posted June 13, 2005 01:30 PM            

Monday, June 13, 2005 9:34 a.m. EDT
Franken in Talkers Meltdown

Air America star Al Franken had a meltdown Friday night while accepting the Freedom of Speech Award at Talkers Magazine's New Media Seminar, before being forced to leave the stage by the event's sponsor.

The liberal yakker launched into a 20-minute tirade against his conservative colleagues, taking shots at Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and Bill Bennett, according to WWRL host Steve Malzberg, who witnessed the ugly outburst.

"It was the most bizarre thing I've seen in a long time," Malzberg told NewsMax. "Franken was as obnoxious and arrogant as could be."

After blasting the top talent in his industry, Franken took on the war in Iraq - dissecting a report on a visit to the troops by fellow talk host Rusty Humphries.

As the Air America host droned on, the audience grew restless, with some shouting for Franken to "hurry up."

But according to the New York Post's John Mainelli, Franken wouldn't budge. "It's freedom of speech ... I have about two pages left," he shot back.

Finally, Talkers publisher Michael Harrison gave Franken the hook, beseeching the volatile host: "We honored you, now honor us. Don't kill our party."

Before he departed, however, Franken lept into his own peroriation about visiting the troops - appearing to sob as he detailed their injuries.

*Note* Right, Franken spits on the soldiers, their military uniform and all they represent, then goes into a contrived sob over their injuries.