The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

06 November 2006

Bill O'Reilly, Kansas Abortion Clinic Controversy

RIGHT TO KNOW?

Over Possible Abortion Disclosures, O'Reilly Sparks Debate






If there's one issue that has the potential to compete with election- related news this week, it's the still- emerging controversy over Bill O'Reilly's investigation into the practices of a Kansas- based abortion clinic doctor.

Is Dr George Tiller routinely performing the procedure on pre- teen girls and protecting rapists as well? Does he encourage or even coerce "depressed" women into having abortions?

Beyond merely his spotlight on the practices of abortion doctors, what has liberals in a tizzy is O'Reilly's assertion that he has an "inside source" at the clinic, who has supplied him with information.

They allege this means he may have seen private medical records, though there is no evidence to suggest it is true.

From News Hounds, an anti- Fox News Channel site:


Bill O'Reilly claimed, on The O'Reilly Factor, 11/3, that he had evidence obtained from medical records proving that a Kansas physician has been "executing babies about to be born" because the mothers said they were depressed.

O'Reilly referred to Dr. George Tiller as "Tiller the baby killer" on national TV and also claimed that he purposely protected the rapists of 10 to 15 year old girls who legally obtained abortions at his clinic.

After the outrageous commentary, he viciously attacked guest Amy Richards, a women's rights advocate and then wrapped up the disgraceful performance with Phill Kline, a Republican candidate for Attorney General in Kansas who openly discussed the medical records on national television. Of course, the high minded cultural warrior made sure to blame everything on "the far left gone insane".

In Kansas, late term abortions, up to 22 weeks, are legal if the mother's health is endangered. O'Reilly admitted that h has been trying without success to obtain records from Tiller's clinic but now has information from "inside" to prove his case.

O'Reilly bragged that he had "incontrovertible evidence" that George Tiller was executing babies just because the mother said she was depressed. He made reference to the medical sheets as if he had seen them even though it is illegal to have the medical records.


Here's the AP's version, which spells out the nature of the controversy more generally:


O'Reilly says insider gave information on abortions

By John Hanna

The Associated Press



TOPEKA, Kan. — A doctor plans to ask for an investigation of Kansas' state attorney general and Bill O'Reilly over comments by the Fox television host that he got information from Kansas abortion records, the doctor's attorneys said Saturday.

Dr. George Tiller, who performs abortions, said he will ask the Kansas Supreme Court on Monday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and take possession of the records of 90 patients from two clinics.

Attorney General Phill Kline obtained the records recently after a two-year battle that prompted privacy concerns. He has said he sought the records to review them for evidence of possible crimes, including rape and illegal abortions.

During a Friday broadcast of "The O'Reilly Factor," the conservative host said a "source inside" told the show Tiller performs late-term abortions when a patient is depressed, which O'Reilly deemed "executing babies."

A spokeswoman for Kline, who received redacted copies of the records Oct. 24, said he doesn't know how O'Reilly obtained the information.


If they believe the issue has legs, don't expect O'Reilly's many enemies to let go of this one anytime soon.

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published by Brian Maloney at 15:14

4 Comments:

  • "Investigations" my ass. More of the usual witch hunts by O'Reilly, undoubtedly leading to another abortion clinic being bombed or a Dr. being murdered. Anything to keep his drooling, frenzied drones in a rage until the War on Christmas crap starts up in December.

    By Blogger none, at 06 November, 2006 16:13  

  • O'Reilly is a total perv.

    By Blogger hashfanatic, at 06 November, 2006 18:42  

  • If it is the case that O'Reilly has gotten access to private medical records, then he is at jeopardy of 42 USC 1320. Penalties are as follows:

    "A person described in subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both;

    if the offense is committed under false pretenses, be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both; and

    if the offense is committed with intent to sell, transfer, or use individually identifiable health information for commercial advantage, personal gain, or malicious harm, be fined not more than $250,000, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both."

    That's PER PATIENT, folks.

    The reason that the Palm Beach County DA got shot down in the Limbaugh drug-shopping case was the provisions in that very law.

    Medical privacy is the new be-all and end-all. There is no legitimate journalistic excuse for this story. There are 10,000 better ways to take down a so-called 'baby killer' than getting an 'inside source' with access to records.

    If BOR did, indeed, violate the private records of these young women without their consent, then he (along with the 'inside source') needs to cough up big fines and then get his carcass tossed in jail.

    By Blogger SierraSpartan, at 06 November, 2006 21:30  

  • Yes Owen. I am an obsessed Radio Equalizer fanatic. Since I have turned a new leaf as of yesterday, I am not going to insult you nor mention your genetic failings.

    Based on the law cited by JD it sounds as if its a clear cut case of wrongdoing by O'Reilly. However, I can't believe he would do something so stupid without having first covered his ass legally with the Fox lawyers.

    By Blogger none, at 07 November, 2006 00:56  

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