Bass Pro Shop is on the top of the list? That figures.

One would think that Stossel would make for a good “call your cable company” spokesperson to crossover between FBN and FNC, but he’s going to have to stop taking assignments from O’Reilly (or any of the hosts) and just be assured of a slot to say what he believes.

Because Stossel didn’t care about this issue and admittedly only did the report at the behest of O’Reilly, the exchange sort of diminished Stossel’s personal brand, which if it happens enough, it could damage his well-deserved credibility and value as a network spokesman.

IOW: Stay strong, John. I may not always (and perhaps rarely) agree with your position, but I’ve always respected the fact that you do.

PS) It was also a little telling that O’Reilly didn’t want “harm” the group by referencing their proper name, it’s obviously more important for his cause to focus on the URL.

I say merry christmas in response to happy holidays also. It is the excessive PC nature of ‘happy holidays’ that bothers so much.. if they didn’t REPLACE merry christmas, this would never have been an issue.

I have great respect for Stossel for carving out a distinguished career despite being surrounded by people who disagree with him. I hope he does very well for Fox and FBN. Merry Christmas John.

Yawn. Is O’Reilly running out of manufactured outrage?

same2u says:
December 9, 2009 at 9:39 am

Bass Pro Shop is on the top of the list? That figures.

What does that mean? Why does that “figure?”

Magister says:
December 9, 2009 at 9:49 am

Wait… you have a problem with Stossel going on “The Factor,” to disagree with O’Reilly? Why does that diminish Stossel… doesn’t that show he’s independent of the O’Reilly brand… that he’ll report what HE thinks is correct, not simply agree with O’Reilly for the sake of agreeing?

Vidiot says:
December 9, 2009 at 11:04 am

Examples?

@ImNotBlue: My point was that Stossel appeared to talk about a subject that O’Reilly wanted. He looked at a website that it sounds like he never would’ve seen because O’Reilly assigned it and his whole performance lacked oomph because it comes across that it wasn’t something, he wanted to do.

Stossel said that he doesn’t care about some store’s greeting and he never really made the point that in a lot of cases, the greeting is most likely up to the individual employee (IOW: What a clerk says in Omaha may not be the same as New London; I kind of got the feeling that Stossel wanted to say something along those lines or to that effect, but if he had, it would’ve pulled the rug out from under O’Reilly’s entire campaign)

As I had hoped to imply, I would’ve preferred for Stossel to say what he believes and I think he’s a big enough star in his own right, who has a foundation of credibility to not take assignments from another host in an effort to further a cause or to discuss a subject about which he has no interest.

…or to put it another way – The impression that I have from my limited exposure is that there may be some “what do you want to talk about? would you like to talk about this?” discussions between the Beck or Cavoto camps before an O’Reilly appearance, but Stossel seemed to make no bones with not caring about the subject and not feeling strongly, either way.

Okay, @ImNotBlue, you win. O’Reilly has PLENTY of manufactured outrage. It’s his stock in trade, you know, and if we need a reliably-upset and frothing opinion about any topic whatsoever, he’s our go-to-guy.

Does anyone really give a damn about his trumped-up “War on Christmas”?

Basically any topic that is about inclusiveness, social progress and not a part of family/traditional values is enough to be considered a “war” on O’Reilly’s show. He believes that everything must stay exactly like it was as in the 1960s. If America had a clock, he’d like to turn it backwards.

Magister says:
December 9, 2009 at 11:41 am

Let me see if I understand you correctly. You think Stossel, should have told O’Reilly that he didn’t want to do this story, even though it’s O’Reilly’s program. Stossel should be allowed to come in and talk about whatever he wants to… even though, it’s someone else’s show.

Yeah… I don’t think that’s quite how it works.

O’Reilly wanted to talk about War on Christmas… as is his right… it’s his program. Perhaps he asked Stossel if he wanted to give his opinion on the matter, Stossel agrees… and comes in and provides a CONTRARY OPINION! What’s wrong with that?!

I think you’re making a lot of something, about a lot of nothing. It’s O’Reilly’s program… he calls the shots… but Stossel gave his own opinion, and the important thing.

I kind of got the feeling that Stossel wanted to say something along those lines or to that effect, but if he had, it would’ve pulled the rug out from under O’Reilly’s entire campaign

Did you watch the segment? He said he (1) doesn’t care what they say, and (2) sympathizes with CEO’s who demand their employees say one thing or another… he said “they’re the ones running the company, the know it better than I.” How much more “rug pulling,” can you ask for?!

Vidiot says:
December 9, 2009 at 11:51 am

I’ll ask again… what bits of “manufactured outrage” can you point to? You point to the WoC as one… but you said there are more than that… so hit me. What are your examples?

Attacking me is fun and all… but it kinda ignores the question, which suggests you don’t know the answer. Do you?

m says:
December 9, 2009 at 12:28 pm

Wrong. 100% wrong. Wrong-ity wrong wrong wrong. And wrong again.

For someone who obviously doesn’t watch the program, you sure do pretend to know what you’re talking about.

@ImNotBlue: I don’t want to get in a fight and my qualms weren’t against O’Reilly. I just think Stossel is equal to or better than Beck, but in this instance, it seemed he was being treated like Jesse Watters.

…and that won’t help sell FBN, which I assume is the ultimate goal.

Sorry, I’m not going to do your research for you. You attack me when I suggest that O’Reilly is running out of things to direct his trumped-up ire against, and you attack me when I change my mind at your behest and say he’s got a surfeit of it. That said, does anyone really give a damn about his half-baked “War on Christmas”? There’s a crying need for real crusading journalism out there. O’Reilly’s crusades are petty ranting at the rain that are easy to sell to people who aren’t willing to engage real issues.

Good. Another goose-steping goon of conformity marches into the Den of Darkness.

Oooohh. Little Boy/Girl/whatever Blue is uncorked again! You demonic forces are out to git him. Jist lak yer out ta deestroy Christmas. A curse upon the lot of ewe!!

Vidiot says:
December 9, 2009 at 2:15 pm

Fail. You said something you can’t back up, so you blame me?! Really?

Oh well… point for me, I guess. Next time, think before you type.

Nachi says:
December 9, 2009 at 10:53 pm

What, no made up words today? What, is it a holiday I don’t know about?