“Rude? I Wasn’t Being Rude”

A TVNewser reader asked us this morning, “Do you think this Santelli thing has legs?” “Yes” was our answer.

About a half hour after the White House press secretary said, “I feel assured that Mr. Santelli doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” the Chicago on-air editor for CNBC appeared on MSNBC.

Santelli’s response to the traction his outburst has gotten: “I think it’s terrific. It’s opened a national debate.”

About Gibbs’ invite, Santelli told anchors Contessa Brewer and Carlos Watson, “I think it’s wonderful he invited me to the White House. But I’m not big on decaf. I prefer tea.”

Santelli, Brewer and Watson then got into a debate about the debate. Which ended with Brewer having to tell viewers, “Rude? I wasn’t being rude.”

The clip after the jump…

> Update: TVNewser hears Santelli will make the Worst Persons list tonight on MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann…