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Bill O’Reilly Takes On Megyn Kelly Over The Westboro Church Supreme Court Decision

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Bill O’Reilly is furious over the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Westboro Baptist Church’s anti-gay, anti-military demonstrations near the funerals of fallen soldiers are protected by the First Amendment, even calling the Church’s members “vile idiots” and “animals.” O’Reilly also took issue with an appellate court’s decision to overturn a previous verdict that had given one such soldier’s family, the Snyders, $11 million in retribution for the emotional stress of dealing with WBC protesters at their son’s funeral.

O’Reilly considered the possible – and possibly unanticipated – consequences of this ruling, including what it might mean in terms of online bullying and tabloid smears of celebrities. “It’s not just about free speech anymore,” he said. “It’s about personal destruction.”

To discuss his points further, O’Reilly brought on Fox News colleague Megyn Kelly, who is a lawyer in addition to being host of America Live, to debate the issue. Kelly, while making it clear that she’s no fan of the WBC or their frequent, headline-grabbing demonstrations (“And they’re not Baptist, by the way. They’re not a Church.”), stood by the Court’s ruling, saying that even if she doesn’t like Westboro, she does “like the First Amendment.”

Take a look at their debate, via Fox News:

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  • The Lantern of Truth

    RRKING says . As a longtime member and supporter of the Westboro Baptist Church , I want to say that I agree with all their excellent work . They feel the same way about Amerika and all it’s decent people that I do . Our work shall continue !

  • The Lantern of Truth

    RRKING adds , as a longtime ACLU member , my disdain for Amerikan values shall never abate !

  • Lou Sarah

    Allow Olby to drop some knowledge on you knuckledraggers & Mediaite staff (kinda redundant)

    The Silver: Somebody named Joe Bershad, at the largest bad media site extant, the execrable Mediaite. It has been bashed since its inception as another reactionary, right-leaning dog’s breakfast that ultimately serves merely as a kind of internet hairpiece to cover its founder’s vendettas and personal dislikes.

    In point of fact, from day one, Mediaite has been a safe house for morons.

    Mr. Bershad addresses the subject of the eject-milk-out-your-nose-funny Fixed News deception last night on The O’Reilly Propaganda Factor (see screen grab at “Snappy Answers” on this site). O’Reilly was debriefing ‘reporter’ Mike Tobin about the ‘violent’ protests by liberals and union members in Wisconsin. B-roll marked “Union Protests” was rolled. The video showed guys in summer or at least spring clothing, shoving other guys. A row of palm trees was visible, screen right.

    Mr. Bershad actually writes:

    While, in the 43-second clip that’s being linked to on YouTube, it does look like Fox News lied, but watching the entire segment for context makes it clear that they did not…Taken out of context, these few seconds would seem deceptive. But, if you’d already seen the full segment, you’d recognize what the footage was (besides, this same clip has aired on other Fox News programs like Glenn Beck and been identified as coming from California). Further, the protest footage from Wisconsin is clearly labeled “Madison” as well as date and time stamped, while the “palm tree footage” is labeled “Union Protests.” Confusing? Not really, though if one were to simply see the 43-second clip on YouTube, one could reasonably raise their eyebrows. A reminder of the importance of context.

    Actually, it’s a reminder of the importance of not letting children operate media websites. The writer is arguing that if you already knew that the video wasn’t from Wisconsin, why, then, when you saw it, you’d know the video wasn’t from Wisconsin! That, Mr. Dimbulb, is the entire point: if I did a segment on O’Reilly’s personal life and showed video of hookers, porn stars, and falafels, with the label “Things Men Cheat With,” the idea would be to compensate for the fact that there is no such video of O’Reilly nor any video evidence connecting him to those people or things. The “Palm Tree” video was run so it could mitigate against the fact that there has not been violence in the Wisconsin protests.

    It is an essential element of propaganda, and Mr. Berstad’s piece renders him the most naive of some pretty gullible folks at a site that has been as unsuccessful as understanding how television works as its founder was, or as a pure – albeit not very good – Fox apologist.

    He might as well have argued that the video was appropriate because some time in the ancient past – and perhaps with climate change, again in the near future – Wisconsin actually had some palm trees. – K.O.

  • BFD

    Sorry Bill, but you were wrong again. Take Megyn out to a nice dinner and apologize for being rude to her at the time. Don’t forget to bring a loofah!!!

    ______________________________________________________________________________
    Recent FOX lies…

    1 – A guy just hit me!!

    2 – Wisonsin poll numbers reversed

    3 – Beck: They are all Reform Jews

    4 – Mislabeled Ron Paul CPAC video

    5 – Obama refuses to “enforce” DOMA

    6 – BECK: Only FOX and Wash. Times covered Pentagon report

  • Olby Sucks

    Lou Sarah says:

    How much does olby pay you to lick his sack, patsy?

  • Harry Flashman

    I’ll say again, it doesn’t matter if you agree with these fools – they have the right under out Constitution to say what they want.

    So do you.

    We MUST not change that just because some says something disagreeable. And, again, I hope they burn in hell.

  • WCinWI

    In other news, the sky turned blue.

  • http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

    If only they cared about the 1st amendment this much when it came to the Area 51 mosque.

  • WCinWI

    Publius219 said:
    If only they cared about the 1st amendment this much when it came to the Area 51 mosque.

    When has the Supreme Court been brought this lawsuit? Hmm…..

  • same2u

    “It’s about personal destruction”

    He is still bitter over getting caught harassing Andrea Makris.

  • RowdyHoward

    Olby Sucks said:
    Lou Sarah says:

    How much does olby pay you to lick his sack, patsy?

    Just come out of the closet already.

  • WCinWI

    Rachel wore black again.

    Why must Rachel hate me so?

  • RowdyHoward

    Free speech is free speech, however life has a way of punishing the wicked. These scumbags will experience some sort of tragedy that will bring pain into their lives..if they haven’t already.

    Trouble is, they will not associate it with the pain they have inflicted on others…these are truly disgusting people.

  • Raygun

    The Lantern of Truth said:
    RRKING adds , as a longtime ACLU member , my disdain for Amerikan values shall never abate !

    The first amendment is the most important American value to preserve. The ACLU is fighting for it, not against it.

  • Olby Sucks

    Raygun said:
    The first amendment is the most important American value to preserve. The ACLU is fighting for it, not against it.

    You mean like shutting down war memorials dedicated to war heroes? That’s real “American” of them.

  • Keaton

    Question
    What kind of person attends a church that preaches such hate?
    Wouldn’t you leave after the first sermon, if you didn’t agree with the hate?
    Question
    How is Westboro Baptist different form Trinity United? I mean other than the Fags and Jew focus.
    What would you think of someone who sat in Westboro Baptist for 20 years and never heard anything antihomosexual? Would you believe anyone who made that claim? Discuss

  • ProObamaAgenda

    Megyn Smaked billo around tonight….told the lying wingnut to stop being deceptive….i cant believe bill o said that WBC followed the family home because they posted stuff on the internet that the family could see…..what a moron, just like many of you shitheads on this site….this was a classic kelly beatdown on somebody shes much smarter than……did anybody see bill-o interviewing mike huckafraud tonite???? what a disgusting piece of tv that was. bill tried to help huck lie out what he said….not quite hannitizing but a feeble attempt too….bill gets dumber and dumber by the day….he offered to pay the court costs for the soldiers family….cheapskate….MAN UP BILL>>>PAY THEM THE 11 MILLION THEY LOST IN THE LAWSUIT…..YOU CAN AFFORD IT

  • Olby Sucks

    Keaton said:
    Question
    What kind of person attends a church that preaches such hate?
    Wouldn’t you leave after the first sermon, if you didn’t agree with the hate?
    Question
    How is Westboro Baptist different form Trinity United? I mean other than the Fags and Jew focus.
    What would you think of someone who sat in Westboro Baptist for 20 years and never heard anything antihomosexual? Would you believe anyone who made that claim? Discuss

    Excellent questions sure to bring left wing hate.

  • ProObamaAgenda

    Keaton said:
    Question
    What kind of person attends a church that preaches such hate?
    Wouldn’t you leave after the first sermon, if you didn’t agree with the hate?
    Question
    How is Westboro Baptist different form Trinity United? I mean other than the Fags and Jew focus.
    What would you think of someone who sat in Westboro Baptist for 20 years and never heard anything antihomosexual? Would you believe anyone who made that claim? Discuss

    YOU ARE AN IDIOT !!!!!!

  • Olby Sucks

    ProObamaAgenda said:
    Megyn Smaked billo around tonight….told the lying wingnut to stop being deceptive….i cant believe bill o said that WBC followed the family home because they posted stuff on the internet that the family could see…..what a moron, just like many of you shitheads on this site….this was a classic kelly beatdown on somebody shes much smarter than……did anybody see bill-o interviewing mike huckafraud tonite???? what a disgusting piece of tv that was. bill tried to help huck lie out what he said….not quite hannitizing but a feeble attempt too….bill gets dumber and dumber by the day….he offered to pay the court costs for the soldiers family….cheapskate….MAN UP BILL>>>PAY THEM THE 11 MILLION THEY LOST IN THE LAWSUIT…..YOU CAN AFFORD IT

    Socky, how much you gonna kick in? What;s that? None? Figures.

  • Olby Sucks

    ProObamaAgenda said:
    YOU ARE AN IDIOT !!!!!!

    Right on cue! Hate and vitriol!

  • Alex Alvarez

    Lou Sarah said:
    Allow Olby to drop some knowledge on you knuckledraggers & Mediaite staff (kinda redundant)…

    What does Kyle Olberson getting Jon Bershad’s name wrong have to do with Bill O’Reilly, Megyn Kelly or the Westboro Baptist Church?

    “In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28Internet%29

  • WCinWI

    Alex Alvarez said:
    What does Kyle Olberson getting Jon Bershad’s name wrong have to do with Bill O’Reilly, Megyn Kelly or the Westboro Baptist Church?

    “In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28Internet%29

    Too bad you’re not like HotAir and don’t have a banhammer. :) I almost typed the same thing back but I didn’t want to recapture all that print.

  • WCinWI

    Keaton said:
    Question
    What kind of person attends a church that preaches such hate?
    Wouldn’t you leave after the first sermon, if you didn’t agree with the hate?
    Question
    How is Westboro Baptist different form Trinity United? I mean other than the Fags and Jew focus.
    What would you think of someone who sat in Westboro Baptist for 20 years and never heard anything antihomosexual? Would you believe anyone who made that claim? Discuss

    I see what you did there. :)

  • Olby Sucks

    What does Kyle Olberson getting Jon Bershad’s name wrong have to do with Bill O’Reilly, Megyn Kelly or the Westboro Baptist Church?

    Good question. Just ban “lou” and be done with it. Delete the spam, too.

  • WCinWI

    Alex Alvarez said:
    What does Kyle Olberson getting Jon Bershad’s name wrong have to do with Bill O’Reilly, Megyn Kelly or the Westboro Baptist Church?

    “In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28Internet%29

    When will Keith O. realize that the same business practices that his fat cats use are also employed by him? He needs media hits so of course he uses Palin and your site as the stepping stone. He couldn’t even create his own website.

  • Nacho

    8 to 1 in favor of the First Amendment of the Constitution, Bill.

  • WCinWI

    Nacho said:
    8 to 1 in favor of the First Amendment of the Constitution, Bill.

    What did that add to the convo? Haha

  • Tricky

    I love it when she said: “No, you’re making facts up Bill.” Priceless

  • avoidswork

    WCinWI said:
    I see what you did there. :)

    You so smart. Seeing the false equivalences and everything!

    Now are you and Keaton even capable of knowing what the major differences are? (Aside from race)

  • avoidswork

    Nacho said:
    8 to 1 in favor of the First Amendment of the Constitution, Bill.

    It’s Fox, so their viewers would better understand if you said 1 to 8 in favor of the Constitution

  • Raygun

    Olby Sucks said:
    You mean like shutting down war memorials dedicated to war heroes? That’s real “American” of them.

    The Establishment clause is as important as the first Amendment. They weren’t shutting down the war memorial, they were shutting down a cross as an unconstitutional endorsement of Christianity on a national memorial.

  • Raygun

    The cross wouldn’t even really be an issue if they didn’t reject requests to add a Buddhist shrine. Preferential treatment based on religion violates the constitution.

  • Nacho

    WCinWI said:
    What did that add to the convo? Haha

    Billo said, “8 to 1 in favor of the vicious Westborow Baptist Church.”

    They weren’t on trial, their constitutional rights were. Haha.

  • david r

    Well, at least Kelly still remembers her Con Law class.

  • ROCKSTEADY

    What makes this group of sub-humans a church? I can’t even imagine being a part of a family that would be laying my child in the ground and having to endure this.Sad,sad day in America when people can (under the law) do this to a dead solider who gave their life for America.

  • murf

    Lou Sarah said:
    Joe Bershad,

    Hey , Queef …it’s ” Jon ”

    Lou Sarah said:
    Mr. Berstad’s

    Spellcheck !

    ( Wouldn’t be surprised if ‘ Lou Sarah ‘ is Olbermann himself , trolling , he’s been know to do that )

  • Gasket

    Tricky said:
    I love it when she said: “No, you’re making facts up Bill.” Priceless

    He always does. This is the same guy who “doesn’t care about the Constitution.”

  • Yoda002

    Tricky said:
    I love it when she said: “No, you’re making facts up Bill.” Priceless

    That’s classic!!

  • my dogs gone

    “HATE SPEECH” becomes politically protected speech.
    Is a hate crime just another form of free speech too?
    How bizarre.

  • jrcmi

    I agree with Bill O’Reilly! Yikes!

    However, I DISAGREE with his dismissals of the Constitution when he finds it convenient to do so. Being a good citizen sometimes requires us to tolerate legal rulings we may find repellent. This one’s a world-class “stink bomb.”

    The Wasteboro “church” seems more like a bunch of opportunists yelling “fire” in the proverbial crowded theater as a way of gaining attention . . . and contributions from bigots.

    If you don’t like a law, change it. (Unless you’re a jillionaire – in which case you buy or ignore it).

  • Nacho

    How clever, you made the connection between speech and crime by using the word hate.

    I bet your dog ran away because it sensed stupid.

  • greg1991

    Ok. Well, first of all he is not a government official. He is a “PRIVATE CITIZEN”. Had they been protesting their nonsense outside of an IRS building, fine, in that instance it’s OK to be an idiot. The first amendment was created to allow us CITIZENS the right to bash GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS not other CITIZENS! It is not Ok for me to go up to John Doe and tell him nasty stuff over and over again. It is not Ok for me to post nasty comments on the internet and cause a teen girl(WITH A FUTURE) to commit suicide. This is outrageous. Here is the other thing if the “Justices’ place so much value on the constitution then they would stop these states and local govs. from blocking the second amendment by passing strict gun laws. It makes them a hypocrite to support one amendment but not other, the same for search and seizure with police checkpoints. They basically say “We will uphold only certain amendments and curtail others to out political ideology as opposed to the founding fathers intent.”: Libel and Slander are very real. Harassment is also very real. It is illegal to call somebody on the phone and harass them or call them names or threaten them or their property or family. This ruling will allow some idiot to say “It’s OK to call in a bomb threat to a high school because that is freedom of speech. Right?” This is a travesty of justice in the worst of forms backed by the “honorable” supreme court. You go Bill! Tell her the difference between harassment and freedom to debate public issues. Oh, and by the way, I don’t recall ever seeing anyone but them consider and promote the idea the “God hates fags.” I never heard of such a thing! Nobody goes to public forums to debate such nonsense therefor “Thank God for aids” is NOT a public concern.

  • Dave Richards

    david r said:
    Well, at least Kelly still remembers her Con Law class.

    Which is more than we can say about Obama.

  • Yukon Jack

    Keith Olbermann always was and always will be failure and a hateful nobody.

    Same goes for those who spoil and dirty Mediaite by quoting from his trash website.

  • Yukon Jack

    If Jeremiah Wright’ racist black church has the right to free speech, so does the Westboro Baptist Church.

  • Pablo

    Nacho said:
    They weren’t on trial, their constitutional rights were. Haha.

    They weren’t defendants?

    greg1991 said:
    The first amendment was created to allow us CITIZENS the right to bash GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS not other CITIZENS!

    Really? Where do you see that in: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”?

  • Pablo

    ROCKSTEADY said:
    What makes this group of sub-humans a church? I can’t even imagine being a part of a family that would be laying my child in the ground and having to endure this.Sad,sad day in America when people can (under the law) do this to a dead solider who gave their life for America.

    Actually, it’s a great day in America, for whenever there is the Westboro Baptist Church at a military funeral, there are Patriot Guard Riders.

    Freedom of expression is a wonderful thing.

  • Kitsune

    Publius219 said:
    If only they cared about the 1st amendment this much when it came to the Area 51 mosque.

    Shouldn’t you be at Anjem Choudary’s Pro-Sharia March?

  • BruinAlum77

    Pablo said:
    Patriot Guard Riders.

    Wow. That clip is awesome. Those people are doing a great service to the families of our fallen soldiers. For once, we agree on something.

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