HE APPARANTLY DIDN'T LIKE THE HEAT...SO HE GOT OFF THE SET

Syndicated conservative columnist Robert D. Novak felt the heat Thursday during CNN's Inside Politics as he was bantering with former Bill Clinton aide and CNN contributor James Carville about Congresswoman Katherine Harris' run for the U.S. Senate.

Carville taunted Novak slightly, saying "He's gotta show these right-wingers that he's got backbone, you know. The Wall Street Journal editorial page is watching you. Show 'em you're tough." Novak then responded, "Well, I think that's bullshit, and I hate that." Then as host Ed Henry began framing a question to Carville, Novak walked off the set.

Henry apologized for the conservative columnist's early departure, also saying that Novak had been informed before the broadcast that he would be asked about the CIA leak case.

Novak has been suspended by CNN, who has apologized to viewers. Network spokesperson Edie Emery referred to the incident as "inexcusable and unacceptable". I would certainly add "unprofessional" to that.

Click here to view the segment in question, thanks to Media Matters for America. Needless to say, the incident was not mentioned at all on CNN's Web site.