Sounding like Mister Rogers reading from a script written by Michael Moore, McGovern accused Cheney of "trying to use his inside influence as the longtime head of Halliburton to get war contracts in Iraq."

"Based on his role in getting us into this mistaken war in the first place, I think the man is a menace," the 1972 Democratic nominee repeated.

When Malzberg tried to point out that even the Clinton administration used Halliburton to rebuild war-torn Kosovo, McGovern interrupted:

"Let me tell you something, young man. You're going to defend this administration no matter what they do. You're a right-wing reactionary - and that's perfectly clear from your remarks with me today."

In the next breath the angry Democrat seethed, "We're supposed to be talking about my book - not about your mistaken ideological views."

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