This is a rush transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," January 19, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
Watch "The O'Reilly Factor" weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET and listen to the "Radio Factor!"
BILL O'REILLY, HOST: In the "Back of the Book" segment tonight, "Reality Check," where the truth is always the lead story.
"Check" one: The Reverend Jeremiah Wright gives a speech at Howard University every year. He's an alum. And this year it coincides with the inauguration. How convenient. You can decide if that's a good or bad thing.
Click here to watch "Reality Check"!
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. JEREMIAH WRIGHT, FORMER PASTOR, TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: Martin said, "No, we're going stand up right now and claim our equal place at the table of humanity." He said, "Stand up, stand up against devious racism. Stand up against dehumanizing capitalism. Stand up against deconstructive and destructive militarism."
Michelle Obama is the first African-American sleeping in the White House legally. And, she is sleeping there not as a kept woman like Sally Hemmings. She is sleeping there as a first lady of the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Of course, Wright is wrong about the nobility of America, and we'll continue to try to get him in here for an interview.
"Check" two: As you may know, producers Griff Jenkins and Jesse Watters are in D.C. for us, and Jesse ran into Jessica Alba.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSE WATTERS, "FACTOR" PRODUCER: Do you have any last things to say to Bush as he leaves office?
JESSICA ALBA, ACTRESS: Good-bye.
WATTERS: Now, Bill O'Reilly says hello. Do you want to give a "Factor" inauguration shout-out?
ALBA: No. He's kind of — he's kind of an a-hole.
WATTERS: How so?
ALBA: I don't know how he does it. Maybe he was just born that way.
WATTERS: Can you give me an example? Come on.
ALBA: No, because then that means I'm admitting that I actually watched FOX.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Now, "Check" believes Ms. Alba is misguided and would benefit greatly if she actually did watch "The Factor."
"Check" three: Jesse found a number of celebrities who do watch us, including actor Jamie Foxx.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMIE FOXX, ACTOR: George Bush is not dumb, because he — we voted for George Bush twice, so...
WATTERS: What does that make us?
FOXX: What does that make us? You know, so we couldn't really — you know, I mean, the whole blame game, enough of that. You know what I'm saying? Let's move on.
WATTERS: You want to give an inauguration shout-out to Bill O'Reilly?
FOXX: Of course I do. You know, I watch Bill O'Reilly. He's very entertaining. I really get a kick out of him, because he speaks his mind, and that's what this country is built on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: And "Check" agrees.
"Check" four: There are some dissenting voices among actors. Recently, I spoke with Demond Wilson for an "Icon" segment about "Sanford & Son." Mr. Wilson now does a lot of work with the poor and had some questions about all the money being spent on the inauguration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEMOND WILSON, ACTOR/ACTIVIST: I want to know why $150 million is necessary of taxpayers' money to have an inauguration. A hundred and fifty million dollars could have gone into the private sector and, with the condition that America is in right now, and done a lot more good than a celebration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Now, for the record, private donations will cover some of the expense, but Mr. Wilson's point is worth thinking about. By the way, that "Icon" segment is set for Friday, January 30, and I think you will like it.
"Check" five: The far-left editor of Newsday, John Mancini, apparently has been fired by the paper's new owners. You may remember Jesse Watters confronted Mancini after he printed an absurd column saying that "The Factor" promoted violence because one of my books was found in the home of an accused killer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WATTERS: Can you point to one specific example?
JOHN MANCINI, FORMER EDITOR OF NEWSDAY: I don't take notes when I'm watching the show. I don't watch it that often, frankly.
WATTERS: But at the time you've seen the show there has been examples of hate and misinformation?
MANCINI: Absolutely.
WATTERS: Can you point to one of them?
MANCINI: Nothing comes to mind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Mancini deserved to be removed. He ruined a once-fine newspaper. I was brought up on Long Island. I've read Newsday since I was 6 years old. The man ruined the paper. We don't want anybody to lose their job, but enough is enough with this kind of kooky stuff.
"Check" six: Some fifth graders in Georgia are using "The Factor" as a learning experience by studying the words we use.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Plan things carefully. Don't be capricious.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't be loquacious in school. Listen more than you talk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hard work is never deleterious.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't be impetuous. Think before you act.
UNIDENTIFIED STUDENTS: I'm Bill O'Reilly, and the spin stops here, because we're definitely looking out for you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Teacher Mario Luque, definitely a no-spin guy and not a martinet. There you go, kids. That is "Reality Check."
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