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Killing Truth: The Lies And Legends Of Bill O'Reilly
Bill O’Reilly told his audience for years that prior to joining Fox News he was a hardened reporter with a distinguished career that had sent him to war zones from Northern Ireland to El Salvador, not just another cable news bloviator.But over six weeks in February and March of 2015, O’Reilly’s self-professed journalistic history unraveled as reporters and advocates scrutinized the stories he had told about his exploits during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.The Fox News host became consumed by a media firestorm as his tales were exposed as inflated or O’Reilly claimed he reported from a war zone in the Falklands; the closest he got to that conflict was Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital a thousand miles away. 2) O’Reilly claimed he witnessed civilians get killed during a protest in Buenos Aires; other reporters and a historian say no such deaths occurred.3) O’Reilly claimed he was on the doorstep of a figure in President Kennedy’s assassination when that man committed suicide; this is debunked by evidence including his own taped statement.3) O’Reilly claimed he saw nuns being executed in El Salvador; he later acknowledged he had only seen photos of the deceased.4) O’Reilly has told two different stories about his El Salvador reporting trip; in one he says he witnessed a firefight, in the other he makes no mention of the dramatic events.5) O’Reilly claimed to have seen terror attacks in Northern Ireland; he later admitted he had only seen photos of those events.6) O’Reilly claimed to have been attacked by protestors while reporting for Inside Edition during the 1992 Los Angeles riots; this was subsequently disputed by six of his former colleagues.Killing Truth tells the story of O’Reilly’s rise to prominence from local network correspondent to one of the most prominent and lavishly-paid in cable news; how he came to fabricate key elements of that rise in an effort to portray himself as a combat journalist; and how he and his network desperately sought to buttress his credibility as those stories fell apart.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2015
42 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 12, 2015
To anyone who's been paying attention, the book gives little in the way of new information, but it does provide considerable context and detail. I won't go into the details, but here's the non-spoiler spoiler: O'Reilly lied. There's just no two ways about it. He claimed he witnessed nuns get shot in the head in El Salvador; he didn't, only seeing pictures. He claimed to be in risk of dying in "combat zones" in Northern Ireland and the Falklands; he wasn't. He claimed to be in the thick of the LA riots with concrete raining down upon him from rioters' throws; he wasn't. Lies, lies, lies.
Still, to most of this, I can only offer a shrug, as has the mainstream media and even more independent gonzo journalists, for the most part. It's enraging, sure, but what about Fox News isn't enraging? And Boehlert may be correct in his surmise that O'Reilly may well have built an inferiority complex with his "failed" career at ABC and CBS (though I could do without all the armchair psychoanalysis in a book like this, to be precise), but watch O'Reilly sit in an interview with anyone possessing the rhetorical high ground and see if he doesn't have an inferiority complex there, too. (My favorite example of this can be found here, in case anyone's interested.)
Media Matters and Eric Boehlert do good work. Don't get me wrong. But going after Fox is largely a waste of time. I like it better when they go after the New York Times and its sins of omission, commission and outright distortion. And when they go after the Chicago Tribune? I swoon. Forget O'Reilly. His fans and network will support him if he turns out to be the Boston Strangler. Look instead at the news that fuels his own "reporting." That's time better spent.
Still, to most of this, I can only offer a shrug, as has the mainstream media and even more independent gonzo journalists, for the most part. It's enraging, sure, but what about Fox News isn't enraging? And Boehlert may be correct in his surmise that O'Reilly may well have built an inferiority complex with his "failed" career at ABC and CBS (though I could do without all the armchair psychoanalysis in a book like this, to be precise), but watch O'Reilly sit in an interview with anyone possessing the rhetorical high ground and see if he doesn't have an inferiority complex there, too. (My favorite example of this can be found here, in case anyone's interested.)
Media Matters and Eric Boehlert do good work. Don't get me wrong. But going after Fox is largely a waste of time. I like it better when they go after the New York Times and its sins of omission, commission and outright distortion. And when they go after the Chicago Tribune? I swoon. Forget O'Reilly. His fans and network will support him if he turns out to be the Boston Strangler. Look instead at the news that fuels his own "reporting." That's time better spent.
February 6, 2016
What is the Truth.
Why do they call books nonfiction when you don't know if the facts are believable or not? Is there any way to really know?
Why do they call books nonfiction when you don't know if the facts are believable or not? Is there any way to really know?
December 21, 2018
Total narcissistic buffoon
Not that it came as a surprise but that he was allowed to get away with his lying for so long. Course he was helped along by Fox and Roger Ailes who encouraged him and paid him big bucks to be the bully liar. It where was the mainstream media in that I do Not recall his being called on his lies much like the current President. Makes me curious as why he got away with it and what he was like as a child and young man. Severe personality disorder and menace to a civilized society.
Not that it came as a surprise but that he was allowed to get away with his lying for so long. Course he was helped along by Fox and Roger Ailes who encouraged him and paid him big bucks to be the bully liar. It where was the mainstream media in that I do Not recall his being called on his lies much like the current President. Makes me curious as why he got away with it and what he was like as a child and young man. Severe personality disorder and menace to a civilized society.
November 4, 2024
It said exactly what I was thinking. I had, at one time, watched O'Reilly's No Spin Zone until I wised up. This book lays out, in detail, the where and how of B.O.'s fraud, lies, and inept reporting. B.O. had done a segment on Bill Clinton's daughters breasts and being a father of two daughters that was the last time I ever listened to his show. He did end up being sued for sexual harassment. Good on the young woman who sued him. O'Reilly was the final end of the line for Fox "News". This book is a great read.
March 21, 2017
Arrogant pompous lying people are boring. They should be banned.
January 14, 2017
A refreshing book fact-checking the untenable, overblown, and frequently manufactured-from-whole-cloth stories that Fox news anchor Bill O'Reilly has bleated out over the airwaves in the past decade or so. The man lives in a bubble of unreality and is incredibly arrogant. Reading this is like scratching an itch on the bottom of your foot: You always knew it was there, but you didn't realize how bad it was until you scratched it.
Contains a list of 20 former colleagues and acquaintances who all agree that everything O'Reilly says is tripe. A minor victory for truth.
The author says that the most accurate book on O'Reilly was Sen. Al Franken's book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, written more than a decade ago, before Franken was a senator.
Contains a list of 20 former colleagues and acquaintances who all agree that everything O'Reilly says is tripe. A minor victory for truth.
The author says that the most accurate book on O'Reilly was Sen. Al Franken's book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, written more than a decade ago, before Franken was a senator.
May 5, 2015
Truth is truth. Fiction is big money for a 9 year old bully in a 6'5" adult meat-package
A true life long fairytale of a sad spiritually bankrupted little "ire"ish boy who never grew up.
The authors succinctly and verifiability cut through the maze a pathologic lies that comprise the curriculum of Bill O'Reilly. The truth does set us free, now if only MR. O'REILLY could learn discernment, he too might enjoy that sense of freedom.
Short, factual and well-written reading. Quite, pithy, indeed.
Checkmate, wee one. Bravo to the journalists and to those who verified and confirmed the reality and removed the metastasis of the fairy tale.
A true life long fairytale of a sad spiritually bankrupted little "ire"ish boy who never grew up.
The authors succinctly and verifiability cut through the maze a pathologic lies that comprise the curriculum of Bill O'Reilly. The truth does set us free, now if only MR. O'REILLY could learn discernment, he too might enjoy that sense of freedom.
Short, factual and well-written reading. Quite, pithy, indeed.
Checkmate, wee one. Bravo to the journalists and to those who verified and confirmed the reality and removed the metastasis of the fairy tale.
April 6, 2017
'Excellent opinion piece, pretty much buttressed my opinion of what, in o'reilly's own favorite assessment, of what a pinhead he really is. I have watched this insect spout his lies and untruths for far too many years, wondering how someone of his ilk could possibly stay on air. I appreciate Eric Bolger's work to encapsulate this truly ego maniacal excuse for a human being. I highly recommend this piece for any interested in seeing lies and falsehoods exposed.
I also find the inclusion of Fox news as enablers of this creep insightful and right on point, a good indication that truth in reporting is a dead concept
I also find the inclusion of Fox news as enablers of this creep insightful and right on point, a good indication that truth in reporting is a dead concept
April 15, 2015
This book elaborates on specific instances of BillO's distortion and fabrication of his professional curriculum vitae as a reporter and journalist. It would be nice to see something similar written about how his rhetoric indirectly lead to the murder of abortion provider Dr. Tiller and the harassment lawsuit he settled out of court with one of his producers, among other things not mentioned in this book.
April 9, 2015
A legend in his own mind
.... Before knowing about O'Reillys questionable background , as an observer it was easy to see this man has personality issues. His overt need for attention and respect causes me to question what kind of relationship he had with his parents as he was growing up …
.... Before knowing about O'Reillys questionable background , as an observer it was easy to see this man has personality issues. His overt need for attention and respect causes me to question what kind of relationship he had with his parents as he was growing up …
April 9, 2015
Ahah
While I listened to and enjoyed as O'Reilly on the radio and then for years on tv I came to realize he was promoting an agenda, his own. There wasn't much fair and balanced as time went on. When he disagreed with someone, regular guest, or major Democratic or precious Republican he would simply and routinely, and rudely and imperiously cut them off. So I cut him off.
While I listened to and enjoyed as O'Reilly on the radio and then for years on tv I came to realize he was promoting an agenda, his own. There wasn't much fair and balanced as time went on. When he disagreed with someone, regular guest, or major Democratic or precious Republican he would simply and routinely, and rudely and imperiously cut them off. So I cut him off.
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June 19, 2015I'm not sure how to rate this, but it is quite interesting and made me even more irate about the lies Bill states and so many people believe him. At least Brian Williams has apologized and is contrite, Unlike Bill who believes his lies and FOX News supports him.
January 12, 2016
Good analysis of a single sick personal.
How anyone can hide behind freedom.of the press and misinformation , lie and manipulate news is beyond me. He is a complete phony and a con man.
How anyone can hide behind freedom.of the press and misinformation , lie and manipulate news is beyond me. He is a complete phony and a con man.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews