Bill O'Reilly Factors In To Listeners' Letters

STEVE INSKEEP, host:

And it's time once again for your comments.

(Soundbite of music)

INSKEEP: Some of you found it excruciating to wake up and hear Fox News TV host Bill O'Reilly. Mike Supina wrote us from Eagan, Minnesota. I was having trouble rousting myself from bed on that cold Minnesota morning, but the moment I heard O'Reilly's voice, I was up and in the shower faster than he could say bloviater.

Listener John Leppe(ph) of Los Angeles was cheering during this part of the exchange.

(Soundbite of NPR's Morning Edition, December 10, 2008)

RENEE MONTAGNE: You say the thing about fighting evil - and I'm quoting you - "is that some folks think I'm the evil guy for..."

Mr. BILL O'REILLY (Host, "The O'Reilly Factor"): Sure, I mean, anybody who puts themselves on the line - you know, some people thought Jesus was evil and nailed him to the cross.

MONTAGNE: Oh, you're not comparing yourself to Jesus?

Mr. O'REILLY: No, but I'm giving you an analogy that's vivid.

INSKEEP: After hearing that, Mr. Leppe wrote in that it was a delicious repost to one of America's biggest windbags. To his credit, the man showed up, answered our questions. That's what we ask.

Some people wrote in their own repost to John Hamilton's report yesterday about vaccines and autism. John explained how the actress Amanda Pete is defending vaccines against the concerns of other celebrities. People wrote in to call our report biased or misleading.

Frances Kiper(ph) of Fort Lauderdale explains most of the opponents of the current vaccination schedule are not against vaccines totally. They want the option to vaccinate on a much less aggressive schedule, she writes, and they are also concerned about trace metals in some vaccines.

The same story led Alison Monkiyo(ph) of Richmond, Kentucky, to write in with a different view. As a pediatrician, I spend every day fighting the same fight to keep kids healthy and counter misinformation. So, I was overjoyed to hear a balanced and accurate story about shots and autism. And yes, my four month old has had all her shots.

Finally, we heard a report from David Kestenbaum about the housing-market collapse, in which he tried to figure out where all the money went. Turns out a listener in Berkeley, California, had been wondering the very same thing.

Ms. CAROL DENNY (Listener): (Singing) Oh, where'd the money, where'd the money, where'd the money go?

INSKEEP: That's listener and amateur songwriter Carol Denny(ph). You can send us your comments and song, or dance, or just plain, old text, by going to npr.org. Just click on contact us.

Ms. DENNY: (Singing) Tell me that it's worth its weight in rocks. They say up there on Wall Street that investing is an art...

INSKEEP: It's NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.