Bill O'Reilly pens ode to Obama (seriously)

Fox News's Bill O'Reilly, a frequent critic of President Obama, has written an unexpected and glowing tribute to the president's character for this Sunday's Parade magazine.

Under a headline of "What President Obama Can Teach America's Kids," the conservative talk show host cites examples from Obama's at-times difficult past to demonstrate how children can overcome adversity and illuminate what an inspiration the president is.

O'Reilly says Obama's "breathtaking achievement presents five important lessons for all children:" Forgiveness, Respect, Persistence, and the notion that in America anything is possible.

In doing so, O'Reilly uses language that could have come out of the president's campaign talking points.

Under the Persistence category, O'Reilly notes: "For example, in 2000, he lost his run for Congress in Illinois. He could have given up and gone into the private sector where high-salaried jobs awaited him. But he preferred public service. So, just four years later, he ran again, this time winning a U.S. Senate seat."

O'Reilly stays away from Obama's policies in the essay, but writes admiringly that he's already established himself as a historical figure.

"Barack Obama, a youngster in Hawaii without his parents around, has toughed it out and become one of history’s great stories, no matter what happens going forward," he writes at the end. "What he has achieved in his 48 years is simply astounding. Consider the odds. The United States is a nation of more than 300 million citizens. Only one person is currently the Commander in Chief. That man had no fatherly guidance, is of mixed race, and had no family connections to guide him into the world of national politics. That adds up to one simple truth that every American child should be told: “If Barack Obama

can become the President of the United States, then whatever dream you may have can happen in your life."