It seems that Sean Hannity is suffering from the same ailment as Mittens was during the presidential debates, where he tried to get Rick Perry to bet him $10,000 over the insurance mandate in the health care law he passed in Massachusetts. I hate to break it to Hannity, but as our friend Ellen from News Hounds pointed out, nothing screams "elitist" more than demanding that one of the guests on your show participate in a $10,000 bet.

Unhinged Sean Hannity Demands $10,000 Bet From ‘Elitist’ Rep. Pascrell:

Sean Hannity just couldn’t take a feisty Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell standing up to his lies and spin. Not only did Hannity start screaming that Pascrell was a lying “elitist,” but “regular guy” Hannity followed that up by demanding they bet $10,000 over the facts of Obamacare aka the Affordable Care Act - that Hannity got wrong.

Perhaps Hannity’s bullyboy pique came from the results of a new Fox News poll that nobody seemed to want to talk about on prime time tonight. But let’s just say that President Obama’s approval ratings are up 5 points since last month, Congress’ approval is down 4 points, Republicans are 9 points behind the Democrats and Hannity's BFF, Ted Cruz, comes in 13 points below that, with a 22% favorability. Oh, and Americans still don’t want Obamacare defunded AND they blame Republicans for the shutdown of the federal government. [...]

Well, it’s so touching to see Private Jet Hannity concerned about other people getting special perks. But, unfortunately, he’s the one who’s wrong. From an August 30, 2013 FactCheck.org article (found via Media Matters) called, No ‘Special Subsidy’ for Congress debunking a similar claim by Republican Congressman Robert Pittenger. [...]

I have to say that Pascrell did a terrific job of not allowing himself to be intimidated in the shoutfest that ensued when he smacked down Hannity’s lie. Hannity didn’t do himself any favors by shouting, “You know what your problem is Congressman? You’re an elitist!” This from the guy who lives in a $9 million Long Island mansion, has a luxury penthouse in Naples, Florida and whose speaking fee includes transportation by private jet. Hannity's accusation, alone, of anyone else's elitism is a window into his dishonesty, disingenuousness and hypocrisy.

I don't know why any Democrats agree to go on the air with Hannity at all, since this is the treatment you're going to get where even if your mic isn't cut, at minimum you're talked over and bullied as we saw here. As Ellen noted in the rest of her post, the back and forth got even uglier with the two of them calling each other liars before Hannity offered the $10,000 bet.

Pascrell should have told bullyboy Hannity that maybe he'd take his bet when he was willing to take up Keith Olbermann's offer to be waterboarded for charity.