This is a rush transcript from "The Five," December 21, 2012. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

GREG GUTFELD, CO-HOST: So, according to a new CNN poll, a majority of Americans say the GOP's beliefs are not mainstream. The polling director, whoever he is, says this maybe due to a tarnish Republican brand, perhaps. But the Republican Party is indeed extreme, if you accept the media's portrayal of them.

If you try to explain how taxing the top 2 percent doesn't help the deficit -- you're extreme.

If you think government shouldn't give money to failed green energy projects -- you're extreme.

If you think school decisions are better made at local level than D.C. -- you're extreme.

If you think it's weird that government would jail government for making a poorly done video -- extreme.

If you want an actual debate about the real impact of man-made global warming -- extreme.

If you think bloated government is unsustainable -- way extreme.

If you own a gun for protection -- you're extreme.

If you aren't a liberal -- you're extreme.

If you hold to any specific principle grounded in what your grandparents called common sense -- you are extreme.

And by extreme, the media really means "mean".

Yes, it's an old stereotype, the media is mad at the daddy who didn't hug them. And so, they conduct a survey to soothe their wounds.

So, yes, I am extreme. To me, that is a compliment, for it means I stick to my principles.

So, if you're like me, embrace your inner extremist. In another age, it was called a spine.

DANA PERINO, CO-HOST: Bravo! I like that one. We could run it again.

ERIC BOLLING, CO-HOST: It was?

GUTFELD: It was extreme.

PERINO: Put those on iTunes.

GUTFELD: I should. You know what? They should, I would be rich. Well, probably not.

K.G., some people consider you an extremist. But in ways --

KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE, CO-HOST: Extremely awesome. Yes.

GUTFELD: Is the GOP too extreme or not extreme enough?

GUILFOYLE: I don't think they are at all. In fact, as many people think, they should have stuck to their principles and not cave on this, the fiscal cliff. Because what does it do anyway? There doesn't appear to be negotiation going on here, it's a stalemate. You got a leadership vacuum, perhaps even a coup incoming on John Boehner.

So, right now, at the end of the year, what have we have accomplished?

GUTFELD: Yes. Well, you would know a lot about stalemates.

(LAUGHTER)

GUTFELD: Bob --

BOB BECKEL, CO-HOST: Yes?

GUTFELD: -- our viewers are dying to hear your opinion on this.

BECKEL: Very simple, first of all, you make this sound like just bunch of liberals feel this way. The fact is a majority of the American people, they're also the majority that voted for the president of the United States, think the Republican Party is extreme. And it is. It's gone back to the days of Barry Goldwater. It's way off to the right.

GUILFOYLE: No, it's not.

BECKEL: That's what John Boehner's problem is, is one of his leadership colleagues said, there are bunch of knuckleheads in the House who are right wingers who are holding everything up.

GUTFELD: But this is my -- this is kind of my point, Dana. Isn't the word extreme unfair because it confuses two themes, beliefs that are outside the form and fidelity to principle?

So, the Tea Party was about fidelity to principle to limited government, however through the prism of the media, it is made to be viewed as outside the norm.

PERINO: But they hate the principle.

GUTFELD: Right.

PERINO: So, therefore, they hate you. Therefore, you are extreme. I'm going to use a banned phrase. The narrative in the media is that the Republicans are so extreme.

Actually, if you look at the Democrats and a lot of them that were elected in this past election, it is more extreme on the left than it has been. Not to say there aren't extremists on the right as well.