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On-Air, Bill O'Reilly Calls Mexicans "Wetbacks"

post #1 of 37
2/7/03 at 4:42pm
Thread Starter 
While discussing our border problems last night on his show, Bill O'Reilly referred to Mexicans as "wetbacks".

Now, I am acquainted with the <a href="http://kpearson.faculty.tcnj.edu/Dictionary/wetback.htm" target="_blank">etymology</a> of the word, but, nowadays, it's an epithet as equally disdained as "nigger". In other words, it's still a term I wouldn't dare use lest I had a hankering to incur some extensive fist dentistry.

The full <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77898,00.html" target="_blank">transcript</a> is here. This is the salient excerpt:

Quote:
O'REILLY: Oh, I am with you there. You've got to get the high-tech stuff there.

But I'll tell you what. I've talked to the commanders, and they tell me, "Look, you deploy us down there, we stop the drug traffic dead"…

We'd save lives because Mexican wetbacks, whatever you want to call them, the coyotes -- they're not going to do what they're doing now, so people aren't going to die in the desert. So we save lives, all right, and we seal it down and make it 100 times harder to come across.
I thought about posting this in Devin's race thread, but I didn't want to derail the discourse there.

So, what do you guys think? Is this a gaffe of Jimmy "The Greek" proportions, or a potential tempest in a teapot (I say potential because it hasn't shown up anywhere outside of liberal blogs)?
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post #2 of 37
2/7/03 at 4:52pm
Only time will tell the impact on mainstream media, but I would wager that a significant portion of the audience that already watches Fox News will not care and may even agree with him to a large extent.
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post #3 of 37
2/7/03 at 4:56pm
Didn't this guy go to Harvard? While that doesn't exclude him thinking it being notable, I would think someone with such obvious academinc accomplshment would know to keep a tight lip on that shit.

This guy is an asshole. Spin free or not. What a jackass. He and Ann Coulter ahould start their own crossfire-style show.
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post #4 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:01pm
Call him Bad Move Bill.
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post #5 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:04pm
Bad Move seems to be putting it way mildly.

Maybe Racist is better?
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post #6 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:08pm
Actually I think Jesse Jackson would make a better partner for a Crossfire type show here.

What with his dislike for "hymies" and O'Reilly's disdain for "wetbacks" they'd make the perfect pair! They could argue nightly who's destroying the American dream faster...

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post #7 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
mikah912:
Only time will tell the impact on mainstream media, but I would wager that a significant portion of the audience that already watches Fox News will not care and may even agree with him to a large extent.
Which troubles me to no end. My feeling is that, if he said this on CNN or MSNBC, he'd be publicly censured or suspended at the very least. As for Fox, you're right. Time will tell.
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post #8 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:14pm
Quote:
Call:
Actually I think Jesse Jackson would make a better partner for a Crossfire type show here.

What with his dislike for "hymies" and O'Reilly's disdain for "wetbacks" they'd make the perfect pair! They could argue nightly who's destroying the American dream faster...
You pull in a liberal name to deflect like Wonder Woman with her big ass bracelets.
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post #9 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:17pm
O' Reilly was indeed wrong for this, but let's not forget that CNN once gave a show to a major public figure who called New York "hymietown". Apparently CNN will give you your own slot if your racist. Maybe he can find work there if Fox fires him.
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post #10 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:19pm
Bang! The left bracelet has either "Jesse Jackson" or "Bill Clinton" on it.

Bang! The right bracelet has "CNN" or "New York Times" on it.

Argument deflected into a wasteland that has NOTHING to do with the issue at hand!
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post #11 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:19pm
Quote:
Conflict Lad:
Quote:
Call:
Actually I think Jesse Jackson would make a better partner for a Crossfire type show here.

What with his dislike for "hymies" and O'Reilly's disdain for "wetbacks" they'd make the perfect pair! They could argue nightly who's destroying the American dream faster...
You pull in a liberal name to deflect like Wonder Woman with her big ass bracelets.
Who's deflecting? And is it not true? Thought so.

The point is: for everything you're accusing O'Reilly of was done years before by a guy who happens to share your view of the world. Not deflection, just a reminder.
O'Reilly's an asshole, same as Jesse Jackson.
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post #12 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:20pm
Ass Bracelet?
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post #13 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:22pm
Quote:
Call:
Actually I think Jesse Jackson would make a better partner for a Crossfire type show here.

What with his dislike for "hymies" and O'Reilly's disdain for "wetbacks" they'd make the perfect pair! They could argue nightly who's destroying the American dream faster...
I like the Jesse idea, but if we get Bill and Ann in the conservative corner, Jesse and some wing-knut female lefty in the other...

Things could get really interesting.

Any ideas on Jesse's perfect co-star?
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post #14 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:25pm
Call, the world is full of assholes, yourself included. Do we need to list them all everytime some right wing shithead makes his true hideous nature apparent?
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post #15 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:26pm
Quote:
Nick Luskmonster:
Quote:
Call:
Actually I think Jesse Jackson would make a better partner for a Crossfire type show here.

What with his dislike for "hymies" and O'Reilly's disdain for "wetbacks" they'd make the perfect pair! They could argue nightly who's destroying the American dream faster...
I like the Jesse idea, but if we get Bill and Ann in the conservative corner, Jesse and some wing-knut female lefty in the other...

Things could get really interesting.

Any ideas on Jesse's perfect co-star?
Ellen Ratner
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post #16 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:26pm
(PS I'm an asshole too, so don't get all pissy)
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post #17 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:30pm
Let's kill that dead now: No one is defending Jackson. What he said was wrong, and not a bit of it has anything to do with this discussion.
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post #18 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:31pm
I'm on the wrong side of the state to be exposed to all the fancy racial slurs so someone needs to tell me which ethnicity has "hymies".
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post #19 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:32pm
Jewish slur.
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post #20 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:34pm
Quote:
mikah912:
Let's kill that dead now: No one is defending Jackson. What he said was wrong, and not a bit of it has anything to do with this discussion.
I don't really think this discussion has any juice left for anything but comedy. Only a jackass, or someone who is woefully misinformed, could be shocked that B.O. said this. And so what that he did? We're supposed to debate things here: 1) We all know he said it, so no debate there. 2) What significance does it have other than to sully Bill's membership in the cult of celebrity?
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post #21 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Majin Kronos:
Ass Bracelet?
They really do heighten the sensation. As to which "sensation", I'll never tell.

So, now we've got good ol' Jessie dragged into this debate. You'll get no argument from me; Jessie fucked up (as did Sharpton once upon a time), and their credibility has suffered ever since. That said, I was once told by a New York journalist that the Jackson quote was far less offensive in context, and that it was said jokingly. Alas, no one has the real quote (to my knowledge), since it was an off-record aside, so there's no substantive discussion to be had on the subject.

What I want to know is whether there will be an outcry equal to the one that met Reverend Jackson (who, as we all remember, was running successfully for the Democratic nomination at the time). The difference here, I think, is that it's not surprising to find that O'Reilly is an intolerant prick who makes use of hurtful epithets. Much like we've grown used to Ann Coulter's inflammatory rhetoric, I wouldn't be surprised if there is no reprisal whatsoever.

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post #22 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:40pm
Quote:
mikah912:
Let's kill that dead now: No one is defending Jackson. What he said was wrong, and not a bit of it has anything to do with this discussion.
Maybe the discussion should be why does the left and right have so many noted people saying horrible things in public. It is hard to focus on one side without calling out someone on the other. As far as what should be done about O'Reilly that seems to me should be entirely up to the network. If they won't to let it slide and take the heat it is there money.
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post #23 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:45pm
[quote]Nick Luskmonster:
Quote:
And so what that he did? We're supposed to debate things here: 1) We all know he said it, so no debate there.
Exactly. This is why Jackson was brought up. What else is there but to say "other people have done it as well". Other than claiming that you agree that Mexicans are wetbacks, which would obviously get you no where, there is no argument.
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post #24 of 37
2/7/03 at 5:54pm
Seriously, is this kindergarten? Do you cats need workbooks to walk you through possible discussion topics on this issue. Here are a few:

A) How does this affect Bill's credibility among a conservative right that loves him?

B) How should Fox deal with this. How IS Fox dealing with this?

C) Is this sort of language indicative of a slip of the tongue or true racism?

D) Do many of Bill's followers feel the same way/ use the same language?
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post #25 of 37
2/7/03 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
A) I imagine too many will ignore the utterance, but quietly agree and have a good laugh.

B) Fox doesn't have to do anything. They probably don't have to worry about alienating their minority audience, so I wouldn't be shocked if there is no censure. I imagine it's being discussed. They're probably waiting to see if there will be a substantial outcry.

C) I'd say it's indicative of his ire being stoked on the issue of border control to the point where slipped and said something he says frequently off the air.

D) Yes.
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post #26 of 37
2/7/03 at 6:10pm
Color me misinformed, but is there a hispanic version of the Anti-Defamation league? I should think any hispanic leader would be jumping all over this...
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post #27 of 37
2/7/03 at 6:17pm
Quote:
Conflict Lad:
Seriously, is this kindergarten? Do you cats need workbooks to walk you through possible discussion topics on this issue. Here are a few:

A) How does this affect Bill's credibility among a conservative right that loves him?

B) How should Fox deal with this. How IS Fox dealing with this?

C) Is this sort of language indicative of a slip of the tongue or true racism?

D) Do many of Bill's followers feel the same way/ use the same language?
A) Sure it affects his credibility. Will he be shunned, I doubt it.
B) I already said, if Fox thinks the heat won't be to bad and ratings will not take a hit they probably won't.
C) Who the hell knows.
D) Again, who the hell knows.
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post #28 of 37
2/7/03 at 6:18pm
Quote:
Conflict Lad:
Seriously, is this kindergarten? Do you cats need workbooks to walk you through possible discussion topics on this issue. Here are a few:

A) How does this affect Bill's credibility among a conservative right that loves him?
</strong>

No affect at all. He's voicing something that many believe to varying degrees. Hell, I believe that border control is an important issue right now, but I disagree with his solution of the problem and his perspective on the immigrants involved.

If anything, it boosts his cred with the Right because he said such a thing with no consequences as of yet.

Quote:
B) How should Fox deal with this. How IS Fox dealing with this?
</strong>

Fox should publically disclipline him and demand an on-air apology, but I don't think he should be fired. Far more productive to see how he'd handle himself afterwards.

Obviously, that's a dream. They most definitely noticed the remark and probably wait now with baited breath to see if this story catches fire. If not, they laugh, wipe the sweat from their brow, and move on.

Quote:
C) Is this sort of language indicative of a slip of the tongue or true racism?
</strong>

Indiciative of unconscious racism. He corrected himself as soon as he said it with the "coyotes" bit, but it never occured to him until the words exited his mouth. Privately, he knows people will be offended but probably doesn't understand why.

Quote:
D) Do many of Bill's followers feel the same way/ use the same language?
Without a doubt.
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post #29 of 37
2/7/03 at 6:19pm
"who the hell knows"

Well, that's sort of why we discuss it and make our views on it known.
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post #30 of 37
2/7/03 at 6:23pm
Quote:
Conflict Lad:
"who the hell knows"

Well, that's sort of why we discuss it and make our views on it known.
Anything discussed would be pure speculation and amount to nothing.
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post #31 of 37
2/7/03 at 6:29pm
As opposed to our usual discussion here, which changes the courses of mighty rivers?
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post #32 of 37
2/7/03 at 11:50pm
I think he said it in this way because this is how he has heard the border patrol agents describe the problem. O'Reilly is really the only one in the media who continues to thump Bush with the border issue. I was surprised when I heard him say it on the air but if it was a true slip I believe he'll apoligize.
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post #33 of 37
2/9/03 at 1:33am
Quote:
Jacob Singer:
Color me misinformed, but is there a hispanic version of the Anti-Defamation league? I should think any hispanic leader would be jumping all over this...
misinformed...? only latinos with nothing better to do jump all over this. if there's a lawsuit involved, then it's another story.

we could give a rat's ass if a cracker calls us wetbacks, mojados, beaners, julios, spics, etc...

...we got bigger fish to fry.

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post #34 of 37
2/10/03 at 12:25pm
Quote:
Nick Luskmonster:
Didn't this guy go to Harvard? While that doesn't exclude him thinking it being notable, I would think someone with such obvious academinc accomplshment would know to keep a tight lip on that shit.
What "obvious" academic accomplishment? I'm sure plenty of retards went to Harvard, especially plenty of privileged and connected retards.

The only question is, why do people take this retard seriously? Because he's loud and on TV? Because he used to host "Inside Edition"? Because he went to (shock! horror!) the Falklands? (As a tourist, most likely...)

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post #35 of 37
2/10/03 at 7:37pm
I find this disgusting.

Sadly, a good chunk of my school (those who "care" enough about politics to watch Fox News) idolizes this man.
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post #36 of 37
2/10/03 at 10:50pm
He has Yanni on the show right now.

O'Reilly must be stopped!
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post #37 of 37
2/10/03 at 10:55pm
Thread Starter 
Agreed. I finally read the full transcript of that interview with the guy who signed the Not In Our Name letter, and found it pretty funny. What a prick!

BTW, the roar of the liberal media inveighing against O'Reilly for his insensitive comments is just deafening. I'll tell ya, Jesse got off easy for his "Hymie Town" utterance.
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