USA Today Editorial: Fox News Should "Distance Itself" From O'Reilly But It Won't |Blog |MediaMatters

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/02/27/usa-today-fox-news-should-distance-itself-from/202698

"USA Today's editorial board is calling on Fox News to "distance itself" from the network's "truth-challenged" Bill O'Reilly in the wake of revelations that the Fox host has repeatedly lied about some of his experiences as a reporter.

Bill O'Reilly's record has come under scrutiny after Mother Jones and Media Matters exposed a series of lies and exaggerations about his reporting during the Falklands War and the El Salvadoran Civil War. In the former case, O'Reilly repeatedly suggested to viewers he was in a combat zone in the Falkland Islands when no CBS News reporters (O'Reilly's employer at the time) ever reached the area. In the latter case, O'Reilly said on multiple occasions that he witnessed the execution of four American churchwomen in El Salvador - an event that took place before he was even in the country.

Another Media Matters investigation has turned up questions about his claims to have heard the gunshot that killed a figure in the investigation into John F. Kennedy's assassination. And The Guardian reported that six of O'Reilly's former colleagues dispute his account of having been "attacked by protesters" during the L.A. riots."

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For Bill O'Reilly, the facts are a factor: Our view

The Editorial Board

Perceived vast liberal conspiracy that helped create 'Fox News' means not having to say you're sorry.

"Fox News host Bill O'Reilly pitches himself to viewers as a brave truth-teller, outraged by the partisan spin that has taken over the national debate. Judging by his ratings, that message sells. On Monday, OReilly's show had more viewers between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. than all of CNN's shows between 6 p.m. and midnight — combined.

But now O'Reilly stands exposed of the same kind of puffed-up truth-bending he so regularly derides on his show. O'Reilly said he was in "active war zones" in the Falklands in 1982. He wasn't. He said he survived a "combat situation in Argentina." He didn't. He said he "saw nuns get shot in the back of the head." Nope. Not even in the same country.

True, O'Reilly is more opinionator than journalist. And the Falklands War happened a long time ago. But the facts still matter, and they are just as good a yardstick for O'Reilly as they are for recently suspended NBC News anchor Brian Williams."

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"NBC tried to make itself better. Fox went to war."

"It's unfortunate that neither the network nor its star sees a need for allegiance to the truth. But for O'Reilly and Fox, the perceived vast liberal conspiracy that helped create the network two decades ago means not having to say you're sorry today."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/02/26/bill-oreilly-fox-news-falklands-brian-williams-nbc-editorials-debates/24089273/

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Ouch. That one is going to hurt.

Sir, can we give them some more, please?