Last night Bill O'Reilly had on Democratic activists James Carville and Paul Begala. The two guests engaged in Fox News-bashing for the entire segment. The exchange got testy at one point when O'Reilly said "you're both stupid" for relying on left-wing blogs for conspiracy material.
O'REILLY: With us, two close Clinton confidants, James Carville and Paul Begala, the co-authors of the paperback book right now, "Take it Back: A Battle Plan for the Democratic Party". Look, you have been running around hot-shotting this FOX News and you're empowered or you're thrilled or whatever you are. We're fair to Bill Clinton here. Wallace worked for ABC for 25 years. He didn't turn into a werewolf when he was hired over here. OK?
You want to pick on somebody, pick on me or pick on Hannity, but not Chris Wallace, OK? This is ridiculous. There were legitimate questions. Wallace grills Rumsfeld. I grilled Rumsfeld. And come on.JAMES CARVILLE, CO-AUTHOR, "TAKE IT BACK": I don't think that FOX has been fair to Bill Clinton. I like you. I like Chris Wallace. I like Sean Hannity. I don't think in any way, shape or form that...
O'REILLY: Give me an example of unfairness.
CARVILLE: You know, just like Bill Clinton said, you never asked him -- how many times was Rice on that show?
PAUL BEGALA, CO-AUTHOR, "TAKE IT BACK": Twenty-three.
CARVILLE: How many times did Clinton (ph) go on that show?
BEGALA: Nine.
O'REILLY: What are you talking about?
CARVILLE: Chris Wallace...
O'REILLY: Does this come from Media Matters?
CARVILLE: Did you ever read them? They're totally documented.
O'REILLY: Hired guns.
BEGALA: Actually, that came from the center from American...
O'REILLY: These far left web sites you guys take this information off, these are paid to smear people they disagree with. Do your own research. You can't sit there and think Chris Wallace is in the tank for Republicans. I mean, this is ridiculous.
CARVILLE: That's your term. You asked me, do I think that FOX News network has been fair to Bill Clinton?
O'REILLY: You can't give me one thing. You can't.
CARVILLE: You know what? I can watch where it was completely misrepresented about what he did about al Qaeda. I can watch and state it completely...
O'REILLY: Give me an example.
CARVILLE: Clinton just gave you an example.
O'REILLY: You knew you were going to come in here. You knew this was documented (ph), and you don't have an example.
He asked Clinton why not shoot? (ph) It's a legitimate question, the president said, and he's right, it was. Wallace had a right to ask it. But why hasn't he asked in the dozens of appearances that Steven Hadley or the national security advisor has or the vice president has or Dr. Rice has, or even the vice president.O'REILLY: If I had more time, I could have used that whole Rumsfeld interview. And the thing was, what Wallace said was, listen, you're fighting in Iraq, but you're not going after the guys who did the Cole, did the embassy and did the World Trade Center on 9/11. That's what the question was. Now that is a tough question for Rumsfeld. And I ask Rumsfeld tough questions when I talk to him, too.
CARVILLE: Let me ask you this. You go back and see how many times that senior administration officials have been on FOX News Sunday and compare it to the other Sunday shows. Why is it that Dick Cheney will only watch FOX News?
O'REILLY: He hasn't been on this program.
CARVILLE: Well, I don't know -- I come on this program. I love it. Bill, I don't think my wife is objective. I like her. I appreciate being on the show, but doesn't mean if you ask me...
O'REILLY: You guys -- you guys spread propaganda that these far left Kool-Aid drinkers believe that this network is trying to promote the Bush administration and run down the Clinton administration. That is flat out false.
BEGALA: Guilty. Guilty.
O'REILLY: You are both stupid. Not only are you guilty; you're both stupid.
BEGALA: We're right.
CARVILLE: Bill went to Harvard. He's much smarter than we are.
O'REILLY: That's the first -- first astute thing you just said. Bill is much smarter than you. Greta Van Susteren is very friendly with Bill Clinton because of her husband. Alan Colmes adores Bill Clinton and would be his valet. Shep Smith never says anything politically one way or the other. And Brit Hume is a conservative leaning guy, but has gone out of his way -- all right -- to be fair to Bill Clinton. And at ABC, Brit Hume received a great accolade from Bill Clinton, as you know. Now these are the main players. So if you're going to put it on me, fine.
CARVILLE: John Gibson, Sean Hannity.
BEGALA: Brit is conservative, and I'll say when he covered the Clinton White House, he was fair.
O'REILLY: So he's not fair anymore?
BEGALA: No.
CARVILLE: No.
O'REILLY: Give me an example. You don't have an example. (CROSSTALK)
BEGALA: Look at his lineup. Look at his lineup. He has moderates and conservatives. There are no liberals sitting there on his all-star panel.
O'REILLY: Ceci [Connolly] whatever her name is from the Washington Post. Mara -- they're liberal people. (CROSSTALK)
BEGALA: It's lively and it's fun and it's interesting, and it's highly watchable, but it's conservative.
O'REILLY: I don't believe it for a second.
BEGALA: You all are conservative.
O'REILLY: That is bull.
BEGALA: Just admit it.
O'REILLY: I'm not going to admit it because it's wrong. OK? You guys need to get away from the far left web sites and open your eyes. If you go down the guest list, the 24-7 guest list we will provide for you, it's 50-50. On this program it's more left than right. It's more left than right on this program.
BEGALA: My hat is off to you, for example, for having us on.
O'REILLY: You're welcome any time. Look, you guys are now becoming propagandists and I'm looking out for you. Don't do that. Last word.
CARVILLE: Last word. We are propagandists. We think that FOX News is a right-leaning, anti-Clinton network.
O'REILLY: All right.
CARVILLE: We thought that before we came here. We're going to think it...
O'REILLY: Gentlemen, thanks very much. All right?
CARVILLE: Appreciate it.
O'REILLY: You both are going to be beaten to a pulp. We'll be right back, in a moment.
