I keep circling back to a single question as I ponder the growing controversy surrounding Fox News talking head Bill O’Reilly.
The commentator has been accused of sexual harassment by a number of women. O’Reilly has settled many of the complaints, shelling out several million dollars; Fox News Channel has kicked in several more millions to these women.
O’Reilly says he is a target because he is rich, famous and controversial.
Really? Why, then, haven’t other rich, famous and controversial news commentators been hit with the kinds of allegations have been leveled against O’Reilly?
O’Reilly says the women are looking for money. I heard at least one of them say this week she doesn’t want a dime; she wants to hold O’Reilly accountable for the harassment he has leveled at her.
If he’s a target, then why haven’t scores of women targeted other men who also occupy high-profile public figure jobs in the national media?
From my vantage point, the only thing these complaints have in common is one man: Bill O’Reilly.