Perhaps you weren’t watching Hannity last night ... but I was on the Great American Panel with my friend Bob Beckel and some lady named Jennifer Stefano.

Now Bob and I have known each other for a long time ... and I like the guy.  I like him a LOT.  So what if he would never, as he says, vote for a Republican.  I still like him, and I’m here to defend him.

During a break last night Bob and Jennifer got into a heated argument about teachers unions, government education, and the liberal-conservative battle in general.  Now I do mean HEATED!  As we were coming out of a break the lady was telling Bob that Head Start didn’t work.  Then as the cameras came on you heard Bob telling this lady, in a sense, that she didn’t have a real good idea about what she was talking about.

Truth is ... I didn’t know we were on the air either.  I’m a radio guy.  I didn’t see the guy signaling the countdown.  That would be why I was there trying to spin a Hannity football.  And I’m damned sure Bob didn’t know he was on the air because he wouldn’t have dropped that bomb. 

Another thing ... I’ve done the same thing on my radio show.  But I have a delay. In fact, there have been a few occasions over the years where I’ve told a caller to go perform a physical improbability and then simply hit the “bleep” button.  The only people who heard my intemperate suggestion were Belinda and the engineer, the caller, and the folks waiting on line to talk.

I’m concerned about Bob.  He was truly shaken when we got off the air.  Really upset.  Upset because he may have offended his fans and Sean’s viewers, and upset because of this pretty bad mistake.  But there’s something about Bob.  Sean just loves the guy.  They’re close friends.  I don’t get to see him as much, but I love him too.  I could care less about his politics ... he’s a loving, caring, kindly curmudgeon.  Now --- what’s even more telling --- Donna likes him too.  So let him offer his apology and go on with entertaining us on The Five on Fox News every weekday afternoon, and on his occasional appearances on Hannity.  And this means you, Roger Ailes.  If you’ve never said the word -- that’s one thing.  But we all know you better. 

Give Bob a break, folks.  He’s truly remorseful ... and that’s all it should take.

By the way .... the FCC is perfectly fine with the way that word was used.  There was no sexual context.  The “F” word is perhaps the most versatile word in the English language.  It’s a noun, a verb, an adjective --- you name it. 

In the words of Donnie Brasco ..... Forget about it.

Warning: there's an f-bomb in this video. You should be pretty clear on that fact if you read the above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faPuGWZYvIc