Bernie Goldberg To O'Reilly: “The Slavery Thing” Criticism “Isn't About Slavery ... It's About You”

Goldberg: “We Could Argue Whether Living In A Barn Where They Lived Was Decent Housing”

From the July 28 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

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BILL O'REILLY (HOST): Now I hear you were on Imus this morning. I didn't know Imus was still alive, by the way. I'm glad.

BERNARD GOLDBERG: Oh that's not -- that is wrong.

O'REILLY: Anyway -- and you were sticking up for me. I'm -- thank you.

GOLDBERG: Well, I was speaking up for you not because we're friends, which obviously we are not. I was speaking up for you because I think you were right about this.

Look, here's the thing, the brouhaha over the slavery thing. This is brouhaha without the “ha ha,” right? About the slavery thing -- has to do with you, one sentence, basically, with you saying that they were -- they had good housing, decent housing and that they were well fed.

O'REILLY: Right.

GOLDBERG: Your critics say they were -- and let me finish before you denounce your critics. Your critics say they were slaves, they had no say in whether the housing was decent or indecent, or whether they were well fed or badly fed. OK, so we could argue whether living in a barn where they lived was decent housing, and whatever kind of food they got was decent food or well -- they were well fed.

I don't think that's the issue. I don't think this is about slavery. I don't think this is about slaves. I don't think this is about housing or food. I think this is about you. There are people out there who are lying in wait, and listening to every syllable you utter. And if you say anything that they think they can jump on, they will.

O'REILLY: Sure.

GOLDBERG: Some of the critics, a few of the critics were making a point that you would disagree with about historical accuracy. I have no problem with that, but most of them, I believe, were trying to attack you personally --

O'REILLY: Sure.

GOLDBERG: -- Because they don't agree with you. And if Rachel Maddow had said the exact same thing that you said they would ignore it.

O'REILLY: Well, and it's -- as far as historical accuracy is concerned, just go to the White House Association and they will -- they back me up 100 percent. We don't say stuff here that we haven't checked out. Well, I appreciate you sticking up with that me Imus. I appreciate that, Bernie.

Previously:

O'Reilly Defends Comments That Slaves Building White House Were “Well-Fed And Had Decent Lodgings”

O'Reilly: Slaves Who Built White House Were “Well-Fed And Had Decent Lodgings Provided By The Government”

O'Reilly: Martin Luther King Would Not Support Black Lives Matter Movement

O’Reilly Tells Trump Blacks Are "Ill-Educated And Have Tattoos On Their Forehead”