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FNC host Bill O’Reilly told B & C that he wants Obama to succeed and that he doesn’t think the president is a socialist.
From Broadcasting & Cable
March 2009 marks The O’Reilly Factor’s 100th consecutive month as the top-rated cable news program. Bill O’Reilly, the show’s bombastic star, talks to B&C Programming Editor Marisa Guthrie about the new president, skepticism toward the mainstream media and what happens when he bumps into NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker.
Public opinion polls show that Obama still has tremendous popularity, even though Republicans and some Democrats are inveighing against the bailout and the budget and the stimulus. He still seems to have tremendous public support.
I don’t know if it’s as much about Barack Obama the man, because I think he is very likable and a brilliant guy, as it is about people’s individual situations. I think that’s why they’re coming [to Fox News]. It’s about them, not Barack Obama.
Do you want Obama to fail?
No. We want him to succeed. We want to persuade him that perhaps some of his policies are not going to help him succeed.
What about all this talk of socialism? Isn’t that a little premature, since this bailout was started by the Bush administration?
I’ve never bought into the fact that Barack Obama is a socialist. I think he’s a classic liberal that believes that big government can solve the problems of society, and he wants to redistribute income. I don’t think he’s a socialist. I don’t think he wants to seize people’s property. But I do think he’s a classic committed liberal.
Do you think the socialist argument being advanced by the right-wing pundits is effective?
It raises questions about how far the government is going to be able to go in its pursuit of social engineering. So I think it’s worthy in that regard. You’re reminding people that there is a difference between the United States and Sweden. To call these people Communists and socialists, that’s as nutty as the far left calling people fascists and all of that. It’s the same kind of craziness.
I would like to know what dictionary O’Reilly gets his definition of what a classic liberal is but mine all point to free and unfettered markets, individual freedom and liberty which is certainly far from what Obama is doing.
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About the author
Don Irvine is Chairman of Accuracy in Media. He is active on Facebook and Twitter. You can follow him @donirvine to read his latest thoughts.
2 Comments for O’Reilly: Obama is not a Socialist
Bill is politically correct although he would never admit it. Rupert Murdoch has cozied up to Obama and Bill wants to keep his job. He’s afraid to be labled “racist” so he kisses the King of Comedy’s backside. Socialism = redistribution of wealth in pursuit of the “classless” society is Socialism. Democrats have become America’s Socialist Party, married with a heavy dose of Fascism (General Motors/Chrysler).
Obama and company ARE behaving like socialists. Look up the definition and apply it to his speeches.
Bill does great work but I think he is aloof on the Obama administration. When he opines on the economy he usually has the bobble heads from the Fox Business Channel on(Cavuto is a bright guy and usually on the ball). How about having Jim Rogers, Peter Schiff and others who have seen the chaos coming on the O’Reilly Factor.
PS Bush WAS a fiscal socialist.