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U.S. Senate candidate Mark Callahan was ordered out of an endorsement interview at Willamette Week offices after complaining that a reporter wrote only "blah, blah, blah" as candidate Jo Rae Perkins spoke. (YouTube)

(YouTube)

Things got testy this week during a U.S. Senate endorsement interview at Willamette Week, ending with the newspaper’s editors ordering a candidate to leave the room.

“You’re done here,” Editor-in-Chief Mark Zusman told Republican hopeful Mark Callahan after Callahan, an information technology consultant, complained about being treated disrespectfully by the Willamette Week panel.

“There’s the door,” Managing Editor Brent Walth said, prompting Callahan to stand and leave, muttering, “I’ve got better things to do with my time.”

The exchange was filmed and posted on the weekly's web page. It has since gotten widespread distribution, including a write-up on the journalism discussion site JimRomenesko.com.

The fireworks started a little more than an hour into the endorsement interview, which included Callahan, Monica Wehby, Jason Conger, Tim Crawley and Jo Rae Perkins – all running in the GOP primary to see who takes on Democratic incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley.

Callahan interrupted to complain that reporter Nigel Jaquiss had written “blah blah blah blah blah” in his notepad after a lengthy answer from Perkins. He called it “disrespectful” of Perkins. He then was warned to be respectful himself.

After Callahan said that he considers global warming to be a “myth,” he was asked by Jaquiss: “Where are you on the Easter bunny?”

“Really?” Callahan said, later calling the question “childish.”

After some pointed barbs between him and Zusman, Zusman ordered him to leave. The interview proceeded with the remaining candidates. The newspaper endorsed Conger.

-- Harry Esteve