Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly republishes atheist propaganda

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2014/12/04/tis-the-season-for-fox-newss-bill-oreilly-to-republish-atheist-propaganda/

By Erik Wemple December 4

This being December, Bill O’Reilly’s annual war on the “War on Christmas” is on.

At first glance, O’Reilly’s campaign against atheists is bad for them: In front of an audience of millions, the host bashes their attempts to end governmental recognition of a religious celebration — Christmas, that is — as a federal holiday. He ridicules them. He has called them a “merry band of fascists.” In denouncing them, however, O’Reilly also promotes them. Last year around this time, the Erik Wemple Blog reported that donations to American Atheists Inc. spike after an appearance on “The O’Reilly Factor” or “Hannity.”

And surely American Atheists were thrilled with Tuesday* night’s “War on Christmas” installment. For more than five minutes, O’Reilly criticized a campaign by American Atheists to place billboards in southern U.S. cities and Milwaukee. They showcase a child wearing a Santa hat and a message: “Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is to skip church. I’m too old for fairy tales.”

As he trashed the billboard, O’Reilly also showed the billboard. Three times, for a total of about 40 seconds. Helpful producers provided close-ups of the sign as well as wide views of the sign, just so the viewers could sample it from different angles. PR types know this as “earned media.”

more at link