Newsmax Comments On Unauthorized Bill O’Reilly Newsletter Ad

by Frances Martel | 11:28 am, August 20th, 2010

» 7 comments

Yesterday, the conservative website Newsmax got caught producing an advertisement for a suspicious financial newsletter and using Bill O’Reilly (unbeknownst to Bill O’Reilly) to sell it. Fox News responded saying they had no idea that the “speaking engagement” was going to be used for profit and that they had no “financial stake” in the matter. Now Newsmax has responded that both parties agreed about the newsletter, but not about O’Reilly’s appearance.

In an extended article after their original post, the New York Times published new information on the interview/advertisement and how it came about. Apparently, O’Reilly’s agent in charge of booking speaking engagements negotiated with Newsmax, and while there was an awareness that a newsletter was to be mentioned, there was, according to O’Reilly’s camp, absolutely no understanding that O’Reilly was to sell anything. Meanwhile, a Newsmax representative told the Times that there was an agreement that newsletters could be “offered” during the interview, but, adds the Times, this was not in relation to O’Reilly:

The appearance was set up by Don Walker, an agent with Harry Walker who books Mr. O’Reilly’s speaking engagements. Mr. Walker said in an e-mail that “we understood Newsmax would mention a financial newsletter service during the program, which was explicitly separate from Bill’s appearance.”

Similarly, Newsmax said Thursday that “both parties agreed that Newsmax could offer financial newsletters during our broadcast,” separate from Mr. O’Reilly. The Web site’s chief executive, Christopher Ruddy, suggested that Fox had made a rush to judgment.

It’s beginning to sound like both O’Reilly and Newsmax were caught up in this awkward situation at the hands of Bill Spetrino, the economic figure behind the strange newsletter that started it all, and the man who sold the newsletter to the public in the video after O’Reilly. Spetrino has declined to comment thus far.

Bill O'Reilly, Bill Spetrino, fox news, newsletter, Newsmax

tonysolo

Kinda weird to quote from the NYT and not link there, no?
Pablo

Kinda weird to say that Newsmax “got caught” and then that “It’s beginning to sound like both O’Reilly and Newsmax were caught up in this awkward situation at the hands of Bill Spetrino…”
The Real Royal King

Pablo said:
Kinda weird to say that Newsmax “got caught” and then that “It’s beginning to sound like both O’Reilly and Newsmax were caught up in this awkward situation at the hands of Bill Spetrino…”

I hold Newsmaxipad in the lowest regard as a source for news, but I do think that it was duped here.

AT FOX “REPORTING” THE “NEWS”
IS NO UNDERTAKING,
JUST RECITE A FEW LIES,
IT’S ALL SIMPLY FAKING.
http://insidecablenews.wordpress.com/ Spud

“Yesterday, the conservative website Newsmax got caught producing an advertisement for a suspicious financial newsletter and using Bill O’Reilly (unbeknownst to Bill O’Reilly) to sell it.”

Not true. It was reported and they “got caught” on Monday. Where’ve you been?
Iris

Why is it that you right wing old farts are such good targets for these con men and even then when somebody tries to tell you you’re being conned you screamm that o you just hate glenn beck or orielly or joe farrah at news max, when will you realize all these people want from you is your checks, do you reall beleive gleen beck cares about you or this country do you think rupert murdoch and Prince Alaweed will tell you the truth when they can’t make money from it. You can actually stop being morAns if you wanted to.
KMLake

Yep… Fox is all about frightening Americans into buying gold from companies Fox members profit from. Talk about a carnival midway, callous, pretentious and dishonest group of people. We will never know the deep damage they have done to our country and our people. I was shocked when they came out in support of President Obama’s endorsement of freedom of religion in America, but I was not at all surprised by that pontificating (gold profiteer) Beck’s decision to pray on the steps of the Lincoln memorial. If he actually ever read his bible, he would know that we are encouraged to pray, not for a public spectacle to enhance our careers, but to communicate with God. As a devout Christian, I am appalled at what has become the public “face” of my faith and the endorsement by pseudo-christian hate mongers of every despicable, hate-filled proposition possible.
Phocus2

You know, Mediaite has always seemed a step above the creeps like Daily Kos and the Huffington Blah Blah when it comes to stupid stories written by stupid biased people…can’t really call them journalists. Then, along comes Frances Martel and all that changes. Weak story. Big deal? News of value only to lefty nuts. Bummer.