MSNBC's new lineup includes avowed Marxist

Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC

During an angry tirade over Democrat election losses, the host of the new
MSNBC political show, "The Last Word," blurted out that he's a "socialist,"
while blasting colleagues for hiding behind less radical labels such as
"liberal" or "progressive."

"I am a socialist," declared MSNBC anchor Lawrence O'Donnell. "I live to the
extreme left of you liberals."

O'Donnell, who got his start in TV as creator of the NBC series "The West
Wing," made the remarks while appearing Friday as a guest on a live
broadcast of MSNBC's "Morning Joe." He got into a heated exchange with
Salon.com contributor Glenn Greenwald during a debate among panelists on the
program about why Democrats lost so many seats during the midterm
congressional election.

"Unlike you, I am not a progressive," O'Donnell barked at Greenwald. "I am
not a liberal who's so afraid of the word that I had to change my name to
progressive.

"Liberals amuse me," he said. "I am a socialist," he added. "I live to the
extreme left, the extreme left of you mere liberals, OK?"

A producer explained that O'Donnell had put in long hours covering the
election and was tired. He also pointed out that he was in a rush to catch a
flight after the early morning show.

In promotions for his own MSNBC program, "The Last Word," O'Donnell claims
that he will only deal in "facts."

However, media critics say his outburst confirms MSNBC's far-left political
agenda. Just days earlier, "Countdown" anchor Keith Olbermann was suspended
for failing to reveal his political contributions to Democrats he covered on
election night. Olbermann is slated to return tomorrow night.

His colleague, "Hardball" host Chris Matthews, served as an aide to liberal
Democrats, including the late House Speaker Tip O'Neill and President
Carter.

Outspoken lesbian and Democrat activist Rachel Maddow rounds out MSNBC's
primetime lineup.

During his testy exchange, O'Donnell also revealed his agenda to "ban all
guns in America."

O'Donnell, 59, won an Emmy for producing and writing the "The West Wing" for
NBC.

From 1989 to 1995, he was a legislative aide to Sen. Daniel Patrick
Moynihan, D-Mass. As Senate Finance Committee staff director, O'Donnell
helped draft the legislation supporting President Clinton's first budget and
tax increases.

O'Donnell was born in Boston and attended prep schools and Harvard College.