BILL O'REILLY
Put up or shut up
BY BILL O'REILLY

Bill O'Reilly

The TV Emmy Awards were broadcast a few days ago, and it was the usual -a bunch of smug, self-satisfied showbiz types parading their liberal views in front of an adoring Los Angeles audience. I mean, come on, you showbiz people are supposed to be creative -how about something new and exciting: maybe demonstrating to the country you might have a clue about what's going on in the world?

I am an independent American who sees fault on both the left and the right. I closely follow the issues so I can make responsible judgments about the country and its leadership. It annoys me greatly when I see this pack out in Hollywood mugging to the camera, trying to demonstrate how smart and savvy they are. Largely dressed in borrowed clothes and spouting borrowed ideas, these people constantly vilify conservatives as complete idiots. How irresponsibly condescending.

So let's be straight here. My money says Tina Fey doesn't know anything about the roots of terrorism or how to prevent the next terror attack. The woman can sneer all day long, but I'll put her on my program in a heartbeat if she wants to prove me wrong.

Neil Young can write all the mediocre music he wants about how evil the Bush administration is, but while he is rockin' in the free world, I know it wouldn't be free if Young were in charge.

My pal Jon Stewart and his legion of writers think they're ultra cool and hip because they embrace every left-wing cause that comes down the pike. Yeah, you won, Stewart, but the fix was in. The choir to whom you preach runs the Emmy Award program and every other H o l l y w o o d smoochfest. You guys can be funny, but how many Americans want you people standing between them and Iran? Maybe Larry David, but that's it.

One of the few positives was Conan O'Brien, who did a good job hosting the Emmys. Although he didn't say so, I believe O'Brien understands the absurdity of these entertainers displaying their knee-jerk leftwing politics in an entertainment venue. Even if you're a liberal, you've got to see how obnoxious this is. When Barbra Streisand has a political advisor, you know things have gotten completely out of control.

So I say this, Bill Maher. You're a witty guy, but you're out of your league on complicated matters like national security. When you and Whoopi Goldberg can tell me what Ansar al-Islam was doing in Northern Iraq, then I might watch your HBO show.

When George Clooney can tell me exactly how the Pakistani secret police broke a captured al-Qaeda big shot who then gave up the London terrorists arrested for planning an attack on American airliners, then I'll rent "Syriana."

When the pouty Dixie Chicks, who are having big trouble selling concert tickets this summer, can tell me the origin of the Islamic Brotherhood, then I might go to one of their shows.

But I'm not holding my breath on any of these challenges.

Opinions are like lips; everybody has them. But some of them are razor thin, and there ain't enough collagen in the world to help these showbiz people.

Veteran TV news anchor Bill O'Reilly is host of the Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor" and author of the book "Who's Looking Out For You?" To find out more about Bill O'Reilly, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. This column originates on the Web site www.billoreilly.com. COPYRIGHT 2006 BillOReilly.com.