Bill Donohue Asks Christopher Hitchens ‘You Want to Take it Outside’

September 2nd, 2007 1:53 PM

A religious debate about Mother Teresa took place on Tuesday's "Hardball" between author Christopher Hitchens and Bill Donohue, the President of the Catholic League.

Towards the end of the discussion, Donohue said to Hitchens, "Listen, you want to take it outside, Christopher, that's fine."

For some reason, MSNBC decided not to include this in the transcript posted at its website (video available here, relevant segment at 4:54):

DONOHUE: At the end of the day, this is a woman who received 124 awards, who set up hospitals for AIDS patients.

(CROSS TALK)

DONOHUE: Listen-

CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Bill needs some time here. Bill, take 30 seconds.

(CROSS TALK)

MATTHEWS: Christopher, we have to give him 30 seconds, please.

Notice the "Cross Talk" references? Well, that "cross talk" was completely audible and easily transcribed:

DONOHUE: At the end of the day, this is a woman who received 124 awards, who set up hospitals for AIDS patients.

HITCHENS: Who said they were worthless to her...

DONOHUE: No, no. As an Englishman, again, you have to be quiet when an Irishman speaks.

HITCHENS: In the book she says the awards were worthless to her...

DONOHUE: I'm an Irishman. Listen, you want to take it outside, Christopher, that's fine.

Why did MSNBC choose to scrub this exchange from its transcript?