Pinheads and Patriots by Bill O'Reilly Read Free Book Online Page B

discussion was about how the man might mitigate that trouble. Brit Hume simply gave him an option.
    So in my opinion, Brit was not, in that case, a Pinhead. I do understand, however, how some folks might think that he denigrated Buddhism, certainly a legitimate religion. My analysis is thatBrit simply stated one big difference between Christianity and Buddhism and how the former might help Mr. Woods in the forgiveness realm. Brit was putting forth his theory and opinion, which he is certainly entitled to do.

    Brit Hume isn’t the only Fox News person who folks are cheering for and against!
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Photographed by Shepard Sherbell
    The critics of Brit Hume fall into two basic categories: those who believe he overstepped the analysis line and bashed Buddhism, and those who think he has no right even to mention a Christian solution to a complicated problem.
    The Buddhism critics have a legitimate point of discussion, so they are Patriots for speaking their minds. The Christian objection smacks of censorship and bias, so those who embrace it are Pinheads.
    As for Brit Hume, he took the heat, articulated his case, and didn’t back down. He also bears no malice toward those who criticized him. So he’s a Patriot.
    It comes down to this: it is always Patriotic to stick up for yourcore beliefs, as Brit Hume did. But some of his critics, who were sincere in their dissent toward what he said, were also sticking up for their beliefs. So even though disagreement was in the air, so was Patriotism on both sides.
    But those who hammered Hume in personal ways, trying to brand him as a fanatic or worse, are obviously Pinheads. Thanks to Brit Hume and Tiger Woods, a central theme of this book has now been stated: Pinheads try to harm people with whom they disagree; they want to punish and demean them.
    Patriots, on the other hand, respect robust debate and have the courage to state their beliefs without rancor. Think about people you know in your life, and think about yourself.
    Where do you stand?

CHAPTER 7
It’s All About Me
    O’Reilly, I love you, man. But shut up once in a while.
    â€”Yankee Stadium spectator
    MANY AMERICANS THINK that I, your humble correspondent, am one of the biggest Pinheads in the country. When there is no malice behind the thought, I am amused by the description. When there is malice, I have to wonder, Why do some folks want to stick pins in my head as if I’m some wild voodoo houngan trying to scare gullible folks into giving him money?
    After fourteen years of anchoring the Factor, I am used to the slings and arrows. They whiz in nearly every day. Thank God for my pal Glenn Beck. Since he arrived at Fox News, he’s taken some of the heat off me. But still, there is no question that I remain one of the most controversial men in the country. Again, why?
    THE CONFIDENCE FACTOR
    The answer lies partly in a trait that President Obama and I have in common. We both deliver our messages with confidence. I can’t tell you how many letters I’ve received calling me arrogant after I’ve stated a strong opinion on something. For what action, I ask, am I deemed arrogant? The answer usually comes down to style, not substance. Because I state my case with certainty, some believe I am supercilious, a person who thinks he knows more than anyone else. Occasionally President Obama comes off that way as well, does he not?
    So am I a Pinhead for exuding confidence while analyzing the news? Here’s a shocker: I don’t think so . I base my opinions on solid research and deliver my Talking Points memo with the authority of experience and knowledge. If I stumbled around looking unsure and hesitant, if I based my opinions on what I thought an ideological audience wanted to hear, could I honestly run a no-spin zone? No, I could not. I’d have to work for NBC News.
    One of the reasons that President Bush lost the locker room midway through his second term was that he seemed