In the tables-turned department, check out Bill Moyers on this footage recorded by Uptake correspondent Noah Kunin at this weekend's
National Conference for Media Reform.
As a reward for tolerating the shaky audio, you will witness a somewhat surreal combination of journalism and commentary on journalism by way of guerilla theater. Porter Barry, one of Bill O'Reilly's producers, has apparently planned to confront Bill Moyers to ask him why he won’t appear on The O’Reilly Factor. Moyers stands his ground, pushes back and leaves Mr. Barry looking a bit wilted. After their conversation is over, other journalists jump in and give Barry, as the site Crooks and Liars put it, "a little taste of the FOX News-style ambush journalism."
Allow me to be completely biased, in those rare moments when I can work up the energy to even recognize that the cosmos contains this thing called Bill O'Reilly (or when that reality is thrust upon me), he makes me sick. But just like the cliché about suddenly coming upon a fresh and grisly automobile accident, despite the horror and carnage I cannot look away. This exchange demonstrates that, deprived of his own element and shown in unedited real-time, O'Reilly's producer is no verbal sparring mate match for someone as intelligent and articulate as Bill Moyers. It's even more fun to watch a consummate on-camera personality show that this is also so true about Bill O'Reilly. Phil Donahue demonstrated this quite nicely (of course Phil knows exactly what he's doing when he consistently refers to O'Reilly as "Billy", but it's still hilarious).
David Letterman does a nice job, too. Highlight: O'Reilly: ". . . it's an easy question . . . " Letterman: "it's not easy for me because I'm thoughtful." Displaying one of the trademark traits of his sophistry, O'Reilly attempts a return quip, "that was great, Dave, you get paid for those." As if O'Reilly doesn't get paid for his shtick!?! Was this entire exchange somewhat choreographed as much of the banter on the Letterman show is reputed to be? Maybe so, but at least David Letterman knows that he's merely an entertainer. I'm not quite sure O'Reilly understands that's all he is.
But there I go, getting sucked in . . . it's too easy to rebut Bill O'Reilly when really he's not worth taking seriously. Perhaps Snoop says it best (this clip contains strong language, but no wardrobe malfunctions).
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