A day after Meghan McCain
(pictured) labeled Rep. Michele Bachmann a “poor man’s Sarah Palin,” talk show host Laura Ingraham Thursday threw the characterization back at her, telling Bill O’Reilly that the former presidential candidate’s daughter is “a poor man’s Ron Reagan.”
Speaking on “The O’Reilly Factor,” Ingraham not only took exception with McCain’s description of Palin to Lawrence O’Donnell Wednesday on MSNBC’s “The Last Word,” but said the only reason the daughter of Sen. John McCain’s comment is getting any traction is “because of her last name.”
O’Reilly was addressing the apparent schism brewing within the GOP, as it faces the 2012 presidential election, between tea party supporters and moderate members of the Republican establishment, Meghan McCain and Karl Rove among them. Ingraham would have none of it.
“Bill, are you serious? I can’t agree – are you serious with that?” a visibly annoyed Ingraham said. “I mean Meghan McCain, God bless her, maybe she is a poor man’s Ron Reagan.
“You think Karl Rove agrees with Meghan McCain? I mean, you called her a moderate Republican. Why is she a moderate Republican? Is there any indication that she is a Republican?” Ingraham asked. “I don’t even know what Meghan McCain stands for. I mean, last time I checked she was talking about her tattoos.”
O’Reilly reiterated that both Rove and McCain are worried about the Tea Party and that might be leading to a split in the GOP.
“I don't see that there is that much of a split in the GOP I really don't,” Ingraham said. “I mean, there's always a debate and that's healthy.”