Fact checking O’Reilly interview…
The News & Observer has a blog entry that suggests that a recent O’Reilly Factor interview involving neighbors of the Edwards may have been somewhat misleading…
Introducing the segment, O’Reilly noted that a reporter spoke with four residents of a “trailer park where working-class Americans live” across the street from Edwards’ home.
“We couldn’t find anybody in the trailer park to say anything nice about John Edwards,” O’Reilly said.
But the people were interviewed at Big Valley Auto Repair, not a trailer park.
Though none of them are named, they were garage owner Danny Hulon; his live-in girlfriend, Trish O’Neal; property owner Monty Johnson; and a customer, Ronnie Lilly, according to Hulon.
You can’t believe a word O’Reilly says to begin with. He’s the greatest spinner of all! He’s arrogant, rude, hateful and vengeful. These are personality traits I believe would skew one’s perception and reporting of the truth. Go for it now, attack me…say his ratings are so very high…he must be good!
His Ratings? Look at Jerry Springer’s ratings. People like trash. FNC delivers trash.
Comment by Peoplepeople — May 30, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
“I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!”
Comment by Jay — May 30, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
“FNC delivers trash.” posted by: Peoplepeople
That’s an incredibly moronic statement.
Comment by ChrisM — May 30, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Is it moronic if it is ture?
Comment by Randy — May 30, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
I travel a great deal for my job and I’ve had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time in North Carolina. By a wide majority, the people who I’ve had the opportunity to talk to and who live in the same community and in the state, for that matter, just do not care for John Edwards. It’s not that they believe he is a bad or mean person, it’s his “perceived arrogance”.
The area in which his home is built is basically a middle class area. His home definitely stands out like a sore thumb.
Comment by Rich — May 30, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
BOR said that they interviewed more people, but put only four people on the air.
Having worked in North Carolina following the hurricanes in election year 2004, I saw very few bumper stickers or lawn signs for Kerry/Edwards.
Thus no surprise that Edwards couldn’t deliver his own state for the Dems; most Carolinians obviously don’t like him.
Comment by Ira — May 30, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
Rich: You and I simultaneously posted the same thing!
Great minds think alike!
Comment by Ira — May 30, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
Ira: I’d definitely agree with that statement (lol)…
It’s amazing traveling around as much as I do and how people in his own community do not really have a great opinion of him. I put more faith/value in the people who live in his own community and how they really do not want him to be president.
Comment by Rich — May 30, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
I live in North Carolina within 25 miles of where Edwards lives and I disagree with comments 5 & 6. I’ve run into very few locals who have paricularly strong feelings about him one way or the other. Kerry lost the 2004 election, both nationally and locally, not Edwards.
Comment by Mike — May 30, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
I watched the video at the O’Reilly site. It’s pretty obvious that’s not a “trailer park”. At one point they’re actually inside the auto repair shop and the guy’s wearing a “Big Valley Auto Repair” t-shirt.
I don’t think it effects the content of the story. But that was pretty sloppy on O’Reilly’s part. I’m sure it will earn him another KO “Worst Person” award.
Comment by TBDave — May 30, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
Mike:
Wouldn’t people who live in the area/state be “excited” about having one of their politicians be Vice President and bring national media attention to their community?
Again, Edwards is running for President and there just doesn’t seem to be a great deal of support/enthusiasm from people living in North Carolina (jmho)
Comment by Rich — May 30, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
Ugh. I’m watching the Factor right now and BOR just called it a “trailer park” again twice while talking to Dennis Miller. Screwing up the minor facts really detracts from the overall intent of his comments.
Comment by TBDave — May 30, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
As someone who lived for 11+ years in NC (Chapel Hill and Burlington/Greensboro areas), I’ve got to agree with Mike to a large degree. It was mostly the Kerry factor that caused problems with the Democratic ticket in 2004. Edwards was a mill boy who made good and people seemed proud of him. It was a big deal when he beat the incumbent Republican Faircloth even though NC is a largely conservative state.
If O’Reilly is wrong as it appears, he should make an on air correction. Very sloppy indeed.
Comment by STP — May 30, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Notice that neither the writer of this blog or the newspaper could produce one person in the trailer park/”maufactured homes”/auto repair shop who supports Edwards.
Comment by Ira — May 30, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
Weren’t you guys shocked to actually see this 30,000 sq. ft. home? I was think it would be some palace, with beautiful architecture, landscaping, etc. But instead, it looks like a bunch of little cottages tacked together! Literally, it looks like my childhood family cottage, times ten! I doubt whether we’ll see it in Architectural Digest, or even Better Homes and Gardens.
Comment by Missy — May 31, 2007 @ 10:32 am