Bill O’Reilly Blames ‘Reverse McCarthyism’ For Entertainers Refusing To Participate In Trump Inauguration

Judging from the needle on Bill O’Reilly’s Venom-O-Meter last night, his buddy Donald Trump must be deeply smarting from his inability to find any A-list celebrities to perform at his inauguration. So, O’Reilly reacted just like any right-wing bully: by blaming others and in this case, coming up with new smears for those who don’t want to support the least popular president-elect in recent history.

O’Reilly couldn’t or wouldn’t consider the fact that entertainers are acting on their consciences and principles. He insisted, without any evidence, that there is some kind of “un-American” “reverse McCarthyism” in the entertainment industry intimidating them.

It was a classic case of projection. O'Reilly proceeded to try to browbeat and shame the performers as not being pro-America enough to perform for Trump. (transcript excerpts via Media Matters):

O'REILLY: The harsh truth is that there is reverse McCarthyism going on in the entertainment industry. Remember that in the 1950s, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy started accusing people in Hollywood of being Communists. That led to a black list where people were not hired because McCarthy smeared them.

Today, it seems anti-Trump zealots may be doing the same thing. If you are a Trump supporter, you are a bad person, and a number of entertainers believe their careers will be harmed, should they associate with the new Trump administration. Again, that is terrible, an awful state of affairs. Talking Points believes enough is enough of the anti-Trump movement. The man won the election, give him a chance. Respect the process. Stop the nonsense.

Fortunately for us, conservative Charles Krauthammer, a Fox News conservative and an O’Reilly Factor regular, set O’Reilly straight:

“You know, I find it hard to get exercised over the fact that we may be short a Rockette at the inaugural celebration,” Krauthammer told O’Reilly. He also pointed out that O’Reilly had “shown no evidence” that there was McCarthyism going on.

But O’Reilly insisted otherwise:

O’REILLY: Oh, stop. The evidence is there’s nobody booked. That’s the evidence, there’s nobody booked, two weeks away.

KRAUTHAMMER: They don’t want to play for Donald Trump.

O’REILLY: Bull.

KRAUTHAMMER: This is a republic.

O’REILLY: Bull.

KRAUTHAMMER: You are not summoned to perform for the king or for the dictator. In some places, if Kim Jong-un calls you to sing, you better show up, because otherwise you’re not gonna make it to the morning.

O’REILLY: You—you don’t know anything about the Hollywood industries. They will perform for Joseph Stalin, okay, if they think it is going to help their career. Okay?

Of course, it can't be Trump's fault he's so despised. That "personal responsibility" thing that O’Reilly lectures African Americans about doesn't seem to apply to a lying, sexual-assaulting, racist white guy!

Watch it below, via Media Matters.

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Showing 14 reactions

commented 2017-01-06 10:23:09 -0500 · Flag

I don’t normally watch much of the inauguration, but I’d stick around for a Ted Nugent/Kanye West duet.

commented 2017-01-05 09:34:03 -0500 · Flag

For entertainment when Nugent starts playing, have the crowd yell “draft” and watch what happens.

commented 2017-01-04 18:20:50 -0500 · Flag

If the Nuge plays “Cat Scratch Fever”, the Donald can show everybody what a classy guy he is by picking Melania up by the cat.

commented 2017-01-04 17:24:51 -0500 · Flag

I’m sure that Ted Nugent can free up an evening to sing love songs to Orange Donald.

commented 2017-01-04 16:09:21 -0500 · Flag

That statement isn’t even an analogy, it makes no sense at all. McCarthy accused people of unfounded support of communism. A-list entertainers aren’t accusing Trump of being anything. They just don’t want to associate with him, not on presumptive accusations but because of his provable actions. Now if O’Reilly wants to prove his statement factual, then he’s saying Trump is the opposite of McCarthyism, which he is. Even though his pal Putin isn’t running a communist country, he admits to being very fond of communism. His country is an oligarchy of which Trump wants to emulate. And it’s happening. Trump said he sat in that room full of oligarchs and was awed. Russian oligarchs gained most of their fortunes through privatizing state programs they got cheap through the government. They surround themselves with other billionaires and shifted all the possible capitalist opportunities to themselves. Well, this is what Trump’s doing and if nobody has the guts to stop him then America is the new Russia. Putin has one up on Trump, though, Russia has healthcare for all.

commented 2017-01-04 15:32:52 -0500 · Flag

Is Trump going to enter the inauguration on a gold-plated golf cart with babes in bikinis throwing dollar bills at the audience like he did in that TV show of his?

commented 2017-01-04 15:32:15 -0500 · Flag

commented 2017-01-04 14:48:43 -0500 · Flag

Never fear, Drumpf and Drumpfelstiltkins; there will be at least two A-list celebrities at Drumpf’s ~~coronation~~ inauguration: former President and Mrs. Clinton:

http://www.npr.org/2017/01/03/508072518/hillary-and-bill-clinton-to-attend-trump-inauguration

.

commented 2017-01-04 14:41:44 -0500 · Flag

Well, O’Loofah was such a big defender of the Dixie Chicks, so I guess he is right on this one.

commented 2017-01-04 14:34:58 -0500 · Flag

LOL!!!! This great, now that the shoe is on the other foot (8 lone year of showing no respect for President Obama, now they want to whine) this is only the beginning. The sleeping Giant has awaken, not even some Democrats are safe. No more turning the other cheek!!!!!

commented 2017-01-04 14:32:13 -0500 · Flag

Hey BOR!! Whatever happened to the free market??! Freedom isn’t free, ya blowhard!! Besides you can always go to the…… NUUUGE!!!!! Yes Ted will be playing the Bumfuk Landfill and Tire Fire next weekend. But after that he’s free!!!

Keith Urban can be his backup.

commented 2017-01-04 14:11:38 -0500 · Flag

I wonder what happen to all the Nashville Republicans? We’re always told by the right that Hollywood is full of liberals, but Country & Western artist are those who truly love America, for which it stands.

I guess they’ll just have to look forward to an evening of entertainment with legendary Scott Baio.

commented 2017-01-04 12:56:19 -0500 · Flag

I’m sure all the gals at FOX could do their best Rockettes impersonation and Donald wouldn’t care or know the difference. We are in for 4 years of the dumbest of Murica.

commented 2017-01-04 12:52:22 -0500 · Flag

Why doesn’t Junior O’Reilly volunteer his services for Inauguration day? He could re-create his infamous Manhasset Mansion Staircase Neck Drag on the the steps of The Supreme Court Building. President Rump could at that moment unveil his new Department Of Women’s Punishment. Headed by none other than Bully O’Lielly Jr. himself.