Bill O'Reilly Says Jackson Is No Black Icon

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FOX News host Bill O'Reilly is famous for incendiary statements and no holds barred debates, and he continued his streak of controversial comments in his first broadcast after Michael Jackson's memorial service Tuesday. After opening the segment with a pledge to honor the Jackson family's request for privacy, O'Reilly digs right in with criticisms of Jackson's kids, spending habits - and skin care.
First, O'Reilly calls out Jackson's "incredible selfishness - spending hundreds of million dollars on himself while singing 'We Are the World,'" and adds that it "should make any clear-thinking American nauseous."
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Michael Jackson Memorial Photos

    Usher performs beside the casket of Michael Jackson during the memorial service.

    Kevork Djansezian, AP

    The Jackson family is seen in the front row as they honor their late brother.

    Harrison Funk, WireImage

    Musician John Mayer plays a guitar tune in honor of Michael Jackson.

    Mark J. Terrill, AP

    Actress-singer Jennifer Hudson sang 'Will You Be There?' during the memorial.

    Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

    Jermaine Jackson honored his brother by performing the song 'Smile.'

    Kevork Djansezian, AP

    Stevie Wonder performed 'They Won't Go When I Go' at the Michael Jackson public memorial service.

    Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

    Lionel Richie belts out 'Jesus Is Love' during the memorial service for Michael Jackson.

    Mark J. Terrill, AP

    Actress Brooke Shields held back tears as she told stories about her good times with Michael Jackson throughout her life.

    Kevork Djansezian, AP

    NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson tears up while telling a heartfelt story about his time with Michael Jackson.

    Mario Anzuoni, AP

    Singers Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz perform the hit song Jackson 5 song 'I'll Be There' during the memorial service.

    Mark J. Terrill, AP

While Jackson died leaving millions of dollars in debt accrued in part by wild spending, he raised or donated enormous sums of money to charity during his long career. A full list of Jackson's charitable activities was complied by JacksonAction, including millions donated to the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children, $1.5 donated to the Michael Jackson UNCF Endowed Scholarship Fund and more.
The issue of race is next up for O'Reilly, who asks, "Why are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton making this a racial deal? Jackson bleached his own skin. And then chose white men to provide existence for his in vitro children. Give me a break with all this."
Guest analyst Marc Lamont Hill, PhD - an African American FOX commentator - responds, "You have me baffled in your analysis here, to say this isn't a racial issue, when this man's entire career has been marked by the tropes of race... Yes, the black community has embraced him, yes the black community has wrapped its arms around him more in death, but that's because the media has assaulted him in ways they don't do with white people of his stature."
Watch a video of the segment:
Hill continues, "Now he has passed away. A year or two ago, when Jerry Falwell died, you and I debated this very point. You said, 'Give him three days to a week and let the people mourn him before you start talking about his racist politics.' So why are we giving Jerry Falwell something that we won't give Michael Jackson?"
The two went back and forth on whether Michael Jackson had served as a bridge between black and white Americans. The debate devolved into a shouting match, which reached its peaked with O'Reilly shouting, "If he's such a black American icon, why did he have his kids with white men!?"
Hill answers, "That's a personal matter. That doesn't make him less black - there's no blackness meter here. You don't become less black if you have a white kid."
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Jackson Memorial Service

    A motorcade carrying Michael Jackson's family arrives at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park for a private funeral for the late King of Pop on Tuesday.

    Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

    Joe Jackson, the family patriarch, is seen here en route to his son's funeral.

    Michael Buckner, Getty Images

    An aerial shot of the Staples Center shows throngs of fans and a motorcade waiting outside of the Michael Jackson memorial.

    Jordan Strauss, WireImage

    A motorcade of Michael Jackson's family is seen here lining up in front of the Jackson family home in Encino on Tuesday.

    Chris Carlson, AP

    Fans lucky enough to get wristbands to the Jackson memorial are seen lined up outside of the Staples Center.

    AP

    Security around the Staples Center is as tight as possible, with police barricades set up on surrounding blocks to keep traffic away.

    Jordan Strauss, WireImage

    Fans patiently waiting to be allowed inside the Staples Center hold up their wristbands.

    Jordan Strauss, WireImage

    The Staples Center is seen here being prepped for Tuesday's massive memorial service for Michael Jackson. Nearly 17,000 fans who won tickets into the memorial service via an online lottery will pack the Staples Center along with roughly 5,000 other invitees. More Prep pics at RadarOnline

    RadarOnline.com

    A crush of fans lined up around the Staples Center awaits being allowed to enter the venue where the Jackson memorial will be.

    Matt Rourke, AP

    Vendors are using the memorial service to set up shop near the Staples Center to sell memorabilia.

    Jordan Strauss, WireImage

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2009-07-08 12:36:41
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