# Could this be the end of Bill O'Reilly (please please please) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 14, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150 "2004-10-14T03:34:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/121 "2004-10-14T20:41:26Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I think we’ll all probably need one of those _Eternal Sunshine_ memory scrubs if those tapes ever get played publicly and we actually _hear_ Bill O’Reilly “using the vibrator on himself and ejaculating.” Damnit! _That_’s too fucking far! Write a mod immediately and demand that post be striocken from the record. How dare you! ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/122 "2004-10-14T20:44:43Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > There’s a separate question that I don’t believe anyone has addressed, yet (forgive me if I’ve simply failed to see it). Even if O’Reilly loses the case, will it be the end of his career? Before you leap in with an “absolutely,” consider Rush Limbaugh. Revealed to be a drug addict, and apparently one who used various subterfuges to get his fixes, and yet he’s still on the air. That could change, of course, if the authorities get around to prosecuting him. > > (Aside: I’ve never quite grasped why it takes such an ungodly amount of time to gather evidence in a case like this. Find out where he got the drugs, and who, if anyone, prescribed them, then decide whether any laws have been broken. It just can’t be that complicated. It’s hardly like a complex accounting fraud case.) I doubt this will hurt O’Reilly if it is true. Look at R.Kelly. As long as there is a rabid enough base to believe that their good man is being taken down by bad people. (response to aside: I believe the thorny issue holding up the Limbaugh case is the right to privacy regarding medical records, but again I may be wrong) ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/123 "2004-10-14T20:47:38Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > (response to aside: I believe the thorny issue holding up the Limbaugh case is the right to privacy regarding medical records, but again I may be wrong) You’re probably right on that one - the issue was only recently ruled on, IIRC (and not in Rush’s favor). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/124 "2004-10-14T20:48:07Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Your boy’s going down, dawg. He isn’t “my boy”. I’ve been critical of him in the past, and I believe his show throws far more bombs around than legitimate points. You, however, have “your boys” and will seemingly defend them to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/125 "2004-10-14T21:01:54Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > There’s a separate question that I don’t believe anyone has addressed, yet (forgive me if I’ve simply failed to see it). Even if O’Reilly loses the case, will it be the end of his career? Before you leap in with an “absolutely,” consider Rush Limbaugh. Revealed to be a drug addict, and apparently one who used various subterfuges to get his fixes, and yet he’s still on the air. That could change, of course, if the authorities get around to prosecuting him. > > (Aside: I’ve never quite grasped why it takes such an ungodly amount of time to gather evidence in a case like this. Find out where he got the drugs, and who, if anyone, prescribed them, then decide whether any laws have been broken. It just can’t be that complicated. It’s hardly like a complex accounting fraud case.) You make a good point, but I think that the public generally more willing to forgive a chemical addiction than a bizarre sexual bent. people understand addiction. Most everybody knows (or _is_) an addict or alcoholic. they understand that its a disease, and they mostly understand that it’s not a moral weakness (Limbaugh’s hypocrisy on the subject is another issue) and they will not necessarily hold it against a public figure once he gets sober (just look at GWB). But these phone calls from O’Reilly are just icky and weird. If there are indeed tapes, and those tapes are made public, it’s going to be extremely damaging to O’Reilly’s ability to command any credibility or respect, especially on moral issues. It’s going to be fodder for SNL and late night jokes. I mean, come on, he used a vibrator on himself. How do you get your dignity back after the public hears that on tape. All Pee Wee Herman did was beat off in a porno theater (where you’re _supposed_ to beat off) and he was instantly finished. One person who managed to weather some extremley bizarre sexual allegations and rebuild his career was Marv Albert. But in that case, I think people were willing to give him another chance because a.) He’s damn good at what he does professionally and b.) He wasn’t an asshole. People liked him. O’Reilly is not likable. I don’t se people being willing to forgive. **IF** there are tapes, he’s toast. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/126 "2004-10-14T21:04:22Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > He isn’t “my boy”. I’ve been critical of him in the past, and I believe his show throws far more bombs around than legitimate points. > > You, however, have “your boys” and will seemingly defend them to the end. My apologies for calling him your “boy.” You have been critical. I apologize. You have to admit I have a point about O’Reilly not denying those phone calls, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/127 "2004-10-14T21:12:27Z")
No, sorry. A smart person in his shoes wouldn’t be making many public pronouncements one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/128 "2004-10-14T21:18:36Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > All Pee Wee Herman did was beat off in a porno theater (where you’re _supposed_ to beat off) and he was instantly finished. > > One person who managed to weather some extremley bizarre sexual allegations and rebuild his career was Marv Albert. But in that case, I think people were willing to give him another chance because a.) He’s damn good at what he does professionally and b.) He wasn’t an asshole. People liked him. > > O’Reilly is not likable. I don’t se people being willing to forgive. > > **IF** there are tapes, he’s toast. Pee Wee Herman was also hosting a childrens show at the time. What finished him were the cries of “Won’t somebody pleeeeeease think of the children.” I know O’Reilly has recently journied into the world of _ahem_ youth literature, but it’s an entirely different beast. All an adult needs is the right spin and a forgiving segment of the populace (a la Clinton, Albert, Kelly, etc.) and you get to keep your day job if not your blow job. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/129 "2004-10-14T21:20:12Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > No, sorry. A smart person in his shoes wouldn’t be making many public pronouncements one way or the other. Why did he deny touching her or sexually assaulting her? Why deny what he’s not accused of but remain silent on what he _is_ accused of? Why is it “smart” not to deny a false allegation. Most of all, why does O’Reilly think she has tapes if these converstaions never occurred? You can’t get around that last one. He says he thinks the convos in her complaint were transcribed from a tape. How could he possibly think that she taped things he never said? I’ve got you on that last point and you know it. ---
**Author:** ![stately\_plump\_buck\_mulligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@stately\_plump\_buck\_mulligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stately_plump_buck_mulligan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/130 "2004-10-14T21:20:14Z")
The falafel/loofah thing was priceless. I can’t decide if it’s too bizarre to be made up or too bizarre to be true. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/131 "2004-10-14T21:23:13Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > … we actually _hear_ Bill O’Reilly “using the vibrator on himself and ejaculating.” Why bother paying lawyers if you can get yourself off? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/132 "2004-10-14T21:28:08Z")
Alright, I’ve done some digging and came across this and found it amusing. It’s a transcript of the O’Reilly Factor on Monday Nov 17th, 2003. It’s titled: [Are Sex Scandals in America Becoming Obsolete?](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,103294,00.html) Here are some excerpts: > [@](#): > > O’REILLY: Well, I don’t mind it if you’re a consenting adult, but what this shows is terribly poor judgment on her part. And here’s why, Ms. Grubman. And this is the lesson for everybody in the country watching tonight to learn, all right? > > If you’re going to make these home videos, you have to, number one, trust the person with whom you’re cavorting. And, number two, you can’t allow those videos out of your hands. I mean… > > _Snip_ > > O’REILLY: All right. But you’re not going to get that in the media. However, this Paris Hilton story should be a cautionary tale for not only younger people, for everybody. > > MILES: Yes. > > O’REILLY: You’re going to do this kind of thing… > > GRUBMAN: I agree. > > O’REILLY: … you better control your destiny, or you’re going to get whacked. Someone was drinking from irony’s sweet juices. ---
**Author:** ![kka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@kka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kka)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/133 "2004-10-14T22:02:14Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Why bother paying lawyers if you can get yourself off? Perfection! ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/134 "2004-10-14T22:08:06Z")
Bill O’Reilly: > [@](#): > > … you better control your destiny, or you’re going to get whacked. “even if you have to do it yourself”. and now, you know the …rest of the story. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/135 "2004-10-14T22:08:34Z")
> [@stately plump buck mulligan](#): > > The falafel/loofah thing was priceless. I can’t decide if it’s too bizarre to be made up or too bizarre to be true. Tell me about it. That’s what’s getting me too. :eek: Well, we’ll see how this pans out. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/136 "2004-10-14T22:26:02Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > > [@stately plump buck mulligan](#): > > > > The falafel/loofah thing was priceless. I can’t decide if it’s too bizarre to be made up or too bizarre to be true. > > Tell me about it. That’s what’s getting me too. :eek: > > Well, we’ll see how this pans out. My guess is it will just pita out. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/137 "2004-10-14T22:37:47Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > My guess is it will just pita out. > > Enjoy, > Steven You’re evil. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/138 "2004-10-14T22:57:35Z")
Curiosity got me and I started looking for more news on this story. Found this from [ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=166466): > [@](#): > > “If I have to go down, I’m willing to do it,” he said. “I’m going to take a stand. I’m a big mouth on the air and I’m a big mouth off the air.” > > \ > > O’Reilly faces a tough legal hurdle with his own case, since the law generally protects employees from retaliation if they come forward with an abuse allegation, said Debra Katz, an attorney who specializes in sexual harassment cases for Bernabei & Katz in Washington. > > “I think this is a crazy legal strategy,” Katz said. “But I think they made the decision that the press strategy is more important here.” > > \ > > But Taber also said Mackris’ case could be undermined since she returned to work for O’Reilly after a brief stint at CNN and after some of the alleged harassment took place. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/139 "2004-10-14T23:07:34Z")
I don’t think it even matters if she wins any damages. It’s pretty obvious that O’Reilly made those phone calls. He’s trying to obscure that fact with this lawsuit and if she fails to recover damages he will claim that was exonerated, but really, if the public hears those tapes, the disposition of the lawsuit doesn’t even matter. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-end-of-bill-oreilly-please-please-please/269150/140 "2004-10-14T23:10:02Z")
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