Late night host Jimmy Kimmel slammed Fox News co-host Brian Kilmeade and other Republicans on Wednesday night for their criticism of his commentary on the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare repeal bill.
Kimmel, whose son was born with a congenital heart disease, has been an outspoken critic of the Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, and most recently, of the bill proposed by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R., L.A.) because he believes it doesn't protect people with pre-existing conditions like his son.
The late night host took Cassidy to task during his show Tuesday night for what he said is Cassidy going back on his promise to oppose any health care plan that would allowed insurance companies to turn away people with preexisting conditions, or that included an annual or lifetime cap on how much medical care would be given out.
"He said anything he supported would have to pass what he named the 'Jimmy Kimmel Test,' which was fine," Kimmel said. "It was good, but unfortunately and puzzlingly, he proposed a bill that would allow states to do all the things he said he would not let them do. He made a total about-face, which means he either doesn't understand his own bill or he lied to me."
Kimmel then played a clip from a Wednesday interview with Cassidy during which CNN's Chris Cuomo asked the senator about Kimmel's critique. Kimmel brushed off the senator's defense, and continued to criticize Cassidy for dismissing his concerns.
A short time later, Kimmel played a clip of "Fox and Friends" co-host Kilmeade slamming the late night host.
"Sunday's politically charged Emmy's may have been the lowest rated in history, but that's not stopping Hollywood elites like comedian Jimmy Kimmel from pushing their politics on the rest of the country," Kilmeade said.
Kimmel ripped into the Fox personality, and said whenever he sees Kilmeade, he "kisses my ass like a little boy meeting Batman."
"Oh he's such a fan," Kimmel said. "He follows me on Twitter. He asked me to write a blurb for his book, which I did. He calls my agent looking for projects. He's dying to be a member of the Hollywood elite. The only reason he's not a member of the Hollywood elite is because nobody will hire him to be one."
"The reason I'm talking about this is because my son had an open-heart surgery, then has to have two more, and because of that I learned that there are kids with no insurance in the same situation. I don't get anything out of this, Brian, you phony little creep. Oh I'll pound you when I see you."
Kimmel said "Brian Kilmeade is a phony little creep" will be his blurb for Kilmeade's next book.
Kilmeade responded to Kimmel on Thursday's edition of "Fox and Friends," the Washington Examiner reported.
"This is what I would like to say on this," Kilmeade said in response. "I hope your son gets better. I hope your son gets all the care he needs. I'm glad you're interested, you're doing a great job bringing the dialogue out. But you should do what we're doing. Talk to the people that wrote it."