A televised hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee turned testy when historian Doug Brinkley and an Alaska congressman argued not over the topic at hand -- drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- but over historian's name.
Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young misstated Brinkley's name, calling him Mr. Rice -- after referring to the hearing as "an exercise in futility."
Brinkley cut him off to correct him, a no-no of protocol at these hearings.
"You just be quiet," Young demanded.
"You don't own me," Brinkley shot back. "I work for the private sector, you work for the taxpayer. I pay your salary!"
Washington Republican Rep. Doc Hastings, the chairman of the committee, tried to break it up.
Brinkley interrupted him too.
"I work for the private sector," Brinkley said.
Young got the floor back, and gave Brinkley a tongue-lashing.
"We're the ones who ask the questions, and you're the one who answers the questions," Young said. "Boy I'm really pissed right now."
See the video below:
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