense of me versus them cos of the color of my skin/sexual preference/religion is going to kill us all.

It's called collectivism. :2cents:

[Mad Mike]

Amazing. And the bottom line is that he was defending her for her remarks. Why not just stick a fake pointy nose on him and burn him at the stake as a witch? (anyone get the reference? :laugh: )

[Thinking Skins]

Search is your friend.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239280&page=1&pp=40

Okay, yeah, I knew about this one. But I thought the Star Jones part of it deserved its own thread. But hey if you think that this topic is too similar to the previous one, or maybe it was posted in the other one, then flag this to the mods to be merged. I won't be mad.

[BigMike619]

Why is it that Ice Cube can have his little group called the Lynch Mob and nobody gets mad?

It seems like there are better and more important things to say then what some gasbag like Bill O'Reilly says.

[tizzod]

"It just shows that he's insensitive towards those who are offended by the such a word."

This is a real problem in this country now I think. Everybody has something they don't like. A word they don't like, a religion they don't care to follow, whatever. But we are moving towards this insane, ridiculous country where no one can say ANYTHING anymore because someone, somewhere, won't like it. It's really unhealthy, and dare I say, a bit dangerous. We can't live in some sterile, happy world full of rainbows and puppy dogs where no one ever says anything wrong and everything is fantastic.

O'Reilly didn't mean anything by what he said. I would guess that he was saying he didn't want to gang up on the woman because of what she said, which is actually not being racist in the slightest, it's actually giving her the benefit of the doubt. People just SEE some word they associate with racism, and they don't stop to actually read the quote or take two minutes to think about what it means. They just fly off the handle and make fools of themselves.

And to turn us into 300 million raging sissies who can't take it when someone calls us a bad name or says a word we don't like or don't have the ability to take in its proper context.....I don't think that's a good thing at all.

I just wish people would grow up, be adults, and stop whining about every little thing that comes down the pike. Something that's not even racist anyway, by the way.