Brian Kilmeade Is An Idiot

Here's why.

As every story I've read hat tips Gawker, I'll have to assume they have the original story. Here's what they say:

To stave off dementia! Yes, today the befuddled screech owls on Fox & Friends were discussing a study that states that those that stay married fend off Alzheimer's and dementia better than lonely divorcees. Brian Kilmeade took issue with this.

He didn't trust the study because it was done in Finland and Sweden and the Finns and the Swedes stay "pure" by only marrying each other. Whereas in America, everyone marries everyone (so long as they're white and their partner is white. Oh, and straight!) So therefore the study doesn't mean anything.

Suddenly the clouds parted and a thin ray of sunshine shone down on the pesky corn nut that is Gretchen Carlson—descendant of some Nordic "species", for sure—and she ably, if simply, mocked crazy dumb Kilmeade for being crazy and dumb and possibly suffering from dementia.

Mediamatters has a transcript:

KILMEADE: Different. Leave it to the Finns and Swedes to some up with something. They literally --

CARLSON: Don't look at me, pal.

KILMEADE: Because that's a -- we are -- we're -- we're a -- we're -- we keep marrying other species and other ethnics and other --

CARLSON: Are you sure they're not suffering from some of the --

KILMEADE: I mean, the Swedes --

CARLSON: -- causes of dementia right now?

BRIGGS: What are you getting at?

KILMEADE: See, the problem is, the Swedes have pure genes.

BRIGGS: OK.

KILMEADE: Because they marry other Swedes. Because that's the rule. Finland -- Finns marry other Finns, so they have a pure society. In America, we marry everybody.

BRIGGS: OK.

KILMEADE: So, we'll marry Italians and Irish.

BRIGGS: So, this study does not apply?

KILMEADE: Does not apply to us.

BRIGGS: Huh. You are a scientist.

CARLSON: Amazing deduction, Kilmeade.

So America isn't a "pure society" according to Fox "News" personality Brian Kilmeade because "we marry everybody"? Wonkette has a different take:

Fox & Friends’ Brian Kilmeade made a terrible buffoon of himself on the television this morning! You know why the Olds get Dementia and Alzheimer’s, in America? This is why: “We are — we keep marrying other species and other ethnics and other … See, the problem is the Swedes have pure genes. Because they marry other Swedes …. Fins marry other Fins, so they have a pure society.” Meaning: Ronald Reagan was a mulatto.

So maybe he was just commenting on Alzheimers. In either case, what a frickin idiot.

Watch it yourself:


It's also pretty obvious that someone on the set also feels Kilmeade is an idiot - listen carefully and you'll hear someone whistling. What are they whistling? It's a famous tune from The Wizard of Oz. In case you can't recognise the tune, here are the lyrics. They're fitting, doncha think?

I could wile away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain [emphasis added]

So there's at least one person over there at Fox "News" who agrees. Brian Kilmeade is a frickin idiot.

UPDATE: Even without all the charming racism of Kilmeade's ignorance, it's surprising he'd have any problem with the study. According to the BBC:

Being single when you reach middle age could mean more than having the house to yourself - it could increase your risk of dementia.

Swedish research, presented at a US conference, found that marriage or having a partner halved the risk of developing dementia.

Scientists believe social interaction between couples may ward off illness.

The Alzheimer's Research Trust said the results were worrying, given the high divorce rates in the UK.

You'd think the "family values" crowd over at Fox "News" would be pushing this story. Stay married! If you're divorced, get remarried! You'll save yourself from Alzheimers!

Again all it shows is that Brian Kilmeade is a frickin idiot.