The big media shootout is over, and the final score is: CNN 1; Bill O’Reilly 0.
In case you missed it, the shootout kicked off when O’Reilly and other Fox News anchors started spreading the outrageous claim that CNN gave massive coverage to the murder, in church, of Dr. George Tiller, but zero coverage to the murder in Arkansas of Army recruiter William Long.
Using talking points no doubt provided by the Republican National Committee, O’Reilly told his viewers that “all day long,” CNN anchors had ignored Long’s murder until Anderson Cooper’s 10 p.m. broadcast. This proved the “liberal bias” of CNN, O’Reilly charged. They care more about abortion doctors than members of the military.
The only problem: It wasn’t true. Not even close.
The next day, Rick Sanchez showed a montage of CNN anchors, on camera, reporting on Long’s murder. They included: Kyra Phillips, Tony Harris, Heidi Collins, Wolf Blitzer, Lou Dobbs, David Mattingly, Kiran Chetry, Erica Hill and Sanchez himself. All before Anderson Cooper’s show.
At which point O’Reilly, for maybe the first time ever, was forced to apologize. Sort of. Maybe next time, O’Reilly will check his facts before he spouts the usual propaganda.
Visit Mr. Press’s website at billpressshow.com.