Mini Controversy Erupts in Print Press

Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly reporting tonight from the Democratic convention in Boston. Thank you for watching us.

We've got Michael Moore and Ben Affleck coming up. So I'm going to keep the "Talking Points" memo very short this evening because I have a little frog living down here in my throat.

Now a mini controversy has erupted in the print press. Some of the writers are saying The Factor should be covering the speeches rather than providing you with convention analysis. The newspaper pinheads claim because we aren't broadcasting the speeches, we're not fair. That, of
course, a bunch of baloney.

Our job is to analyze what happens here and at the Republican convention, not bring you wall to wall blather. If you want to see the speeches, they're broadcast on other outlets.

This is another example of how desperate some in the print media are to smear Fox News. Last night, The Factor won its time slot over the competition as usual because millions of Americans want perspective, rather than partisan propaganda. And we are here to provide that perspective.

So in the words of Teresa Heinz Kerry, the newspaper critics can shove it. We have a job here to do on The Factor. And we're fair. And we're going to bring you the best analysis on television. That's a memo.

The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day

Time now for the "Most Ridiculous Item Of The Day." I have to tell you that most Democrats have treated me and The Factor personnel here very nicely, with one exception. Howard Dean has been disrespectful, and he, as we say in my old neighborhood, is a genuinely bad guy. He's
repeatedly declined to speak with us. Producer Rich McHugh tried to find out why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICH MCHUGH, PRODUCER: Governor Dean, Mr. O'Reilly wants to know why you won't come on The Factor. Is that a no comment?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Now, at this juncture, I didn't want to talk to the guy. But I will say this — Democrats are very smart at not selecting this man as their candidate. To have done so would have been beyond ridiculous. I don't know what's his problem, I really don't.

[So check out] billoreilly.com — I've got a brand new column on there as well.

—You can watch Bill O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo" and "Most Ridiculous Item" weeknights at 8 & 11p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com