Video After The Jump
Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, July 25, was fantastic and will be remembered and referenced for a long time to come.
One passage in particular resonated with a lot of viewers.
“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent black young women, playing with their dogs on the White House lawn," the First Lady said.
It was a reminder of both an ugly period in America's history and how far we've come as a nation.
Bill O'Reilly fact-checked Obama's comments and found them to be true. Slaves did in fact, build the White House.
During a segment on the Fox News show, "The O'Reilly Factor," the controversial host gave his take.
O'Reilly pointed out that "free blacks, whites and immigrants" also helped in the construction, before adding that "slaves that worked there were well fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government."
Twitter users and celebrities ripped O'Reilly a new one Wednesday, July 27.
"I don't care if the slaves who built the White House were paid in gold and housed in mansions, Bill O'Reilly -- THEY WERE SLAVES!!!," Cole Haddon wrote.
"The idiocy never ceases to amaze me. Try slavery, Bill. Let us know how good the food is while you wear chains," Shonda Rhimes chimed in.
Dear Bill O'Reilly...live through this a few times... pic.twitter.com/reJpHhTaSh
— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) July 27, 2016
The idiocy never ceases to amaze me. Try slavery, Bill. Let us know how good the food is while you wear chains. https://t.co/sHSWPljgyd
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) July 27, 2016
I don't care if the slaves who built the White House were paid in gold and housed in mansions, Bill O'Reilly -- THEY WERE SLAVES!!!
— Cole Haddon (@colehaddon) July 27, 2016
O'Reilly responded with a tweet of his own.
"Far left loons distort tip about @FLOTUS statement that slaves built White House. She's correct & I provided facts. More on The Factor -BO'R," he wrote.
Far left loons distort tip about @FLOTUS statement that slaves built White House. She's correct & I provided facts. More on The Factor -BO'R
— Bill O'Reilly (@oreillyfactor) July 27, 2016
The New York Times spoke with journalist Jesse Holland, who said that a good portion of what O'Reilly said wasn't accurate.
According to Holland, slaves were fed pork and bread, but how much couldn't be confirmed. He added that most were housed in barns.
“We know as construction workers they were expected to do hard, grueling, back-breaking work,” Mr. Holland said. “So they had to feed them enough so they could actually get their money’s worth. Were they well fed? That’s not something that, right now, history supports.”
In all likelihood O'Reilly won't face any repercussions from his bosses at Fox News. He's been making offensive comments for years and will probably continue to do so with their blessing.
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