Was George W. Bush right about 'Axis of Evil'?

This is a rush transcript from "The Five," December 13, 2013. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

ANDREA TANTAROS, CO-HOST: Hello, everyone. I'm Andrea Tantaros, along with Bob Beckel, Eric Bolling, Dana Perino, and Greg Gutfeld.

It's 5:00 in the New York City -- and this is "The Five."

(MUSIC)

TANTAROS: President Bush warned the world about the axis of evil in 2002.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 2002)

GEORGE W. BUSH, THEN-U.S. PRESIDENT: North Korea is a regime armed with missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror. Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. States like these and their terrorist allies constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANTAROS: Nearly a dozen years later, there is still a threat from these terror states. North Korea's new dictator's maybe worse that his father. Kim Jong-un just executed his own flesh and blood, his uncle Jang. Iran is getting closer and closer to making the bomb. And there is now word that the American it is holding has been hostage for nearly seven years, he may actually have been working for the CIA. In Iraq, 10 years too the day of the capture of Saddam Hussein, al Qaeda is resurgent and has control a vast parts of the country.

So, let's start with the news about Iranian hostage Robert Levinson. First, I want to discuss the actual operation and then get into the "A.P.'s" decision to run the story, which has been pretty controversial.

Eric, the administration is saying that this was unsanctioned, that this was a rogue group of analysts who sent him in to do spy missions, and he didn't have the authority to do it. Do you think the CIA just giving itself from plausible deniability?

ERIC BOLLING, CO-HOST: I'm not -- first of all, Jay Carney said he didn't think that leave -- that Levinson was not working for the government when he went over to Iran in 2007. I'm not sure anyone knows that. I'd like to know how he knows that's the case, because "The A.P." is reporting that he did work with or for the CIA in 2007.

The interesting part for me is, though, OK, so, "The A.P." and allegedly "The New York Times" knew about this for three years, right? So, they've known this is -- they are looking for Levinson. They can't find the guy. He may he's a family. They don't know what's going on with him, but they sat on him because the administration said, don't go with this story yet because we're still working on leads.

Three years later, "The A.P." says, look, we keep trying and go with the story and the administration says, how could you do that? Why would you do that? You are jeopardizing the guy.

Well, he's been gone for six years and for three years they've said sit on the story. At some point -- you know, transparency, right? We need to know what's going on.

TANTAROS: Dana, getting into that. Eric mentioned that they decided to run the story. In the story, it said that U.S. officials knew that the Iranians knew that he was CIA. So, if they didn't know, I could see them not running the story. But could you see them doing it to put pressure on an administration that's been dragging its feet?

DANA PERINO, CO-HOST: Well, I do believe in operational security for all of our people, American citizens, whether they are working for the government or not. And I think that the State Department and CIA and other intel agencies have so much responsibility in thinking ahead of the new story, that they used it in order to protect people.

I'm hesitant here because this is a story that I used to get asked about quite a bit and I'm not able to talk about it a lot in particular.

On the news front, when newspapers like "The New York Times" decided to run the terrorist surveillance program in 2005, that was after many months of the White House and maybe a couple of years of the Bush administration asking "The New York Times" not to do it because it would disrupt our ability to track down terrorists and I think that news organizations try to do a fairly good job of balance, but my gut instinct is to err on the side of caution and protection of these individuals.

TANTAROS: Bob, General Ralph Peters was on Gretchen Carlson show earlier today. He said, why didn't this administration try and negotiate his release before they embark in sanctions? Now, this is a delicate scenario. And would you call it maybe a diplomatic crisis? Is there any other way to put it?

BOB BECKEL, CO-HOST: No. First of all, let's keep in mind, before you jump all on this administration, this guy was taken in 2007, two years before he went over there.

Now, the real question in my mind is, we don't have a lot of information here. Why this guy went to Kish Island, which is an Iranian resort island, where you're most likely, if you are an American, you are going to get picked up. He left his hotel. He went into a cab and he disappeared.

Now, I (INUDIBLE) he was a contractor, apparently of the CIA. The CIA paid his family 2.5 million bucks. Something in this story smells to me, and I just don't -- I don't want to comment beyond that, but I just don't think -- the story is a lot more to play out.

TANTAROS: It's a pretty incredible story. I mean, we -- Greg, we assume that there are spies all over the world. I should hope there are spies. Whose story are you buying?

GREG GUTFELD, CO-HOST: Well, you know, spying entails risk. Without risk, everybody would spy. If you don't have risks, spying would basically just be hanging out.

But I completely totally forgot that there was a whole other world out there. Because we have an administration for the past -- I don't know -- three or four years that have been obsessing over remaking one sixth of our economy, his legacy. He's like a person who is obsessed with vacuuming one part of the house while the rest of the house is falling apart.

There are so many things going on in this world that are dangerous. The world hasn't changed. It has gotten any safer, but we have an administration that is so focused on one thing that all of these other things are being ignored.

BECKEL: You got ObamaCare in there really quickly, didn't you?

GUTFELD: It's my thing. It's Friday.

TANTAROS: There is another issue that many say is being ignored. We've covered it here on "The Five." But the jailed pastor in Iran, his wife spoke out. She had some harsh words for the United States government saying that Tehran is testing President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDE CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I had anticipated that I would battle the Iranian government for my husband's freedom. I never anticipated I would have to battle my own government. So today, Saeed sits in that Iranian prison being tortured for his faith. He will not deny the faith that has saved him, that has given him life. He refuses to deny his faith in Jesus and return to Islam.

This season, I not only pray for the release of my husband, but I hope and pray that our government would realize where we have fallen from, where -- and how far we have fallen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANTAROS: Eric, why is the administration not doing more?

BOLLING: I don't know. Here is an opportunity, you want to lift -- by the way, lifting sanctions is the worst idea this administration has ever had. Only ObamaCare could be the worst idea -- very, very close.

Lifting sanctions on Iran is a mistake. But if you're going to do something, lift part of the sanctions, but also negotiate, what the hell what happened to Levinson? Where the hell is Afridi? We want Afridi back, tell us what's going on with Levinson. Not too much to ask actually.

PERINO: It's surprising that the Iranians don't just take this opportunity to look benevolent and at least allow the pastor to go. If they have problems with espionage or intelligence concerns when it comes to the other individual, OK, there is that.

But on the pastor, it would seem to me that it would work in the Iranian's favor in terms of worldwide recognition of, oh, yes, they are trying to turn a corner. Even though I don't believe that, it is surprising that they don't take this opportunity to free the pastor.

TANTAROS: And their new leader, Rouhani, when he was elected, Greg, remember the praise from some, saying this is going to a new Iran. It's the same Iran, it's even worse.

So, to Dana's point, why don't they do something, if this leader is trying to convince us that he has no intention of harming the United States?

GUTFELD: Yes, he doesn't have to do anything. He's as learned that we will come to him. By the way, I mean, the world -- let's face it, the world is an awful place. And it speaks to a contrast in perspectives in this world, us versus them. And there are people within the United States who will always feel that the prevailing system is the U.S. is the root of all evil. Anything that's happening, whether it's global warming in the Arctic, or poverty in the Middle East, it has to be our fault. But when we see these stories over and over again we are reminded that the world, like Dana, is nasty, Brutus and short.

And the only gleaming hope in this world is the United States. And we're educating people every year that this place is rotten and we're the only hope.

BECKEL: It's all those dam professors, man.

(CROSSTALK)

TANTAROS: Very quickly, Bob, before we get to North Korea. You worked in the White House.

BECKEL: Right.

TANTAROS: What would you advise them to do in this situation?

BECKEL: Well, first of all, I'd be a little careful to say that we haven't made some progress with the Iranians, number one. Number two, the sanctions thing is one of the biggest straw you put out there. I mean, if we have a chance to negotiate, just a chance to get rid of this nuclear grade material, it's worth doing it.

But leaving that aside, I think Dana has got a good point. I think the Iranians should take advantage of this, particularly with the pastor. That one was religious. This other one, I'm not so sure why he's in --

BOLLING: Bob, you know one of the oldest -- it goes right by the book, don't negotiate with terrorists. Don't negotiate with kidnappers. You are negotiating with kidnapping terrorists with the Iranians.

BECKEL: Ronald Reagan negotiated with the Iranians remember with weapons and birthday cake, you remember?

BOLLING: Uh-uh.

BECKEL: Well, it's happened for -- and I think he was for good reasons. I think he thought there was an opportunity. And if there's an opportunity here, we ought to take it.

TANTAROS: All right. Speaking of -- well, no opportunities. North Korea, Eric, Kim Jong-un executed his uncle for alleged womanizing.

BOLLING: Jang is dead?

TANTAROS: He's dead.

BOLLING: Uncle Jang, kaput.

TANTAROS: Womanizing, drinking, embarrassing a North Korean official. So, they executed him. Doesn't it -- when you think about Rodman going over there and how silly and how trivializes it, and then we're reminded just how nasty these people are, doesn't it worry you a little bit?

BOLLING: My concern is less with his judgment of killing poor Uncle Jang and his ex-girlfriend, which he executed as well, and hanging with Iran is that this crazy lunatic has his finger on a nuke. He has nuclear weapons --

TANTAROS: The closest we've got is Dennis Rodman going over there.

BOLLING: Poor judgment, you know, when it comes to press the button or not, I mean, you're not sure what he's going to do.

GUTFELD: You know, it's got to be hard being a relative of a dictator, because you never know -- you never know. I think the threat of death outweighs the perks you get, like the free cars, because if you send him the wrong gift he kills you.

You know, if the world were a neighborhood, North Korea is Ariel Castro's home and we're lucky enough not to live nearby. But sooner or later you have to go over, you've got to get into that house. You've got to evict those people. You've got to save the people in there.

We sit there and we talk about doing good in this world, North Korea really is the sore of this planet, and the way they treat their people and execute people for having bibles or seeing movies, it's a horrible, horrible place. And we're the only people that can do anything.

TANTAROS: Speaking of doing something, Bob, we've got to shift gears a little bit. But moving on to Iraq, 10 years later since the capture of Saddam Hussein, al Qaeda has infiltrated Iraq, it's at risk of being a failed state. What do you think about this? I mean, President Obama has said that al Qaeda is on the run. They've been decimated and now, the security on the border has been completely been obliterated and you see them infiltrating and trying to overthrow the government.

BECKEL: It doesn't come as a great surprise. I mean, when you had the border between two former enemies, Iraq and Iran, and Iraq keeping Iran in check, and now the Iranians are running over Iraq and having a lot of control, I'm not surprised to see it. I would be very careful that a big swath of the country is in the hands of al Qaeda at this game of the game. We just don't know. That's the problem.

TANTAROS: But Iran does have an interest. I mean, they are both Shiite and al Qaeda is trying to over throw the government.

PERINO: And for years and years, Iran has been giving money to al Qaeda in order to help target and kill our soldiers and innocent Iraqis. I maintain it didn't have to be this way. I think there -- President Obama had an opportunity to continue with the surge policy to move forward with it. What?

BECKEL: Go ahead and finish.

PERINO: Well, now, I've lost think train of thought.

BECKEL: I was going to say if we haven't had that war, Iranians wouldn't be crossing into Iraq.

PERINO: And I know you're going to say -- look -- but you have to play the hand -- the cards that you're dealt and then president decided to go a different direction and I think that's one of the reasons --

BOLLING: How do you know? How do you know they are not looking to take over the whole Middle East?

BECKEL: How do I know who? Who's taking --

BOLLING: The Iranians. They've already that Israel shouldn't be on the map.

BECKEL: All I know is that the Iraqis lost a million fighting the Iranians. If you think for a second that Saddam Hussein would have allowed them to have a nuclear war or a nuclear warhead?

BOLLING: You're making , you said to Dana was, if we haven't fought the war in Iraq, the war in Iraq didn't happen, the Iranians wouldn't try and take Iraq.

PERINO: You don't think there would be a nuclear weapons race in the Middle East, beyond Iran?

BECKEL: Well, I think Hussein -- well, it's another --

PERINO: We do foreign policy really well.

BOLLING: You worry about the Chinese more than the Iranians. I think.

BECKEL: I do. I worry about North Korea, frankly, luckily worst than I do --

TANTAROS: Bob, al Qaeda is growing and it's now a brand. They're not the typical cells they used to be. And our president said that we've decimated them.

All right, got to go.

Coming up, things got very heated in the White House briefing room between reporters and Jay Carney.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We did not create the Internet, this administration and --

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TANTAROS: That's right, Al Gore did. We'll tell you what that's all about.

And later, Britney Spears exercises her right to bear arms in her music video, firearms that is. But fans might not get to see her with her pistols.

It's all ahead on "The Five."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

PERINO: So, hell hath no fury like reporters denied access to a president. Things came to a head yesterday after photographers weren't allow on Air Force One for the president's trip to South Africa this week, or not allowed to take pictures.

Jay Carney got quite an earful.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARNEY: Hasn't it always been OK for reporters to take pictures?

REPORTER: Through all the hours that you spoke of, Jake, it was not possible for one second --

CARNEY: We did not create the Internet, this administration, and, guys --

(CROSSTALK)

REPORTER: Our problem is the access. You can put out a million pictures a day from a White House photographer and you bar --

CARNEY: And what I'm saying --

REPORTER:  And you put --

CARNEY: -- hold on.

(CROSSTALK)

CARNEY: Hey, guys --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PERINO: Well, it looks like they are having more fun than a barrel of monkeys in the press room.

Here is my point on this and we'll take it around the table. Photojournalists don't get enough credit for being journalists. They're actually are some of the best historians and political analyst that you'll ever find. And President Obama never takes a bad picture. All they're asking for is an opportunity to take pictures like they've done in the past, regardless of the Internet.

Bob, why don't they let them in to take pictures of an official event?

BECKEL: I have no idea. I mean, the picture -- we've talked about this before, I think the picture of Obama and Bush together would have been a good picture for Obama, frankly. But I don't understand.

Did you ever get yelled at like that?

PERINO: I'm sure I did.

BECKEL: You did?

PERINO: I'm sure I handled it just so well, though.

BECKEL: It seemed pretty out of control at one point.

PERINO: Actually, I thought that was fairly tame.

BECKEL: It was?

PERINO: Yes.

BECKEL: Who would want that job?

PERINO: We only have a couple of minutes.

Andrea, what do you think? Reporters, there's a big -- are they making a mountain out of a mole hill or they do have a point?

TANTAROS: I don't think so. This was a theme, right? So, a couple of months ago, led by Ed Henry, the press corps was pretty angry that the only thing they got from the president was a picture of him golfing when he went South to golf with, I believe, Tiger Woods.

This is my problem, though, Dana -- the White House said we're going to be transparent. We're going to give you lots of access, won't even let them take a picture. But, look, I'm not surprised that they are cutting back the access for the reporters. Things are not going very well. It makes them look like complete control freaks and ridiculous. Although the media, it's a little late for them to complain about access. Where they were complaining when they invoke executive order or executive privilege on Fast and Furious and all these other scandals?

So, to hear them complain, I mean, I guess better late than never but --

PERINO: I think that's a fairly good point.

You, too, have anything to say on this or do you want to go to the lie of the year?

GUTFELD: Yes, I have something to say.

PERINO: All right.

GUTFELD: Gee, whiz. No, boo hoo, boo hoo! This is not a conflict. This is a lover's quarrel. These guys have kept their powder dry until this guy was elected. And now they're winning. I have no sympathy for them whatsoever.

From 2007 to 2012, they were roofied by the White House. And now they're waking up all groggy and they're going, what the hell just happened, why is this guy so mean to me?

I don't care. It's like grounding your kid after he already moved out. What's the point?

So, yes, I have something to say.

PERINO: I do. I think there is something to be said, that they seeded so much ground and now, when they're fighting, they're complaining.

BOLLING: Very quickly, Pete Souza, a great White House photographer, the problem is, when you control that, it's not journalism.

PERINO: And he used to be a photo dog, like the rest of us.

BOLLING: If you don't let the independent photographer and photograph what's going on, you don't know what's going in. You're only getting what the White House wants you to know, and that's not journalism.

PERINO: It's a strange thing for them to complain. I think it's a strange battle for the White House to want to fight right now. I mean, the president takes great pictures, just let them take the pictures.

The other thing is you have breaking news last night on "The Five," because we found out from PolitiFact that lie of the year is: if you like your health care plan, you can keep it. That was said by President Obama, over 36 times. He added "period".

Anybody have thoughts about the lie of the year?

(CROSSTALK)

BOLLING: Hold on. Let's be fair. That exactly wasn't the lie of the year. He said it 30-something times. The lie came on November 4th when he said, was I said was you could keep it period, if -- and then he went on to explain, and that part where he said he was saying it all along, he had never said it before. And in the age of video, knowing we're going to pull a video, pull a tape on it, that was the lie of the year and, boy, was it a --

PERINO: And, Andrea, here is nine people who also told the lie who could be up for election in 2014 and 2016. Those are members, of course, and Hillary Clinton actually started it.

TANTAROS: OK, Republicans, we are approaching January 1st. You now have PolitiFact behind you. This should be the message, Dana, on January 1st, more people will not have insurance because of this law than have it.

It is very, very simple. It is the exact opposite goal of what the law intended and it is not a political crisis any more. I mean, this is a legitimate crisis. A crisis, not a political one. And they need to get on board.

PERINO: Greg?

GUTFELD: The new lie is going to be that the Democrats will be running on ObamaCare and I say go for it, you'll have better luck playing tennis on Ambien, which is often fun, I've tried it.

PERINO: Especially when you are half asleep.

OK, Bob, you're done. Are we good?

All right. Ahead on "The Five" --

GUTFELD: Why do you have to rush through these segments?

PERINO: Well, they're telling me 20 times, for like three minutes --

GUTFELD: But it's stupid. Then don't give it so many topics.

Seriously, we're sitting here. Everyone has something to say.

TANTAROS: The secret Santa --

(CROSSTALK)

PERINO: Don't kill the co-host messenger.

Disturbing new information about the violent past of the sign language interpreter in Nelson Mandela's funeral and is booze more dangerous for James Bond than bad guys. That's one study says about 007's drinking habits, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLLING: Welcome back.

What do Britney Spears, Nelson Mandela and James Bond have in common?

I'll give you a second to think about it. Times up. They're all part of the fastest seven minutes on TV.

Let's go. First up, in the story that gets wackier by the way, the sign language interpreter who claimed he was schizophrenic has been accused of murder, rape, theft and more -- that's right --- and yet he was able to stand next to the most powerful people in the world, including our president.

Greg, you pointed that out a couple of days ago, scary and this is scarier.

GUTFELD: Yes. This is -- South Africa is not a good place if you cannot find an interpreter at the time of your largest historical event.

Here is a question. Did anyone stick around after the funeral or do world leaders leave South Africa like they were driving through a bad neighborhood? The sad statement here is while Bishop Tutu was at the funeral, his house got robbed.

BOLLING: Right. It was burglarized. It gets crazier.

Dana, your thoughts on this?

PERINO: I would just say it is supremely irresponsible of the South Africans, and also, you should think about our own security work forces. I think Greg had a great point about how much money the taxpayers spent to protect President Obama and other leaders and we should do a better job of protecting that investment.

BOLLING: Bob, you would think that -- I'm not sure what's around his neck, I would think they'd be credentials. When they get credentials, don't they check your background?

BECKEL: Yes, first of all, I'm surprised you are so worried about Obama.

GUTFELD: What? He's our president.

BECKEL: That was a joke.

Here's the thing that amazes me. There were 60,000 people there and somebody had to be -- why didn't a deaf person say something?

PERINO: Bob -- I mean, how could they say something?

BECKEL: Well, they could do their sign language, saying that dude's not doing it.

(CROSSTALK)

TANTAROS: I don't really know where to go.

BECKEL: I mean, that's a legitimate point.

BOLLING: Here's a good idea, we'll just move on.

GUTFELD: You know what? He got a job as a third base coach.

TANTAROS: Let's go to the next one. You know what? I like Britney Spears better any way.

BOLLING: I hot new video out, they are OK with the sex stuff but guns, not so much. Watch.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

BOLLING: OK. So, what happens here -- that's a video that they taped. But they pull the scene that had guns in it. I think we have a picture. Can we go to the picture of the gun? See, look at this. So, they pulled this scene out of the video, Ands.

TANTAROS: Good. Finally someone has a little bit of responsibility and that's what they are saying. They're saying, look, she's got younger listeners. If you want to watch the version with the guns in it, go to this Web site and watch it.

But I think it is very smart and responsible. And Britney Spears is not a hypocrite. She's not an entertainer that goes after people with guns in PSA's and has them in her videos. She's responsible in both fronts. I'd say, good for you, Britney.

BOLLING: I have a 15-year-old son, I'm not sure if I'm more concerned about him seeing guns or Britney grinding that dude --

BECKEL: Well, I must have missed something. But I saw guns in that spot.

TANTAROS: Oh, Bob!

(LAUGHTER)

PERINO: Well, OK, following Bob talking about that -- the music is not for me. I don't like it. I don't like it.

GUTFELD: I don't know. I have to say, it's good to see that she's becoming more thoughtful as she's heading into her late 40s. She's probably one of the sexiest grandmothers out there.

What's her next career move -- because the teenage base, if you leave the marketplace for two years, you lose your audience, they quit listening.

PERINO: Also, the other thing, in 10 years if we're lucky enough to still be doing this show, after today, who knows? But Miley Cyrus will be the subject of the same type of thing. She's going to make her amazing comeback. She's --

(CROSSTALK)

BOLLING: First they are messing with Santa Claus and now the P.C. police are saying James Bond is an alcoholic. Come on. Bond is cool as they come.

Anyone else sick of the wussies trying to ruin everything fun?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNDIENTIFIED MALE: Can I do something for you, Mr. Bond?

JAMES BOND: Just a drink. A martini, shaken not stirred.

A martini, shaken, not stirred.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLLING: Greg, you say this happens often?

GUTFELD: Yes. You know what? I think it's time for a new James Bond. He's a hurtful, bullying man. I think I would like to see a sequential hermaphroditic guidance councilor named Seth, and he solves world problems through therapeutic massage and a magic pair of leg warmers.

TANTAROS: And a fleece --

GUTFELD: Yes.

TANTAROS: -- with a beard.

BOLLING: How do you follow that one?

BECKEL: I'm an alcoholic and this guy wasn't an alcoholic but what he did do is get a lot of other things.

BOLLING: Did you have a problem saying with him saying, "Martini shaken, not stirred"?

BECKEL: That's a wussy thing anyway, because they put vermouth in it. Why do you ruin good liquor with some vermouth?

BOLLING: Just waves it over the top, just sprays a little bit over the top.

TANTAROS: A couple of points, Bob. In this article, they actually say, because of the alcohol he's consumed he couldn't get that other thing you were talking about, I assume it's Bond girls, because he -- you know.

BECKEL: What do you mean? He got them in every movie.

TANTAROS: No, they said he had like, I don't know, impotence or something.

BOLLING: All right.

(CROSSTALK)

GUTFELD: We have ads for it, why can't we talk about it?

TANTAROS: Wait, one more thing, 39 units of booze, he jumps in his car. He has a high speed. He crashes and 14 days in the hospital. That's not "Casino Royale." That's Bob in 1983.

BOLLING: Dana, let's stand up for the American male and say, you know, it's OK. Is this all right for you?

PERINO: Yes, bottoms up.

BOLLING: There you go.

BECKEL: Bottoms up.

(CROSSTALK)

GUTFELD: I know a bar called that.

BOLLING: I do too.

PERINO: As does Bob.

BOLLING: Coming up, ESPN reverses itself and allows a Jesus commercial to air but why did they deny it in the first place? We'll get to the bottom of that coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GUTFELD: All right. According to a new Gallup poll, wealthy religious Americans report the highest charitable giving and volunteering. Of course, this is self-reported so they could be better fibbers than givers. I tried to write off some charity work last year, but technically, those teens weren't really asking for help.

But that's the problem with charity. Who do you trust and who's better at it? That's a war between the private choices of the individual and those who know better in the government.

One embraces charity, the other coercion. I accept safety nets, I get it. But the argument for redistribution is based on brandishing you as selfish. This erroneous notion of greed persists, however, because the media is lazy and most charity is private. Evil, rich, God-fearing freaks like Mitt Romney, they don't brag, unlike the boastful bureaucrat who claims he can roll back the oceans when he can't roll out a website.

That's the difference between charity and government, one works and the other shirks. Government can feel great spending your money because the burden's not on their wallets. So, no metrics apply. That's why taxpayers have spent $14,000 for each ObamaCare enrollee so far. It's horrifying but ironic, who knew that the God-fearing one-percenters are way better at spreading the wealth than any community organizer.

BECKEL: What exactly do you do for teens to get charitable --

BOLLING: You know what the problem is?

GUTFELD: What?

BOLLING: It's been enlarged. They filed the 501c3 and then --

GUTFELD: Yes, they can't even speak English.

BECKEL: I want Greg to answer that question. What was the charity work you were doing with teens?

GUTFELD: I like to help people in need, Bob. I often drive around in a van and volunteer whenever I can.

BECKEL: You pick up wayward teen-agers?

GUTFELD: Yes, I do. They are over 18.

Ands, let's -- we'll get back on topic here.

The survey was done by Gallup to mark the anniversary of Sandy Hook.  They found that 65 percent of respondents volunteer their time and 83 percent donate money. Those are pretty. Surprising to you?

TANTAROS: Yes -- actually, it's not surprising. "The New York Times" actually reported that last year that 91 percent of Americans have more faith in nonprofits than the federal government.

And even though we pay not as much as other countries in taxes, we are the most benevolent country in the nation.

You know, the thing about the Jane Fonda charity that didn't pay very much to charity, it's not surprising. When you look at the charitable donations of the Bidens, for example, $369, paltry $369. Government is their charity. They want us to give money to government, to your point, so they don't have to.

GUTFELD: Dana, my charity, as you know, were waitresses and bartenders all throughout my neighborhood.

PERINO: And very generosity.

GUTFELD: I am very generous. They found however that religious charities are on the decline. Is that because generosity is waning?

PERINO: Possibly. Although I think it will be interesting to see if the Pope changes that because he is bringing a new renewed focus I think to the purpose of Christian love.

Philanthropy is now an entire industry. There are actually consultants who will help you figure out who are the best charts to donate to. We are very generous and I think private sector and nonprofits do a lot better than government because they can actually touch someone's heart rather than just giving them a handout.

BECKEL: One of the most charitable givers I know is sitting right here, and the fact is that his summer, which we've never been invited was saved by the government dune that was put in front of it.

BOLLING: The Girl Scouts.

BECKEL: Government has to do with it and you get the Girls Scouts --

(CROSSTALK)

BECKEL: They couldn't have done it without the dune being put up by the government.

GUTFELD: I don't understand.

BECKEL: Anyway, you were watching the Girl Scouts, I was watching the government with sand.

GUTFELD: What is he talking about?

BECKEL: We'll pound sand, which saved his house, which we haven't been invited to.

(CROSSTALK)

GUTFELD: Do you want to respond, Eric, or should I move on?

BOLLING: Let's move on.

GUTFELD: All right. Didn't see where that was going on.

All right. Coming up, did ESPN ban a commercial to raise -- how can you laugh at that? Anyway, raise money for children's hospital because it contained a word "Jesus" and "God" in it. That's straight ahead on "The Five."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GUTFELD: A Christmas song.

BECKEL: That was Paul McCartney singing that song.

If you can believe, ESPN thought this commercial referencing God and the birth of Christ was too offensive for their air.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Each Christmas, thousands in our communities send messages of hope to sick and injured children. We celebrate the birth of Jesus and the season of giving, bringing hope to the many children, parents and families that we serve. Help us reveal God's healing presence at Christmas. Send your message of hope at Glennon.org.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECKEL: To their credit, ESPN reversed that decision. It will air Saturday during a college basketball game. Yes, good for them. But -- sorry. But what was the big deal in the first place? That was the question I was going to ask anybody. What was the big deal?

TANTAROS: Well, they say, according to their rules, they can't have anything with religious or political connotations on their airwaves.

But why bother is the point? Now they've got an onslaught of bad P.R. And this is the same network that was running commercials for Obama care on its ads, so clearly they can make an exception when it fits their political association.

BECKEL: Do you think it's because they were going to offend other religions like Muslims, for example?

BOLLING: I have no idea why they wouldn't run that. It's a children's hospital. Come on, give me a break. For kids.

BECKEL: I agree.

PERINO: If an imam decided to put an ad out, do you think they would have declined it?

BOLLING: Oh, no.

TANTAROS: I doubt it.

BECKEL: I would have canceled my cable subscription.

PERINO: I also think that ESPN, in their initial judgment, shows how out of touch they are with their viewers and their fans.

GUTFELD: I would -- a P.R. suggestion for ESPN, lay off the children's hospitals. It's not a good target. It's a layup for O'Reilly. Now he's not going to shut up about it. He's walking around the halls: "Did you see what I did to ESPN? Did you see what I did?"

Yes, we get it.

Would they have rejected -- would they have rejected a Muslim children's hospital? I Googled. I found one in India.

BOLLING: I have some inside information on how O'Reilly will handle that later on tonight.

GUTFELD: Yes?

BOLLING: I'll break the news later.

BECKEL: Well, he'll handle it -- is he on today or are you on?

BOLLING: You'll have to wait and find out.

BECKEL: OK. Well, you'll do it, too. You'll follow in his footsteps. You wouldn't do that. You would just say O'Reilly said this then; he was wrong. Wouldn't you say that?

BOLLING: Don't we have to go.

BECKEL: Yes, you have to go. "One More Thing" up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TANTAROS: It's time now for "One More Thing." But before we get started, it's 12 days until Christmas, so it's time to do our secret Santa picks. That's right: on Christmas Eve, we'll open the presents.

OK so first, let me reach around in the hat -- Dana.

PERINO: OK.

TANTAROS: Can you hand that to Dana?

PERINO: Let's see. Can I open it? I can look and see who...

TANTAROS: Yes, but you cannot say who it is.

PERINO: All right. Did you tell Bob the same rules?

TANTAROS: All right. And then we've got -- here we go. Pick out of the hat here, and then Greg.

GUTFELD: Oh, I hope I don't get Lou Dobbs again. Trying to find extra-large swim trunks.

TANTAROS: Probably not. Do not say what you have, Bob. Do not say it.

BECKEL: I can't get the dang thing open. It said -- did you do that on purpose because you thought I was going to say something? OK. Just for that -- who?

TANTAROS: Don't say.

BECKEL: Oh, I got Andrea.

GUTFELD: Nice.

BECKEL: Well if they hadn't scooped me up...

TANTAROS: I'll show you the pair of shoes I want after the show.

BECKEL: Oh, no. I really don't.

TANTAROS: Dana, you're first.

PERINO: For "One More Thing"?

TANTAROS: Yes.

PERINO: OK. Great.

I had -- my favorite night in New York City was last night. I went to the Beacon Theater and I got to see Dierks Bentley. He's my favorite country music artist. I took Joshua the producer. He's there on the left, Dierks Bentley in the middle. And NASH 94.7 FM is the first country station in New York for a long time. They held this event. My husband Peter went.

And I did something like night that you'd never see me do on the show, and Joshua captured it here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECKEL: That's good.

PERINO: I danced the whole night. I know the words to every song, and he has a new album coming out called "Riser." It's great.

BECKEL: Why don't you dance for us when we dance? She just...

PERINO: I don't dance on set, but I will dance.

TANTAROS: All right. So in the "Huffington Post," there was an argument about Greek wisdom -- shut up, Bob -- and what it can teach the rest of the world. So I figured I'd pull some tips from "The Huffington Post" and share them with you this holiday season.

BECKEL: How to build diners.

TANTAROS: Here's some wisdom. They take naps. Take naps. They appreciate the value of a good walk.

PERINO: I'm for that.

TANTAROS: They ask the big questions. They take hospitality and generosity very seriously. That is true. And they take time for leisure. And they come together over good food and drink.

PERINO: Where's the working part? Where's the go to work job part?

TANTAROS: That's not in there.

BECKEL: They don't do that.

TANTAROS: I'm an anomaly. My family's an anomaly. And the ones that came to this country. Right, Bob?

BECKEL: That's right. You've all got diners.

TANTAROS: All right. Robert, you're up.

BECKEL: OK. Well, the Tea Party's at it again. And you know, the Republicans, they sent it back twice and the Tea Party, of course, got it in in the primary, the Republicans who were up, and then they lost their seats. Now, these are Republicans who are up -- all of them now the incumbent Republicans who are being challenged by Tea Party candidates.

Tea Party keep at it. Where do I send the contribution, because you have done nothing but screw up the Republican Party?

BOLLING: They also got the House to...

TANTAROS: That's true. That's what I want for Christmas, donate money to the Tea Party. OK?

BOLLING: I'll go very, very quickly. So I'm walking through the hall this afternoon. Take a look who I bumped into. Where's the picture. There he is -- I was like where's the Secret Service?

Anyway, I asked that guy -- I'm going to be hosting "The O'Reilly Factor" tonight. I asked that guy to show up, and so you have to stay -- stick around.

TANTAROS: Does it come off?

PERINO: Are those his real ears?

BECKEL: Have you ever seen a picture with Eric?

TANTAROS: They're not his...

BOLLING: What do you mean? Who? Who are you talking about?

TANTAROS: Never mind.

BECKEL: Never mind.

TANTAROS: Greg.

GUTFELD: "Red Eye" tomorrow, 11 p.m. Saturday. Governor Huckabee is going to be making a very, very big announcement on "Red Eye" tomorrow. It's here first. It's not on "O'Reilly." It's not on "Hannity." I got it first.

In other news, Media Matters has declared victory over Fox News. In other news, the fleas have declared victory over cats. Stupid, stupid Media Matters.

BECKEL: Who's that?

TANTAROS: Who's Media Matters?

GUTFELD: I don't know.

BECKEL: Are we done already?

TANTAROS: We're done, but...

BECKEL: How come you guys said to hurry it up?

TANTAROS: What do you want for Christmas, Bob? Just so you're...

BECKEL: I'm dumping you, man. You're too expensive.

TANTAROS: You're dumping me?

BECKEL: No, I don't have you. I was only kidding, because you said, "Don't say who it is." Of course, you say that to me, I'm going to say it, right? No, I got someone else.

TANTAROS: OK.

BECKEL: Dana.

PERINO: Can I get the next Dierks Bentley album?

TANTAROS: Set your DVR so you never miss an episode of "The Five." We'll see you right back here on Monday. Have a great weekend, everybody. "Special Report" is up next.

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