Robert Reich Challenges O'Reilly To A Debate

We haven't posted about this previously but there's been a bit of a to-do between UC Berkeley professor and former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Bill O'Reilly. Recently, O'Reilly called Reich a communist who "secretly adores Karl Marx." Reich took exception to the accusation, saying, “Ordinarily I don’t bother repeating anything Bill O’Reilly says... But this particular whopper is significant because it represents what O’Reilly and Fox News, among others, are doing to the national dialogue. They’re burying it in doo-doo.” O'Reilly now claims he was joking when he said it. Reich has challenged O'Reilly to a debate and, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, has yet to receive a response. (h/t Jim T.)

O'Reilly's claim that he was joking is debatable. He said last night that he was obviously kidding and "laughing" when he called Reich a communist. He was definitely not laughing. I'd say he was being somewhat facetious and hyperbolic. In any event, Reich didn't find it funny. He has tweeted twice to debate "man to man" and offered to do so blindfolded. "What are you afraid of? I'm 4'10."

Stay tuned!

The first video below is a clip from O'Reilly's original discussion in which he called Reich a communist. The second one is a clip from last night's discussion in which O'Reilly said he was joking. Both clips via Media Matters.

11/27/19 Update: videos seem no longer to be available.

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Showing 11 reactions

commented 2012-04-28 11:32:08 -0400 · Flag

There is a serious side to this, which is that Reich is challenging Fox News’ tactics and agenda, and I think that is important and meaningful.

commented 2012-04-28 02:38:01 -0400 · Flag

Colin, I completely agree with you. These people are rabid about fulfilling their goals of radical conservatism. I think that ridiculing them is a good way of combating them but it never fails to chagrin me how the left underestimates and fails to adequately respond to the rabid right.

commented 2012-04-27 11:44:39 -0400 · Flag

Bile is not informed enough or capable to debate anyone with a brain,his mode of operandi is to overshout,gesture wildly,snort like a bull,and if all that fails he will cut of their mikes.Then call in the troops to stroke his ego by having them tell him that he is a great interviewer, and of course he Bile wasn’t trying to humiliate his victim (guest),always fair and balanced eh! Bile.It always amazes me that anyone goes on that ridicilous piece of shit show,in my opinion just walking into the Fox building is embarressing.

commented 2012-04-26 18:59:33 -0400 · Flag

Bildo’s rules for debate:
1. Questions from a panel comprised of dubious gender mAnn Coulter, D-List Dennis Miller and Toe-sucking Dick Morris.
2. Bildo can interrupt and shout over Reich’s answers at any time.
3. Debate will not be shown live, but only on tape delay after careful editing by Jesse Weasel Watters.
4. Post-debate analysis from blonde bimbo Retchin Carlson, body-language expert Tanya, and “Dr” Keith Allblow.

commented 2012-04-26 18:16:16 -0400 · Flag

Its true that right wingers find personal insults to be the highest form of humor. But a joke is not meant to be entirely truthful, Bill’s insults are.

commented 2012-04-26 15:05:42 -0400 · Flag

Reich himself called it when he first addressed this:

Obviously, OâReilly has no interest in arguing anything. Ad hominem attacks are always the last refuges of intellectual boors lacking any logic or argument. (Whoops, I think I just stooped to name-calling. Sorry, Bill.)

I like how Reich worded it- Bill knows that his own show isn’t an option, which is probably why he’s so afraid. He knows no one will doctor it for him on TV, and that he’ll be flat humiliated live.

commented 2012-04-26 15:05:18 -0400 · Flag

doors 17 is correct. O’Loofah would only agree to debate Reich, and I find it very unlikely he would, on his show only where he, O’Loofah, controls the microphone. If I ever had the opportunity, I would, like he said Reich should do, demand the debate be done live. O’Loofah would never allow this, because he would be putting his editing team out of work, and you know how big he is on job creation.

commented 2012-04-26 14:00:25 -0400 · Flag

Patrick Tolle, Bill like Rush seems to want to keep out of the line of fire where their opinions are never challenged, but give the appearance that their word is gospel. Rush only appears on Fox where he knows heâll be greeted by an adoring audience with a host that will just allow him to speak without any interruption.

While Bill will have those who disagree with him, he also enjoys having his blonde beauty bobbleheads who will praise his every word as if the lord has spoken. I hope Iâm wrong and Bill will accept the debate. He called the man a communist, and Robert Reich to Billâs horror is defending himself and calling him out. Iâm sure C-SPAN will be happy to oblige to hold a debate between the two. We already know one will accept.

NewsHounds posted about Robert Reich Challenges O'Reilly To A Debate on NewsHounds' Facebook page 2012-04-26 13:59:28 -0400

This should be good!

commented 2012-04-26 13:05:16 -0400 · Flag

On the SF Chronicle article I posted the followingâ¦

If Bill does accept the debate (unlikely) he’ll want to have it on his home court where it’ll have to be on his program to get ratings. If they do then Reich should insist that they do it live (I know what you’re thinking about Bill and doing it live) and this way they can’t do any editing tricks. I hope Bill accepts it’ll be interesting.

To add here I donât believe Bill will accept this challenge since heâll have nothing to gain with those who admire him. Theyâll just declare victory and move on. I donât know if Reich has ever been a guest on Billâs show before, and if he has then all this will accomplish for Reich will guarantee heâll never be invited back to avoid the confrontation.

commented 2012-04-26 12:47:13 -0400 · Flag

I believe O’Reilly. It’s obvious that everything he says is a joke.