Seems O’Reilly cooked up a scheme to use Great Barrington as part of an attack on Al Gore on the eve of Gore being named Man of the Year by Time magazine.

OOPS! Turns out that was an ill-founded rumor, as Vladimir Putin got the nod. Pop quiz: who was it last year?  What d’ya mean, YOU don’t remember?! 

Found a story right away that answered our question. Here’s an excerpt from a website called News Hounds - We watch FOX so you don’t have to:

Jesse Waters, BOR’s trusted ambush journalist, traveled to Great Barrington to confront the town selectman asking them if their decision was ” a ruse” to attack Christmas chiding them also for calling them ” holiday lights”. The selectman were angry and explained they didn’t think it was necessary to put up excessive lighting this year.

Waters, looking so proud of himself, called them ” environmental alarmists”. O’Reilly said “a cow belching”, was worse than the lights and described the town as “James Taylor territory”, “touchy feely” and “wind chimes central.” Then he proclaimed they “wouldn’t say Christmas, Wouldn’t say it!” Suggesting that the decision wasn’t environmental at all but an attack on Christmas.

Here’s the whole story: Bill O’Reilly Makes Al Gore the Global Warming Grinch.

O’Reilly’s audience responds to Gt. Barrington attack

Here are the e-mails we received in response to the broadcast:

This is to the city selectmen. I was hoping to spend 3 days in your city with my family after Christmas for shopping and showing them a place where our freedom began. Then I saw you stupid selctmen on TV and their stupid response about Christmas lights and saving the planet. LOL That is moronic but also the fact that you don’t celebrate Christmas in Great Barrington is disturbing and you have no Christmas lights only “holiday lights” how pitiful is that.
Well we are not overly religious but we are Christains and feel better in a city where religion is respected so we will say good bye to great Barrington and find somewhere else to have a nice, safe, fun, time. - John Dawson

After watching your “Selectmen Meeting” clip on FOX News, I had to comment. The men on that board were ridiculous and unbelievably annoying with their STUPID comments about not allowing “holiday lights.” Heaven forbid that they use the word “Christmas!” I’m curious, what holiday is it on December 25th? They were smug and rude. They need to grow up and be REAL men. What an embarrassment to your town!!!! - Sheree Larsen

Anybody else care to join the fray? You’re welcome to write a comment.