Beto O'Rourke slams 'disgraced TV host' Bill O'Reilly who doubted story of woman working 4 jobs
From appearing to confuse Buenos Aires with the Falkland Islands to mistaking a falafel for a loofah, former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has had his share of factual fumbles through the years. Tuesday, the conservative commentator was shredded on social media for questioning the existence of a woman who turned out to be very real.
O'Reilly was sharing his thoughts about the Democratic debate in Ohio on his Twitter feed – calling it a "Trump bashing festival" and accusing former Vice President Joe Biden of sleeping – when he expressed doubts over former Rep. Beto O'Rourke's claim that he met a woman working four jobs to try to make ends meet.
"Beto says he met a woman working FOUR jobs. And raising a special needs child. I don’t believe him. Sorry," O'Reilly tweeted.
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Beto says he met a woman working FOUR jobs. And raising a special needs child. I don’t believe him. Sorry.
— Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) October 16, 2019
"This is her. Her name is Gina. Her daughter's name is Summer," O'Rourke shot back less than two hours later in a tweet that included a photo of himself with the family.
"The problem with our economy is she has to live in her car – while a disgraced TV host like you makes millions," O'Rourke tweeted, referring to O'Reilly's ouster from Fox News over allegations of sexual misconduct.
In October 2017, The New York Times reported that at least $45 million had been paid out to settle sexual harassment lawsuits against O'Reilly. One Fox News analyst settled her case for $32 million.
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This is her. Her name is Gina. Her daughter's name is Summer. The problem with our economy is she has to live in her car—while a disgraced TV host like you makes millions. https://t.co/J1Scsu3GJ5 pic.twitter.com/W1shXxVyeg
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) October 16, 2019
O'Rourke's response was kinder than those from some other Twitter users, including his campaign's digital director, Rob Flaherty, who used a vulgar term for the ex-Fox News star.
I was there. Her name was Gina. Her daughter is named Summer. Here's their picture.
Asshole.https://t.co/Mbo8mnYTLE pic.twitter.com/jozvEMECwP— Rob Flaherty (@Rob_Flaherty) October 16, 2019
"Bill says he didn’t sexually harass anyone. Despite settling for $32 million. I don’t believe him. Sorry," another Twitter user mocked.
"Quit twitter you serial abuser and go back to the abyss," another tweeted.
Quit twitter you serial abuser and go back to the abyss
— Sarah Parcak (@indyfromspace) October 16, 2019
"Not every woman has a huge sexual-harassment settlement in the bank," sportswriter Dave Hogg tweeted.
Not every woman has a huge sexual-harassment settlement in the bank.
— Dave Hogg (@stareagle) October 16, 2019
"Bill! I'd forgotten all about you. Congrats on finding a way to get the entire internet to dunk on you again just like the old days. Enjoy it, man," one woman wrote.
Several users shared their own experiences of having to work multiple jobs or knowing people who do.
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Hi. Hello.
This is Savannah. She’s disabled. I work my small business from home so I can care for her while my also-disabled husband works 3 jobs to keep us afloat.
This is normal in the disability community.
Mr. O’Riley needs to spend some time with actual disabled people. pic.twitter.com/zrbxBp9CWw— Lori (@IsTrumpCareDead) October 16, 2019
I worked in Arizona as a public school teacher with wages low and frozen so I had to hold down multiple jobs at a time, working every summer school just to keep a roof over our heads as a single mom with two teens.
— Jill Burgess (@JillBurg3ss) October 16, 2019
You don’t have a clue what real Americans go through to survive. I work with a woman who has 3 jobs - her office job, a weekend job at a retail store, and she drives Uber in the evenings. She has a son with level 3 autism. The entire family pitches in to help care for him.
— Cheryl W (@upsnodowns) October 16, 2019
My aunt worked 4 jobs and raised 2 kids as a single mom, never slept & ended up surviving breast cancer. She was a public school teacher here in #Texas, the 3 additional jobs were needed BECAUSE #teacher pay was too low to survive on. All thanks to @TexasGOP @TXlege 👏🏻🙄
— 🇺🇸🖖🏻☮️Cavazos MCMLXXIV♑️✊🏻🏳️🌈 (@NativeTexan74) October 16, 2019
And many simply celebrated O'Rourke's response.
BETO BROUGHT RECEIPTShttps://t.co/ypz6KFG2Jb
— 🎃LM_Texas🌎🚀🎃 (@RealLuisMireles) October 16, 2019
UNPROMPTED! pic.twitter.com/R0ASreJQt0
— LJFS (@ljaynefs) October 16, 2019
Billo Reilly right now... 🥊 pic.twitter.com/4a4tGW9NBR
— Billy Baldwin (@BillyBaldwin) October 16, 2019
Yesssssss Beto!!! pic.twitter.com/5F826gIPvJ
— Kim (@kimpersists) October 16, 2019
— EmmaPeach (@BluRidge4Bernie) October 16, 2019
Drag of the week. pic.twitter.com/XLBpJBnGq9
— Jason Almenas 🔪 🎃 (@striderno9) October 16, 2019
Friggin’ spectacular Beto pic.twitter.com/BhBUNB99Gk
— scott mercer (@tigerdad17) October 16, 2019
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill O'Reilly roasted for Beto O'Rourke tweet during Democratic debate
