In connection with this blog I maintain a delightful Google alert on the word “rape,” which every day delivers extremely charming stories to my inbox, the vast variety of which do indeed seem to involve law enforcement. It was, therefore, a breath of fresh air to receive something which did not detail either (a) a horrific crime or (b) a years-late exoneration of a wrongfully convicted man.
Unfortunately, this breath of fresh air had to also contain the name “Bill O’Reilly.”:
Bill O’Reilly Speaking Engagement Angers Rape Survivors, Supporters
(March 10th, 2009) Rape survivors and their supporters across the country are angered by the choice of Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly to appear at a fundraiser to be held by a New York rape victims’ support foundation, It Happened to Alexa, in Florida on March 19th, and are petitioning the organizers to replace O’Reilly as the keynote speaker. They say that the choice of O’Reilly is inappropriate, given statements he has made on his shows in the past which suggest that victims of sexual violence are at least partly to blame for their being attacked.
via Ausiello @ the Voice
What was that I was just saying about strange bedfellows? Oh, right, before our conversation got derailed, I was saying something about having a tinge of anxiety about reconciling my general aversion to criticize worthy initiatives (like support organizations working with rape victims and survivors) with my general distaste with all the things that are done in the name of promoting the cause.
I realize that Bill O’Reilly may have a certain, uh, popular appeal, among, um, someone or other, but as it seems he has been invited to speak on his book and not on rape, I guess this isn’t part of his I Totes Don’t Hate Women World Tour. In which case, his appearance is entirely irrelevant to the cause. In which case, well, isn’t it kind of indefensible?
At any rate, if your face has unconsciously arranged itself into a sneer the way mine did upon reading this story, you may sign the petition here.
Ah, that Google alert never fails to make me want to smash my computer and stab my eyes out. This story makes me feel the same way. Instead I will just calmly sign the petition. O’Reilly is not exactly known for his nuanced and sensitive positions on women’s issues. Falafel anyone?
And this may just be the best post title I’ve ever seen.
That title is teh awesomeness.
I checked in on the organization he’s raising money for and it sounds legit and they do important work:
http://www.ithappenedtoalexa.org/Welcome.html
Still, Bill O’Reilly? I wonder how he got involved, b/c it’s not like he’s a champion of women (or victims of any kind.) Maybe he just figures he’ll go anywhere to talk about his book and they figure they don’t care who raises the money as long as they can use it to help rape victims?
Yeah, choose someone who’s been in a sexual harassment scandal to talk about rape being bad.
Wikipedia (not infallible, but it confirmed my memory of the situation): On October 13, 2004, O’Reilly filed a lawsuit against O’Reilly Factor producer Andrea Mackris, her lawyer Benedict P. Morelli, and Morelli’s law firm for extortion, contending Mackris had privately threatened to charge O’Reilly with sexual harassment unless he paid her more than $60 million (USD).[29] Later that same day, Mackris filed a complaint of sexual harassment against O’Reilly. Mackris claimed that O’Reilly had made sexually explicit phone calls, including a “vile and degrading monologue about sex.”[30][31] O’Reilly denied engaging in any physical or sexual assault or “offensive touching.” He also alleged that Mackris’ motives were financial and political in nature. According to newspaper reports, O’Reilly likely paid Mackris millions of dollars as part of a settlement, whereby both lawsuits were dismissed, but the terms of the out-of-court agreement are confidential.[32] The lawsuit was dropped on October 28, 2004.[32]
I signed – and found myself sneering. Sheesh.
Also, why is the NY Organization holding its conference in Florida?! I wanna go, especially if I can boo O’Reilly.
I mean, even if that whole business was dropped, STILL A RIDICULOUSLY POOR CHOICE OF SPEAKERS.
Next up: Mel Gibson speaking at the American Jewish Committee and Michael Richards speaking at the NAACP!
Chris Brown will also be speaking at a DV summit in 2010.
And afterwards, the Harpies will be appearing at a Promise Keepers rally.
oh it was not dropped. it was SETTLED for a lot of money. i know i’m a little more “anything goes” about my feminist fundraising than some of y’all harpies, but Bill O’Reilly? Of “falafel” fame?
I’m not going to defend the repugnant BillO one bit, but is it possible that his appearance at this event would make some of his mouthbreathing audience take rape a little more seriously?
…probably not. Off to sign the petition…
What on earth could he possibly have to say at this luncheon? Would he recant? Apologize for his own indiscretions? Or would he just be offensive as usual, and chalk it up to others being “too sensitive?” This particular event seems even more ridiculous to me than the Irish one previously mentioned, which is saying an awful lot.
What’s really disgusting is not that Bill O’Reilly was involved in a sexual harassment lawsuit, it’s what he’s said on his show about rape victims, like the girl who was raped and murdered on the west side of Manhattan a few years ago—he said because she was wearing a miniskirt and halter top and her car got impounded, that she basically deserved to end up in a Dumpster in New Jersey. And about the boy who was abducted and abused over a period of years, Shawn Hornbeck, O’Reilly said he didn’t try to escape because he was probably ENJOYING IT. Bill O’Reilly is disgusting, and I can’t believe this organization would even consider letting him speak at one of their events.
[...] minions to harass women who dare criticize him on their vacations. Amanda Terkel dared to note, as we did here on Harpyness, that it was a wee bit absurd to have O’Reilly speak at a fundraiser for the It Happened to [...]