During the January 30 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly labeled Media Matters for America “pinheads” in his nightly “Pinheads and Patriots” segment. Responding to a recent column by Media Matters senior fellow Eric Boehlert titled, "Fox News is in for a very rough 2008," O'Reilly stated: “Now the smear factory has put out an article that says Fox News will have a rough year in 2008. Well, if the January ratings are any indication, Media Matters is once again lying its 'you know what' off.” O'Reilly asserted that Fox News has “eight of the top 10” highest rated cable news programs and that The O'Reilly Factor “hammered our competition at 8 p.m.” ET during the month of January. But Boehlert did not address Fox News' overall ratings. Rather, he compared Fox News' and CNN's ratings during major campaign events in January -- the big primary and caucus events, as well as the high-profile debates -- to support his argument that Fox News will have a “tough year.” Boehlert also pointed out that “of the 10 most-watched debates this election season, Fox has aired just two, compared to CNN's five." Further, Boehlert cited the altercation between O'Reilly and a staffer for Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) at a New Hampshire campaign event as one of many potential reasons for “discomfort inside [Roger] Ailes' Fox News empire.” O'Reilly did not address any of Boehlert's specific assertions about Fox.

During the segment, O'Reilly also claimed that "Media Matters is perhaps the most dishonest enterprise in the county," and later stated: "Media Matters is run by liars and defamers. They are far worse than pinheads."

From Boehlert's January 29 column:

The most obvious signs of Fox News' downturn have been the cable ratings for the big primary and caucus votes this year, as well as the high-profile debates. With this election season generating unprecedented voter and viewer interest, Fox News' rating bumps to date have remained underwhelming, to say the least.

For instance, on the night of the big New Hampshire primary, CNN, which habitually trails behind Fox News in the prime-time race, attracted nearly 250,000 more viewers than its top competitor, marking a changing-of-the-guard of sorts.

The turnaround was striking when you consider that in 2004, even with no Republicans running against Bush, Fox News was still able to draw 200,000 more viewers than CNN on the night of the New Hampshire Democratic primary. Yet in 2008, with a very competitive GOP field, CNN was the ratings winner from New Hampshire.

And just look at the ratings for January 19, which featured returns from the Nevada caucus coming in during the late afternoon, and then fresh returns from the South Carolina Republican primary being posted during prime time that night. In the past, Fox News would have absolutely owned that night of coverage, as conservative news junkies flocked to their home team -- Fox News -- to see the results. But no more. CNN grabbed nearly just as many prime-time viewers for the Republican South Carolina returns as did Fox News.

[...]

The lack of Democratic debates for Fox News has meant a huge setback for the news organization from a ratings perspective. Just look at the grand slam CNN hit last week when, on January 21, it broadcast the much-talked-about Democratic debate from South Carolina. The CNN event not only creamed Fox News in the ratings, nearly tripling its audience that night, but the debate set a new cable news mark for the most viewers ever to watch a primary debate.

In fact, of the 10 most-watched debates this election season, Fox has aired just two, compared to CNN's five. Of the 10 most-watched debates, six have featured Democrats; four Republicans.

CNN is virtually guaranteed another monster ratings win this week with a pair of high-profile debates staged in California -- the Republicans on Wednesday night and Democrats on Thursday.

No wonder CNN's so giddy these days. Here's the spin CNN president Jonathan Klein put out following its New Hampshire ratings win: “There's a freshness and exuberance to our coverage that the others just aren't matching. ... Fox almost seems downright despondent in their coverage.”

From the January 30 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: On the pinhead front, the far-left website Media Matters is perhaps the most dishonest enterprise in the country. Now the smear factory has put out an article that says Fox News will have a rough year in 2008.

Well, if the January ratings are any indication, Media Matters is once again lying its “you know what” off. FNC has the top six rated news programs on cable and eight of the top 10. The Factor once again dominates the field. On the nights I was here in the chair in January, we hammered our competition at 8 p.m., beating them all combined. In fact, with about 4 million viewers for both 8 and 11, we beat a number of entertainment programs on the networks.

Media Matters is run by liars and defamers. They are far worse than pinheads.