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Hi, I’m Bill O’Reilly. Thanks for watching us tonight.
Well, the new television season has begun. This is our sixth year, if you can believe it. And I think it’s time to redefine the no spin zone concept. That is the subject of this evening’s “Talking Points” memo.
For those of you that have been with us from the beginning, you have seen a remarkable evolution. We were always controversial and to the point, but now we have reached a point where our audience is so large that we can accomplish things.
That is both good and bad, because by criticizing the powerful, we make powerful enemies, and by embracing certain causes, we must be ultra-careful to be right.
The no spin zone is created with you in mind. Traditionally a TV interviewer asked a question and let the guest say whatever he or she wanted to say, true or not. To interrupt was considered rude.
But here, we immediately stop a guest that says something untrue because if we didn’t, that would be allowing spin.
Opinions are fine as long as they are backed up with facts, but a distortion of the facts will always be stopped dead by me.
Now, we understand that some Americans don’t like that and don’t like me. Fair enough. But the no spin zone has some strict rules, and they will be followed, even if we do lose some viewers.
As we always say, there are plenty of other TV types that will allow people to say anything no matter how untrue.
The zone is also hampered somewhat by logistics. Each segment is timed by a computer. We have to get to the point. If a guest meanders or is repetitive, I jump in.
Now, because of you, the no spin zone has succeeded, and it is important to us that you know we’re doing The Factor for you, not for a political party or an ideology or for any special interest group.
Therefore, we have made plenty of enemies both on the right and the left. And when you have guns pointed at you, firefights will break out.
Two examples. The left seized upon the University of North Carolina issue to blast us. We simply stated that the university was wrong in mandating that a book favorable to Islam be read by incoming freshmen. We have no problem with the book itself. It’s the mandate at a public institution that we object to.
But the left went wild, accusing me of McCarthyite tactics, blah, blah, blah. Eventually the university came to its senses, and the policy was changed. But the distortions on the left were never changed.
Likewise, conservative writer William McGurn blasted the FACTOR for telling you the truth about the Roush daughters who were kidnapped as little girls to Saudi Arabia. We’ll have more mail on that subject at the end of the broadcast.
But former Wall Street Journal writer and current Fox News anchor David Asman wrote me this note. “Bill, as one who supported The Wall Street Journal, I believe you did all that was possible and more than what was being done in the case of the Roush girls. We also got to see what the Saudis really think about bin Laden.”
Now, Mr. Asman has always been a stand-up guy, and I was more than happy to get that note. He didn’t have to say anything, I’m not his boss.
All in all, we are looking forward to this new season because we have some very important things to tell you. We know some of it will be controversial, and we will take the heat, because that’s what the no spin concept is all about. We analyze, you decide.
As we enter our sixth season, we are very grateful that you are with us.
And that’s The Memo.
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— You can watch Bill O’Reilly’s Talking Points and “Most Ridiculous Item” weeknights at 8 & 11p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com
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