Leno to O'Reilly: 'This anti-gay thing, it doesn't make any sense'

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly told NBC's Jay Leno on Tuesday that people should cut Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum some slack for his "dopey comments" on social issues.

"I have no idea what Rick Santorum stands for," Leno admitted to O'Reilly. "All I know is, he doesn't like condoms, he doesn't like birth control."

"I don't understand this anti-gay thing, it doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, we are Americans, we should include everybody in the same tent. I don't understand why it's a threat to my marriage -- I've been married 32 years -- why if Bob and Steve want to get married, why it's a problem to me."

Sensing the audience was against him, O'Reilly kept his opinion on LGBT rights in check.

"The social stuff is -- you know, look, we want our president involved, but not that involved," the culture warrior explained. "And if you get involved with the social stuff and personal behavior judgements, that's not what America wants."

He added: "Santorum is a guy who is inexperienced in this arena. He got drawn into a few things. He's made some past comments. Everybody has dopey past comments. ... So, we got to cut him a little slack."

But within the comfort of his own Fox News set, O'Reilly has often been quick to say that same sex marriage was dangerous and would eventually lead to marriages with turtles, goats, ducks and dolphins.

Watch this video from NBC's Tonight Show, broadcast Feb. 21, 2012.

(H/T: Gawker)