Great Barrington Selectmen Respond to Bill O'Reilly's Insult

The Great Barrington Selectmen say they’re not “grinches”---after Fox News pundit Bill O’Reilly accused the town of worrying excessively about global warming and attacking Christians and Christmas itself.

O’Reilly called one Town Selectman a “pinhead” after the board approved holiday lights, but suggested they look into more environmentally sound and efficient lighting---like LED lights---in the future. The board also moved to turn the lights off at 10 PM, not midnight, to save energy.

O’Reilly sent his producer to ask if the move was a “ruse to de-emphasize Christmas”, which was denied by Board members.

Now Town Hall is getting angry, even obscene e-mails from across the country.

“Some very angry reactions from viewers of Fox, “ says Town Manager Burke LaClair, “They didn’t understand those were approved and the lights were up.”

LaClair said he didn’t hear anything at the meetings that appeared to be anti-Christian or anti-Christmas.

We asked resident Sam Laiz “What do you think of Bill O’Reilly?” and he responded “He’s a pinhead.”

But other residents, like Florence Sasso, who puts on a big light display on her own lawn each year, said, “I don’t feel there is enough, I’d like to see more lights. But some think I go overboard anyway.”