During Lawrence O'Donnell's signature "Rewrite" segment, the MSNBC host challenged Mitt Romney's oldest son, Tagg, to what sounded like a straight up, bare-knuckle bar fight.
O'Donnell replayed a radio interview with Tagg, in which Romey's son joked about wanting to "take a swing" at the president for calling his dad a liar during Tuesday night's debate.
O'Donnell was not happy, and challenged Tagg on his comments. "When I hear you talk about taking a swing and taking punches, why do I get the feeling that you've never actually taken a punch or thrown a punch?" O'Donnell asked.
"I didn't have that luxury in the part of Boston that I grew up in, but in your rich, suburban, Boston life, with your father filling a $100 million trust fund for you, I dont' know, I just get the feeling that things were kind of different."
He added, "You're mad at President Obama for calling your father a liar? Well, let's get something straight. He didn't call your father a liar, I did. The president just said that what your father said isn't true. I've been saying it all year that your father is a liar. I've repeatedly said that your father lies and is trying to lie his way into the White House."
He then challenged Tagg further. "So you want to take a swing at someone for calling your old man a liar? Take a swing at me," O'Donnell said. "Come on, come on...I'll make it easy for you. I'll come to you...Go ahead, Taggard. Take your best shot."
O'Donnell also defended "View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg for asking Ann Romney if her husband and sons did not serve in the armed forces for religious reasons.
Romney said that her husband was "serving his mission" during Vietnam, so did not enlist, but it was not against their religion to serve.
"When Romneymen reach military age, they bravely go out into the world and try to convert people to Mormonism," O'Donnell said, his tone dripping with mockery.
He added, "Whoopi Goldberg was closer to the truth than Ann Romney acknowledged," O'Donnell said. "Ann Romney is right that serving in the military is not against the Romney family religion, but the complete truth includes the fact that young, Mormon men were allowed to use a special deferment that no one else was allowed to use."
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.