Fox News Host Bill O'Reilly apologized on Thursday night for calling the network's liberal commentator Alan Colmes a liar earlier in the week for saying that President Barack Obama made specific suggestions to cut entitlement programs.
"Even though I'm sorry I said Alan was lying, I should not have used that word, I'm glad the exposition occurred," O'Reilly said during his introductory monologue on the 8 p.m. show "Talking Points."
The heated exchange (video below) occurred during Tuesday's segment of the show "Barack & a Hard Place," in which Colmes joins O'Reilly and conservative commentator Monica Crowley to discuss the political issues of the day and how they apply to the president.
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In this week's debate about entitlement spending, Colmes noted that Obama offered cuts on entitlements and Medicare. O'Reilly, who was already agitated, fired back that Obama hasn't named specific programs that he will cut,
Politico reported.
"He has to say, 'Here are the programs that are going to go down. Here is how we are going to reform Medicare and Social Security,'" O’Reilly said. "And the man refuses to do it."
"That’s not true," Colmes said.
"Hold it, hold it, because now I’m getting teed off at you," O’Reilly argued. "Give me one damn program he said he’d cut? One!"
"He has cut entitlements," Colmes said before the host interrupted him.
"Not entitlements, one program!" O’Reilly said, the volume of his voice raising.
Colmes then asked O'Reilly, "Why are you yelling, what do you want to yell at me for?"
"Bull----," O’Reilly said, without finishing the apparent curse on-air. "Because you are lying. You are lying."
"Don't call me a liar," Colmes replied. "Don't you sit there and call me a liar."
"You are lying, you are lying!" O’Reilly repeated several times.
"You don't like the president," Colmes said. "You don't like what he is doing. But don't sit there and call me a liar."
"I am," O’Reilly replied.
At the segment's conclusion, O’Reilly asked his guests, "Did I go overboard there?" to which Colmes replied, "No, I think it was great."
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After apologizing Thursday night, O'Reilly added, "the truth is Mr. Obama has not put forth any specific federal spending cuts. It's all a bunch of general nonsense," adding that he raised his voice to "get everybody’s attention — I think I succeeded," Politico reported.
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