The Fox host and the Democratic congressman ranted at each other for six minutes. What were they ranting about? Good question.
Fox News, a frequent source of epic interviews ("U mad, bro?") produced another instant classic Tuesday night. Rep. Keith Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat, and Sean Hannity had one of the more impressive fights we've seen on air for some time -- if not as lengthy as the famous Alex Jones-Piers Morgan contretemps, at least as heated at its peak.
Within the first half a minute, Ellison had called Hannity "the worst excuse for a journalist I've ever seen." Hannity pretended he didn't hear it and demanded the congressman repeat himself, and we were off from there. Ellison called Hannity's work "yellow journalism," then said he:
- is "deceptive";
- has breached "every journalistic ethic I've ever heard of";
- is "ridiculous";
- is a "shameless ... Republican"; and
- is "a shill for the Republican Party"
Hannity, finally elbowing in, jokingly told Ellison to keep ranting, an invitation Ellison took to heart. When Hannity tried to ask another question, Ellison retorted, "You said I could rant .... We'll let you get a word in." Things took a turn for the playground -- "You're a broken record." "You're a broken record!" -- and eventually Hannity cut Ellison off ("Congressman, you are a total waste of time"). It was fun, if cringeworthy, while it lasted.