By Josh O’Gorman
josh@berkshirerecord.net

GREAT BARRINGTON—For a few minutes at least, downtown Main Street made national news, but the true nature of the event was lost to sound bites and the editorial spin of the “no-spin zone.”

Jesse Watters, a producer for the Fox News program “The O’Reilly Factor,” brought a camera crew to the most recent Selectboard meeting on Dec. 17 and demanded to know why the members were  engaged in what he termed the “War on Christmas.”

Television pundit Bill O’Reilly, host of the O’Reilly Factor, has railed against the so-called war on Christmas every holiday season for years now, even devoting a chapter to the subject in his most recent book, “Culture Warrior.”

O’Reilly contends that Christmas is being devalued as people use the word “holiday” in place of Christmas. Despite other holidays—such as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa—happening at the same time, in O’Reilly’s eyes anyone who substitutes “holiday” for “Christmas” is a secular progressive who is doing damage to the social fabric of the United States.

O’Reilly specializes in taking small regional stories and using them as examples of what he feels is wrong in America.

Due at least in part to an article in the Nov. 30 edition of the Record, Watters was in Barrington to ask the board about its recent decision to ask the Chamber of Commerce to consider alternative energy sources and more energy efficient technology when the town hangs its holiday lights next year.

“You guys are attacking these Christmas lights here and they’re only up for a few weeks a year,” Watters said to the board as a Fox News camera filmed from the back of the room. “Is this some sort of ruse to de-emphasize Christmas?”

Watters first asked Selectboard Chair Anthony Blair about his feelings on the holiday lights.

“They’re my feelings,” Blair told Watters. “They’re private and they’re none of your business.”

Watters seemed taken aback, asking, “Isn’t this a public hearing?,” then was told it was a public meeting, not a public hearing.

Selectboard Vice-Chairman Ronald Dlugosz was more forthcoming with Watters.

“I resent you coming in here and saying that we’re attacking Christmas or Christianity or anything like that,” Dlugosz said. “We’re not doing that, Okay? They’re holiday lights.”

Dlugosz went on to explain that the board was not limiting holiday lights, but wanted town to explore ways to celebrate that season in a way that did not consume as much electricity.

Unfortunately, much of that message was lost when the footage was edited down and presented on the O’Reilly Factor on a Dec. 18 national telecast.

O’Reilly railed against the Selectboard and Dlugosz in particular, referring to him as an “unbelievable pinhead.”

Referring to the Berkshires as “James Taylor” and “wind-chime” country, O’Reilly claimed to have been to the Berkshires hundreds of times and blamed the current war on Christmas on people from New York moving up to the Berkshires and imposing their views on the conservative Berkshire natives.

Watters and his camera crew had spent the afternoon on the streets of Great Barrington interviewing residents to gauge their view of the issue, and claimed that 80 percent of those polled were opposed to the Selectboard’s decision.

Of the 10 people shown being interviewed on the program, however, four either sided with the board or discussed the need for energy conservation.

“They can’t believe that this would impact global warming at all,” O’Reilly said of the board’s decision. Dlugosz’s comments—which were edited by O’Reilly producers—expressed that the board recognizes that Great Barrington doesn’t use as much electricity as Las Vegas but hopes the town might be an example for other towns to follow.

Also edited out was Watters attempt to attribute quotes to Dlugosz that had been spoken by Selectmen Peter Fish.

Following the broadcast, the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce was inundated with e-mails from people railing against the town, with some claiming that they were going to cancel their Berkshires vacation plans

Dlugosz declined an invitation to appear on the O’Reilly Factor.

“If it was the Jon Stewart show or the [Stephen] Colbert show, I’d say yes,” Dlugosz said.