Ted Nugent is the kind of extremist hate monger who makes Glenn Beck look thoughtful and reasonable. But hey, The Nuge suggests he’d like to kill Democrats so, apparently, that makes him A-OK by Fox News’ lights. During an interview tonight, Bill O’Reilly didn’t even mention Nugent’s birtherism, his race-baiting, suggestions he’d like to kill Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. No, O’Reilly wanted to know what Nugent thinks of rap music, legalized marijuana and an encounter with Paul McCartney.

O’Reilly introduced the interview by calling Nugent “the most controversial rock star in the country.” He added, “Sometimes Nugent’s politics can make things a bit dicey." But the only thing close to a “controversy” we learned about Nugent was that he’s a “big gun guy” and a conservative.

To say that gave a distorted impression of Nugent in what is supposedly the “No Spin Zone” is an understatement, to put it mildly.

Some examples of Nugent’s extremist and violent rhetoric:

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Nugent called candidate Barack Obama “a piece of shit” who should “suck on my machine gun” and Hillary Clinton, a “worthless bitch” who should “ride into the sunset” on his machine gun.

In 2012, Nugent said, “If Barack Obama becomes the president in November again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year.” 

In May, 2013, he said during a concert, “”One way or another I’m going to the White House and I’m going to get those cocksuckers in a stranglehold”

In August, 2013, he said: “You got to earn it. Unlike these well-fed motherfucker food stamp cocksuckers, we got to earn what we get. You won’t get no fucking venison with food stamps, you pussies. But you can get crack. How fucked up is that?”

In July, 2013, Nugent wrote about Obama’s “phony birth certificate” and described the Fort Hood shooter as Obama's “Allah Ahkbar buddy.”

But O’Reilly – who has previously said Nugent’s “straight talk is what the Republican Party needs” – mentioned none of that.

Instead, O’Reilly asked how the “avowed” liberals in the rock and roll world treat Nugent -  as if we should be concerned he’d not be treated well enough. Not to worry, though. Nugent said, “They treat me wonderfully.” He did acknowledge that there has been “some friction” over the years with “some artists – and I use the name generously.” However, now, Nugent says, they’ve “put down the dope” and “realized I’m just a Detroit guitar player who stands up for the right thing. The love fest is indescribable.”

It’s certainly true on Fox News.

O’Reilly kindly pointed out that Nugent has sold 40 million records. “The bona fides are there in the music industry,” he noted.

Then O’Reilly just happened to ask if Nugent had ever “run across” Paul McCartney.

No, but he had a “great McCartney story" to tell us anyway. It “crystallizes the whole thing,” The Nuge said. It was a self-serving anecdote about being criticized by vegan McCartney for shooting animals to which Nugent nobly responded by thanking McCartney for “enriching our lives with the greatest music.”

Well, it’s a good thing McCartney didn’t call him a racist. During an August 7, 2013 concert in Boston, Nugent said: “Al 'Not So' Sharpton thinks I’m a racist. Hey Al, suck my dead dog’s cock. You got to be shitting me.” Moments later, Nugent singled out a black man in the audience and said, “Good to see you brother. Let me see that big ol’ smile. It’s dark but I still see it. God bless you. You feel the love don’t you?”

O’Reilly closed the interview by saying, “Ted Nugent everybody. One of a kind.”

Memo to any liberals who go on Fox: The next time O’Reilly or anyone else on Fox complains about a “lack of outrage” or a double standard in the liberal media or poisoned rhetoric on MSNBC, please remind them how Fox gave a warm welcome to Nugent without indicating a care in the world over his toxic rhetoric.  Not only that, they helped him whitewash it.