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Bill O’Reilly half apologizes for “being an idiot” after Supreme Court Obamacare ruling

Half apology made in shock over Chief Justice Robert's ruling

ANTOINETTE KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, July 4, 2012, 7:13 AM

Updated Wednesday, July 4, 2012, 7:14 AM

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Bill O'Reilly host of "The O'Reilly Factor"

Photo by Fox

Political pundit Bill O'Reilly half honored his public pledge to 'apologize for being an idiot' if the Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate in President Obama's health care law.

O'Reilly made originally made his vow in March as a measure of his confidence that the Court would find the mandate unconstitutional.

Much to his surprise it did not however play out that way. Chief Justice John Roberts found that it could be upheld as a tax or penalty rather than through the scope of the Commerce Clause.

According to the Huffington Post, O'Reilly took his time making good on his pledge. He was on vacation was last week, though he did call in to his own show to talk with temporary host Laura Ingraham about his reaction to the ruling.

Then on Monday night however he finally owned up.

'I’m not really sorry, but I am a man of my word, so I apologize for not factoring in the John Roberts situation,' he said.

'Truthfully, I never in a million years thought the chief justice would go beyond the scope of the Commerce Clause debate and into taxation. I may be an idiot for not considering that.'

May be is not quite I am, so O'Reilly offered a rather qualified apology. Bantering with frequent guest Bernie Goldberg over his reaction to the ruling O'Reilly lamented the left wing websites that called him on his refusal to call himself an idiot.

'You may be many things Bill, but naive isn't one of them,' Goldberg soothed. 'You made a big, loud prediction, so of course they're going to go after you.'

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Roscrealad | Jul 06, 2012, 01:43 PM EDT

I hate to burst your bubble but O'Reilly said the law would be found uncobstitutional under the commerce clause, which it was. He could not have anticipated a ruling under taxation as Obama claimed it wasn't a tax and didn't inform anyone it woukd be argue in that way. So, based on the information made available to him, he was correct. So, who is the real idiot? Don't bother with the name calling, I'm not American and i don't subscribe to the belittlement of others who disagree with me, as is the norm in the US. I'm just pointing out the truth. By the way, I didn't see one prediction that it would be upheld under taxation.Yet I don't see anyone else being called an idiot. My mother always used to say, "inferior minds will always ridiclule and criticise those people they perceive to be superior." wise woman, my mother

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mayoman | Jul 05, 2012, 08:20 AM EDT

We liberals and progressives obviously love to hate Bill O'Reilly. How could we not? He's our anti-Christ. He's arrogant, patronizing, vile and unenlightened, and will always be counted on to spew the most reactionary vomit on Roger Ailes' command. With his customary I-Know-it-all-smirk, inability to allow anyone to even finish a sentence, and endless finger-pointing he beliitles and lectures guests that he doesn't agree with, while warmly embracing his narrow-minded Fellow Travelers. Irish Central rakes in the advertising revenue everytime we liberals click to see what the latest outrageous O'Reilly quote or diatribe might be, but IC has to also know that they are providing O'Reilly with a great deal of free publicity. Publicity that this clown niether needs, nor deserves.

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JBRAFTREE | Jul 04, 2012, 01:17 PM EDT

Agree with Seanmor- Semper Fi!!

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JBRAFTREE | Jul 04, 2012, 12:39 PM EDT

Who do we figure will pay the tax burden and financial mess of this down the road? Those of us that have insurance already that's who!

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susan724 | Jul 04, 2012, 12:21 PM EDT

dev4- you think that with this global economy we are not going to go down with Europe?? You are in great denial! Our economy has contributed to their's and vice versa - it's inevitable that in only a short time we will be where Europe is (we're almost there now). Did you now that over 50% of today's college students graduating cannot find jobs in the U.S.? Stop be so moralizing - we are all in the same boat!

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patrickesq | Jul 04, 2012, 11:45 AM EDT

It is sad to think that a Fox News pundit, the Tea party, and all other right wing extremists, think that a Supreme Court Justice is in their ideological pocket by virtue of having been appointed by a Republican President . Hopefully Justice Roberts upheld the Affordable Care Act, and respected the right of Congress to establish national policies, because the law met Constitutional muster.

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dev4 | Jul 04, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT

obama is trying to turn the usa into europe, how is europe working out.

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jamthecat | Jul 04, 2012, 10:52 AM EDT

The real idiots are people like Seanmor and Bulldogmania, who keep repeating discredited right-wing lies as fact and honestly seem to agree with the attitude that if you're poor, unable to afford health insurance, and get sick, then you should just die. That is vile. As for Bill, he didn't apologize. He equivocated by saying "maybe" he was an idiot. I think the SOB finally actually paid attention to what Roberts really did -- set it up so there will be future challenges to anything that is regulated by federal interstate commerce laws, thus handing the right wing a time bomb to try and destroy the New Deal. This may have been a victory for HCR, but it's also Fifth Column attack on the federal government's powers. Roberts isn't smart enough to come up with this on his own; I wonder who his owners are.

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Robbie69 | Jul 04, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT

Doesn't anyone proof read your articles? Get someone to correct your English before you go to press! O'Reilly has always been an idiot and a bully. To think that I grew up in New York not far from where O'Reilly came from! How did he go bad? Too bad he is a psychopath and lier who pays off for all his sexual indiscretions. He has no credibility.

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susan724 | Jul 04, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT

haasny007 - I thought the exact same thing about Zippy Pinhead (O'Reilly) when I read the article. It is so funny to watch the Republicans get blindsided and by one of their own no less! I am wondering if they want some stinky cheese with their whine?

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susan724 | Jul 04, 2012, 10:43 AM EDT

Bulldogmaniac- LOL - The US is ranked 36th (World Health Organization) in the world in healthcare and it's the wealthiest nation on earth. It is the only industrialized country without a national healthcare system but continues to give 23% of its budget to defense - You forgot to factor in the amount it will save due to the non-insured going to emergency rooms which is costing us more than what will be spent. I am for saving lives- you and your Republican cronies are for letting people die (even though as I stated we are the wealthiest country on earth) That makes all of you sociopaths (fact).

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BulldogMania | Jul 04, 2012, 10:07 AM EDT

This article is sick. How can you joke about one of the largest tax increases in American history...one that will destroy the competitive edge of our healthcare system, add at least $1.7 TRILLION to the deficit (according to the non-partisan GAO) and will surrender nearly 30% of our economy to the Federal government. There is NOTHING to celebrate this July 4th. 236 we declared our freedom from a government of oppression. We are right back where we started. This is a very DARK day in America. John Roberts will be remembered in history as the TAX justice!

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haasny007 | Jul 04, 2012, 09:55 AM EDT

Bill O'Reilly apologized for being an idiot? No need for that, it is common knowledge.

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Seanmor | Jul 04, 2012, 08:12 AM EDT

Now that the Supreme Courtb had rubber-stamped Obama care, does that mean that the 12 million or so illegal aliens in the U.S. will continue to receive FREE health treatment in emergency hospitals? Whether or not one agrees with Bill O'Reilly opposition to Obama care, the fact remains that some military veterans still have to pay for the health care we receive in V.A. hospitals. My own bill at Albany Veterans Hospital for April and May was $380. (Happy 4th of July to all veterans - especially my fellow Irishmen - who have served with honor in the U.S. dedfense forces. God bless America).

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