GIMME SHELTER FROM BILL O'REILLY: The host of "The O'Reilly Factor" has made enough of a fool of himself defending Mel Gibson in relation to "Passion of the Christ," going back to when he excoriated the New York Times for "going after Mel Gibson's father," without revealing that said father is, uh, a Jew-bashing lunatic. Never mind that O'Reilly has only on some occasions revealed that Gibson's production company has optioned his novel, or that Mr. Factor has a huge problem with liberal celebrities intruding in politics, yet not with a fanatic like Gibson doing the same.
O'Reilly embarrasses himself yet again in his syndicated column/"review" of the movie, as he attacks ADL head Abe Foxman for crusading against the film. "Your Humble Correspondent" then says this:
Even Abraham Foxman, the militant leader of the Anti-Defamation League, now admits the film is not anti-Semitic. Yet Foxman continues to object to it on the basis of what it might do. And that's the crux of this matter. Some Jews believe persecution is just a shout away, to quote Mick Jagger.
It is Gibson's prerogative to use the Gospels to make that point. It is also the prerogative of his critics to frown on the project. But trying to destroy the man's reputation is something else. It reminds me of Roman justice: Guilt or innocence really didn't matter as long as the harsh punishment set a frightening example. Ad hominem, indeed.