O'Donnell Tells Buchanan Republican Party 'Celebrates Ignorance'

The post-election unity was on full display Friday evening when MSNBC political analyst Lawrence O'Donnell told syndicated columnist Pat Buchanan that the Republican Party celebrates ignorance.

This set off a fiery exchange on the new "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" that included O'Donnell claiming the GOP forbids members to accept the theory of evolution, and Buchanan countering that he would understand if O'Donnell believes he's descended from monkeys.

This truly delicious tête-à-tête is available 4:50 into the video embedded below the fold along with partial transcript (file photo):

LAWRENCE O'DONNELL: Look, you come from a Party that celebrates ignorance. You're not allowed to even think about evolution in your Party. You're not allowed to think about evolution.

PAT BUCHANAN: You're telling me Reagan was ignorant?

O'DONNELL: That kind of ignorance is going to trickle down?

BUCHANAN: Reagan was ignorant?

O'DONNELL: Did Reagan believe in evolution, Pat? Do you believe in evolution, Pat?

BUCHANAN: Do I believe in evolution?

O'DONNELL: Take your time with that one.

BUCHANAN: I believe that God created heaven and earth. God created heaven and earth...

O'DONNELL: Ah there we go...

BUCHANAN: If you believe, do you believe you're descended from a monkey? I would understand it.   

Ah, can't you just feel all that hyper-partisan tension dissipating now that the messiah has been elected?