posted by Damozel |
Apparently, Bill O'Reilly has admitted that he "overstated" the risk to citizens of roving gangs of predatory lesbians wielding pink-painted Glocks.(News Hounds; The Daily Dish)
BNPolitics originally learned about this Fox fantasy via Amanda Marcotte's note in Pandagon. We discussed Marcotte's piece here. You can view the video here. I recommend it. It is choice, even considering the (literal) embarrassment of riches on offer at the network known as Fox "News." Andrew Sullivan:
According to FNC's best-rated star, there are hundreds of lesbian gangs rampaging across Washington DC, carrying pink pistols, forcing children to go gay, taking down Christmas decorations, confiscating loofahs, and setting child molesters free...They've been firebombing creches as well. And illegal aliens with leprosy were helping..(The Daily Dish)
Fox's News Crime Analyst Rod Wheeler claimed "that there are more than 150 such gangs in the Washington, D.C., area alone" (Edge). Less excitable analysts than Fox's found this and other statemens lacking in credibility: (The Oh-Really Factor (SPLC))." [Citizen Jake: Hmm, being a D.C. native and having lived here for 24 years, I would have thought that I would have been more aware of the lesbian gangs that are apparently terrorizing my fair city."]
So then a representative from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) demanded that O'Reilly "cut the spin" in the lesbian gang story. (Edge) GLAAD asked that Fox either substantiate the "substantial, irresponsible" reporting or apologize. (Edge)
O'Reilly reported that there is a "national epidemic" of lesbian gangs. Apparently there may be one lesbian gang in Maryland. (Edge) There are about nine (out of 150-175) gangs in the DC with predominantly female members. ("You simply can't make the jump that they are lesbians," said .Sgt. Brett Parson, a member and former commander of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department's Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit. (SPLC))
Apparently one case O'Reilly cited had a basis in fact: last August, 29 year old Wayne Buckle was "whipped with belts and stabbed by women who identified themselves as lesbians." (SPLC) The women's attack was allegedly prompted "by Buckle spitting, cursing, and flicking a cigarette at the women after one of them rebuffed his sidewalk sexual advances."(SPLC) Inexcusable as their use of force may have been, there is no evidence that they belonged to a gang or that this was a gang activity..
Furthermore, 9 mm Glocks aren't manufactured in pink. (SPLC) Fox's analyst Wheeler said: ""These [lesbian] crews, these gangs, they buy a Glock 9-millimeter and you can paint them pink."" (SPLC) Poor Wheeler eventually issued this "clarification" and apology:
First of all, let me thank you for your feedback surrounding the O'Reilly Factor discussion on Lesbian Gangs. I received several e-mails from viewers, some positive and some negative, offering comments and constructive criticisms. Some of the e-mails I received were threatening and simply hostile. Click here for a sample e-mail I received from one viewer.
During the O’Reilly Factor segment on June 21st, while engaged in a discussion on Lesbian gangs, I inadvertently stated that gang members carry pistols that are painted pink and call themselves the "Pink Pistol Packing Group." I was not referring to the gay rights group "Pink Pistols" who advocates for the lawful rights of gays to carry weapons for protection. Further, I mentioned that there are "over 150 of these gangs" in the greater Washington DC area. What I actually meant is that there are over 150 gangs in the Washington DC area, some of which are in fact lesbian gangs. Lastly, I mentioned in the segment that there is this "national epidemic" of lesbian gangs. A better choice of words would have been to say that there is a growing concern nationally, and especially in major urban areas, of increased gang activity, which includes some lesbian gang activity.
I apologize for any misunderstanding this may have caused. (Rod007.com)
Wow, that is a different spin.
Anyway, Bill O'Reilly to GLAAD's representative admitted that the story was "overstated."(News Hounds) "For a brief moment," says Deborah of News Hounds ("We Watch Fox So You Don't Have To"). "O'Reilly appeared decent and even dignified but in a flash it was gone as he began explaining why he reported the story in the first place." Deborah:
O'Reilly started his justification with the first story he noted but did not report initially about four women convicted in New York. Robinson reminded him that they were not considered a gang so O'Reilly rephrased with, " A pack of lesbians jumped this guy and killed him". Then BOR said he got the story about lesbians in Memphis and another from Philadelphia about a gang DTO, Dykes Taking Over. He told Robinson when he had three stories, he decided to do the report.
Robinson reminded O'Reilly that there had been no arrest in Memphis and in Philadelphia it was a one time incident by a group of 8th graders. O'Reilly claimed the 8th graders were a gang because they had a name adding that it was a valid story but admitted that the situation wasn't out of control. (News Hounds)
O'Reilly concluded by saying that he ain't afraid of being beat up by lesbians.(News Hounds) Oh, I'm so sure he doesn't need to be; we can all see he is much man.
The report is damaging and hurtful and could have consequences that O'Reilly and Fox haven't thought through. Many Fox viewers who saw the report doubtless now believe it, just as many apparently believe based on a Fox News report that there is a substantial risk of a a public health crisis caused by illegal aliens with leprosy.
LINKED, QUOTED, OR CITED
- Amanda Marcotte,Or maybe Russ Meyer was just pranking Bill O’Reilly (Pandagon).
- Susy Buchanan and David Holthouse, The Oh-Really Factor (SPLC)
- More on Lesbian Gangs! (Box Turtle Bulletin)
- Rod Wheeler, Rod007.com
- Beware of Lesbian Gangs (Citizen Jake)
- Andrew Sullivan, O'Reilly Watch (The Daily Dish)
- Andrew Sullivan, O'Reilly's Latest Homophobic Eruption (The Daily Dish)
- All Along the Watchtower: A Compendium of Recent Bloggery (BNPolitics).
- Killain Melloy,GLAAD Demands O’Reilly Cut the Spin in Gay Gang Report (Edge)
- Deborah, Bill O'Reilly Admits Lesbian Gang Story "Overstated" But... (News Hounds)
- Brendan Nyhan, Fact-Checking Lou Dobbs On Leprosy
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