Monday on Fox News Channel’s “The O’Reilly Factor,” host Bill O’Reilly criticized Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for her Friday remarks describing 50 percent of Trump supporters as a “basket of deplorables” that hold certain beliefs.
Transcript as follows:
Not since President William Henry Harrison died of reported pneumonia in 1841 just 32 days into his term has that lung infection so captured the imagination of American voters. As you most likely know by now, Hillary Clinton faltered at a 9/11 memorial on Sunday. Her campaign announcing afterward that she has pneumonia, something they knew last Friday. Now the stamina of both Mrs. Clinton and Donald Trump is amazing.
These people are under constant pressure, in motion all the time, and the fact that they can pull it off is astounding. Going forward, both candidates should be candid about their health because it is a major factor in leadership. But that situation is far overshadowed by the “basket of deplorables” comment.
Friday night:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON: “You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic — you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that.”
But not 50 percent of Trump supporters; that’s lunacy, that smears millions and millions of Americans. It didn’t take long for Mr. Trump to strike back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Baltimore, MD today:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: “Hillary Clinton spoke with hatred and derision for the people who make this country run. She spoke with contempt for the people who thanklessly follow the rules, pay their taxes, and scratch out a living for their family. ((EDIT)) Our support comes from every part of America and every walk of life. We have the support of cops, and carpenters and welders. The young and the old – and millions of working-class families who just want a better future.”
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Talking Points believes that Secretary Clinton made a big mistake here reminiscent of Mitt Romney, saying that 47 percent of Americans would not vote for him because they want stuff. Every fair-minded person knows you cannot generalize about what is in peoples’ hearts. And I don’t include the far left under the banner of fair-minded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Meet the Press, yesterday:
STEPHANIE CUTTER, OBAMA 2012 DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER: “He is attracting a certain type of voter. She gave a whole speech on describing them. They’re called the alt-right. ((EDIT)) So what she said was not wrong, her only mistake was that she described half of his supporters that way.”
(END VIDEO CLIP)
That woman apparently believing that all who support Donald Trump are racist and inferior human beings. That opinion was echoed on the op-ed page of the New York Times today by another far-left loon. What Mrs. Clinton’s comments really do is mobilize those who were thinking about voting for Donald Trump, not his hard core supporters. I mean, come on. Branding people racist is despicable unless there is undeniable proof of that charge.
Again, fair-minded people know that. When I heard Hillary Clinton say the “basket of deplorables” line I was surprised. She is a measured speaker and that line was written for her.
Somebody should have known that it would give Donald Trump a major advantage. But again, campaigns are very strange things.
And that’s the memo.
Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor
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