Despite families' pleas, O'Reilly slams VB
TV commentator sends producer to mayor's driveway, says city uses illegal immigrants for cheap labor.
BY MIKE HOLTZCLAW
(757) 928-6479
April 10, 2007, 6:11 AM EDT
VIRGINIA BEACH -- National TV and radio commentator Bill O'Reilly continued his tirade against Virginia Beach on Monday night in spite of pleas from the parents of Tessa Tranchant and Alison Kunhardt to stop using their daughters' deaths as "a political football."

On Fox TV's "The O'Reilly Factor" on Monday night, the host aired footage of a driveway confrontation between his producer and a startled Virginia Beach mayor Meyera Oberndorf. O'Reilly went on to accuse Oberndorf and city officials of allowing illegal immigrants to stay in town because they provide cheap labor for the resort town's hotels and shops.

Tranchant, 16, and Kunhardt, 17, were killed on March 30 when their car was struck from behind by Alfredo Ramos, an illegal immigrant from Mexico who was driving while intoxicated. Ramos, 22, had three previous convictions for alcohol-related offenses but his illegal status was not discovered until his first court appearance on the two charges of aggravated involuntary manslaughter.

The incident has touched off a local debate on immigration, and O'Reilly has made it a nightly topic on his national TV show, calling Virginia Beach "Sanctuary City" for illegal immigrants and angrily demanding Oberndorf's recall.

Last week, the two girls' parents held a press conference to ask for time to grieve. David Kunhardt said "O'Reilly was wrong in blaming Meyera," and both families asked people to stop using the tragedy to make political points.

On Monday morning, one of O'Reilly's producers surprised Oberndorf by showing up in her driveway with a camera crew. On that night's show, O'Reilly aired footage of Oberndorf politely declining to answer questions while her husband, Roger, shouted at the producer.

When Roger Oberndorf accused O'Reilly of lying, the host observed: "The mayor doesn't even talk for herself. ... Who's the mayor here? Is it the woman, or is it this man?" He characterized Meyera Oberndorf as "either clueless or deceitful."

O'Reilly accused Oberndrof and police chief Jake Jacocks Jr. of intentionally allowing illegal immigrants to continue to live in their city.

"Virginia Beach needs the illegal alien labor to work the hotels and the service industry," O'Reilly said. "This is the quid pro quo."

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