Letterman Tells O'Reilly: "I Think Of You As A Goon" (VIDEO)

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO EXCERPT

David Letterman, who infamously told Bill O'Reilly in 2006 that "about 60 percent of what you say is crap," had his old bête noire back on his show on Tuesday night.

At the start of the show, Letterman couldn't help lashing into the Fox News host, saying "I wish I was smart enough to make him look ridiculous... He's going to come out here all puffed up."

From practically the moment O'Reilly sat down, the sparks flew along with some surprising topics upon which they agreed.

"I think of you as a goon," Letterman point-blank told O'Reilly. Then, holding up the cover of O'Reilly's book, "A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity," which has a photo of O'Reilly as a boy, Letterman quipped, "I look at that and I see this sweet, adorable kid... I have a sweet adorable kid and I wonder, 'What if he too becomes a goon?'"

And Letterman launched into O'Reilly positions, such as his boycott of Sean Penn movies, giving him the ultimate back-handed compliment: "You're too smart to believe what you say."

When Letterman focused on Rush Limbaugh, implying that he's the face of the Republican party, O'Reilly alluded to the radio host's power, saying that "I don't think any Republicans or conservatives want to offend the man." And he strove to distinguish himself from Limbaugh and fellow Fox News personality Glenn Beck, claiming he's different from them because he's a journalist: "I got a degree, I paid a lot of money for... I went out, covered stories... those guys are basically entertainers... we give information"

O'Reilly also revealed that former Vice President Dick Cheney refused to come on his program, adding that he doesn't like Cheney: "We asked him a million times... he wouldn't come on."

And he laughed about the famous video of him cursing out his staff - "I have so much better stuff than that... Irish guys curse. That's in the DNA... We're loud and say bad words."

Comments

[sammy cole]

David Letterman is seriously.­..........­..intellig­ently masterful. !!

[Johnbo]

Yo, Bobo, someone has to cater to the brown-shirted, jack-booted, slobbering shut-ins. Sadly for the welfare of this country, it's a big market.

But, hey, they have their needs and people like LimpBaugh, Shrill O'Liely, and Shaun Insanity are all too happy to make bank-CEO-style money taking advantage of the yahoos, cretins, and hicks. They wallow in wealth while the country burns. That's a well-established reich-wing "principle" (see Bush Administration, etc.).

Please, everyone, support the boycott of corporations that advertise on the O'Liely show. See thinkprogress.org for the details. I'm making a list of companies to not only avoid doing business with but to whom I plan to write and explain why. I hope someone does the leg-work to also compile lists of the corporations that advertise on LimpBaugh, Insanity and all the rest of the shows making fortunes peddling half-truths, innuendo, and hate-talk. Let's see some changes, people. YOU can make a difference with your dollars and your voice. One advertiser has already dropped out and more will follow if they feel the heat.

[AD]

Please tell me which corporations advertise on O'Reilly and I will boycott. I can't bear to watch him even for the sake of catching a commercial. But will boycott the products advertised for sure.

[hungariangirl]

I never EVER watch Foux. I only hear / read about these pinheads (Foux clowns) in other news media e.i. Huffingtonpost. Dave gave me a few minutes of brilliant showmanship last night. What a guy! I want more! Watch Colbert on Glenn Beck, too!

[jayy44]

you really need to get info from both sides (or at least one that is not so one sided). I mean if you only read the material produced from the Romanian Workers' Party you might have thought ceaucescu was a good guy..... 2 sides to every story.

i know you are not from romania, but you are neighbors

[lybabash]

I am with you on that. Can't watch it for a nanosecond, so my comments are based on what I read, see and hear from other sources. and not just KO.

[Mercedes]

Heard the latest news? The 'Project for the New American Century' is now the "Foreign Policy Initiative".

[Kiabell04]

I must say, I'm liking this more partisan/political path Letterman has taken. I think I shall tune in moe often. I'm glad he called O'Reilly a goon. I refer to him as something else, but I cannot say it on this message board.

[arabianway]

I agree with you about David L. He seemed pretty cranky and cynical for a long time after Jay Leno got the Tonight show and I stopped watching. His little boy, I think , has brought him tremendous joy and a real change of perspective as children will do. He interacted with O'Reilly more than he usually does with a guest which made for good entertainment. That is the objective of the show after all. The body language between the two was very interesting.

[zendem1]

Why didn't dave ask him about the loofa?

[fredisfred]

I think we would all love for Dave to confront O'Reilly about his sexual harrassment case. Unfortunately, if that happened O'Reilly would never appear on Letterman again. But I would love to see someone confront Mr. O'Hypocrisy about that.

[REXHANDSOM]

Yes that would be great.....­.lol ....then when Clinton came on his show he could ask

..........­..........­.[BIG SMILE]]...­.....so many interesting question's­..........­..........­..........­..........­..

..........­..........­..........­.[bigger smile breaking into loud LAUGHTER].­..........­..........­..........­......

[jayy44]

any comments on the clip when bill left letterman totally speechless? basically letterman was saying he wants Rush to be the face of republicans, when asked why his answer "cause he's pudgy" followed by applause, and because his house cleaners used to get him painkiller­s..... Bill called him out, and letterman was silent. then stuttered into some jokes admitting he was wrong. really showed him for what he is, the kid on the playground that picks on the weaker kids.

[chelliza]

So what was he called out about? Rush is pudgy (polite word for it), and he did have his housekeeper get him painkillers illigally. So, what was Dave wrong about?

[brashier]

O'Reilly and Limbaugh are the "weaker kids?" Seriously? Could you please let them know?

[jesuslovesObama]

I saw something completely different with that interchange. You might need to change the lens in your glasses.

[gdaerin]

Rather telling, what you choose to capitalize.

[cered]

Well first let's fix what usually needs fixed in these sorts of posts: FACTS! Dave said, "tubby," not pudgy. I know minor quibble. Then where again does "Bill called him out, and letterman was silent" happen? Apparently you didn't watch after that when Dave started imitating rush. And if you did and didn't get the joke maybe you are not too smart to believe this.

[BoboPalinski]

Dave is growing old and irrelevent while OReilly is outgunning Gunsmoke in longevity and in the ratings. Whine on Dave.

[Boomerwoman]

BoBo the clown heard from again...He­y we missed ya...where ya been?

[zendem1]

Probably using one of it's 12 other screen names.

[dandypuddin]

No, Dave is getting pissed off and more political (ever since he had a child) at all the blowhards & moorons in this world that get away with spewing nonsense; O'Really, Insanity and Flush.

[ladylove114]

I think one reason Jay Lenos ratings are consistently higher than Daves is that Jay does not get into politics like Dave - sometimes you just want to laugh and be entertained at the end of the day - not hear someone rant to and about that they disagree with politically.

[pixy242a]

I only watch late night occasionally, but I stopped watching Leno completely when he continued the Clinton/Lewinsky jokes long after Bush was in office. He only joked about Bush in the last few years. Was that politics by omission ?

[auramac]

Thinking..­. not good...

Me Like goons!

[Prattvictory2]

I thought Gunsmoke was a dumb show with worn out themes geared to older, poorly educated viewers. A very good analogy to OReilly and his market.

[Harry Scrote]

Bravo, brotha. The only reason Gunsmoke lasted so long is because it was on before Monday night football.

[winningticket]

Your post is irrelevant.

[steamboat]

But Bobo is correct

[Dichotomy]

Any time I see a clip of Bill O'Reilly, he comes across as being such an insecure person--

[jerrypl]

O'Reilly in a egomaniac with an audience. Maybe people should boycott Billo's advertisers in the way he is boycotting Penn movies, and see if he supports such an action.

http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com

[jimme]

hey,it worked with UPS. I don't watch THAT channel so I wouldn't know who their sponsors are.
It would be far easier for people to just quit talking about them,period.

[jsgaetano]

OMG... O'Reilly called Limbaugh "an entertainer".

Will he be apologizing to Rush today?

[Donegal]

I'd like to hear that" "Hi Rush, I'm so sorry I called you an entertainer on the Letterman show. You're not entertaining at all."

[MochasMom]

Hilarious.­.. especially the first two minutes!

[JustMe133]

Too bad he did'nt go after this guy for the way he has his people stalk others! Guess there's too much Dave could've went after him about!! LOL

[Sarah Katherine]

Agreed, but he really covered all the bases by just ripping the guy to shreds. It was a satisfying experience.

[philosopherkingtomas]

fairness doctrine for cable fox news

[steamboat]

Sorry, but I prefer the 'Bill of Rights' for all American citizens, even those who don't think like I do.

fairness doctrine = McCarthyism

[jinxx]

Fairness doctrine simply means the airing of opposing viewpoints.

which is not good for those armed only with talking points.

[Bramble8]

Thank you Dave!