Closing out a slow news week on CNN’s American Morning today, anchor Miles O’Brien couldn’t resist taking a potshot at the Iraq war. O’Brien was discussing singer Willie Nelson’s brand of alternative fuel, "BioWillie," with co-host Carol Costello shortly before 6:30 am. Costello noted that Nelson views his product as an anti-war statement, "He says, why not grow--grow our own fuel, instead of starting wars over it?" In response, O’Brien quipped, "Well, then, we’d have to invade Nebraska. Get the corn, right?"
The transcript of the brief exchange follows below.
Carol Costello: "Willie Nelson, he’s got a brand new career now, he’s selling fuel. He’s making bio-fuel. It’s made from any number of crops, lots of businesses and local governments are switching to it. The singer calls it BioWillie. Fill me up–fill me up on some of that there BioWillie! And they say BioWillie smells exactly like french fries."
Miles O’Brien: "They got to work on the name. The smell sounds great though."
Costello: "It does, doesn’t it?"
O’Brien: "Be bad for your diet though."
Costello: "Nelson says it not only helps the farmers, but it’s an anti-war statement. So it’s a double whammy, according to Willie Nelson. He says why not grow–grow our own fuel, instead of starting wars over it."
O’Brien: "Well, then we’d have to invade Nebraska. Get the corn, right?"
Costello [laughing]: "That’s true. I never thought of that."
O’Brien: "Well, it’s just a thought."
Costello: "I’ll pass it along to Willie."
