Thump the Bible': Bill O'Reilly and Laura Ingraham Clash in Explosive Gay Marriage Debate

(Photo: Fox News)

Fox News' Bill O'Reilly got into an explosive argument with conservative radio host Laura Ingraham over gay marriage Tuesday night, apparently standing by his recent comments that opponents often only "thump the Bible" to back up their position.

Ingraham briefly spoke about the apparent "feud" on the right, citing Rush Limbaugh as someone with another viewpoint, before saying that the phrase "thump the Bible" didn't strike her as necessary.

"Wait, wait, wait," O'Reilly interrupted, making it clear he has "no feud" with Limbaugh before pointing to the screen and warning, "keep it accurate."

Ingraham proceeded to point out several times how O'Reilly has been "correct" and "consistent" on various issues. She then said that the left loves to see infighting amongst their ideological opponents.

O'Reilly responded, saying: "I made a very, very honest point, and you just ceded it was a correct point, that if you're going to stand up for heterosexual marriage and exclude gay marriage, you've got to do it outside the Bible.  You can't cite the Bible 'cause you'll lose if you do it."

"...When you say 'you can't cite the Bible,'" Ingraham responded, "Again, I think that's disrespectful to people who..."

"Ugh," O'Reilly interrupted.  "It's not disrespectful.  In their private life, they can!  We're talking a policy deal here.  Don't you understand the beliefs between private beliefs and public policy? ... I guess you don't understand 'cause you've done it twice."

Ingraham once more pointed out that people can take the phrase "thump the Bible" the "wrong way."

But O'Reilly wasn't satisfied with that response.

"Laura I am disappointed in you tonight.  Because you are still, after all of this time, not delineating -- you are still saying that I insulted Christians who believe in the Bible.  I did not.  I was talking purely about policy."

Watch the rest of the explosive interview via Mediaite, below: