Saturday, October 13, 2007

The Parents Of Shawn Hornbeck Want An Apology

Keith Olbermann interviewed Pam and Craig Akers yesterday, after their sons captor was sentenced to multiple life sentences. Pam and Craig Akers are the parents of Shawn Hornbeck, the Missouri boy who was Kidnapped and abused for 4 years. Shawn was also the victim of an attack by Republican Party spokesman Bill O'Reilly. After Shawn and another missing boy were found alive earlier this year in Suburban St. Louis, Bill O'Reilly attacked the older boy (Shawn Hornbeck) stating that he liked being abused during his captivity. O'Reilly said that once the evidence was in.... we will find that the boy "liked" it.

Yes ladies and gentleman... this is a man who remains on the airwaves.

I followed the story here and highlighted Bill O'Reilly's remarks in the blogosphere....and I was one of the few local bloggers who stayed on O'Reilly's case. I was expecting more fallout against O'Reilly, but his listeners (The Republican base) apparently did not find his comments too troubling, because they continued to tune in to support the show. They showed their support through their indifference to Shawn and his family.

O'Reilly also added that if he was wrong about "the boy" he would apologize. But he has been wrong for a long time, and he has yet to apologize to Shawn Hornbeck or his family. Obviously he isn't a man of his word...and again, the Republican base, where he gets most of his support, does not seem to have a problem with following men who are not of their word.

Now the family of Shawn Hornbeck is speaking out, and asking for that apology. They say that Shawn was hurt by O'Reilly's attack. See the Interview with Keith Olbermann. (also linked above).

It turns out that Shawn was a hero. He tried to stop the kidnapping & abuse of the second boy. And in addition to the beatings and other brutality that he had to suffer, Shawn was also nearly murdered during his ordeal.

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Additional Reports

Interview from KSDK

5 comments:

Constructive Feedback said...

Clearly you all have taken the "Media Matters" journalism correspondence course.

Can you detail HOW you figure that "racist" O'Reilly has attacked the kid? He said that he REJECTS the Stockholm Effect.

Let us look at the facts: "racist" Bill O'Reilly IS PUSHING JESSICA'S LAW. This is an attempt to LOCK UP child predators like Michael Devilin.

You all need to travel to Vermont and get the PROGRESSIVES who are blocking this law to move forward to protect the kids:

http://www.billoreilly.com/images/product/promotional/jessicabumper_large.jpg

(Darn IT! I was trying to find a picture of the cover of The Nation magazine in which your hero Keith Olbermann is seen spanking O'Reilly with the a subtitle that points to the DELUSION that Keith's show is beating O'Reilly. SIMPLY AMAZING)

Brian said...

Clearly you have absolutely no idea what the hell you're talking about Constructive. I followed this case closely from start to finish... Don't try to come in now and pretend that you know what is going on.

It is clear what O'Reilly said back in January. It had nothing to do with the nonsense you just typed.

Educate yourself on the case before making baseless comments.

And i'm not concerned with any kind of ratings war between O'Reilly and Olbermann.

Sometimes you really look like an ass (an uninformed one at that) with some of your comments.

Anonymous said...

Whatever the facts may be, you reveal your agenda in your first wors "the REPUBLICAN...," O'Reilly etc.

Any chance of dealing with facts?

Brian said...

Anonymous,

The facts are pretty clear... and the links have been provided.

However, I do understand that Conservatives often create their own reality and therefore interpret facts in their own way.

As for the Republican comment... He is a defacto spokesperson for your political group, just like Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Matt Drudge, Laura Ingraham, Michael Savage, Neal Boortz, and all the rest. They hold more sway than the official White House/Republican Party spokespeople and it has been that way for a long time. These kind radio & TV commentators have played a key role in the Republican Party media machine for at least the last 15-20 years.

And Republicans demonstrate their support for him when they fail to call him on his ridiculous statements, such as the statements he made about Sean Hornbeck. By their inaction, his followers are in a way co-signing what Bill O'Reilly says.

He IS a spokesman for the Republican Party because this is the group for which he primarily & almost exclusively advocates.

If telling it like it is = an "agenda" as you say... then i'm guilty as charged.

Constructive Feedback said...

Angry:

I heard the very same interview that you and your buddy Olbermann heard.

Bill O'Reilly is a promoter of "Jessica's Law" which is a state by state effort to go after MONSTERS like Michael Devlin.

With this as the CONTEXT of this man's efforts......how in the world do you and your friend Keith Olbermann, both of whom are on record as being O'Reilly Attackers, attempt to MANUFACTURE news that Bill O'Reilly believes that the little boy ENJOYED his stay with the molester rather than his words being hyperbole for the point that he was making?