Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly. Thank you for watching us tonight.
Worldwide outcry over pedophile charges against Michael Jackson. That is the subject of this evening's Talking Points Memo.
The singer is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but in the court of public opinion, he's through. He got away with a child molestation rap 10 years ago by buying the family off. This time, that's not going to happen.
However, the state of California must prove its case. And that might not be easy. We'll leave the speculating to other programs and give you these bullet points.
Even though Jackson paid up to $20 million to a little boy in the first case, he continued to associate with children. One of which now says Jackson molested him. Fox News legal analysts say other evidence is needed in order to make a case against Jackson and get a $3 million bond. So we assume the authorities do have more evidence.
Finally, what kind of parent would allow a child to associate with this very strange individual? That question is still to be answered.
Last month - last March, I should say, I interviewed a Jackson family attorney and said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: I don't have any use for Michael Jackson. I think you probably know that. I think he's dangerous to children. Where am I going wrong?
BRIAN OXMAN, JACKSON FAMILY ATTY: I think the country has a great use for Michael Jackson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: Well, not so. The repercussions of this case are enormous. California actually changed its child molestation law because Jackson bought off the first kid. Now there's no possibility of him doing that as the child is compelled to testify.
CBS, which got hammered with the Reagan movie, has a Jackson special set to run next week. Now I don't believe that program's going to air. Another huge loss for that network.
And attorney Mark Geragos (search) racks up another $1 million payday, as he is reportedly being hired by Jackson. But in the end, the singer can't win. His fate is sealed. Even if he's acquitted, Michael Jackson will join O.J. Simpson in the land of the pariah.
To be fair, there's a slight chance Jackson is a victim here, as we remember the McMartin case in L.A. But the heavy odds are that he's a troubled pervert, a danger to society. And now the system is finally going to deal with him. And that's the memo.
And that's The Memo.
The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day
Time now for the "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day."
The Factor takes to the road. We'll be in San Francisco tomorrow. And if you want to see us in a live event there, I'll give you the phone number in a moment. So grab a pen.
First, we want to thank the 10th Mountain Division (search), which is based in Fort Drum, New York (search), but currently deployed in Iraq for waving The Factor flag in the war zone.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Bill, my -- my wife sent me some required reading, and it's my Christmas gift from my wife, Andrea, so it just came in the mail today, actually. So I can't wait to get started on it and read it while I'm sitting here in the middle of Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I watch him every night. Very candid person. His book -- I think his book is like Who's Looking Out for You? Bill, I'm looking out for you right now, so you can sleep easy."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
All right. And we're looking out for you guys, and we wish all the troops overseas a very happy Thanksgiving and safety at all times, of course.
Now I'll be in the battle zone of San Francisco tomorrow, and if you want to be there, you can call this number, 415-478-2277, for tickets. 415-478-2277. We're doing a live Q & A and having a lot of fun.
Ridiculous? Only to Mayor Willie Brown.
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