‘The O’Reilly Factor’ aired one of the most racist segments on TV, ever

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It’s been said many times over this election cycle that no one has ever seen anything like this, that Donald Trump has fundamentally changed the way our political system works, and that Trump has given people carte blanche to say and do racist sh-t in more open ways than ever before. I guess this is just more evidence of that fact. Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News show, The O’Reilly Factor, sent their correspondent/political humorist (????) Jesse Watters to do a “man on the street” type of segment in New York’s Chinatown. To say that this segment was blatantly racist and extremely offensive is not even coming close to how vile this is.

That aired a few days ago and the clip went viral yesterday as horrified people were like “How did anyone think this was a good idea?” Watters seemed to want to be a Billy Eichner-type figure, or even CNN’s Jeanne Moos (who does delightful woman-on-the-street pieces). The Asian American Journalists Association issued a formal statement condemning the segment and Fox News for airing it. Go here to read more statements from Asian-American groups.

So far, Fox News has declined to comment in any way. They’re not defending him, nor are they firing him. Watters did defend himself on Twitter:

It wasn’t political humor. Interestingly enough, it doesn’t seem like conservatives even want to justify Watters. The most they can say is “he’s not really racist, he’s just stupid.” WHY NOT BOTH?

Incidentally, Asian-American voters are increasingly progressive/liberal. That’s one of the largely ignored political trends of the last 20 years – a massive swing of support for Democratic candidates by a growing Asian-American community. We (I’m Indian-American) are one of the big reasons why Virginia is steadily “blue” these days, because VA has such a big Asian population. Hillary Clinton currently has a 44-point advantage over Trump among Asian-American voters. This Fox News segment is a great reason why that is.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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111 Responses to “‘The O’Reilly Factor’ aired one of the most racist segments on TV, ever”

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  1. Locke Lamora says:

    Isn’t the O’Reilly Factor a proper news show? This looks like a poorly executed Daily Show parody. How did they think this was a good idea? Who saw this and thought yep, let’s air it? It’s awful.
    And God, Bill O’Reilly is so smug and annoying.

    • Aiobhan says:

      No, it is not a proper news show. O’Reilly is a racist, sexist, bloviated hot-tempered fool masquerading as a journalist. It is basically him giving his opinion five days a week in the guise of a news show.

      Sorry for being so effusive.

    • adastraperaspera says:

      The show and the network are anti-democratic propaganda outlets owned and run by oligarchs. Their messages have poisoned the well of discourse in the US for years, and our present election cycle shows the result.

    • lightpurple says:

      The O’Reilly Factor is news COMMENTARY, not actual reporting, just a bunch of people, usually white guys, voicing or bloviating, a term O’Reilly likes, their views.

    • Whipmyhair48 says:

      I think this is Fox News and the Conservatives response to the Colbert Report, Daily Show and Last Week Tonight.

      The difference between them of course, is that they are actually funny.

    • Kitten says:

      I mean….in a lot of ways O’Reilly is a professional provocateur a la Anne Coulter and the rest of the Fox Fiends.
      He’s definitely not a respected journalist, not by any stretch of the imagination.

    • Belle Epoch says:

      FOX is considered entertainment. I read somewhere that one hour a day is supposed to be real “news” and rest doesn’t count.

      How do people like this idiot even get on tv?

    • doofus says:

      nothing on Fox “News” is a proper news show. every program is littered with opinion, even what they claim to be “news” programs.

      and this is SOP for Watters. his shtick is to be offensive in the name of humor.

    • SusanneToo says:

      There’s a reason it’s called Faux News.

    • annaloo. says:

      Bill O’Reilly marveled about going to Harlem and enjoying a dinner in a restaurant and was soooo so soo surprised that he wasn’t mugged! This guy is a tool, like a horrible cross of Archie Bunker and Sam the Eagle.

      I don’t know who this Watters guy is, but the GOP media really needs to stop trying to ape the other side of the political spectrum for design, comedy or anything in the arts. They do not have the right approach or touch to do it.

      I have this horrible taste out of my mouth after that clip.

      • doofus says:

        he also marveled about how they weren’t all hooting and hollering “motherf-er” and how it was just like a restaurant in an white neighborhood.

        he’s such a turd.

      • Locke Lamora says:

        You have to be kidding me? He really did that? What a tool.

    • LoveIsBlynd says:

      Wow. When I watch Fox News I’m physically ill.

    • dromedary says:

      My brother calls him “Bill O’Lielly”

  2. Patricia says:

    How dare he. If that was my grandmother who he was mocking, who stood there silently for whatever reason, I would be weeping. This is disgusting.

    When I go to Chinatown in Philly I show some goddam RESPECT because I am on another culture’s small turf in this world. These people should be taken off the air.

    • Giddy says:

      That lady could easily have walked away, but she was patient and respectful with the fool who showed her no respect at all. This was not entertaining or funny IMO.

      • MC2 says:

        He found that part hilarious. He was talking with Bill afterwards commenting on how ‘they are a people who will just stand there & take it politely’…..so you stand there & belittle them?! I couldn’t believe this segment…..

  3. D says:

    Never heard of him, but he wears a popped collar and that is generally a good indicator of a douchebag.

  4. Mike says:

    I am guessing that the editorial board that decided to let this air were all white males. Anybody with a smidgen of sense would have warned them that this was offensive and racist but…, I also love the non-apology apology. I wonder how lung it will take for Trump to blame Hillary Clinton for this

    • Whipmyhair48 says:

      Yeah, I loved how he was like “I know we are going to get letters, but it was all in good fun.”

      So not racist, because it was funny? Got it. Am no longer offended.

    • Little Darling says:

      I couldn’t even finish watching it because every single word and gesture was painfully offensive! What in the world?! It takes a team of people to produce and air a segment like this! Producers, on-air talent, news director approvals, editors, control room and camera operators! They ALL let this roll? Seriously?

      The ignorance, disrespect, insensitivity,mean-spiritedness and callous nature and tone, in ADDITION TO the actual words and deeds is disgustingly racist.

      BOO HISS.

      • mee says:

        i couldn’t finish watching it as it was offensive, and perhaps even worse from the racist POV, boring. If this is what the conservatives have as their equivalent Colbert Report or the Daily Show, it’s truly sad b/c they are not only racist, insensitive idiots, but also terribly banal and unentertaining. very very sad.

  5. tifzlan says:

    I don’t want to watch this because i don’t want to give this more views than it already has. Can someone kindly break down what he does and says?

    • AG-UK says:

      Basically mocking the community with stereotypes but to the backing track of Kung Fu Fighting. I only could take 1 minute you were right stay away. I think I should have as well.

      • original kay says:

        I had to turn it off as well. I got to the part with the little old lady and the way they mocked her is heart breaking 🙁

      • swak says:

        I couldn’t watch it all either. So disgusting.

      • Colette says:

        I only watched about one minute.
        I never watch Fox News so I have never seen this guy.Does this idiot go to other communities(Black,Latino,Gay,etc) and mock them as well?

      • Who ARE These People? says:

        Could not get through it either. He’s talking about family members in my case.

    • MC2 says:

      It was horrible all around but reporting is not being done on the worst part. After he manages to belittle a woman who just stands there, asks a very competent woman if Chinese food is Chinese food in China, asks about people doing Karate and other racists things then it comes….

      He meets two women whose first language is obviously not English. He asks them if they “like to party” while tipping his hands like he’s drinking, one woman laughs and says “yes- we are going to a party tonight” and then the camera switches to his face, in a leather chair moaning while laying back with his eyes closed…….then the camera pans out to an older woman rubbing his feet and him saying “that’s the spot. Do you play ‘little piggie’?”

      I want to punch him in the face for every one of those people that he made feel like sh&t and then stomp on his nuts for prosperity. This man made fun of human sex trafficking and was so disgusting to the woman rubbing his feet. I hope she keeps a vile of athlete’s foot for pos like him & I hope he got a double dose.

    • Kath says:

      Making fun of a very elderly woman who can’t speak English. That about sums it up.

  6. MI6 says:

    This was so offensive I thought it was a parody
    Then I remembered it’s 2016

  7. Megan says:

    Just when I think Fox News has sunk to the lowest level possible, they prove me wrong by hitting new low.

  8. Jenns says:

    How many times a day do you think Jesse Watters walks up to women and tells them to smile?

  9. Betsy says:

    For those who don’t want to watch (any video attracts small children in my house; if it’s racist I especially don’t want an audience), what’s the gist?

    • MC2 says:

      The gist is that Asian are funny to make fun of- they will just stand there politely smiling while you ridicule them, women you can make fun of for partying, white men will get bjs, old men must know Karate, old women rub your feet & are open to you leaning over & saying vile things to them, Chinese people are insulated and do not ‘know about the happenings out here’, Chinese people are stupid and do not know politics, everything is made in China & they are taking over our country. They blatantly said or insinuated all these things. Oh- and this is all just funny!!! It’s all for fun!!! Bring on the slanted eyes and dirty knees jokes! Fun, fun, fun!

  10. Merritt says:

    Jesse Watters has been doing these racist and often misogynist segments for years. He is a garbage human.

    • Giddy says:

      Watters and O’Reilly together are truly a gruesome twosome. Garlic and a crucifix might not work to repel them, so I just never watch Fox.

      • Merritt says:

        I avoid Fox news. But I remember MSNBC airing a segment several years ago about how O’Reilly could not see the similarities of between paparazzi and sending out Watters to do heavily edited ambush interviews of journalists who criticized the Bush administration.

    • cynic says:

      Yes, Watters is a POS. I’m not normally a violent person, but it would amuse me if, one of these days, someone punches him on the air.

  11. Lucky says:

    This is one of the most racist & offensive things I’ve ever seen. And I’m really not overly sensitive. The Asian community should be outraged

  12. Marty says:

    It’s genuinely scary how many racist people don’t think their racist. They literally are so ignorant they’ll do something like this and wonder why people are offended.

  13. Neelyo says:

    I can’t believe it’s taken this long for people to finally call out Jesse Watters for the garbage he spews. He’s been doing his horribly bigoted ‘comedy’ for years. He has offended every group in the country besides straight white men.

    I hope this thing takes him down completely.

    • Emily says:

      Strange, because white men are probably the most easily offended group out there, as we’ll see when people start calling for Jesse Watters to be fired (I can only hope).

    • OhDear says:

      My cynical side thinks that the response to this will end up being yet more fodder for a rant about “PC outrage culture.”

      • Kitten says:

        This. Guaranteed.

      • MC2 says:

        Yes- we are all just way too sensitive about racism and human sex trafficking. God- it’s all so funny, really. We need to crack a beer & open up….to these guys….on a Saturday night and find out how it’s so ‘funny’. Then we would really see (or end up huddled in a corner crying for humanity).

        Watters exes need to come out of the shadow- methinks he’s not a nice guy in a few different ways & I can’t believe he doesn’t treat women in his own life like total crap. He is a horrible excuse for a human succeeding in our society.

      • Otaku Fairy says:

        You’re probably right.

  14. HK9 says:

    I couldn’t even get through the segment but my only thought was that he should be fired, and then I remembered this is FOX.

  15. adastraperaspera says:

    This guy… Ugh. As if Asian-American communities needed more shabby treatment from US media outlets. Let’s face it–when we are still having to worry about whether or not Disney will actually go through with casting a Chinese woman to play Mulan in the live-action film coming up, it’s hardly time to let Fox get a pass on this. It infuriates me.

    I will also say that I have been to Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, and I wish those masters could give him a taste of martial arts for real. However, I know they would never attack someone so ridiculous as Watters, since he is so very, very weak.

  16. Melody says:

    When he got their authorization to use their image in his show, you suppose they were made aware that they would be mocked with unrelated video clips in-between?

    Sue him.

  17. lightpurple says:

    It is embarrassing to live on the same planet as people like O’Reilly and Watters.

    Mine is the only non-Chinese household on my street. My neighbors are wonderful people. Hard-working, intelligent, and helpful. One of my neighbors was a MD in China but can’t practice here without going back to school and, in his 60s, he thinks he is too old for that. He helps me with my 87 year old great-aunt, spending time with her, entertaining her, running errands for her, and he shovels our steps and path whenever it snows. I hate that people like him are subjected to the crap people like Watters and O’Reilly spew.

  18. paranormalgirl says:

    turned it off halfway through. Insulting, derivative, unfunny, rude, and just all around stupid. Plus, his face is imminently punchable.

    • GreenBunny says:

      I thought exactly the same thing while I was watching it. I could only handle 2 minutes of it, and was actually shocked when I turned it off and realized I only watched half of it, since it felt like the longest 2 minutes of my life.

  19. K says:

    Well that was gross, disrespectful and that’s all I’m going to say about the video.

    What I have found fascinating about this election cycle is how ignored the Asian demographic is, this is one of the largest and fastest growing groups in America yet we don’t discuss them at all. I feel like they could have a huge impact on the election and from what we’ve seen their politics have swung.

    • FingerBinger says:

      The asian demographic isn’t a large enough to go after. Asians are a small part of the electorate compared to Hispanics and millennials.

      • K says:

        True but they could swing a state in some cases and they are one of our fastest growing populations. I just don’t think it make sense to completely disregard them.

        But then I am of the belief if you want to be president you should talk to all citizens, and do so with respect I know I’m a bit nuts.

      • Who ARE These People? says:

        Yes to all your points K. Also, if the “Asian demographic” includes a good number of people in positions of power and influence, with wealth, that also speaks to politicians.

      • lightpurple says:

        In my city north of Boston, Asians make up roughly a third of the population. Granted, that’s not repeated in many other places, but in this town, they are a powerful demographic.

  20. Skyblue says:

    Wow! Gentle fun? I’ve never heard of Jesse Watters before today. I cannot believe there is a market for his brand of sh*t.

  21. Snack time says:

    The only tolerable piece of the clip is when he gets his ass kicked in the dojo.What a racist dummy.

  22. Lyla says:

    Gross.

    Just because English isn’t their first language, doesn’t mean they deserve to be mocked. I’m sure if a Chinese interviewer came up to him, he can reply in Madarin or Cantonese. 🙄

  23. Tris Farnon says:

    Holy shit this was disgusting! I’m …. I don’t have words. [crickets chirping]

  24. Kitten says:

    Not gonna add to the view count, but I can easily imagine from other commenters’ description how awful this is.

    I can’t tell you how sad it makes me to see a faction of Americans who so unabashedly embrace racism and ignorance, who wear insensitivity and arrogance like a badge of honor.
    My state isn’t perfect but I’m pretty insulated in a bubble of liberalism in Cambridge/Boston that these people seem like strange, heartless aliens to me.

    • OhDear says:

      To be fair, a lot of self-described liberal comedians do this kind of stuff all the time and then tirade about “outrage” – see, e.g. Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Daniel Tosh

      • Kitten says:

        And their shows are on so-called “news networks”?

        There is no liberal equivalent of Bill O’Reilly. Bill Maher might come closest but his shows were on HBO and Comedy Central, where they belong. Maher also doesn’t refer to himself as a “journalist” like O’ Reilly does.

        There is no liberal equivalent of Fox News (and please don’t invoke CNN or MSNBC)—-there is no leftist propaganda station.

      • OhDear says:

        But you’re not denying my point.

        What you strongly implied was that this type of racism is solely limited to non-liberal people (“I’m pretty insulated in a bubble of liberalism… that these people [who wear insensitivity and arrogance like a badge of honor] seem like strange, heartless aliens to me”), and that’s decidedly not true. Those comedians are listed as examples – Amy Schumer had a joke where she called Latinos rapists, for example – which was only different from Trump’s comments about Mexicans being rapists in that she included non-Mexican Latinos and said it jokingly.

        It doesn’t matter if the mocking is on a news show or on a comedy show in the way that the comedians listed have done it – it has the same effect in the end.

        I didn’t say it as a conservative person trying to point the finger back and say that “you’re (the general you) are racist, too” (I’m not conservative). But a lot of self-described liberals get upset over racism said/done by conservative folks but brush off that done by non-conservative folk.

      • FingerBinger says:

        @OhDear Amy Schumer isn’t on a news network that claims to be fair and balanced. Trump is running for president it’s different when he talks about latinos. Handler , Schumer and Silverman are false equivalents. You can’t compare it.

      • Kitten says:

        @OhDear-In addition to what FingerBinger said:

        No. You missed my point entirely. I said nothing about conservative entertainers being the only ones to “punch down” so I’m not sure how you got that from my original post. The comment that you quoted was a reference to the Fox News audience, NOT a comment about conservative entertainers.

        I was making the point that there is a faction of the American population who tune into Faux News to have their biases, fears, and preconceived notions mirrored back to them in a “news” format. They are not people who want to be challenged, only validated and these are the kind of folks who vote for Trump. O’Reilly is a self-described “journalist” but how is this journalism?

        What kind of insensitive jokes that liberal comedians make on their late night talk shows or on-stage has little-to-no impact on my life.
        But the people who tune into Fox and become convinced to vote for a regressive party that actively seeks to take away the rights of myself and others has a very measurable and direct impact on my life.

      • OhDear says:

        @Kitten – I assume you’re white (no disrespect meant, and not said in a “no disrespect, but…” way) based on this comment: “What kind of insensitive jokes that liberal comedians make on their late night talk shows or on-stage has little-to-no impact on my life.”? Because the late night jokes and all has a very measureable and direct impact on POC’s lives. Just because it doesn’t (presumably) affect your life doesn’t mean it’s not harmful.

    • adastraperaspera says:

      @kitten My fondest memories are of going to school in Cambridge in the 90s. I don’t think you are in a bubble at all. In fact, you’re in a place that is firmly part of the whole, wider world in a very active and positive way. Keep the faith there in The Republic of Cambridge! And waves to Boston proper as well! 🙂

      • Kitten says:

        Yay! This made me happy to read 🙂
        I love Cambridge and Somerville so much and I love that they abut Charlestown (my hood) because they have the best flavor.

        Cambridge has an openly gay black FEMALE mayor in the magnificent E. Denise Simmons. Prior to that, they had the first openly gay black MALE mayor in Kenneth Reeves. Somerville has a BLM banner that proudly waved in front of City Hall. It’s great 🙂

      • lightpurple says:

        The People’s Republic of Cambridge – site of the first legal marriage between people of the same sex in the US.

  25. Insomniac says:

    Big surprise: He’s offered up the typical “Sorry if anyone was offended” douchepology.

  26. Layla says:

    It’s really hard for me to despise anyone more than I despite Trumpo The Orange Buffoon Clown, but damn, Bill O’Reilly is right up there.

  27. Frost says:

    Don’t hit back at Fox, punish the advertisers. Stop complaining and take action, MEANINGFUL action. If people, viewers, have really had enough of Fox’s race baiting then boycott the advertisers supporting this dreck.

    • elle says:

      I’m on board, if somebody can provide a list of those advertisers. I can’t be in the same room as Fox News without frothing at the mouth. The only reason I know who this douchetard is is that I recently visited family members who watch Fox 24/7, so I would catch glimpses as I fled past. Just from those brief seconds I got his elitism- and racism-disguised-as-humor schtick and wanted no part of it.

  28. G says:

    Wow my blood is boiling after that segment. ‘It’s all in good fun!!’ – it’s not “fun” when it’s at the expense of one group and not the other. I’m Asian and I WISH he would’ve interviewed me. I would’ve made him feel so stupid! How dare he take advantage of elderly Asian’s who have no idea that this is how they will be portrayed?! We’re pretty passive by nature and they took total advantage of that. I disliked Fox News before, I’m completely boycotting them from now on. The social political climate in America is absolutely scary when ‘news sites’ can run crap like this!

    • GreenTurtle says:

      @G, I’m sure he interviewed people who weren’t putting up with his shit. It just never makes it on the air, because why air things that don’t fit his vile stereotype? The part after his segment when O’Reilly was marveling at how “they” seemed to be aware of what was going on in the world… Oh my God- disgusting and rage-inducing.

    • Kath says:

      I wouldn’t worry. All the people he “interviewed” came across as polite, decent and kind. The interviewer came across as the massive racist douche-bag.

      I wish the elderly woman he made fun of would’ve punched him in the balls.

      We’ve got a huge Asian population here in Australia and there is NO WAY IN HELL something like this would’ve been able to air.

  29. MellyMel says:

    I mean this is Fox (Faux) News we’re talking about. Not surprising at all!

  30. Bamsimel says:

    Jesus. I just watched the whole thing and I think the worst part was their chat at the end about how they were surprised that any of them knew what was going on politically because they’re such an insular community.

    On the plus side, despite the horrific racism throughout and clear attempts to paint Chinese Americans in a bad light, the only person who actually came across badly was the idiotic presenters.

    I think if something like this got shown here in the UK the channel would get a big fine and have to air an apology.

  31. popup says:

    The only good thing to come out of this is the backlash and Asian Americans speaking out against this human dingleberry. If anything, it will be used to drum up the Asian American vote. As a demographic, Asian Americans are among the least registered bloc of voters, even worse when you look at Asian American millennials. Maybe this has to do with the fact that we don’t feel like we’re listened to or courted as a group, but it is in fact the fastest growing demographic in America. And happily for me it leans heavily Democratic, so eat s–t, Waters, O’Reilly and Fox.

  32. Michelina says:

    I have a relative who loves The O’Reilly Factor and the Jesse Waters crap is exactly that: CRAP. Half the time I am 100% convinced that the people being interviewed are paid actors. There was once a segment where he went up to millennials on a college campus and every single one of them acted like what a conservative apparently believes millennial college students are: ridiculous, Jeff Spicoli-level stoners who had no idea who the president was. And I’m not kidding–they were literally asking ridiculous questions like who the VP is, who the president is, just all of these ridiculous questions in an effort to paint liberal college students as morons. It was SO fake, I don’t understand how anyone watches this absolute bullshit.

    For the record, I’m by no means trying to downplay what horrible POS O’Reilly and Waters are, I’m just saying that their brand of “journalism” is an absolute crock of shit.

  33. Littlestar says:

    Wow. Just wow.

  34. isabelle says:

    The one good things about this, people seriously sometimes have no idea their stereotypes are racist. They only understand racism to be “hate” or a dislike of a group but never as a stereotype That have falsely painted or have been presented with stereotypes are OK/funny because its true. So guess it opens up the discussion of why this is racist to a group of people that may have been clueless as to racism not just being about hating or disliking a group of people.

  35. Whittles says:

    YOU have GOT to be KIDDING me. That was so insensitive and racist. When the daily show people do their segments, they don’t pick on people for being a certain race or creed. They tackle their views and poke fun at their opinions. What he did here was taking America a few steps back. What the f%$# was with the added clips when someone took too long to respond??? Not ok.

  36. Cali Girl says:

    If anyone doesn’t understand “white privilege,” simply think about what the decision makers went through to put together this segment. They believe that the justification of “having fun” negates any propagation of bias and racism. They clearly know that the segment is problematic, but pushed those thoughts away. Some white people laughing = it’s ok to close your eyes to real people and turn them into caricatures.

  37. Adrien says:

    Wow, one of the women he interviewed isn’t even Chinese. She is Southeast Asian. He’s in Chinatown but it doesn’t mean everyone there is Chinese. They don’t look all alike, Watters. This guy is pissed that most Asians are going for HRC. Probably didn’t expect that thinking they don’t like a woman for prez. The old guy didn’t even mention gender as his reason for voting for Donald.

  38. Fd says:

    This is terrible and really offensive except that the people he interviewed kind of saved him from himself because they were all so much smarter than him! I loved the young girl rolling her eyes and the older man (who spoke perfect English also) critiquing his Chinese accent.

  39. Mrs. Odie says:

    The man insisting that Watters speak his language correctly is more than fair and doesn’t even BEGIN to make up for Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

  40. Dial Side says:

    Watters was expelled from my high school for being a druggie dirtbag. It was almost impossible to get expelled from my high school and he was such a loser he somehow managed it anyway. He was a year ahead of me so I didn’t know him well but the gossip on Facebook is that he didn’t have much personality of his own.

  41. Our country is going down real fast. It makes you wonder if people are educated in this country anymore.

  42. Fluff says:

    I feel this is how nazis became mainstreem in Germany. Pointing fingers, making jokes, caricatures. Dehumanizing others is the first step to not caring if they live or die. 21st century nazism, if u ask me.

  43. Cat87 says:

    This is a parody than Asian Americans will never go republican. Asian immigrants are larest to come to the U.S second to them are the Hispanics. The Republican party is imploding on itself and being Democrat, I can’t help but feel sad for them.