O’Reilly puts spin on national issues

Matthew D. Carlson

Caution! You are about to enter a “No Spin Zone.”

Bill O’Reilly, host of Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” pulls no punches in his hard-hitting book “The No Spin Zone.”

“The No Spin Zone” highlights “confrontations with the powerful and famous in America.” Last year his book “The O’Reilly Factor” was a national bestseller.

On his top-rated cable news show, O’Reilly has earned a reputation for being a hard nosed reporter. O’Reilly hates “soft” reporting and comes at his guests with a fury of questions.

“The No Spin Zone” refers to his journalistic style. “Spin” is lies or half-truths told to people in order to cover up issues. O’Reilly does not tolerate people he deems “spinmeisters.”

O’Reilly describes “The Zone” as “a nightmare place for charlatans and deceivers.”

The book looks at issues America faces today. Topics include sex education, violence in media, taxes and the drug culture.

The book is broken into commentary and actual interviews. O’Reilly provides background and then gives his opinion. The interviews are used to show the other side of the issue.

O’Reilly wants the audience to think for itself. He encourages people to take action and not let the powerful run the show.

O’Reilly’s passion for the truth has gained him a large fan base. It has also earned him a following of people who cannot stand the sight of him.

Sean Combs, then known as “Puff Daddy,” was willing to go up against O’Reilly. The issue was about violence in music, especially in rap music.

Combs argued that rap music is an outlet for people to “sing problems away.”

O’Reilly replied, “But do you go too far with the cop-killing lyrics?”

Entering “The No Spin Zone” is not an easy thing to do. Many will not even attempt it. One such person is Jesse Jackson.

“The O’Reilly Factor” has been after Jackson for quite some time. One issue that came up was the different Jackson-led boycotts.

The Rev. Al Sharpton did enter “The Zone” in defense of Jesse Jackson. This interview generated a high amount of viewer reaction and mail.

Many praised Sharpton for his courage to face O’Reilly. Others accused O’Reilly of being a racist.

President George W. Bush is in “The Zone” as he attempts to defend his stand on the death penalty. O’Reilly is against the death penalty because he feels it is too lenient a sentence.

O’Reilly was able to cut through the “spin” when he asked President Bush if Jesus Christ would support the death penalty.

Those questions set Bill O’Reilly apart from other journalists.

His television show is not hard news and neither is the book.

What he does is offer news analysis and opinions. He tries to give both sides of the story equal time.

Although Hilary Clinton refuses to enter “The No Spin Zone,” she does appear in the book.

O’Reilly gives his case against her and openly challenges her to debate his comments. So far she has not accepted.

Senator John McCain compares being on “The O’Reilly Factor” to serving in Vietnam because “Bill O’Reilly uses some of their old interrogation techniques.”

O’Reilly comes off as a tough interviewer because he wants to cut through the lies.

The issue is what is important to him and he wants to get right to the point.

“The No Spin Zone” is hard to read if you disagree with O’Reilly. For fans this will be one of your favorite books. Those who have no opinion will find the book insightful.

Personal feelings should not get in the way of “The No Spin Zone” message. O’Reilly wants the readers to fight for a better America.