Bill O'Reilly, Jon Stewart ready to 'Rumble'

Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY | USATODAY

Bill O'Reilly says he has no qualms about sharing the stage with a comedian when he debates Jon Stewart at a charity fundraiser Saturday in Washington, D.C.

"I lot of people think I am a comedian," O'Reilly says. "I don't worry about perceptions. ... Either you like me or you don't. Either you get what I do or you don't."

The 90-minute debate, "The Rumble in the Air-Conditioned Auditorium" at George Washington University, matches the stars of Fox News and Comedy Central. They have been guests on each other's shows several times. (For $4.95, you can watch it streamed live or download it later at therumble2012.com.)





O'Reilly says there's no doubt whom the "left-wing media" will declare the winner, "no matter what happens. Jon Stewart doesn't even have to show up."

"I know that," he says. "What I'm going in for is a few laughs. I"m going to have my facts. I always do. I'm going to confound Stewart with the facts. He'll confound me with his 16 writers."

Stewart, who often mocks Fox News on his "faux news" show, responds: "Oh, my God, it's only been one sentence and he's already got his facts wrong."

O'Reilly says he's not concerned about blurring lines between entertainment and journalism: "I don't worry about blurring anything. I'm a commentator. That's what I am. Commentators can comment in a variety of forums. Do I worry that Barack Obama is not the president because he goes on The View? No."