Elton John Wants to Guest Star on ‘Glee’ and Sleep With 16-Year-Old Gay Character
March 15, 2011 No Comment
63-year-old aging rock star Elton John wants to be a guest star on the hit TV series “Glee” with the storyline that he's the lover of the overbearing coach of the cheerleaders, but he ends up in bed with the show's 16-year-old gay virgin. This was revealed by the Emmy Award-winning co-star of the program Jane Lynch on Monday's “Tonight Show” (video follows with transcript and commentary): JAY LENO, HOST: Now, I want to, is there any truth that Elton John will be on “Glee,” is this true? JANE LYNCH, “GLEE”: I don't know if he'll be on “Glee,” but, he loves the show. LENO: Mm-hmm. LYNCH: He came up to me at the event and said that he had had lunch with Ryan Murphy, who is the guy who created our show. LENO: Right. LYNCH: He's our lord and creator, and… LENO: Right. LYNCH: He pitched Ryan some potential storylines that he could be a part of. He said the first thing he said, “What I'd like to do is perhaps be your lover, but I end up in bed with Chris.” [ Laughter ] LYNCH: Now Chris on the show is sixteen, so that would be jail bait, would it not? LENO: Yeah. That would be. That would not be. Yeah. That would tend to frown on that. LYNCH: Yes. But I hope he'll be on the show. LENO: Well, it sounds like him, because, you know, 'cause he’s one of those of those hot and cold. LYNCH: Yeah. LENO: “No. Get away.” Or, if he came up to you guys with ideas, that means he wants to be on the show. LYNCH: Well, that would be great. I mean, I think it would be awesome. Wouldn’t it? LENO: That would be cool, yeah. Yeah, that would be awesome and so cool. Let's get a 63-year-old guy on the show that proposed ending up in bed with one of the lead characters who happens to be a 16-year-old gay virgin. That would be must-see TV. But the depravity here on John's part goes even further. If he actually is a fan of the show, he must know that Kurt, the character Chris Coffer plays, is a total naive, innocent, sweet kid that has no idea what sex is. That includes homosexual sex. In last week's episode – full disclosure, I'm a huge fan of the show – we found out that Kurt is so innocent when it comes to sex that his gay bestfriend approached his father to have a pseudo “birds and the bees” discussion with his son. The friend's fear was that Kurt is so naive and innocent that his first sexual encounter could be with the wrong person for all the wrong reasons, and it could end up being unprotected. Kurt's father then had a chat with his son – pamphlets and all – until Kurt got so embarrassed by it he excused himself and walked out of the kitchen. So, yes, let's get 63-year-old Elton John on the show despite his desire to end up in bed with this fictitious child. By all means.
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Uniformed officers in squad car dispatched to confront family in Dorset after tip-off about actions of girls aged four and six Police rushed a pair of officers in a marked car to a park after two young sisters were spotted picking daffodils. Sienna Marengo, four, was seen picking flowers with six-year-old stepsister Olivia in Poole, Dorset. A member of the public reported them to police and two constables attended and advised the girls’ mother, Jane Errington, that she and her partner, Marc Marengo, could be arrested for criminal damage. The couple expressed anger at the “heavy-handed” response and accused police of wasting time. Errington said the officers watched the family for 20 minutes before speaking to them. She said Sienna had been left too upset to return to the public park, fearing being “taken away by the police”. The family had been enjoying the spring sunshine with a walk through Whitecliff Park on Sunday when the girls broke off and started to pick daffodils. Errington, who owns a property maintenance business, said: “The little ones had been riding their bikes but after a while they got bored and went to play in the daffodils. “I didn’t see them pick any flowers, but the next thing we knew a police patrol car pulled up and the officers in it started watching us. “We didn’t know what was going on and after about 20 minutes my partner started feeling very uncomfortable. “Two male police officers then came up to us, saying they’d had a report of flowers being ripped up. They said we had committed a crime. “The little ones were really upset and started crying. It was quite frightening for them. They did have daffodils in their hands – I’d say about 20 between them – and they had been picking them up and sorting them out like children do. “If we’d seen it, we would have stopped them, but all it needed was for whoever complained to have approached us and made us aware. “I had to explain to them that the police are friendly and it was just a mistake. I explained to them that the flowers were there for everybody and that in the future we will leave them there. “I just felt it was unnecessary and upsetting. Surely the police have better ways to spend their time and taxpayers’ money?” Whitecliff Park is owned by the council and therefore removing property from it is an offence. A relative of Poole Conservative councillor Peter Adams called the police. Adams said: “The children weren’t just taking one or two daffodils, it was big clumps of them. “I was surprised that the police sent a squad car with two PCs. I would have expected a PCSO [a police community support officer] to turn up and have a quiet word with them.” A spokesman for Dorset police said: “We were told a significant amount of daffodils were being pulled out and thrown around. “Two police constables attended, spoke to the mother of the children and explained that as the flowers were laid by the council for the enjoyment of all, that people were not allowed to pick them. “The officers had to advise her that by law it was criminal damage, in case they were not aware.” Crime Police Steven Morris guardian.co.uk
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Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan jailed for aiding Northumberland gunman during his shooting frenzy last year Two accomplices who helped shotgun killer Raoul Moat during his murderous rampage last summer have been jailed for life. Karl Ness, 26, and Qhuram Awan, 23, were convicted at Newcastle crown court on Friday of a series of serious offences following a five-week trial. On Tuesday, Ness, from Dudley, North Tyneside, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 40 years following his conviction for murder, and Awan, from Blyth, Northumberland, was given life with a minimum of 20 years. Ness was with Moat on the night he shot his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend Chris Brown – who he believed was a police officer – last July. Ness was convicted of murdering Brown and a firearms offence. Both men were convicted of conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and robbing a chip shop that Moat held up the day after he shot and blinded unarmed police officer PC David Rathband. Mr Justice McCombe said: “Here we have a case where three men formulated a plan to murder policemen indiscriminately, and then, pursuant to the plan, attempted (to within the thinnest thread of human life) to kill one officer, with appalling consequences.” There was no reaction from Ness as he was sentenced. Awan smiled ruefully to his father in the public gallery as he was led away. Earlier, Rathband, the police officer left blinded by Moat, wept as the details of his injuries were outlined to the judge. The trial heard that Moat was intent on revenge when he heard that his former girlfriend Samantha Stobbart had a new partner. Moat asked his friend Ness to spy on her while he was still in prison and the day after his release, the pair went looking for her and her boyfriend, Brown, 29. Moat murdered Brown and shot and seriously injured Stobbart, 22, before fleeing. The former bouncer and steroid user was convinced Brown was a police officer and 24 hours later he rang Northumbria police to declare war on the force, adding he was “hunting for officers”. Awan drove Ness and Moat in his black Lexus car when they chanced upon a parked police patrol car. Inside was Rathband, a 43-year-old father-of-two. Awan stopped and Moat crept up on the unarmed officer before twice shooting him at close range. He survived but was blinded. Ness and Awan later helped Moat set up a woodland camp near Rothbury, Northumberland, and went shopping for supplies for him. Although they claimed to have been held hostage, neither man alerted the authorities during these trips away from Moat. In CCTV images shown to the jury, both defendants could be seen calmly browsing the aisles for food or clothes. When they were arrested on the edge of the village, Moat managed to escape. The killer remained at large for another three days until he was cornered and shot himself following a six-hour standoff. Paul Sloan QC, defending Ness, said: “Had it not been for Moat, none of these offences would have been committed.” Jeremy Carter-Manning, defending Awan, also referred to the missing killer, saying: “This trial is Hamlet without the prince.” He said psychiatric tests showed his client was “easily led”. Raoul Moat Crime Gun crime Helen Carter guardian.co.uk
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Doctors at emergency debate vote to demand government scraps ‘unmandated’, ‘damaging’ and ‘unjustified’ top-down shakeup of NHS Doctors have voted to call on the government to scrap its plans for overhauling the NHS. The health secretary, Andrew Lansley, is coming under increasing pressure over his reforms, which involve the abolition of more than 150 organisations and moving 80% of the NHS budget into the hands of GPs. Some doctors support the content of the health and social care bill, currently going through parliament, but many have been voicing opposition to parts of it, including increasing the role of private companies in delivering healthcare. Today the British Medical Association (BMA) held an emergency meeting attended by almost 400 doctors to debate the plans. Doctors voted in favour of calling on Lansley to withdraw the bill entirely and for a “halt to the proposed top-down reorganisation of the NHS”. They said the government should act on criticisms from those who are opposed to the bill and accept there is “no electoral mandate” for the plans. The bill’s proposals were not part of the election manifesto of either the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats, doctors said. The meeting comes after Liberal Democrat delegates rejected the shakeup at the party’s spring conference, with members voting not to support the “damaging and unjustified” reforms. Responding to the vote, the shadow health secretary, John Healey, said: “First the Lib Dems, now the BMA – this is quickly turning into David Cameron’s worst NHS week. His damaging plans for the health service are descending into chaos.” Doctors also accused Lansley of using “inaccurate and misleading information to denigrate the NHS”, by comparing UK cancer and heart disease rates with those in Europe. Doctors also voted for the government to recognise that primary care trusts, which face abolition, are losing staff and risk collapse, and for the government not to undermine their current functions. At the meeting, the BMA chairman, Dr Hamish Meldrum, said the reforms could have “irreversible consequences” and would damage patient care. He said the NHS was potentially facing the biggest reorganisation of its 63-year history. “The government’s proposed reforms have far-reaching and potentially irreversible consequences for how the NHS is run and the way we deliver care to our patients.” He added that it was difficult to argue against some of the government’s claimed objectives, including greater involvement of clinicians in decision-making and more information for patients, “but, as on so many occasions, it’s the reality not the rhetoric that counts and it’s the reality that is causing all the problems”. Meldrum added: “Because what we have seen is an often contradictory set of proposals, driven by ideology rather than evidence, enshrined in ill-thought-through legislation and implemented in a rush during a major economic downturn.” The reforms also face strong opposition from other unions, including Unite and the Royal College of Nursing. Labour has tabled amendments to the bill, designed to protect the NHS against the introduction of a full-blown competitive market, which the party warned would undermine care, increase bureaucracy and put the future of hospitals at risk. The shadow health secretary, John Healey, said the amendments would strike out proposals to allow healthcare regulator Monitor to apply the full force of competition law to NHS contracts. The bill, as drafted, would give Monitor the same powers as the Office of Fair Trading to impose fines of up to 10% of turnover for anti-competitive practices, he said. And he predicted that private firms would use the measures to mount persistent challenges to deals struck by GP consortiums to commission services from local hospitals or hospices. Even discussions between GPs and hospitals on the best way to deliver services to patients could be construed as anti-competitive practices, leading to fines or legal action through the domestic and European courts, Healey said. GP consortiums and NHS hospitals could be forced to spend large sums on lawyers to protect themselves against possible action. Labour put forward its amendments on Tuesday in the committee stage of the bill, and has called an Opposition Day debate on the issue in the chamber tomorrow. Healey accused Lansley of keeping quiet about the implications of the competition measures and challenged him to “stand up and defend these changes”. “The more that people see of the changes and look at the risks, the more concerned they become,” said Healey. “I am concerned that private companies with big legal departments are going to cause havoc with the ability to plan and run services. “They could challenge the decisions GPs make to commission services from local hospitals. They could put hospitals at risk. They could prevent the links that we want to see between commissioners and providers of services.” Health NHS Doctors Health policy Andrew Lansley Healthcare industry Public finance Public services policy Labour Conservatives Liberal Democrats GPs guardian.co.uk
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G8 talks stall after Germans refuse to support military intervention backed by Britain and France Germany has again blocked Anglo-French plans for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya. Reports from talks held by G8 ministers in Paris said German objections, backed by Russia, meant the communique from the meeting would make no mention of a no-fly zone. Speaking during the meeting, Germany’s foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, said his country remained “very sceptical” about the prospect of a no-fly zone. He recommended instead more “political pressure” against the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. He said Germany did not want “to get sucked into a war in north Africa”. “We need to send a clear signal … Gaddafi must stop his civil war against his own people, he must be held responsible for his crimes. The security council must take action.” But Westerwelle also made clear Germany would not support military intervention. His comments echoed the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who told an EU summit last week that the no-fly zone idea was potentially dangerous. “What is our plan if we create a no-fly zone and it doesn’t work? Do we send in ground troops?” she said. “We have to think this through. Why should we intervene in Libya when we don’t intervene elsewhere?” The EU summit failed to endorse a no-fly zone. So, too, did a meeting last week of Nato defence ministers. Earlier, the French foreign minister, Alain Juppé, suggested European countries had left it too late to assist the rebels. He said he had so far been unable to convince G8 colleagues to back a no-fly zone. “If we had used military force last week to neutralise some airstrips and the several dozen planes that they have, perhaps the reversal taking place to the detriment of the opposition wouldn’t have happened,” Juppé told Europe-1 radio. “But that’s the past. What is happening today shows us that we may have let slip by a chance.” Libya’s opposition has appealed for the international community to set up a no-fly zone , warning that “half a million” people could die if Benghazi, the rebel stronghold, fell to Gaddafi’s forces. The Arab League has also asked the UN security council to authorise a no-fly zone. But many countries, including the US, are reluctant to get involved and suggest a no-fly zone would not make much difference on the ground. The G8 meeting was expected to recommend fresh measures to be included in a possible new UN security council resolution on Libya. They range from tighter sanctions and a maritime blockade to the threat of a no-fly zone at some future date. The outcome of the G8 meeting was another blow for British policy. William Hague, the foreign secretary, says the time for decisive action is approaching. He said during Tuesday’s talks: “There is a common appetite for further discussion at the UN security council. We are clear here at the G8 that there is a need for further measures, a need to respond urgently.” Hague admitted that participants did not see eye to eye on a no-fly zone. Speaking in the Commons on Monday, David Cameron said a Gaddafi victory could create a pariah state on Europe’s doorstep, threatening the interests and security of all EU states. Libya G8 Germany Middle East Muammar Gaddafi Europe Simon Tisdall guardian.co.uk
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Radiation around Fukushima Daiichi plant has reached levels damaging to health Japan is facing the world’s biggest nuclear crisis for decades as engineers struggle to regain control of the Fukushima plant following another explosion and a fire that caused a spike in radiation to harmful levels. Amid growing fears that the situation is heading for catastrophe, 70 technicians are still battling to cool reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi facility but non-essential personnel have been ordered to leave and the Kyodo news agency reported that radiation levels have become too high for staff to remain in control rooms. The government has already called in international help in tackling the spiralling crisis. Early on Tuesday, the power plant in the country’s stricken north-east was rocked by an explosion at the No 2 reactor, the third blast at the site in four days. That was followed by a fire that broke out at the No 4 reactor unit, which appeared to be the cause of today’s radiation leaks. That reactor was shut down for maintenance before the earthquake, but its spent fuel rods are stored in a pool at the site. The fire was later extinguished but Kyodo reported that the pool was subsequently boiling, with the water level falling. If the water boils off there is a risk that the fuel could catch fire, sending a plume of radiation directly into the atmosphere. Radiation levels at one location on the site reached 400 millisieverts (mSv) an hour after the fire – four times the level that can lead to cancer – the chief cabinet secretary, Yukio Edano, said. But levels had lowered dramatically by the end of the day, according to the International Atomic Energy Authority. The government ordered any inhabitants remaining within the 12-mile (20km) radius exclusion zone to leave immediately, told those between 12 miles and 19 miles away to stay indoors and imposed a 19-mile no-fly zone. Experts backed their assessment that health risks beyond that area were minimal at present. The news was a fresh blow for a region already reeling from the impact of Friday’s magnitude 8.9 earthquake and devastating tsunami. At midday Tuesday, Japan’s national police agency said 2,475 people were confirmed dead and 3,611 were missing, while NHK reported 3,000 dead with 15,000 unaccounted for. Emergency broadcasts on NHK television underscored the near-apocalyptic scenario that was unfolding at Fukushima. “For those in the evacuation area, close your windows and doors. Switch off your air conditioners. If you are being evacuated, cover yourself as much as possible and wear a facemask. Stay calm.” Fears of fresh contamination are an extra concern for refugees across the region. Water, food and fuel are in desperately short supply in Ishinomaki, one of the cities worst affected by the disaster. According to the deputy mayor, Etsuro Kitamura, 40,000 refugees in evacuation centres are having to live on just one rice ball a day. For Hiroko Kodo, news of the nuclear explosion was a rude return to the world of mass communications. Since Friday she had been cut off from television, internet and mobile phone networks. But the Red Cross provided her with a radio among an emergency kit it distributed to all the refugees. “When I turned it on, I heard about the radiation. It is terrifying. I’m afraid now to drink the water from the mountains in case it is contaminated.” Workers at the Fukushima plant have been struggling since Friday to avert a disaster after cooling systems failed in the aftermath of the quake. Hundreds of thousands of people have already been evacuated from areas within 12 miles of the facility as a precaution. Readings in parts of the facility hit levels indicating an immediate risk of damage to people without protective gear, Edano said. The prime minister, Naoto Kan, asked people to remain calm in a televised address but warned: “Radiation has spread from these reactors and the reading of the level seems high … There’s still a very high risk of further radioactive material coming out.” He added that workers were “putting themselves in a very dangerous situation” to try to contain the problems. With confidence diminishing in the ability of the plant owner, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), to handle the crisis, Kan had already said he would personally lead a new joint response headquarters. According to Kyodo, the prime minister called executives at the power company to demand “what the hell is going on?” Tokyo has asked the UN nuclear watchdog for expert help and the US nuclear regulatory commission for equipment. Officials have also begun to distribute potassium iodide, which can help inhibit the uptake of radioactive iodide by the thyroid, to evacuation centres. Officials said the explosion at the No 2 unit appeared to have damaged the reactor’s containment structure, which prevents radioactive materials from leaking in the event of meltdown. That is of particular concern because the building housing the reactor was damaged by the hydrogen blast at neighbouring unit No 3, experts told the news agency. Edano told reporters that workers were continuing to inject water to cool units 1 to 3. The No 2 reactor was not as stable as the others, but the water injection was working “to a certain level”, he added. Tepco admitted for the first time that there was a possibility of partial meltdown, Kyodo reported. Officials have already gauged that as a “high possibility”. Edano told reporters that beyond the 12-mile radius the level should be reduced to one where harm to human health would be minimal or non-existent, although that would depend on wind speed and direction. He said a “minimal amount” of radioactive material might spread to metropolitan areas, but not at harmful levels, adding: “We want you to keep calm. We can continue with our daily lives.” In Tokyo, the metropolitan government said radiation reached around 20 times normal levels in the capital on Tuesday morning but said governor Shintaro Ishihara said the levels would “not immediately cause health problems”. R Prof David Hinde, head of the department of nuclear physics at the Australian National University, said it was the worst nuclear accident since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, but stressed it was on a far smaller scale. The maximum radiation level was “very, very serious” for workers on site, who would only be able to remain there for the briefest periods. But the risk to those outside the exclusion zone was very small, particularly when seen in the context of their situation as a whole. “Compared to the risk of being on a plain near the sea it’s negligible … no one is looking at the black smoke from the fires and wondering where those carcinogens are going,” he said. An expert told the broadcaster NHK that the situation was “very grave”, warning that without protective gear a level of 100mSv could be enough to cause male infertility in a short time. He also said those in the 12-mile to 19-mile zone should dust off their hair and clothes before entering their building, including brushing off the soles of their shoes. Once inside they should close windows and turn off air conditioning. Any laundry hanging out should be left outside. Japan’s central bank pumped billions more dollars into the economy as stocks plunged more than 10% on the back of the news, following a major injection on Monday. Japan earthquake and tsunami Japan Natural disasters and extreme weather Nuclear power Jonathan Watts Tania Branigan guardian.co.uk
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Click here to view this media Oh boy. Looks like Fox found another “Democrat” besides Doug Schoen to bash Democrats for them — Evan Bayh. We’re all shocked, right? It appears he’s also got himself a new lobbying gig as well. After Leaving Senate Because Of ‘Too Much Partisanship,’ Former Sen. Evan Bayh Takes Job At Fox News : When former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) surprised Washington one year ago and announced his decision not to seek re-election, he blamed “too much partisanship and not enough progress — too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving.” Bayh said that “what we need to do is come together as a people and solve the problems facing our country.” Today, the Huffington Post reports that Bayh has taken a job at Fox News Channel: Fox News is expected to announce Monday afternoon that former Indiana Senator Evan Bayh will become a contributor to the network , The Huffington Post has learned. Bayh will be a commentator and political analyst across all of Fox News’ platforms. Bayh has indeed succeeded in creating jobs, for himself. In addition to his Fox News position, Bayh accepted a job at Apollo Global Management, a multi-billion dollar private equity firm, and also McGuireWoods LLP , a D.C. lobbying firm that engages on banking and climate change legislation, on behalf of “ well-heeled ” clients. It’s too bad that mean old Amato made him leave Congress, isn’t it?? — I guess it’s my fault Evan Bayh quit Congress : I was reading a column written by Jill Lawrence of Politics Daily and I learned that I helped cause Evan Bayh to quit his day job. Evan Bayh and the Senate’s Lonely Moderates: Bridge-Builders No Longer Needed During the long, still incomplete march to pass a health reform bill, Democratic moderates – in particular Montana’s Baucus and Nebraska’s Nelson — routinely took incoming from liberal bloggers for dragging the bill rightward. The left was especially critical of Bayh’s take last month on Republican Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts. Bayh told ABC News that voters up there “just don’t believe the answers we are currently proposing are solving their problems.” He said Democrats would court catastrophe if they ignored the wakeup call. John Amato wrote at CrooksandLiars.com that Bayh was promoting Fox News talking points. Yes, I am that mean and scary and Bayh just couldn’t handle the heat from C&L, baby. Read on… Now he’s finally getting paid by Fox to repeat them.
Continue reading …Juan Williams to O’Reilly: If You Called Koran ‘Hate-Filled’ Like Maher You’d Be Whipped and Stoned
March 15, 2011 No Comment
After Bill Maher called the Koran “a hate-filled book” on HBO's “Real Time” Friday, NewsBusters asked if he would be attacked by the media for doing so. With no outrage having ensued, the folks at Fox News on Monday questioned why Maher's comments went ignored by the Muslim defenders in the press, with Juan Williams telling Bill O'Reilly that if he had said anything like that, “They would have tied you to the pillar and be whipping you and stoning you” (video follows with transcript and commentary): BILL O'REILLY, HOST: “Impact Segment” tonight, if a conservative or even a moderate journalist criticizes the Koran all hell breaks loose in the media. But a left wing comedian can pretty much skate on that. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BILL MAHER: We are dealing with a culture that is in its medieval era. It comes from a hate-filled holly book, the Koran, which is taken very literally by its people. They are trying to get nuclear weapons. I don't think Tim McVeigh would ever have tried to get a nuclear weapon because I think right wing nuts, they think they love this country. (END VIDEO CLIP) O'REILLY: All right. Now reaction from the media about that, zero. Nothing. And even Congressman Keith Ellison who was on in the discussion was tepid in his response to the attack on the Koran. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. KEITH ELLISON (D), MINNESOTA: Bill, I think that you should investigate this issue a little more because I think that you're lumping together things that shouldn't be lumped together. And you're casting a very wide net and, therefore, coming to the wrong conclusions. (END VIDEO CLIP) O'REILLY: He was talking to Bill — Bill Maher. Imagine if it was Bill O'Reilly who that said that to Congressman Ellison which I had him on last week, the response would have been different. Joining us now from Washington to analyze: Fox Newsmanalysts Mary Katharine Ham and Juan Williams. Juan all you said was you get a little nervous seeing a Muslim at the airport getting on a plane. Maher calls the Koran a hate-filled holy book, NPR should be doing hours on this, should it not? JUAN WILLIAMS, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Hours, days. I mean literally, if I said something like that — wait a second, forget me, what if Bill O'Reilly had something like that. O'REILLY: I would have been out of there. I would have been — (CROSSTALK) WILLIAMS: They would have stripped you in public, man. They would have tied you to the pillar and be whipping you and stoning you. That's what would happen to you. O'REILLY: You bet. So why Juan, why is this — now look, before I let Juan answer, I do have two reasons which may take the edge off this. Number one, Mr. Maher's program is on HBO. It's on during the weekend. I don't know how well-watched it is. Number two with the Japanese intrusion on cable news, everybody is paying attention to that, this takes on a lesser importance. So, that might be two reasons why nobody is involved with this, Juan. WILLIAMS: Well, I think it's also important to say here that, you know, there is oftentimes excuses made for Bill Maher because people say oh, he is a comedian. But that's a show in which he has serious people like Congressman Ellison on, he's having a discussion — O'REILLY: Absolutely. WILLIAMS: And he describes the Koran as a hate-filled document. Now, if you, Bill O'Reilly, you are doing an information show here, and if you said it, I don't think they would say oh, you know, that's just Bill O'Reilly,he's a big personality. No, they would say that's a news show and you would be held responsible. (CROSSTALK) O'REILLY: Some people think I'm a comedian, Mary Katharine. I mean I have heard that before. I'm a joke. Isn't that the same thing as a comedian? I'm a joke? What's your theory about why Maher skates about this? MARY KATHARINE HAM, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it's clearly double standard. Partly because I think mostly because is he a liberal. He is allowed to say these things even in front of Keith Ellison. I think the irony is that Keith Ellison who broke down into tears at the hearing that Representative Peter King held the other day he hears something far more broad-brushed and far more mean and sort of about Islam than anything he heard at the hearing the other day. And it's just sort of like well, let's have a conversation about this. But Bill Maher actually succeeded in saying something actually politically incorrect this time instead of the liberal orthodox he usually labels as politically incorrect. O'REILLY: Well, I thought Mr. Ellison's tepid response was interesting too which is why I noted this because somebody said to me the New Testament of the Bible is hate-filled which is dangerous to the world I pretty much would take exception to that and have a much more spirited response than Mr. Ellison did, Juan. And I'm saying does Maher — does he intimidate the congressman and other left wingers because they are not expecting this from one of their own? WILLIAMS: No because — no, the last part of your statement is the precise (INAUDIBLE) that I'd offer you, Bill, he is one of their own. So, therefore, you know what? You get a pass. You know what? Yes, maybe, Bill, you are just going off a little bit. You are off. You need to investigate it more. You need to look into it more but they don't attack him. They don't question his credibility. Remember, he said it was a hate-filled document. I hope everybody hears that. I mean because if I had said that, boy, all hell. But hate-filled document and remember, that when you are talking about people like Major Nidal Hasan, the guy who did the shooting at Fort Hood; when you are talking about the Times Square bomber, I could go on. They all cite the Koran. So Maher is using that as a basis. And Keith Ellison doesn't engage in the debate. He just says you are just a little off. You should reconsider. O'REILLY: Yes. I thought it was a little wimpy, I mean with all due respect to the congressman. Now, the other thing that makes this a very interesting thing, Mary Katharine, is that it isn't politically based. Maher's statement is not politically based. He just hates all religions. You know that. He's an atheist. He hates all religions. It could be any religion. If it's in the spotlight, he's going to take an axe to it. I don't think Ellison processed that. I could be wrong. But when you hear Maher say this stuff, it isn't at any political belief. It's an anti-religious across the board belief. Let Mary Katharine wrap it up for us. HAM: Yes. I think what's going on here is that he is getting a double standard. And the fact is — what I kind of like about the political incorrectness of the discussion is that political correctness is what prevents us from seeing the actual real conflict between moderate and fundamentalist forces in Islam and facing up to that. And Keith Ellison himself, facing up to that and saying we have a problem that we need to fix. You heard at that hearing the other day real Muslims dealing with this problem in their communities. People were freaking out so much about the political correctness that they couldn't hear those stories and I think we need to hear them and deal with that. O'REILLY: Well, you know, just like the Christian religion and the Jewish religion, there are a lot of different interpretations of the scripture. You know, there are fundamentalists Christians and then there are Christians who don't take it literally, they take it as a metaphor. WILLIAMS: Yes, but don't use that as an excuse because those terrorists are talking — O'REILLY: I'm not using it as excuse. WILLIAMS: Jihad — I mean they're not talking about a personal journey. They are talking about killing me and you. O'REILLY: There are peaceful Muslims, Juan, I think you would agree with me. They read the Koran — WILLIAMS: Absolutely. Most Muslims. O'REILLY: — and they are not incited to blow anybody up. WILLIAMS: No, I just — I was just picking up on Mary Katharine's point that you have to be honest about the fact that people are using that document as justification for violent action. (CROSSTALK) O'REILLY: There's no doubt about it. All right. Thanks very much for a good discussion HAM: Only if you are a liberal though. Of course, O'Reilly, Williams, and Ham were quite right. If any conservative said what Maher did Friday evening, he or she would have been pilloried and excoriated by the Left. Ditto if any conservative host had questioned Ellison that way. The double standard here is astounding, but sadly not at all surprising.
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