Conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly
on Tuesday endorsed the arguments of gay marriage advocates.
In a discussion with Fox News
personality Megyn Kelly on The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly
agreed with his guest, saying that the “compelling argument is on
the side of homosexuals.”
Kelly explained why she thought
Americans' views were changing on the issue of marriage equality.
“Because I think the same-sex
marriage advocates have done a credible job in getting out there and
making their case,” Kelly said. “I mean, for years those who
opposed gay marriage, take the religious piece out of it for this,
because there is no arguing that. The Christian religion teaches
what it teaches. The Bible says what it says. I mean about
marriage.”
“But our policy shouldn't be made by
that.”
“I had an interview with Tony Perkins
of the [Christian conservative] Family Research Council. What is it
about calling a gay union a marriage that offends you. How does it
hurt traditional, or heterosexual marriage? And I didn't hear
anything articulated that was particularly persuasive.”
“And I agree with you 100 percent,”
O'Reilly said. “The compelling argument is on the side of
homosexuals. That's where the compelling argument is. 'We're
Americans, we just want to be treated like everybody else.' That's a
compelling argument. And to deny that, you've got to have a very
strong argument on the other side. And the other side hasn't been
able to do anything but thump the Bible.”
Talk show host Rush Limbaugh criticized
O'Reilly's remarks, saying
that he had “marginalized” Fox News viewers.