O'Reilly to Barry Lynn: "You know I love you as a guest. You're one of the best. You're a paranoid crazy."

Summary: Bill O'Reilly called guest Rev. Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, "a paranoid crazy."

During the March 2 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly told Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU), "You know I love you as a guest. You're one of the best. You're a paranoid crazy." O'Reilly made his remark during a discussion on the thank-you note Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. reportedly sent to James C. Dobson, the founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, in which, according to news reports, Alito wrote that "the prayers of so many people from around the country were a palpable and powerful force. As long as I serve on the Supreme Court, I will keep in mind the trust that has been placed in me." During Alito's nomination hearing, Dobson publicly supported his confirmation and helped mobilize Christian conservatives to join him in supporting Alito.

During the segment, Lynn offered his view on what Alito meant in his thank-you note to Dobson:

LYNN: OK, deciphering this letter is not as difficult say as breaking The DaVinci Code. I think it's very clear that Justice Alito here is saying to James Dobson -- and by the way, the letter's to Dobson and his entire staff -- "Thank you for all the work on my behalf," which included sending out three million e-mails saying, "Vote for this guy, Alito" --

O'REILLY: Help and support. Right. Right.

LYNN: -- for this help and support, a national plan, radio campaign, print campaign, and a lot of other things that helped him get the job.

Now, he's saying, "Thanks a lot for all of that specific help to get me the job, and trust -- trust me," meaning, "I'm going to be on your side," and that's exactly what James Dobson understood it to mean when he said, "They get it. They understand."

O'Reilly responded, "Reverend, look, with all due respect and you know I love you with as a guest. You're one of the best." He went on to add, "You're a paranoid crazy. ... You're paranoid and you're crazy."

From the March 2 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

O'REILLY: "Unresolved Problem" segment tonight: more controversy about religion and government. After being confirmed as the newest Supreme Court justice, Samuel Alito wrote a bunch of thank you notes to supporters and one of them went to Dr. James Dobson, the Focus on the Family leader. In the body of that letter, Alito wrote, quote, "The prayers of so many people from around the country were a palpable and powerful force." Apparently, that is causing some concern.

Joining us from Washington: Reverend Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Now, Reverend, I read the letter. It's -- it is as benign as you can -- and you don't like it. Why don't you like it?

LYNN: OK, deciphering this letter is not as difficult say as breaking the Da Vinci code. I think it's very clear that Justice Alito here is saying to James Dobson -- and by the way, the letter's to Dobson and his entire staff -- "Thank you for all the work on my behalf," which included sending out three million e-mails saying, "Vote for this guy, Alito" --

O'REILLY: Help and support. Right. Right.

LYNN: -- for this help and support, a national plan, radio campaign, print campaign, and a lot of other things that helped him get the job.

Now, he's saying, "Thanks a lot for all of that specific help to get me the job, and trust -- trust me," meaning, "I'm going to be on your side," and that's exactly what James Dobson understood it to mean when he said, "They get it. They understand."

O'REILLY: All right, let me -- let me --

LYNN: What else could it mean, Bill?

O'REILLY: Well, Reverend, look, with all due respect and you know I love you as a guest. You're one of the best. You're a paranoid crazy. Honest. You're paranoid and you're crazy.

LYNN: Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln --

O'REILLY: Let me read it to the folks so they can know how crazy you are. Quote: "As long as I serve on the Supreme Court, I will keep in mind the trust that has been placed in me." And you're seeing this as some kind of conspiracy to bring God into it? Come on.

LYNN: No, no, not a conspiracy to bring God, a message to James Dobson and his millions of radio listeners that this is something that --

O'REILLY: A secret message?

LYNN: No. It's not very secret. It says, "Thanks for getting me this job --

O'REILLY: No, it doesn't.

LYNN: -- I'm going to be good to you."

—A.D.