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

[bryansmith]

This was hardly news, it has been obvious for a long time that Fox is the public relations wing of the GOP and Bush administration.

What cracks me up, is that MSNBC has been defending Bill. What a joke.

[ColoradoDan]

Bill Oreilly is a sick Pup is all. Why would anyone watch him? About as honest as wrestling.

He seems to be not sane at all.

[seal62]

A idiot and a liar.Seems to me Bill you were selling golf balls with no spin.Any golfer knows that is impossible to hit a ball with no spin,that makes you an idiot.Telling people to buy your no spin balls makes you a liar.How about this,,seeing you back your products i'll put down a grand against your say 100k.We can have tiger wood tee up 10 and if one ball fails to spin you win.Its the same odds as your show.

[thefringecenter]

Snotty Scotty is a liar. Why was Billo the last to know?

[jnratliff]

There are lots of thing I would love to say to billos face!

[instagladiator]

Say or do or both?

[Darsan54]

Dana P. hadn't told him yet.

[BWonka]

He doesn't listen to Ru$h.

[seal62]

OK OK OK ..Who payed more for their sexual predatory behavior to stay out of court..Michael Jackson or Bill OOhhh?

[sawdustinhershoes]

both.

[Davwbaird]

Who Cares.

[seal62]

What is truely sickening is that people believe him.I'll tell it o his face,pick a topic.Pray that he swings at me ,I will smoke him.He can pick on my service,plank owner at st-4.I sure didnt see him anywhere.He better hope i dont..lol.

[jsinclair]

Also, McCain staffers have talked about blanket emailing their talking points to friendly media at FOX and elsewhere.

These, obviously, become many broadcasters' talking points for the day.

I think they're parsing words here in order to lie and keep up the pretense (to conservatives) of independence and objectivity.

I'd like to see the truth nailed down about this, for all to see and understand.

[DS1Roger]

Et Tu Brute?
How close to the official Democratic mantra does the rest of the media follow?

Your viewpoint slants what you see.
If he is blowing smoke why does it bother you?
I can ignore the Dem rants why can't you do the same for the opposite side?

Lets be adults here.
I can disagree with what you say but we both have the right to exchange views without vitriol.

[jsinclair]

It is well-documented that FOX head, ROGER AILES, gets WH & GOP talking points. It is also well documented that Ailes writes a daily memo to all staff giving them direction for how to spin the message pro or con people and issues on any given day.

O'Reilly said, "I never once received a talking point from the White House," He never said, "I never once received a talking point memo from AILES."

Ailes' memos go against what journalism is supposed to be. Would someone please ask O'Reilly about THESE memos? Because it really doesn't matter than Bill gets his talking points from Ailes---and AILES gets them right from the WH.

This is why McClellan stumbled through the answer.

Please, won't someone ASK ABOUT AILES????

[rh654]

I don't like O'Reilly - but Scott said on the interview that he was wrong about O'Reilly....

While I don't like like the guy - well - Scott was wrong to say what he did if it wasn't true - and this kills Scott's credibility for any future charges...

[Verified]

Everyone with ears and a TV knows that Fox repeats WH and Repub talking points all the time. Why is this news? Why are talking heads going to rant and rave over this for days when important issues are left undebated?

I say, report it and let the public decide who are the rear ends and who are the reporters with integrity. The only way to stop the interminable flatulence of media types such as O'Reilly is to ignore him.That's his worst fear. You know he's going to threaten and bully, so why pay attention to his tantrums? His worst fear is that he will be irrelevant. It's long past time for thinking people to spend any time thinking about him. It's time to make him irrelevant.

[Darsch]

Not a very convincing denial... not that it would matter. The talking points and frames from the White House are all Fox can talk about.

[karela]

Let's see, who should we believe; Bill O who lies regularly and as a profession, or Scott McClellan who has told the truth so far as anyone has been able to ascertain? I know which one I think is the lying idiot and his Billy.

[drvck70]

I personally have a hard time believing anything that comes of of this man's mouth, less we forget he "fluffed" for the Bush administration for the better part of three years now recently has a stroke of sincerity, when it's convenient for him, when he's trying to sell a book? He was a lier then and now a lier AND a hypocrite. McClellan serves who butters his bread at that particular frame in time.

[Verified]

The truly sad story here for me is that so much air time is going to be spent with egotistical pundits and politicians strutting and hollering over this non-issue. Anyone with functioning ears and a TV can tell that Fox repeats White House and Republican talking points. While I think it's important to report on it because it because it is essentially of taxpayer-supported propagandizing, there's no reason to

[taitracee]

I aggree with you Oreilly is a JOKE, he is the most unfair person on TV. I will not call him a journalist because that he is NOT. He makes up things and will tell a ball face lie not blink.

[SmokinJoeCalculus]

instead of defending yourself the usual republicant way (smearing, throwing insults), how about REPORTING THE ACTUAL NEWS.

If you don't like what CNN releases, make your own report, christ, even if McClellan WAS wrong, there is STILL a big issue involved!