Regular readers know I am vehemently in favor of Democrats and liberals going on Fox News. But I am just as vehement that if and when they do so (and not all should), they must be prepared for what they are walking into. Carl Bernstein - of Woodward and Bernstein/Watergate fame - clearly was prepared for his appearance on The O'Reilly Factor last night. Bernstein did what all guests should do: take hold of the discussion and not allow the conservative host to control it.

Bernstein was there to defend comments he made about Republicans. They were the kinds of comments that would have surely won him Fox News props had he said them about Democrats. But since he said them about Republicans, they engendered FNC's "language of the left" disapproval.

O'Reilly played a montage of Bernstein saying that today's Republicans are "a rabid organization from the top down. ...It's cancerous. ...You have to go back to... the Democratic Party of segregation to find this kind of scorched earth politics - putting the national interest nowhere and putting ideology and ideology above all else."

O'Reilly's friendly chatty tone as he explained why he thought Bernstein had been "a little bit unfair" signaled that he was going to treat Bernstein well. As opposed to, say, his condescending treatment of an African American college professor as they discussed what O'Reilly calls the "chaotic" family lives of black America.

Here's what Bernstein did so effectively:

1. He refused to allow himself to be interrupted. Either he demanded (nicely) that O'Reilly let him finish or he just kept talking until he said his piece.

2. When he wanted the discussion to remain on a point, he said, "Let's stop there." And then, before O'Reilly could interrupt, continued to say what he (Bernstein) wanted to say.

3. He changed the topic when he wanted. At about 4:30 into the video, Bernstein brought up Social Security. O'Reilly commanded Bernstein to stick to the subject of Obamacare. Which Bernstein ignored.

4. Bernstein had his talking points down pat and seemed prepared for every single argument thrown at him.

5. Bernstein stuck to his guns without budging.

In fairness, O'Reilly may have been inclined to treat Bernstein better because of his stature. And, because O'Reilly was no supporter of the government shutdown, may have been inclined to give Bernstein's views more of an airing - while maintaining personal distance from them.

Nevertheless, Bernstein was a textbook case of what to right. I hope someone who's planning an appearance of their own on Fox will review it and emulate it before stepping foot in front of a "fair and balanced" camera.