Journalistic Integrity

What has crawled up Bill O'Reilly's ass and died? Why does he hate liberal Hollywood so much? Does he feel threatened by them some how? He's a journalist (and I use that label incredibly loosely for him) no? Actors are entertainers, are they not? So there is no threat to his profession by them, is there? Completely different levels of media.

On a recent (2/20/06) segment of The Factor, O'Reilly stated, with regard to George Clooney, "I don't have any use for him. It disturbs me that he's so popular." Then labeled Clooney as "the darling of the left" (well, he's certainly MY darling). I assure you, O'Reilly didn't mean it as a compliment.

Isn't the Edward R. Murrow Award one of the most prestigous that one can receive for journalism? Wasn't it his pursuit for excellence in journalism that embodies that award? Isn't it coveted and sought after? Didn't he set a standard that journalists of today try to emulate (although often times falling short)?

Why, then, would Bill O'Reilly attempt to villify George Clooney? The man who took the time to write, direct, star in, and produce (not without his own sacrifices and bargaining) Good Night and Good Luck? A virtual "Ode to Edward R. Murrow". Wouldn't you think that Murrow would be considered a hero by O'Reilly and those like him? I've yet to hear O'Reilly give kudos to Clooney for a movie about a man that should be O'Reilly's hero.

So why the hate? Why the villification? Is it really that he hates liberal Hollywood THAT much? Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that, while Bill (with all his liver spots and splotchiness) has his viewers for The Factor, and people tune in to watch his hate filled bloviating.... Clooney has the world, and gets all the chicks!

My kudos to George Clooney for his passion for libarlism.