CSPAN2's Book TV sees itself as sober nonfiction book talk each weekend from 8am Saturday to 8am Monday - it is rare that participants nearly come to blows. But this little tiff proves the left-right gulf hasn't closed any since the war ended:
- Unlike Ernest Hemingway's encounter with poet Wallace Stevens, no punches were thrown, but both men walked away without a handshake after Franken questioned O'Reilly's veracity and O'Reilly dismissed Franken as a ''propagandist.'' During the shouting, the moderator, former congresswoman Pat Schroeder, asked whether anyone had a referee's whistle.
Franken's book cover pictures him in front of TV monitors showing President Bush, Vice President Cheney, commentator Ann Coulter and O'Reilly.
Schroeder said that, backstage, O'Reilly said his photo was used without permission. Franken said it was in the public domain. Later, O'Reilly said, ''Fox lawyers will handle this.''
Before the shouting, O'Reilly, who has written two best sellers, said his new book ''takes on the powerful in a non-ideological way.''
He said he's trying to ''elevate the discourse'' about politics. ''I don't call anyone a liar or fat,'' which Franken did in his best seller, Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations.
When Franken exceeded his 15-minute limit, challenging O'Reilly's claims about a journalism award he said he'd won, tempers flared.
''This idiot has been going on for 35 minutes,'' O'Reilly said.
''Bill, this isn't your show,'' Franken replied.
O'Reilly called Franken ''vicious'' and said he was ''blinded by ideology.'' The third member of the panel, Molly Ivins, author of Bushwacked, just shook her head. [USA Today]
Article comments
1 - Al Barger
Oh, this sounds like FUN. Obviously, I'm down with Al Franken, one of my top comedy heroes. I bet he runs all over frickin' O'Reilly and his contrived populist schtick.
2 - mike
I saw this, and Franken did get the best of him, although O'Reilly was more than holding his own before he went ballistic.
What I noticed more than anything is that O'Reilly looked awful, totally worn and blotched. (Al Franken on the other hand, looks as youthful and perky as he did on SNL in 1977.) Those Fox make-up people must be miracle workers.
3 - John Ettorrd
O'Reilly's trying to elevate the discourse! Wow--is that what he's been doing? I'd hate to see what his rants would be like if he wasn't being so high-minded.
4 - Al Barger
My evil-minded brother thought this scene could have been a bit of a set-up. It would make sense for them to have been chatting amicably in the green room, and agreeing to let it all hang out. This little fracas ultimately just helps them both sell books.
Maybe they can get together for a sweeps period cage match.
5 - jackson
From the Amazon.com website
Presale numbers for Franken's book as of June 8 (notice the sales rank):
Product Details
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: E P Dutton; (October 2003)
ISBN: 0525947647
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 84
For O'Reilly's
Product Details
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Broadway Books; (September 2003)
ISBN: 0767913795
In-Print Editions: Hardcover (Large Print) | All Editions
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 9,141