Weiner slams debate opponent as 'liar'

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) faced off against conservative healthcare critic Betsy McCaughey last night in a fiery debate over reform legislation.

McCaughey, a former Lt. Gov. of New York who rose to prominence opposing Hillarycare in 1993-94, has re-emerged as a strident opponent of Democrats' plans for healthcare reform.

Weiner blasted McCaughey in last night's debate, repeatedly calling her a liar.

"There have been elements of this debate that have been just bad," Weiner said. "And unfortunately the woman I'm debating today has been part of that element of the debate."

"She'll talk page numbers," Weiner continued. "The page numbers will have nothing to do with what she says they have to do with."

When McCaughey urged Weiner to support a bill requiring all legislation be posted online for 72 hours before a vote, Weiner shot the real problem was misinformation.

"This isn't a problem of people not reading the bill," he said. "In your case it's a problem of people reading the bill and then lying about what's in it."

McCaughey criticized Democrats' reform package for cutting Medicare to pay for coverage for the uninsured.

"That's like snatching purses from little old ladies," McCaughey quipped.

Watch clips of the debate after the jump.

Clip 1: Weiner attacking McCaughey

Clip 2: McCaughey vs. Weiner on reading the whole bill

Clip 3: McCaughey on "purse snatching"