Video and transcript below the fold.
Couple of weeks ago, Steve Cohen, no, not the chiropractor, or the other chiropractor, the Congressman from Tennessee, went on the floor of the House and he compared what he called Republican lies about health care to the big lie Joseph Goebbels popularized in perpetrating Nazi atrocities. We, along with others in the media and government, hit him pretty hard. Done. Next. Until....
RICHARD SOCARIDES (1/20/2011): The leading commentators on this network use this kind of language. So let's you and I get together right now and say that there...
MEGYN KELLY: It's just not true, Richard.
SOCARIDES: ... well, that is true. I mean, listen, you know, people can be the judge of it, you... maybe you and I watch it....
KELLY: They can. I don't know if you sit and watch our programming every night, but I watch it every day, and you're wrong.
So I was supposed to let that go?? I mean, I watch Fox all the time, they use "Nazi" like 16-year-olds use "like"! I mean, it's like, it's a stutter. "Dad, there's nothing on TV, Nazi!"
So we did the usual crap, bunch of clips, Fox hosts using Nazi comparisons on their political opponents, the head of Fox News calling political opponents Nazis, someone doing it actually on Megyn Kelly's program to Megyn Kelly, point taken! Good time had by all. And the symbiotic cycle of cable life continues. Until I realized I had hurt someone. Someone that I care about.
BILL O'REILLY (1/26/2011): Jon Stewart sees it a bit differently. He did not defend Cohen, he didn't defend the man. But he believes there's this hypocrisy in play, and that I, your humble correspondent, am a part of it.
BILL O'REILLY (2/28/2008): If you look back at what happened in Germany, you cannot escape the similarities between what Hitler and his cutthroats did back then, and the hate-filled blogs, what they're doing now.
That clip was from February 28, 2008, and it was edited by the Stewart folks. ... Here is the context to that letter and that statement.
A) Why you used the Nazi reference doesn't really matter in this. The segment is for Megyn Kelly to take offense to. Not you! It's not all about you, Bill!
The segment was to show, contrary to Ms. Kelly's statement that it's not the type of rhetoric used on Fox News, that it actually does appear... quite frequently. (Over and over and over.) That's all it was! Why you compared Arianna Huffington or the Huffington Post to Nazi propaganda is immaterial in this case. Although, since you seem interested in getting into it, (wild audience applause) the court will allow your witness!
BILL O'REILLY (1/26/2011): Nancy Reagan fell, fell down, and had to be taken to the hospital. Shortly after that, this appeared on the Huffington Post.
"Like her evil husband, she has lived far too long. Here's hoping the hag suffers for several weeks, then croaks in the tub."
Now I submit to you, ladies and gentlemen, that my comparison to the vile Nazi propaganda machine is dead on. You can make the call on that.
First of all, let me say this. Two things. One, that was a horrible thing for someone to write. And whatever vicious loser, or if I may, put it in your parlance, pinhead, whoever wrote that deserves condemnation. In fact, television condemnation. But being a heartless douche isn't exactly the same as being a Nazi propagandist. And number two, the quote that you're using was from a commenter on a blog post. I'm not sure that you want to go down the Nazi road, when you're judging an organization by the worst things that have ever been posted on that organization's website.
Will the court allow Exhibit B? This is from FoxNation.com, TODAY, from "obammablows".
Hey Michelle, I saw your FAT Arse at your hubbies speech. Have you looked at your caboose in the mirror lately? It appears your [sic] hauling around about 100 excess LBS in your trunk. Try exercise you disgusting PIG.
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As truly horrible as these blog posts are, that doesn't make even the people making these comments Nazis, or akin to Nazi propagandists. And it certainly doesn't make you, or the moderators at FoxNation.com, Nazi sympathizers, Gestapo, brownshirts, or people who play Castle Wolfenstein and root for the wrong team.
So my point was, contrary to what your colleague Ms. Kelly was suggesting, that Fox commentators do use Nazi analogies, and your point seemed to be, "Yeah, but I had a good reason." The problem with that is, everybody thinks they have a good reason. Steve Cohen thought he had a good reason.
It's like speeding. I yelled at Steve Cohen for speeding. Megyn Kelly yelled at Steve Cohen for speeding, and then she said, "Good thing we don't speed."
And I said, "Look at all them fucking people speeding right there!"
And then you said, "You took that out of context! I was late!" (wild audience applause)
I gotta tell you, Bill, I gotta tell you, I gotta tell you, you're late a lot!
BILL O'REILLY (7/18/2007): There's no difference between the KKK and the Nazis, who have websites, and the Daily Kos.
BILL O'REILLY (12/23/2005): ... these far-left Nazis, and that's what they are ...
Bill, I actually respect you. I even liiiiiii... I even liiiiiiiiii.... (suppressing gagging reflex) I even liiiiiiiiiike... I like you. And I like the fact that you will come on other shows to be challenged, and have others on your show to challenge you. Unlike some of your colleagues. (coughing) Glenn Beck!
But honestly, I stand by the bit. Truth is, all I wanted was for Megyn Kelly to notice me. Fuck! That's what happens when you try to get a pretty girl to call!