Hewitt vs O'Donnell

If you didn’t get a chance to hear Hugh Hewitt dismantle MS-NBC’s Larry O’Donnell last night, Hugh made sure you have the opportunity today.  The entire transcript of the interview appears on his blog, with a link to the podcast of the 35-minute conversation.  It’s long, but well worth the time.  Here are a couple of highlights:

Advertisement

HH: What was the last book you read about terrorism?

LO’D: The last…I don’t think I’ve read a book about terrorism.

HH: Ever?

LO’D: No.

HH: About al Qaeda?

LO’D: No.

HH: About…how about the mullahs in Iran?

LO’D: No.

HH: I’m just stunned.

LO’D: Well, I’ll tell you, I’ve read Bob Woodward’s books about the accounts inside the Bush administration from what they were doing from the day they got sworn in, okay?

HH: You’ve never read a book about terrorism?

LO’D: There is no, there is absolutely no evidence, and I defy you today, Hugh,

HH: Larry, you’ve never read a book about terrorism?

LO’D: I defy you to point to me, point to me a citation of one memo or one meeting that Dick Cheney was in where he says anything about al Qaeda.

HH: Larry, I’ve got to go lie down. I really do. Do you think you’re a well-informed MSNBC, by MSNBC standards, do you think you’re above the grade of people on that network?

LO’D: That’s a trick question, Hugh.

He never read anything about terrorism?  Not in seven-plus years after 9/11, when he works as a political analyst for NBC?  That’s a rather amazing admission, but given O’Donnell’s statements, one that only mildly surprises, if that.

Hugh then presses O’Donnell for factual support for one of his statements, and O’Donnell crumbles:

HH: You said people have been prosecuted for exactly this. Did you mean for waterboarding?

LO’D: Yeah.

HH: Who?

LO’D: Well, we’ve done it, you know, this country has prosecuted that, that, torture method before.

HH: When?

LO’D: Um, I don’t know, what’s…I think it is was…umm, I don’t know. I…you know, I’ve…I know that we’ve done it, and I don’t have the research in front of me as to exactly when we’ve prosecuted who for it and which conflict.

Advertisement

In other words, O’Donnell pulled that argument from his nether regions, and Hugh proceeds to school him on mens rea and other legal niceties that O’Donnell apparently didn’t bother to research, either.  I guess O’Donnell hasn’t read any law books, either.

Be sure to read the whole interview, and listen to it when you get the chance.  It’s better live than on paper.

Update: Here’s one book suggestion for Larry O’Donnell if he wants to start learning about the issues rather than get reamed as he did last night. Anyone have any others?

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on HotAir Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement