BILL O'REILLY: Everyone On The Planet Should Be Rooting For Tesla (TSLA)

Bill O'Reilly has had a change of heart.

One year after saying Tesla, which in its earliest years took Energy Department loans, had wasted taxpayer dollars, the Fox News host praised the electric car maker, picking up on a "60 Minutes" piece about the wild success of the firm.

Calling it a "gamechanger," O'Reilly said Tesla is a model for the renewable energy movement that will help put pressure on traditional automakers to come up with cleaner, cheaper vehicles.

Thanks to StreetInsider for the tip:

<iframe width="600" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SYKPQziUjrE?start=150"></iframe>

Here's what he said:

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"I'll give you one concrete thing that all responsible people should be rooting for. On "60 Minutes" last night they reported on the Tesla electric car, which is a gamechanger. The <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">car runs extremely, well looks good, and doesn't use gas - no gas at all. Now that car in the next few years could be available to millions, at a decent price."</span>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"So everybody on the planet should be rooting for Tesla - </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">I mean everybody, </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">even traditional car companies that will have to compete. I</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">f Telsa can make a clean car the entire automotive industry can.</span>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"Therefore the air cleaner everywhere, and our wallets, thicker. S</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">o let's get on it people!"</span>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"But there will be resistance. Many conservatives don't believe in global warming, and oppose alternative energy. I hope you guys rethink the <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">energy part. I </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">agree many in the green lobby are self righteous, arrogant, and dumb. B</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">ut we'd all be better off if clean, cheap energy becomes the norm. A</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">nd that's the truth."</span>

<b>See Also:</b>

<ul><li>PANASONIC: We Haven't Yet Committed To Elon Musk's Gigafactory</li><li>Elon Musk Posted These Fascinating GIFs To Demonstrate Tesla's New Titanium Shield</li><li>Valuation Expert Damodaran Thinks Tesla Is Worth Nearly Half Its Current Price</li></ul>

SEE ALSO: PANASONIC: We Have Not Yet Committed To Elon Musk's Gigafactory