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[VIDEO] Bill O'Reilly sounds like he supports gay marriage

By GABRIELLE LEVY, UPI.com
Actor Larry David (L) sits courtside with Fox Cable host Bill O'Reilly during Los Angeles Lakers game against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter of their NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 18, 2010. UPI/Jon SooHoo
Actor Larry David (L) sits courtside with Fox Cable host Bill O'Reilly during Los Angeles Lakers game against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter of their NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 18, 2010. UPI/Jon SooHoo | License Photo

Conservative pundit Bill O'Reilly shocked a lot of people Tuesday when he made comments that sounded a lot like support for same-sex marriage.

Speaking with fellow Fox News host Megyn Kelly on his show, "The O'Reilly Factor," O'Reilly essentially said legalizing gay marriage is more American than prohibiting it.

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"The compelling argument is on the side of homosexuals. That's where the compelling argument is. We're Americans. We just want to be treated like everybody else. That is a compelling argument. And to deny that, you've got to have a very strong argument on the other side. And the other side hasn't been able to do anything but thump the bible

I support civil unions I always have. All right, the gay marriage thing, I don't feel that strongly about it one way or the other."

O'Reilly hedges on specifics, saying he has always supported civil unions but that marriage should remain a state-decided issue.

But over time, it's clear O'Reilly's beliefs -- along with America's -- have been slowly softening.

In 2004, O'Reilly equated gay marriage to polygamy, "the triads and the commune people and everybody else," and in 2005 said "chaos" would follow legalizing marriage equality.

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But by 2006, he said he didn't "believe the republic will collapse if Larry marries Brendan," and by 2012, gave implicit approval: "I've got nothing against gay marriage, it's not my issue. All right, I want homosexual Americans to be happy and to pursue happiness."

The juicy bit begins at 4:45.

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