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 Falwell'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?
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:
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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.
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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
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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 Falwell'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.
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