O’Reilly: I Think Obama Is Smarter Than Bush (?) (Update)
Presented without commentary: on last night’s O’Reilly Factor, Bill O’Reilly said pretty bluntly that he thinks Barack Obama is smarter than George W. Bush. (Update: well, presented with some commentary.) Full video after the jump:
Comedian and former Tonight Show writer Buddy Winston elicited the surprising reaction during a segment on comedians’ treatment of Obama versus their treatment of Bush.
O’Reilly agreed with the self-described “liberal” that humorists had turned on Obama:
Winston: People think that Obama kind of comprehends the gravity of his decisions more than Bush –
O’Reilly: Well, I think he’s smarter than Bush.
Update: The Fox News official transcript has O’Reilly saying “Well, they think he’s smarter than George.” (emphases added) Accurate transcription, inaccurate transcription, or devious coverup?
Winston, who was on the program (but who is, once again, a self-avowed liberal), confidently proclaims that O’Reilly said “I.” To mine ear, it sounds like “I,” but there is some ambiguity. Listen for yourself. (Poll after the video.)
As for the Fox transcript: maybe, but the decision on the I/they ambiguity is called into question by the “George” at the end of O’Reilly’s quote. He clearly says “Bush.”
(h/t Buddy Winston himself)
23 comments
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WriterRoss says: Is this supposed to be a revelation?
Saying Obama is smarter than Bush is like saying a dead doorknob is smarter than Bush.
“[T]he surprising reaction,” Mr. Quigley?
Why was it a surprise to you? Please, answer that question. Don’t chicken out.
A dead doorknob IS smarter than Bush – hell, everything and anything is smarter than Bush. Having someone say you’re smarter than George W. Bush isn’t much of a compliment. Particularly when you look at what Bush did to the nation as a whole, more damage than was done by Al Qaeda. AQ will miss their greatest asset
Pssst — Ross! Adkins!
There’s no such thing as a “dead doorknob.” There’s no such thing as a “live doorknob.” There are just doorknobs.
Are you both among those Democrats in the Pew survey who believe in ghosts and stuff?
Based upon his pre-election statements, I’d say that if O’Reilly voted in ‘08, he most likely voted for Obama and considering the current Republican field, I’d be kind of surprised, if doesn’t do it again.
ImNotBlue says: Mr. Quigley… are you sure that’s what he said.
Listen to the clip again… it sure sounds like he says, “Well, THEY think he’s smarter than Bush.”
And in the context, Winston says “People” (referring to the comedians and writers)… it wouldn’t make sense for O’Reilly to interject with “I,” but it does make sense to interject “THEY” in agreement with Mr. Winston’s comment.
Methinks you’ve got it wrong.
_____
Bill Adkins says:
December 15, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Particularly when you look at what Bush did to the nation as a whole, more damage than was done by Al Qaeda. AQ will miss their greatest asset
It’s tough to imagine that a proud anti-Semite like you could say something dumber than what you’ve already said… but perhaps today you’ve topped yourself. Offensive, uniformed, and hateful… the trifecta that has become the signature of Bill Adkins. WTG.
Robert Quigley says: @ImNotBlue: ambiguity duly noted; check out the update.
straitshooter says: Most people would probably say Obama is smarter. The only pertinent question is: “Is Obama a good president, and he isn’t now, will he turn things around and be successful by the time he leaves office.”
To say man A is smarter than man B doesn’t mean man B isn’t also smart.
And we’ve all seen examples where intellect didn’t necessarily correspond with political success.
rmbltmbl says: There are many different ways to be smart.
Same time slot, different channel. Joy Behar, the grinning half-wit, loves to call GWBush ‘dumb’. Last night on her broadcast she was enthralled with the thought of the Berlusconi assault was so similar to when ” Bush got hit with the shoe”. Her dunderhead guests didn’t correct her.
Being called “dumb” by such a marginal intellect is kinda “dumb” in itself.
felixw says: Listen to the video. O’Reilly clearly says: “They think he’s smarter than Bush.” He is referring to standup comedians and talks show hosts. He doesn’t say that he (Bill O’Reilly) thinks Obama is smarter than Bush.
Robert Quigley says: @LNSmithee:
1) well: it’s Bill O’Reilly.
2) Marty McFly in Back to the Future 2: “ Nobody calls me chicken.”
In the words of Mel Brooks: “HOLD YOUR PALOMINOS, FOLKS!”
O’Reilly did NOT say “I think he’s smarter than Bush,” he said “They think he’s smarter than Bush,” referring to the comedy writers.
Anyway, O’Reilly is being his “Look, I’m a centrist. I’m giving the left-wingers credit” self. I think this take on the comedy writers is more serious than his. “DAVID LECHER-MAN GOES TOO FAR: Slandering the Palins, Protecting Obama, and “Humor” as a Partisan Weapon.”
I heard it when it was said. He definitely said they.
“@ImNotBlue says:
December 15, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Bill Adkins says:
December 15, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Particularly when you look at what Bush did to the nation as a whole, more damage than was done by Al Qaeda. AQ will miss their greatest asset
It’s tough to imagine that a proud anti-Semite like you could say something dumber than what you’ve already said… but perhaps today you’ve topped yourself. Offensive, uniformed, and hateful… the trifecta that has become the signature of Bill Adkins. WTG.”
The anti-semite tag is a lie, but keep it up, if it makes you feel better.
That said, I think you are NOT smarter than Bush
straitshooter wrote:
To say man A is smarter than man B doesn’t mean man B isn’t also smart.
And we’ve all seen examples where intellect didn’t necessarily correspond with political success.
Prime example: Herbert Hoover.
ImNotBlue says: Robert Quigley says:
December 15, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Fair enough.
I still think he said “they,” and that “they” makes more sense in the context… but I’ll agree that there is some ambiguity to it.
Thanks for the update.
Bill Adkins says:
December 15, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Well, I’ve already prove the anti-Semite bit… so as for being a “lie,” negative.
But that said, I’m not really interested in what you think. Perhaps it’s because you’re the kind of guy who says anti-Semitic things without a whiff of concern or recognition… perhaps since we’ve already established how hateful you really are, I’m pretty content to be disrespected by you over and over again. You’re just one of those guys I wouldn’t want on my side.
rmbltmbl says: Yeah, I agree.. Adkins, you got problems.. deal with it already.
ireenawagner says: “The Divine One” is glib and cunning; nothing more substantive than that. He is an historical accident, a bit of flotsam and jetsam brought to the surface by some sort of political storm.
folic acid
Nachi says: Billy comes forth from his psychic black hole to make this announcement?? Isn’t anyone/everyone “smarter than George Bush”??
to answer your question, Nachi, yes – except Blue. And Blue, not liking one jew, you, does not make me anti-semitic. You are not ‘every jew,’ you’re just a police academy wannabe.
J Baustian says: For such a brilliant guy, Barack Obama seems determined to repeat the same mistakes as so many of his predecessors. For some reason he thinks the results will be different. Maybe he really isn’t so smart.
George W Bush knew his limitations, Barack Obama does not acknowledge having any limitations. Obama is still on his media honeymoon, but eventually the honeymoon will be over. And just as Obama is making Bill Clinton look better and better in retrospect, he will do the same for George W Bush.
ImNotBlue says: Bill Adkins says:
December 16, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Well, actually… suggesting that because I’m a Jew who does not support your opinions, therefore I must be a Nazi IS anti-Semitic. Your “opinion” demands conformity to YOUR POV. Without that, you believe a person is a Nazi sympathizer, a Nazi supporter, or a Nazi themselves. You demand rigid adherence to YOUR political philosophy… and when I didn’t provide it, you attacked me because of my religion… thusly saying that Jews can only agree with me… or be criminals. You ARE an anti-Semite. You are a hateful, terrible, classless, uncivil, and disgusting excuse for a human. And as I’ve said before, I have no problem point that out and proving it over and over again.
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