Bill O'Reilly Takes On Scott McClellan Over Talking Points Claim, McClellan Backs Down

Update: Scott McClellan appeared on Bill O'Reilly's radio show to apologize for alleging that the White House fed him talking points (via ThinkProgress):

The truth is I messed up. I was specifically not trying to single anyone out, including you. But the way a couple of the questions were phrased in that interview along with my response left things open to interpretation and I should not have let that happen. ... I understand why you got upset. ... You're the Big Kahuna at Fox News, and some people tried to paint in a black and white term through a preconceived notion.

Listen (via Johnny Dollar):

Original Post: Bill O'Reilly took on Scott McClellan on Monday night's "O'Reilly Factor" over claims made last week on "Hardball" that McClellan and the Bush White House would funnel talking points to the Fox News host (and his colleague, Sean Hannity).

After calling McClellan a "liar" and an "idiot" on his radio show Monday, O'Reilly promised to have some fun with the former White House Press Secretary on his TV show that night.

"Scott McClellan continues to sell his book on NBC News," O'Reilly said. "The two look to be partners in this enterprise.

"I never once received a talking point from the White House, so McClellan is NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT ME!" O'Reilly continued. "Should I be angry? Nah. But I have to call a lie a lie, especially because this garbage was picked up by CNN."

O'Reilly ended his rant with a bit of bravado, saying, "By the way, McClellan would never dare say that to my face."

Watch:

From Fox News, 7/28

Watch the full McClellan "Hardball" interview here:

Comments

[PhantomAviator]

.

Scotty is a collaborator. A capo.

"I was just following orders" wasn't an excuse for the Nazis and it's not an excuse for Republicans.
.

[jay1975]

Too funny. People jump so quickly to believe anything that fits their little world view.

[trollsbwild]

Discussing SMc or Billo makes me feel so dirty. Excuse me while I take a two hour shower to clean off their stench.

[MeanGreenMachine]

Put down the Loofa.

[NotaBeliever]

If McClellan was wrong, it was right of him to correct the situation. Period. You don't get to blame the "victim", which is this case ws O'Reilly, just because you dont want McClellan to be wrong. Truth is rare enough. We should promote that sort of thing.

[truthyguy]

What McClellan should have made clear was that information was fed to Fox and Fox used it as it thought appropriate, which was to have ever person on their fake news and political shows repeat the talking points - in most cases using the exact language or sound bite phrases as the White House. The fact that BillO' was not told directly by the WH what to say or how to say it, doesn't change the fact that he parroted the WH talking points at every opportunity.

[Redrover666]

Perhaps McClellan didn't make it clear because he couldn't. Just because you wish it were true doesn't make it so. Since he was made of fool of for lying on this issue, one ought to ask, just how much of the rest of what he says is garbage. Though, as your comment points out, he is saying what you want to hear and therefore you are quite willing to give him a great deal of latitude where the truth is concerned.

[Witchitalineman]

Now I'm sorry I bought McClellan's book. Anyone who doesn't have the courage to stand up to Billo is
low on my character assessment test.

[ElPerro]

Not standing up to to a tv gasbag shows low character, but lying to the American public everyday for years on behalf of one of the most vile men ever to sit in the White House doesn't?

[recruitgal]

What is WRONG with Scotty? Further inflating Billo's monumental ego? Seriously?

[PAposter]

Bill O'Reilly is an even bigger p*ssy than I thought, with all the whining, "You hurt my feelings, whaaa"!

[Redrover666]

Don't remember "Billo " saying that.
Though I do remember his guest squirming quite alot and apologizing.

[mamacat]

If O'Reilly has some integrity, then bravo, I am certainly glad to hear of it.
On the other hand, McClellan's retraction doesn't change the fact that O'Reilly is a true nut job. He doesn't even deserve to be called a conservative. I still remember the days when conservatives, like Barry Goldwater, had ethics. This guy is just a big mouth who will say anything for big bucks and the spot light. He is an entertainer appealing to the lowest common denominator, people who don't want to or can't think about complex issues, who want the "news" spoon-fed to them in easily digested fabrications.

[danoj]

He's not conservative he's a regisered independent, and he is appealing to more people that any other cable news program in that time slot. Dems calling the electorit stupid is elitist and has always been the dems problem when it comes with being out of touch with regular folks.

[JeanPaulSatire]

You imply that independents must therefore be neither conservative nor liberal. Not so at all. Registering as an independent is merely a choice not to align with any specific party.

I was going to write something satirical about Dems being "elitist" for "calling the electorit stupid." But sometimes something that appears at first glance to be such an inviting target actually already is perfect satire -- even if completely unintended.

So go ahead and call me elitist for 'misundere­stimating' (as your prophet W might say) the intelligence of the 'electorit­.'

[Boris]

Regular folks...wh­at the hell? Is that people who cant read or people who dont read?
DO you know what 'conservative' means?

By definition it means someone whose political philosophy is to 'reduce' the electorate to those who have the bigger stake in society, to conserve or reserve power to the bankers, lawyers, oil company execs, big land owners. It means that those who do not have a stake, like women, minorities, blue collar workers and so forth, have no business having a say in government.

IF the electorate cant spell 'electorit' then, what can you say? Are they as stupid as Democrats think they are?

[SimonNZ]

Yeah, that 'electorit' shore is dum.......­.

[ElPerro]

You do realize that O'Reilly's "big ratings" come of 70+ year old retirees who turn on Fox when they get up in the morning and then just leave the tv on all day as background noise. I'll bet at least 25% of O'Reilly's "audience" are napping while Billo's yapping.

[conned]

The thing is, it is obviously true. Not only has this collusion been proven so on a number of occasions - with the military analyst scandal being just one of many - it is logically impossible for all the talking heads to 1) change the way the news and politics are treated and discussed the moment the Bush administration took power, 2) all use the same the rhetoric, logic and phrases to push the government's agenda, 3) and abandon all journalistic ethics in order to present a perverse picture of reality predicated upon the assumption that the American people do not posses the knowledge base necessary to see through the spin and half truths. I recognize that there is nothing they can do except deny it, but it is t really amazing that eight years later these people can actually get away with denying this. This collusion between the government and the corporate media is most prevalent and was first introduced to television on FOX, but it has since spread across the entire MSM. Therefore, they all have an interest in burying the evidence.

[Phil123]

If you watch the videos, it couldn't be clearer.

McClellan told a bald-faced lie about O'Reilly, O'Reilley called him on it, and he admitted that what he had said was a lie.

Since the lie he told was damaging to O'Reilly, O'Reilly had every reason to be angry about it.

When liberals lie (which is most of the time - just read the Post), they need to be called on it. Since McClellan lied about something as trite as this, it makes me wonder whether he has any credibility on anything. BTW, another lie he says is that Mathews is an "independent-minded guy." Mathews is a liberal zombie.

[djelimon]

Of course, because independen­t-mindedne­ss means not being a liberal.

[chonus]

"Since McClellan lied about something as trite as this, it makes me wonder whether he has any credibility on anything."

Of course, then, you no doubt wonder B.ush Co. has any credibility on anything.

I agree.

[Redrover666]

That's a fair statement.

[MeanGreenMachine]

O 'Really? is a CRYBABY.

[mergina]

Why does ANYONE care about what this news loon or the next say or think about anyone or anything?

[Budokan]

Bill O'Reilly is a lying, splotchy-faced, arrogant bully (hence, he's a Republicon) and there's only ONE way to handle a bully -- and everyone knows what that is.

[iswideopen]

Bill O'Reilly, you have nerve. Fox News is nothing more than tabloid television with many "journalist wannabees", with you leading the pack. It is true that your network spews bigotry and hatred. It is true that you are not a journalist. You rant about Senator Obama not appearing on your show. Have you forgotten, you bigot, that it was you who stated that you didn't want to go on a lynch hunt, regarding something Mrs. Obama said, unless you found it otherwise necessary. If only I could say what is necessary, to your lying face. You portray yourself as if you are GOD. Never, ever, forget that GOD will not be mocked. America and "American Values" do no belong to you and Sean Hannity. I believe every word of the Bible and each time I refer to the story of Lazarus and the "rich man", I think of you and Sean Hannity. That is the truth. You are no better than any other human being with breath. GOD loves this world, not just "the privileged". HE will show you who HE is and what HIS power will do in whatever situation HE chooses to; never doubt that.

[Destin]

Just 1 more example of law breaking by this administration. And exactly when is Congress gonna say enough is enough?? How many dozens of examples of corruption, outright lawbreaking and perversion of our govt does it take for Congress to get off their duff and start investigating??

[Phil123]

What law was broken? That McClellan lied about O'Reilly?