Troubled Waters Over Bill O'Reilly's Barb?

 



While making the media rounds to promote his new book Old School: Life in the Sane Lane (2017 Holt 192 p.) , Fox News host Bill O'Reilly made a morning appearance on Fox and Friends.  Instead of simply promoting his new publication, O'Reilly riffed on the news of the day.

In reaction to strident one minute speech to an empty House chamber by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA 43rd), Bill O'Reilly playfully pontificated that Water's wig was the same type as  the Godfather of Soul James Brown.  



Rep. Waters defiantly declared that the 79 year old she would not be intimidated by Bill O'Reilly. Following her lead, liberals on social media collectively flipped their wigs  over this jest as being absolutely out of bounds.  In fact, CNN and the Daily Beast to denounce the barb as being overt racism.  Really? Good gawd, y'all!

Being a smart businessman who wanted to sell more books during the publican week blitz, O'Reilly factored in the outrage and quickly apologized for the dumb joke. 

In assessing these troubled waters over this wise crack, it is worth wondering whether such cyber social justice warriors would react the same way if the proverbial shoe was on the other foot.  

Were progressives piqued when the President of the United States was compared to a monkey?  Of course not, because that was President George W. Bush.  






How about a national leader being compared Darth Vader? Well, former Vice President Dick Cheney embraced the Star Wars comparison.  In fact, the 46th Vice President quipped in 2007: 

"Most of you knew me long before anyone called me Darth Vader. I've been asked if that nickname bothers me, and the answer is, no. After all, Darth Vader is one of the nicer things I've been called recently."

Democrats seem to think that the Resistance is one of the keys to victory in 2018 and winning the White House in 2020.  Democrats act as if demonizing any opposition is sine qua non to their success.  

In addition, their base is constantly whipped into a frenzy to oppose the Trump Administration and anyone who opposes their politically correct perspectives. That ire is difficult to sustain for long periods of time.  Moreover, keying off of a puckish throw away comment about stage similarities lowers the shock value of charges of racism.