Television commentator Bill O'Reilly, in an appearance on the View on Wednesday, called Democratic vice presidential candidate Barack Obama a 'communist' before taking it back and settling on 'socialist.'
During his appearance, one of the hosts, Elizabeth Hasselbeck mentioned "redistribution of wealth" in the context of a recent interview O'Reilly had with Obama.
In that interview, O'Reilly told Obama his tax policies to take money from 'big earners' and give it to those who had less amounted to 'income redistribution ... a socialist tenet."
"When you asked him about redistribution of wealth ... he couldn't," Hasslebeck said before being interrupted.
"Right. He's a communist," O'Reilly said with a chuckle.
Hasslebeck looked down and did the same, while the other hosts expressed their disapproval as boos rang out from the studio audience.
"Oh, lighten up. This is the View," O'reilly intoned pointing at the audience. "This isn't Sixty Minutes, what's wrong with you."
Another 'The View' host, Joy Behar, spoke up shortly thereafter.
"You know what a red flag that is - Commie - in this country," Behar said.
"Did I offend you?" O'Reilly asked.
"It's just ridiculous," she replied.
"Let me take that back. Just socialist. He's not a communist," O'Reilly concluded.
See an excerpt of O'Reilly's appearance on 'The View' below:
