FNC Hosts Slam Maher for Rape Joke Targeting Hasselbeck, 'Urge' Book Boycott

November 16th, 2011 8:23 AM

Wednesday's Fox and Friends on FNC gave attention to the recent confrontation between HBO host and comedian Bill Maher and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the right-leaning co-host of ABC's The View, as Maher appeared as a guest on the ABC show.

Hasselbeck brought up a tasteless rape joke Maher told earlier in the year on his Real Time show after the sexual assault of CBS correspondent Lara Logan as she reported from Egypt in which he suggested sending Hasselbeck to Egypt.

After playing a clip from The View, FNC co-host Gretchen Carlson condemned the HBO host's behavior, and co-host Brian Kilmeade urged viewers not to buy Maher's book and to even return copies that have already been purchased.

Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Wednesday, November 16, Fox and Friends:

STEVE DOOCY: So his defense was, hey, come on, Elisabeth, first of all, you're a public figure. And secondly, I'm a comedian, I'm out for laughs, no funny no money, so just get over it. That's what he said.

GRETCHEN CARLSON: This is what all comedians do when they want to become partisan. They just blame it on the fact that they're just a comedian so they can get away with it. And, furthermore, the rape of women, by the way, rises above any politics. I don't care if you're a Democrat, Republican, independent, socialist, whatever you are, the rape of a woman, it doesn't matter what your politics are, and that was a stupid comment for him to ever say in the first place, and completely offensive to any woman.

BRIAN KILMEADE: And I urge you not to go out and buy his book. In fact, if you have it, go return it. Please go ahead.