Perhaps it was uncharacteristic behavior for Independent Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut to condescendingly call Huffington Post editor Arianna Huffington “sweetheart” last week, but it’s still a topic of discussion.
On Monday’s “Imus in the Morning” program, host Don Imus alluded to Lieberman’s appearance on “Morning Joe” last week and talked about his judgment of Huffington’s character.
“Now this thing — Arianna Huffington, who I think is probably [a] nice enough woman – and this has nothing to do with her politics, whatever they are. But here’s all you need to know about her,” Imus said. “She is one of these people that wouldn’t shut her cell phone off and had to take her off an airplane. So, that’s all you need to know about a person. It doesn’t make any difference if they’re a liberal.”
Lieberman suggested he regretted the whole appearance and said he “fell into a trap” with Huffington.
LIEBERMAN: After the — a little debate I had with her on that unmentionable other show.
IMUS: You can mention it, “Morning Joe,” I don’t mind. I have about 10 million more people listening to me than watching them, so.
LIEBERMAN: Exactly, not only did I not get a chance to come on your show that morning, but I fell into a trap and went on that show. I will try not to do that again.
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Just a few minutes after that exchange on MSNBC, “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough fired back at Lieberman.
“I just learned that a senator, who is going to be a former senator went on another show that literally has about three people watching it, attacking us,” Scarborough said. “Yes, the ‘Morning Joe’ crew. I am stunned because he called — he called Arianna Huffington ‘sweetie pie’ or something like that. ‘Sweetheart,’ I’m sorry. So anyway, oh, well.”
He also took a shot at Imus’s Fox Business Network show. Prior to Imus’ 2007 “nappy-headed ho” remarks, Imus held that same time slot as Scarborough.
“Because he said something stupid on the show,” Scarborough said. “I didn’t — I wasn’t even on the set. You know, he’s complaining on like some show nobody watched.”