O'Reilly's attempts to talk down John Edwards are failing

[JohnLocke]

O'Reilly's attempts to talk down John Edwards are failing
NewsHounds - Reported by Chrish - June 21, 2007 - 49 comments

Bill O'Reilly has made John Edwards (who was the first candidate to decline the FOX-sponsored presidential debates) a target and is trying to convince his audience that Edwards is a fringe player. Alas for O'Reilly, the numbers say otherwise.

As early as February 14th, before Edwards announced his intention to skip the Nevada debate, Deborah reported that

"Bill O'Reilly proudly put another notch in his belt declaring John Edwards finished. Calling Edwards "arrogant" for standing by the two bloggers working on his campaign, he claimed that Edwards only did something after " critical mass" had been reached and by then "it was too late"."

We can honestly wonder if that bit of independent, fair and balanced reportage had any influence on Edwards' decision 3 weeks later.

After May sweeps were over and O'Reilly had duly savaged Rosie O'Donnell to syphon ratings from her popularity, he turned his attention again to Edwards. In his May 30 TPM he said

"Now Talking Points tries to respect all of those who want to serve their country, but Edwards is an exception. I have no respect for him. He's a phony, and he's in the tank for special interests that damage this country. Edwards is going nowhere, but deserves to be called out."

Shortly after that prediction, on June 5th O'Reilly cherrypicked among dozens of polls to cite the one with the worst numbers for Edwards:

O'Reilly, who don't forget has publicly stated has a bias against Edwards, said he is not smart enough to figure out that his "strategy" is killing him, and cited an ABC poll that shows a 6-point drop for Edwards (to 8%) in the last month.

This week Editor and Publisher reported what would appear to O'Reilly fans to be a stunning comeback:

The June 11-14 polls finds Sen. Hillary Clinton besting Sen. John McCain 48% to 46%, Sen. Barack Obama topping him 49% to 46% and Edwards, surprisingly, with the biggest edge, 50% to 44%. The numbers for a race against former Mayor Rudy Giuliani are almost the same.
(...)
http://www.newshounds.us/2007/06/21/oreillys_attempts_to_talk_down_john_edwards_are_failing.php

[ryanmuegge]

1. To the corporate emporers, Edwards is a fringe player.

He publicly pays lip service to his support for unions, mentions poverty and the gap between rich and poor in more than just passing.

That's akin to being for sodomizing infants in today's political climate. What a crazy motherfucker.

The scary thing is, this might be more than just the standard Clintonesque, populist campaign lip service that our emporers allow before the return to business as usual after the election.

[givemebackmycountry]

2. Talking Points - Is there ANYTHING more Republican than "TALKING POINTS?"

"Now Talking Points tries to respect all of those who want to serve their country, but Edwards is an exception. I have no respect for him. He's a phony, and he's in the tank for special interests that damage this country. Edwards is going nowhere, but deserves to be called out."

Dear Bill-O

With all due sincerity...

You and Dr. Savage, WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill-O calling Edwards a phony.

Is that RICH or what?

[ryanmuegge]

4. Well, at least Bill-O is funny.

Only because he's such a crazy fucking idiot. The guy is so ridiculous and paranoid that he's entertaining. No one should take this clown seriously; to do so is giving him more credit than he deserves.

And Savage, what does THAT guy know about politics? He just likes to shock people and collect the cash. Nothing he says makes any sense.

Come on, the guy has a book called Culture Warrior for God's sake.

[IndyOp]

3. Edwards holds biggest leads against Romney & Thompson in 6/22 poll...

and still leads all 4 Rethugs in June 22, 2007 poll...

Edwards: 57 Romney: 36
Clinton: 55 Romney: 40
Obama: 53 Romney: 37

Edwards: 54 Thompson: 38
Obama: 53 Thompson: 39
Clinton: 53 Thompson: 42

Clinton has the biggest lead over Guiliani (this week...)

Clinton: 51 Giuliani: 44
Obama: 49 Guiliani: 44
Edwards: 48 Guiliani: 46

Obama has the biggest lead over McCain (this week...)

Obama: 51 McCain: 41
Edwards: 50 McCain: 44
Clinton: 50 McCain: 45


More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19373524/site/newsweek

[draft_mario_cuomo]

5. Edwards is the most electable and most progressive major candidate

This is why the CMSM and O'Reilly are so opposed to him. Can you imagine? A president working to end poverty in America and provide health insurance to all Americans? OH THE HUMANITY! :sarcasm:

[silverojo]

7. I know...isn't he just awful?

:rofl:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

8. He must be stopped at all costs!

:rofl:

[Botany]

6. As already noted Edwards is the most electable of the bunch ....

.... and as such he has the biggest target on him. The $400 haircut
will replace Swiftboats on Kerry & "I invented the intrnet" for Gore.

Edwards was right to reject Fox because they are a tool of the right
wing not a "news organization."

[AlCzervik]

9. i hope when O'Blowhole finally has his big meltdown--the real one, the one that

will require him in a straight jacket i hope, no i pray there is a camera rolling to catch it.

[ryanmuegge]

10. I'm sure it'll come in the form of Mr. Culture Warrior bombing an abortion clinic.

.

[AlCzervik]

11. my guess is that he plays grab ass with a female employee and she has him arrested.

not that i wish that on another woman but people like him tend to repeat themselves.

[ryanmuegge]

12. Yeah, he's apparently quite the pervert.

[ProgressiveAmPatriot]

14. Already happened, but Fox didn't make him put on the straight jacket

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1169258&mesg_id=1169258

[Mythsaje]

13. I think I like Edwards best of all, personally...

I'm not ready to make a determination yet, but so far he impresses me the most of the candidates I think have a chance of winning and are actually IN the race. Kucinich is probably my first choice, but I just don't see that happening.

[rodeodance]

15. O'LIElly needs to be taken down a few notches-hit in the pocketbook big time.