The Jerk

Kudos to Dolores Kesterson, who refused to be a prop for Bill O'Reilly:

Then O'Reilly introduced Dolores Kesterton who did not bend or back down throughout the interview. Her son Eric died in Iraq and had been an unwavering supporter of the administration. Kesterson claimed that she had been against going into Iraq because she believed we should have finished the job in Afghanistan.Although O'Reilly tried to intimidate her into saying that Eric had died for a noble cause, Dolores would not give an inch.

Kesterson went on to describe the meeting she had with Bush after her son's death. She requested time alone with him and was granted three minutes in a tiny cubicle. According to Kesterson, Bush marched in and "was in my face."

"I'm George Bush, President of the United States and I understand that you have something to say to me in private."

Kesterson was not impressed with the meeting claiming that Bush did not seem to care.

At this point O'Reilly decided to use the lecture/soliloquy technique.
Using his fatherly tone he told Dolores that he respected her opinion but didn't want to see her used like Cindy Sheehan.

"I think Cindy Sheehan is being used by far left elements who object to our way of life. Everyone knows. Hillary Clinton knows..."

Kesterson firmly objected to the notion of being used and O'Reilly started to get steamed attacking Michael Moore and the Fenton Group who writes Cindy's press releases. Fenton Communications is a very well established PR firm and O'Reilly's attack on them was nonsense.

Then he peppered her with a string of bizarre questions.

"Do you believe that we're a bad country and evil country?"
"Do you have Michael Moore's view of the U.S.?"
"If you had to choose, would you go with President Bush or Michael Moore?"

Dolores Kesterson without a moments hestitation gave her answer.
" Michael Moore has not killed thousands."

O'Reilly has been awful enough this week, going out of his way to throw dirt clods at Cindy Sheehan (with some help from fellow travelers from Planet Wingnuttia--for those who have a high speed internet connection, Crooks and Liars has several streaming videos)--and he apparently thought Kesterson would be a willing foil...or at least an easily cowed guest.

She was neither--instead, Ms. Kesterson showed remarkable courage and fortitude. In contrast, O'Reilly came across as even more patronizing than usual.

Dolores Kesterson is truly a patriotic American. Bill O'Reilly is sad sack of shit.