SPLC President Sends O'Reilly Dunning Letter

In July Bill O'Reilly hosted Southern Poverty Law Center President J. Richard Cohen. The following interchange occurred on the program:

O’REILLY: CNN is never going to fire him, you know that…

COHEN: I’m not quite as cynical as you are Bill. I think that if enough people speak out, CNN will listen and be more responsible in the future.

O’REILLY: You wanna bet?…I’ve got ten grand for Habitat for Humanity on the table if you wanna bet me.

COHEN: How about ten grand for the Southern Poverty Law Center?

O’REILLY: But I’m not going to take your money. There’s no real bet there — he’s not going to get fired.

With CNN and Lou Dobbs parting ways, Cohen sent a dunning letter. It begins with:

Dear Bill,

You lost the bet. Time to pay up!

One might expect an attorney to check gambling laws in New York, home of Fox News, and Alabama, site of the SPLC, before sending a collection letter.

Alabama:

GAMBLING . A person engages in gambling if he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. Gambling does not include bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts, including but not limited to contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities, and agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health or accident insurance.

New York:

“Gambling” A person engages in gambling when he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.

I’m sure Bill has the Fox legal team working the case on his behalf. “It was hyperbole, not gambling. @#%& it! We’ll do it live!”

Political theater doesn't require ethics, truth or legality. It's a show to manipulate the masses. Behavior that would land the common man in handcuffs is overlooked when done by the politically powerful or their support staff.

What if someone bet on a chicken named "Lou Dobbs" in a cock fight? O'Reilly and Cohen are on tape with their wager in a pundit skirmish. Don't bet on any attorney generals taking up the case. That would be a supremely bad wager.