O'Reilly's "Only My Spin" Zone

This is a small excerpt from FDCH e-Media Transcripts of "The O'Reilly Factor" originally aired 02/09/05, as offered for licensing from Valeo Intellectual Property I have purchased licensing to post the transcript in its entirety, but I can't do that from work. Check back Friday 2/11/05 late P.M.

By Bill O'Reilly

Show: THE O'REILLY FACTOR

Guest: Andrea Moore-Emmett

O'REILLY: In the Back of the Book Segment tonight, an estimated 50,000 Americans live in polygamous families here in the USA, more than half of them in the State of Utah. Now the Mormon Church banned polygamy more than 100 years ago, but some fundamentalists in that religion have ignored the ban.

Joining us now from Salt Lake City is Andrea Moore-Emmett, former Mormon who's now written a book called God's Brothel about the polygamy situation.

**MAJOR SNIP (Check the article-- there is only discussion of polygamy, especially in Utah; No other controversial relationships/families are mentioned)**

O'REILLY: Well -- and if gay marriage got approved, then polygamy would have to be approved under equal protection, as we have said many times.

All right, Madam. Interesting book. Thank you.

MOORE-EMMETT: No, I don't think so.

O'REILLY: We appreciate it.

Next, we'll wrap things up with the Most Ridiculous Item of the Day and some of your mail.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)


I began tracking Bill O'Reilly a few months ago, on the recommendation of a right-leaning friend whose opinions I respect. It was some time in September or October 2004, and I was complaining about how difficult I find it to gather information from many points of view-- Most of the media outlets I am used to reading are liberal; My friend suggested Fox News as a good source, and O'Reilly in particular as a smart conservative commentator.

So OK-- O'Reilly is smart, but he's also contentious and arrogant. His gay marriage comment is out of context for this conversation; On top of that, his guest obviously disagrees. So what does this smart guy do? He jumps to a commercial break. I feel so bad for Ms. Moore-Emmett. I would've felt like a dirty kleenex after that exchange.

I Have Comments!

I am allowed at least one pathetic-blogger-moment, right? (Does Happy
Dance) I have two comments on my Blog!

Thank you Amrod and Milton, for leaving my first-ever comments. I tried to
return the favor, but was unable to find blogs or working sites for either
of you. Please do let me know if/when you have a blog for me to read-- In
the meantime, you are both on my NICE list.

UN Treaty Debate Hits Me Where I Live

The United Nations has been debating the Treaty on the Rights of the Disabled lately, and has taken up the issue of whether people should be allowed to abort pregnancies when a disability is detected in utero.

This is obviously a charged subject for me, even though I don't think my parents would've chosen to abort me if they had knowledge and the choice. We live in a society that constantly reminds itself (Think Terri Schiavo or even the Oscar-nominated films "Million Dollar Baby" and "The Sea Inside") that life isn't worth living if you can't walk. I don't think we can trust new parents or malpractice-panicked doctors to make a truly responsible decision about a child's quality of life, before the child is even born.

I would love to see a Hollywood director with Eastwood's clout, or an actor with Christopher Reeve's dignity and voice, begin to speak for the richness of a life lived on wheels.

As I was reading about the UN treaty, with its provisions that governments give financial assistance to families with disabled children, I couldn't help thinking that the US won't ratify it. I might have to move to Sweden.