Fox News host Bill O’Reilly had some tough words for “Huffington Post” Editor and Chief Arianna Huffington on “The O’Reilly Factor” on March 25.
Huffington appeared on Fox News to promote her new book and was met with some harsh words from O’Reilly who criticized her website arguing that it needed “to be a little more fair” and that liberals should stop reflexively defending President Obama. [See video below.]
O’Reilly began the segment by asking Huffington “It's clear I think to most fair-minded people not ideologues that President Obama is having a hard time and his policies really haven't worked economically certainly overseas we’re very shaky. But there are fervent liberals, I don't know if you are among them who will back the president no matter what. Can you explain that to me?”
Huffington then laughably claimed that “The Huffington Post does not reflexively defend anyone. If you look at the site, we have a lot of splashes that criticize the president for what is happening on a lot of the issues that we care a lot about… We call our editorial coverage beyond left and right because a lot of issues we are facing like the decline of the middle class are issues that do not have an ideology.”
O’Reilly then called out liberal news networks who no matter what “every night it's he's the greatest guy in the world still. And I don't really understand that. Don't liberals see what's happening here? Do they not see it?”
Huffington argued that “there is no question that there are a certain number of ideologues who whether it's on one side or the other will always defend their side” and attempted to argue that her website does not instinctively support President Obama on every issue: That's completely inappropriate when that happens but we don't do it at The Huffington Post.”
Huffington seems to be in denial about her own website’s liberal bent yet an examination of recent stories on the website proves how liberal “The Huffington Post” truly is:
- HuffPo Blog: Valentine’s Day Spurs Overpopulation, Global Warming
- HuffPost Blogger Rips GOP For Opposing Debt Limit Hike; Leaves Out Then-Sen. Obama's Similar Stand
- HuffPo Blogger to Pope Francis: ‘God Obviously Trusted Women’ to Choose Abortion
- Worried HuffPo Urges Liberals to Change Subject From Obamacare at Thanksgiving Table Talk
See relevant transcript below.
Fox News
The O’Reilly Factor
March 25, 2014
8:48 p.m. Eastern
BILL O’REILLY: Back of the book segment tonight, new book called “Thrive: the third metric to redefining success and creating a life of well-being, wisdom and wonder.” Whoa, what a title. With us now the author and editor and chief of the Huffington Post Arianna Huffington. Before you get to all wonder. I have got to ask but liberal politics. It's clear I think to most fair-minded people not ideologues that President Obama is having a hard time and his policies really haven't worked economically certainly overseas we’re very shaky. But there are fervent liberals, I don't know if you are among them who will back the president no matter what. Can you explain that to me?
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: Well, first of all let me just say Bill thanks for having me on the show. The Huffington Post does not reflexively defend anyone. If you look at the site, we have a lot of splashes that criticize the president for what is happening on a lot of the issues that we care a lot about, like the failed war on drugs or poverty being at 50%, at 50 year high.Or the incredibly large number of deportations or incarcerations. There are a lot of problems in the country and we criticize the Obama Administration for those. We call our editorial coverage beyond left and right because a lot of issues we are facing like the decline of the middle class are issues that do not have an ideology.
O’REILLY: But you know as well as I do that the president has been in office for five years. All right? And his programs of bigger government managing the economy and trying to solve the social problems, social justice, haven’t worked. Yet, if you turn over to the liberal cable network, every night it's he's the greatest guy in the world still. And I don't really understand that. Don't liberals see what's happening here? Do they not see it?
HUFFINGTON: Well, there is no question that there are a certain number of ideologues who whether it's on one side or the other will always defend their side.
O’REILLY: Alright, so that's just ideology, that's what it is all about. Facts don't matter?
HUFFINGTON: Well facts to matter.
O’REILLY:I'm backing my guy. I don't care what he does do.
HUFFINGTON: I think that's completely inappropriate when that happens but we don't do it at The Huffington Post.
O’REILLY: Can I give you one tip though to you? Youneed to be a little more fair on that website. You really do. Because last night for example I did a talking points memo on that we had called the Malaysian airline story seven days prior. Well you guyscovered that story. But you didn't mention that that I had called it right. You didn't mention it in fact you went after me as you usually do. But I'm amused by it I like it. It gives me good publicity And I want people who read the Huffington Post to watch the factor. So keep doing it. But if you really want to be fair mention, you know, the hard news aspect of the story.
HUFFINGTON: Well I will check that and if we didn't do that, we will do it.
O’REILLY: Good. And scold the guy who did that.
