December 8, 2011

VIDEO: Fox’s Bill O’Reilly Gets a Taste of His Own Ambush Medicine

For indispensable reporting on the coronavirus crisis and more, subscribe to Mother Jones' newsletters.

The ambush interview is a common feature on Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News show. An O’Reilly underling will spring on an unsuspecting subject—blogger Amanda Terkel, a Florida county judge with whom O’Reilly disagreed, Columbia Journalism Review editor Mike Hoyt, among many others—press a camera in his or her face, and pepper them with leading questions.

On Wednesday night, O’Reilly got a taste of his own medicine. A protester spotted O’Reilly near DC’s Willard InterContinental hotel, the site of a fundraiser for GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, turned on the camera, and repeatedly asked O’Reilly if he’d attended the Gingrich event. O’Reilly responded by shoving his umbrella in the face of the ambusher and later complaining to a nearby cop, the clip shows. The video was sent to Mother Jones by a staffer with the Service Employees International Union.

Watch:

O’Reilly’s confrontation wasn’t the only scuffle between protesters flying under the “we are the 99 percent” banner and conservative figures. Earlier in the evening, as Mother Jones got on camera, a dozen or so boisterous protesters crashed the Gingrich fundraiser in downtown DC. After nearly ten minutes of chanting and testimonials, the protesters were ejected from the candlelit event by hotel security and other angry attendees.

Watch:

Protesters also visited the home of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday, and said they were planning several other actions throughout the day. The actions are in conjunction with “Take Back the Capitol,” a 99-percent-themed series of protests around Washington, DC.

Thank you!

We didn't know what to expect when we told you we needed to raise $400,000 before our fiscal year closed on June 30, and we're thrilled to report that our incredible community of readers contributed some $415,000 to help us keep charging as hard as we can during this crazy year.

You just sent an incredible message: that quality journalism doesn't have to answer to advertisers, billionaires, or hedge funds; that newsrooms can eke out an existence thanks primarily to the generosity of its readers. That's so powerful. Especially during what's been called a "media extinction event" when those looking to make a profit from the news pull back, the Mother Jones community steps in.

The months and years ahead won't be easy. Far from it. But there's no one we'd rather face the big challenges with than you, our committed and passionate readers, and our team of fearless reporters who show up every day.

Thank you!

We didn't know what to expect when we told you we needed to raise $400,000 before our fiscal year closed on June 30, and we're thrilled to report that our incredible community of readers contributed some $415,000 to help us keep charging as hard as we can during this crazy year.

You just sent an incredible message: that quality journalism doesn't have to answer to advertisers, billionaires, or hedge funds; that newsrooms can eke out an existence thanks primarily to the generosity of its readers. That's so powerful. Especially during what's been called a "media extinction event" when those looking to make a profit from the news pull back, the Mother Jones community steps in.

The months and years ahead won't be easy. Far from it. But there's no one we'd rather face the big challenges with than you, our committed and passionate readers, and our team of fearless reporters who show up every day.

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our newsletters

Subscribe and we'll send Mother Jones straight to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate

We have a new comment system! We are now using Coral, from Vox Media, for comments on all new articles. We'd love your feedback.