In October of 2004, the words “loofa” and “falafel” were mainstreamed into our sexual vocabulary. To the shock of some, and to the entertainment of millions, religious right wingnut Bill O'Reilly was accused of sexually harassing coworker Andrea Mackris with explicit phone conversations that were allegedly taped. Besides the use of loofas and falafels as sex objects, Bill O’Reilly had also revealed homoerotic desires to use vibrators on himself, fantasies of explicit Caribbean vacations, and a desire for Ms. Mackris to perform oral sex on him, but not finish. He also revealed some disturbing news about what Fox News was planning to do to Al Franken. To Bill O’Reilly’s enemies, this news was God sent.
The reason people were fascinated with this story is the same reason they are fascinated with Rush Limbaugh’s drug use, Matt Drudge’s allegedly gay affairs, and the penisification of underage boys by anti-gay activist and idolized Republican Mark Foley: we love exposing hypocrites! Bill O’Reilly has used his highly rated program, The O’Reilly Factor, to criticize sexuality in the media. His favorite targets have been rapper Ludacris, Janet Jackson, porn stars, and all the other “immoral” Hollywood stars. The only Hollywood star whom he constantly praises (or at least used to praise) is Mel Gibson, the director of the anti-Semitic Passion of the Christ. The fact that Mel Gibson was going to turn Bill O’Reilly’s soft-porn epic Those Who Trespass into a movie certainly helped.
On October 28, 2004, O'Reilly and Mackris reached an out of court settlement, and dropped all charges against each other. It was widely rumored that O’Reilly paid Mackris close to ten million dollars to “shut up” and destroy the tapes. The fact that the story disappeared from the media soon afterwards remains a mystery that people should question.
If the media was as liberal as conservatives claim it to be, this case would not have disappeared so quickly. Did O’Reilly pay media outlets to “shut up” just as he did with Andrea Mackris? Was the media too afraid to go after O’Reilly, who is given almost the same status of Jesus Christ among right wing fundamentalists? Did O’Reilly’s lawyers stop the media from doing any more damage? The Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal lasted years after the hearings, which backfired on conservatives. Dan Rather is still dogged by his mistakes which happened two and a half years ago. Even though Michael Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges, the case still dogs him two years later. It seems quite odd that Bill O’Reilly’s matters suddenly “disappeared.”
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Aku
Thank you for painting that disgusting picture of . . . agh! . . . Cant even type it . . . ugh!
2 - Dave Nalle
I love the way you describe the relatively moderate O'Reilly as a "right wing religious fanatic" and as "George W. Bush's media protector" when he's been constantly critical of Bush and the administration since Bush was elected.
If you're going to write about O'Reilly it might help if you watched his show at least a couple of times. He's a morally conservative socialist in the mold of Lieberman and while he's reprehensible in many ways, you clearly have no clue what his real failings are.
I always marvel at how some on the left find it so offensive that people they consider right-wing like sex.
And BTW, to answer your title, what happened to the 'scandal' is that it was 3 years ago and not all that interesting.
Dave
3 - daryl d
Bill O'Reilly a moderate? LOL!! That's like calling Streisand a conservative. He "pretends" to be a moderate at times but the act is as pathetic as can be. I admit that I haven't watched his show a lot in the past couple years. As a political moderate, I used to be a huge fan of his because he seemed to go against the grain of what I thought was a too liberal mainstream media. Trust me, I was a HUGE fan and I have even memorized some of his comments, which I thought were great. I really thought his act was humorous until he tried to reinvent himself as Joe McCarthy in 2003. Remember when he said he will target anybody who is against the war? But it was the Andrea Mackris scandal that really made him look like an idiot. And please don't compare O'Reilly to Lieberman, a truly great politician and person.
4 - RJ Elliott
Lame, biased article that adds absolutely nothing to the "debate" about a topic that's been dead for years. Congrats.
Is this Keith Olbermann?
5 - Dave Nalle
Daryl, you see where you and I differ is that I realize that Lieberman IS the same kind of worthless scum as O'Reilly, and while you've realized it about O'Reilly you haven't gotten the clue that Lieberman is exactly the same.
Dave
6 - JustOneMan
Why do liberal loons care more about what goes on in the bedrooms of consenting adults than the so called religious right?
This article illustrates the left wing loonacy who told us when Bill clinton was getting blow jobs from young EMPLOYEE it was only sex why should anyone care?
JOM
7 - Zedd
Great article. Its as if we are all in the twilight zone when it comes to republicans. They have proven themselves to be liars, pervs and hypocrites yet they just go on like nothing happened.
With the Libby conviction, is it me or is it not just weird that Libby is convicted and THATS ALL(?!?!)That's it, its over.....
Although I understand that Dems are more cerebral, academic types and think addressing this filth is beneath them, one would imagine that the press would put in the same fervor that they put into Monica and the dress that they would into these debacles, some of which are treasonous.
8 - Zedd
Dave
How much are you paid for this seriously.
9 - Leslie Bohn
I'd say O'Reilly is a populist with little real political conviction. There's a reason why cons think he's a conservative and moderates think he's a moderate (or at least "reasonable" or something).
What he certainly is is a complete fucking dimwit. And clearly, as the hilarious Mackis transcripts (still available at thesmokinggun) prove, a totally immoral scumbag.
10 - Clavos
Although I understand that Dems are more cerebral, academic types and think addressing this filth is beneath them
Bwaahaahaahahahaa...
That's my nomination for funniest line of the week on BC!
Good one, Zedd!
(cerebral, academic types...hehehehe)
11 - STM
Daryl wrote: "The only Hollywood star whom he constantly praises (or at least used to praise) is Mel Gibson, the director of the anti-Semitic Passion of the Christ."
Sigh, here we go again ... I'll agree Mel's far-right fundamentalist Catholic upbringing might have impacted on his religious world view, and may well have given rise to his drunken ramblings about alleged Jewish world domination and the alleged fomenting of the world's troubles, but to categorise The Passion of the Christ as anti-semitic is a nonsense. While it might fit the popular view Gibson in the wake of his drink-driving arrest, the truth is it's largely a historical narrative based on events regarded by a huge proportion of the world's population as gospel truth, literally.
Gibbo's idea of Christ's Passion doesn't vary hugely (if indeed at all, a fact the Catholic Church admits) from that documented some 2000 years ago and which since then has formed the crucial part of the Gospels of the New Testament. Indeed, for Christians the crucifixion and the resurrection probably form the cornerstone of religious belief, for without them it all means nothing.
In short, to suggest that Gibson's film is anti-semitic, whether you realise it or not, is to categorise every practising Christian who believes in the Gospels as anti-semitic - which clearly is not the case and indeed might equate to holding them the kind of contempt for which Gibson has been criticised in relation to his attacks on Jews.
While I find the comments he made extremely offensive, as I knew him when he was younger and know that he is basically a good and decent person I do accept in his case that it was (mostly) "the alcohol, your honour". It is without doubt where the real problem lies, as he has admitted.
No. Mel's real crime was to drive while he was drunk. That, and acting like an absolute prize dickhead.
12 - jaz
"(cerebral, academic types...hehehehe)"
"you rang?" - Lurch
heh
Captain America
is dead.
a sad Day, indeed...
13 - STM
BTW, how can anyone think O'Reilly is reasonable? He clearly stands over his guests (particularly those with whose opinions he doesn't agree), seems blissfully ill-informed about many issues he trumpets (and takes the trak-radio-style populist view on most), and has fashioned his whole screen persona on being a very naughty boy. But that's the key: persona. Rather than being a current affairs host, he's an entertainer ... if you like that kind of entertainment. But millions of Americans do, obviously, and in recognition of that fact, he's paid quite handsomely thank you very much to be exactly what he is.
14 - The village idiot
Should you comment back, well dont bother because Im sitting hear with sr drinking tea and rum and will never find my way back to BC.
15 - STM
If you are trying to convince SR of anything, you are negotiating with an Idiot. Did I really say that. Where's redneck today, BTW, VI/SR?
16 - Clavos
If you are trying to convince SR of anything, you are negotiating with an Idiot.
OK, two nominations for funniest line of the week on BC!
Respectfully submitted,
Lurch
17 - RJ Elliott
"What he certainly is is a complete fucking dimwit"
Do you have an MA from BU or an MPA from Harvard?
18 - J.J. Hunsecker
dimwits don't make that kind of money. the people who buy the no-spin doormats are the dimwits.
my guess is she doesn't have an MPA. does anyone?
19 - Dave Nalle
Great article. Its as if we are all in the twilight zone when it comes to republicans. They have proven themselves to be liars, pervs and hypocrites yet they just go on like nothing happened.
No, Zedd. Individuals who choose to associate themselves with a party which does not pick and choose its members have been discredited. The party is still largely full of fine, upstanding people. Should the Democrats be judged by their worst members - by James Trafficant, Daniel Rostenkowski, Gary Condit, the ACORN vote fraud teams, Ray Nagin, etc?
With the Libby conviction, is it me or is it not just weird that Libby is convicted and THATS ALL(?!?!)That's it, its over.....
It was over months and months ago. You just thought that there was more to it than there ever was.
Although I understand that Dems are more cerebral, academic types and think addressing this filth is beneath them,
The Republicans I hang out with are highly educated and generally better informed than most of the democrats I know. The democrats I had to deal with when I was an academic were among the most closed-minded and bigoted people I've ever encountered.
Dave
How much are you paid for this seriously.
From my blogging efforts I've so far made in the low three digits, but I'm not in it for the money. There are things that need to be said, eyes that need to be opened and lies that need to be countered and providing that service is its own reward.
Dave
20 - STM
Dave said: "I'm not in it for the money. There are things that need to be said, eyes that need to be opened and lies that need to be countered and providing that service is its own reward."
Lol.
Dave, do I see a hint of irony in your latest post, or are you leading with your bloody chin again? I believe you about the money bit, but ... geez, mate. Been on the squirt tonight old boy? One too many glasses of a wonderful red? Shouldn't the first rule of internet forums be: don't get on when you've been on the piss or the green stuff.
But if you HAVE been smoking anything, it must be good and can I get some too ...
21 - Dave Nalle
Damn, I forgot to include "nuts that need to be kicked" for you, Stan.
Dave
22 - Leslie Bohn
My education is of no interest to you. You can judge my erudition to the extent you need to from what I write. Just as O'reilly's level of dimwittery is obvious from his performance on his idiotic show.
23 - MCH
"Lame, biased article that adds absolutely nothing to the "debate" about a topic that's been dead for years. Congrats."
- RJ Elliott
Is it as "lame" as your reference to volunteer fire-fighters as "clowns"?
24 - RJ Elliott
Thank you for continuing the cyber-stalking into its fourth year, "MCH"...
25 - it's me
anyone who thinks bill loofa oreilly is anything but a shill for the elites in this world are foolish tools. the uber rich need to keep us riled up and angry in order that we not stop and consider the mess we've created of this world in our slavish devotion to promoting and protecting thier wealth. they use to maintain control through religion but that's not working so well anymore on many of us. it's kind of hard to still swallow the notion that the earth was made in a week and that jesus ran with dinosaures. now they do it through fanning and externilizing internal resentment. i don't know who i despise more, the tools for thier stupidity or people like me for our inability to derail thier control.