Posted on 03/25/2015 12:38:18 PM PDT by drewh
Discussing the presidential bid of Senator Ted Cruz with Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Tuesday's CBS Late Show, host David Letterman described the Texas Republican motivating "extreme" supporters: "...he announced at Liberty College [sic], which is Jerry Fallwell's place.... And that was, of course, purposeful, because he wanted to establish his – the base, the core of the extreme right-wing part of the Republican Party."
O'Reilly pushed back: "I don't know if he's that extreme. He went to Harvard. You know, he's a senator. He's certainly a unapologetic conservative traditional man."
Letterman began the exchange by asking: "What do you think of Ted Cruz?" O'Reilly replied: "I like him. He adds some well-needed candor to the ceremonies. I don't think he's going to win. But he's a straight-shooting guy, a very traditional conservative man. And I just like the fact that he's in, and he's going to stir it up, you know."
On Monday, Letterman joined his fellow late night hosts in mocking Cruz, painting the Cuban-American conservative as anti-immigrant.
Talking to O'Reilly on Tuesday, Letterman wondered why the GOP hadn't moved to the middle:
Have the Republicans done enough now with this nomination – I'm sorry, this announcement – to broaden their appeal?...after the election, wasn't there gatherings where people got together and they said, "Look, we know what we have to do. The Republican Party is being a bit wobbly, if not derailed. We know what we have to do now to broaden our appeal." And it seemed like, okay, self-examination is the key to a good life, but yet, have they done that?
AD FEEDBACK Later on the broadcast, Letterman brought up the suspension of NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams and urged the network to bring back the disgraced newsman:
(...)
DAVID LETTERMAN: And then I think of my friend Brian Williams, and this is really an enigma and a conundrum, and I don't know which either word means what. But should he – it seems to me that, that suspension now should be lifted and he should come back if he wants to come back. Don't you think so?
[APPLAUSE]
BILL O'REILLY: From the very beginning I've said that, you know, we have a sport in the United States called "Let's destroy the famous person." And that's what happened to him. And I think that NBC should bring him back. I think they will bring him back.
(...)
LETTERMAN: ...and the network, I think now, should, "Okay, we've all had a chance to think this over, let's lift the suspension, bring the man back, and let him do what he does best."
O'REILLY: I don't disagree with that. And I think viewers would still trust Brian Williams.
LETTERMAN: I think so, absolutely.
O'REILLY: Okay, so I don't think he's damaged that way. It's just a matter of what way is the best way to use him.
LETTERMAN: Well, I still think he could be the anchorman if that's what he wants to do.
Here is a transcript Letterman's exchange with O'Reilly on Cruz, aired early on March 25:
12:03 ET AM
(...)
DAVID LETTERMAN: Now listen, let's get serious here for a second. This Ted Cruz. What do you think of Ted Cruz?
BILL O'REILLY: I like him. He adds some well-needed candor to the ceremonies. I don't think he's going to win. But he's a straight-shooting guy, a very traditional conservative man. And I just like the fact that he's in, and he's going to stir it up, you know. He's going to call people pinheads, maybe throw things at them. I like all that.
LETTERMAN: Yes, that would be good.
O'REILLY: Yeah.
LETTERMAN: But will he – now, he announced at Liberty College [sic], which is Jerry Fallwell's place.
O'REILLY: Old place, yeah.
LETTERMAN: And that was, of course, purposeful, because he wanted to establish his – the base, the core of the extreme right-wing part of the Republican Party. Is that-
O'REILLY: I don't know if he's that extreme. He went to Harvard. You know, he's a senator. He's certainly a unapologetic conservative traditional man.
LETTERMAN: Right.
O'REILLY: Extreme? I mean I don't think he's Barry Goldwater, he wants to nuke people. I don't think he's in that range.
LETTERMAN: But now have they – have the Republicans done enough now with this nomination – I'm sorry, this announcement – to broaden their appeal?
O'REILLY: No.
LETTERMAN: Is there a Republican-
O'REILLY: I mean, you want an honest answer. They have to basically put together a platform that's going to get some minority voters to come over, Hispanic Americans in particular. They have to appeal to conservative and traditional women. So they just can't do ideology down the line if they want to beat Hillary Clinton. You've got to really, you know, step it up.
LETTERMAN: Okay, let's say Ted Cruz starts doing that, will then that alienate his core?
O'REILLY: He has to do it in a way that is what they call inclusive. It's not easy to do it. He's going to run to the right because Iowa, New Hampshire, that conservative vote is dominant. And then he tries to go to the middle. That's what they all do.
LETTERMAN: But didn't they – after the election, wasn't there gatherings where people got together and they said, "Look, we know what we have to do. The Republican Party is being a bit wobbly, if not derailed. We know what we have to do now to broaden our appeal." And it seemed like, okay, self-examination is the key to a good life, but yet, have they done that?
O'REILLY: Not yet. And it depends. There's going to be a lot of candidates, I figure eight to ten. And then the candidate who is able to articulate a message that reaches people who wouldn't normally vote Republican will win.
I thought Letterman died of a heart attack.
Guy really looks bad for his age, doesn’t he?
I find myself living the Peanuts cartoon with these morons - remember the caption of WAAAAH, WAAAAH? That’s me. I tune them out any more. What they think and say doesn’t matter - what God thinks and says - Matters. That’s all.
nailed it....midget on midget crime....
Unfortunately for Dave and those on the far left, Cruz doesn’t care about this kind of trash talk. And his supporters are going to figure out also, to not care about
Maybe what’s going on at the five. Courage like Cruz’s makes them feel bad remorseful
now THAT would be must see TV....
Let's not miss BoR's stupidity amidst Dave's ignorance.
The founders and the framers established the Center, politically speaking. If you thought the founders were extreme right-wing (or left-wing) nuts, then you’d be a Tory. No, the founders and framers defined the center, and Cruz has positioned himself in that mold.
Poor Dave, to him anyone who has actually read the U. S. Constitution is a nut-job, and needing to be locked up.
And if they actually support it or want it observed, why they’re probably worthy of the death penalty.
It’s a real hoot to see these Leftist public figures try to rationalize and speak off the cuff.
Just what constitutes an “Extreme Right-Wing” figure.
Funny, I’ve never heard him address the “Extreme Left-Wing”. Sad, because Dave is a member of that group and hasn’t clue one.
dont let this fret you, the more they try to push the “extreme” meme the more it will backfire on them once people actually see and hear what Cruz has to say.
The same thing happened with Reagan. They had the whole US thinking he was a war crazed nut job that would kill us all if elected. Then people actually SAW and HEARD him and the rest is history.
The funny thing is... by pretending he is more extreme than he is... the left is actually making it MUCH easier for Cruz to make himself look moderate later :)
LOLOLOL!!! So true!!!!!
Yes, and of course his liberal audience also found his repulsive humour about the Palins, including their kids, just absolutely uproariously funny. Why would any of us stay up to watch such garbage?
Yep, he really was funny, for a fleeting moment there. Then he seemed to get bitter and cranky.
There's a youtube somewhere of him interviewing Mel Blanc -- yes, THE Mel Blank, the voice of WB cartoons. Letterman was totally indifferent -- It was as if he didn't really know who Mel Blanc was, and he almost treated him like he was some old dude who was famous once. It was cringe-inducing.
Oh well. I remember in the mid '80s when Mel Blanc showed up at our university in a speaker's series, scheduled right when a lot of people had classes, yet the place was standing-room only, and I know I wasn't the only one who'd "ditched" a college class to see him.
Letterman must have been all along totally out of touch with all of us college kids, packed to the gills in the auditorium, cheering, silent when Blanc was talking -- Letterman hadn't a clue, he was so out of touch with "boots on the ground," so to speak. Now it shows.
Ted Cruz’s “Extreme Right-Wing” of the GOP is even larger than Letterman’s “laugh at sex jokes about Palin’s 14 y/o daughter” wing of the Democrat Party, and most democrats laugh at perversion.
A liberal guest (Goldwater was scary and wanted to nuke people!) and a leftist host talk about Ted Cruz.
Yawn.
Democrats like Letterman not only hate women like their interns, but they are racist against Hispanics like Ted Cruz.
I thought Letterman retired after confessing to giving his intern the Littleman.
Cruz is appealing to me and I am not a member of any part of the Republican Party. I am an American. I vote American. What does that mean? It means I vote for the candidate that is most likely to or that does follow the US Constitution. The candidate who has plans or ideas most likely to benefit Americans and America.
Letterman: Ted Cruz Appealing to ‘Extreme Right-Wing’ of GOP...
Letterman: Appealing to left wing neo-fascists in the rat party.
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