How Left-Wing Zealots Are Violating Our Civil Rights

Please stay with me on this. One of the most fundamental rights that we have in this country is to speak freely without fear of reprisal. But that right is violated everyday by zealots, some on the right but most intensely on the left.

Two words: Miss California. She spoke her mind. She was punished by the left.

Right now gay marriage and illegal immigration are the areas where rights violations are most apparent. Of course, the left will tell you that banning gay marriage is a civil rights issue, but that will be decided by the courts.

However, those who oppose gay marriage are being attacked. Here's a good example. Actress Charlize Theron was angered by the California Supreme Court upholding the vote against gay marriage and publicly stated quote: "I don't agree with homophobia or discrimination of any kind. I will continue to fight this fight for equality and speak up for the basic civil rights of all Americans."

Does that include the rights of Americans who sincerely oppose gay marriage not to be called homophobes, Ms. Theron?

Now, it is important to remember that most gay Americans and their supporters are not zealots. Here's a good example of that:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you see the Bill O'Reilly segment about you?

ADAM LAMBERT, "AMERICAN IDOL" FINALIST: I did. I got a little nervous when it started. I was like great, that's great, but then the two female correspondents again on the show were really supportive, so whatever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Mr. Lambert could have taken a shot at us but did not, perhaps because we've been fair about his situation and on the gay marriage issue in general.

But fairness does not matter to some left-wing loons. Writing in The Denver Post, columnist Joanne Ostrow said I "spewed racist bile" because I want a secure border and the deportation of illegal aliens who commit violent crimes. Ostrow's attack was vicious, so we confronted her:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PORTER BERRY, "FACTOR" PRODUCER: You went on to say that he was spewing racist bile. Do you want to apologize for that?

JOANNE OSTROW, DENVER POST TV CRITIC: To me, it's racist.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's racist?

OSTROW: I was expressing myself.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But that's fine, but shouldn't you give an example if someone's a racist. If you're going to call someone a racist, shouldn't there be something to back that up?

OSTROW: I already said it. Now we're sort of repeating and repeating. Is O'Reilly upset that Imus is getting more attention these days?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Ostrow obviously violated my rights as an American by libeling me, and she is just one of many.

Last week, L.A. Times critic Ann Powers wrote that I tried to denigrate Mr. Lambert's sexuality. Total lie:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'REILLY: We wish Mr. Lambert the best. And if he's the best singer, then he should win, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

We asked the L.A. Times to correct the record. Publisher Eddy Hartenstein refused to take any action whatsoever. Again, my rights as an American were violated by this newspaper and Ms. Powers.

Now, I'm a big boy with a big megaphone, and I can defend myself. But many of you can't. If you are labeled a bigot or punished in the marketplace for holding a non-liberal opinion, you cannot right the wrong. And this far-left fascism is very wrong. It must be called out. Fair-minded Americans can disagree, but our freedoms must be protected.

And that's "The Memo."

Pinheads & Patriots

Thirteen-year-old Kavya Shivashankar from Kansas has won the National Spelling Championship. On Friday she appeared on "FOX & Friends" and spelled some of the "Factor" words:

Click here to watch Kavya spell "Factor" words!

Kavya is a patriot.

On the pinhead front, Barbra Streisand is going to write a book about design. She's going to tell us all about her mansion in Malibu. I can't wait for that, can you? There is no truth to the rumor she'll be concentrating on designs in Red Square. Ms. Streisand remains a pinhead.

— You can catch Bill O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo" and "Pinheads & Patriots" weeknights at 8 and 11 p.m. ET on the FOX News Channel and any time on foxnews.com/oreilly. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com