On the Dec. 20 edition of FOX News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” Bill O’Reilly claimed that the Left’s attempt to abolish the Electoral College is really an effort to strip away power from rural white America.
Since the electors in the Electoral College voted Monday, Dec. 19, there has been renewed outrage from Democrats. Even though former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, Donald Trump will be America’s 45th president.
O’Reilly said he believes the Left’s grievances are rooted in racial politics.
“Talking Points believes this is all about race,” O’Reilly says. “The Left sees white privilege in America as an oppressive force that must be done away with. The Left wants power taken away from the white establishment. … Taking voting power away from the white precincts is the quickest way to do that.”
In the segment, the conservative host acknowledged that Republicans won primarily because of rural white voters. But he insisted that if the Electoral College was abolished, Democrats would only have to cater and stomp in large, diverse cities and ignore white workers in rural areas.
“So, if the Electoral College were abolished, presidential candidates could simply campaign in the nation’s largest states and cities, New York, L.A., Chicago, Houston, and rack up enough votes to pretty much win any election.”
O’Reilly affirmed that the Republican party is a party for white men and there is no changing that. “White men have largely abandoned the Democrats and the Left believes it’s because of racism that they want to punish minorities, keep them down,” he said. “So, that’s what’s really going on when you hear about the Electoral College and how unfair it allegedly is.”
However, Juan Williams said he doesn’t believe it’s about race. The liberal commentator said he thinks the movement to get rid of the Electoral College is really just a numbers game.
“You see this as purely racial,” Williams says. “But let me just tell you. Many people think it is one person, one vote. And no matter where you live in America, your vote should have equal value. If you are living out in the sticks, it shouldn’t be like it is in some states, your vote is worth 3.2 votes to one vote in California.”
