By Chris Newth, PWTorch storylines/feuds analyst

Linda McMahon, the former WWE CEO and current Republican candidate in the 2010 Connecticut Senate race, appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" today to chat about her prospects, pro wrestling's history of drug problems, and political topics.

The conversation quickly got heated when Lawrence O'Donnell, an MSNBC political analyst and frequent fill-in host for shows like Hardball and Countdown, threw out some pretty confrontational questions. He first asked, “Why didn’t you do more to combat the rampant use of drugs in the WWE including steroids that have damaged the people who you made money off of for so many years?”

He then immediately clarified: "You made money off the blood of people who’ve destroyed themselves for a living for you, and you did nothing as far as I know to clean up the drug use and the steroid use in your business."

Linda responded by pointing to the Wellness Policy. "If you would look at what WWE has done and the policies its had over time with its Health and Wellness Policy for our talent--after all, those performers are the biggest assets in WWE. When I was the CEO, we absolutely implemented many policies for their safety and welfare, including what's there today that's for physicals, cardio evaluation, impact testing...the safety measures that are absolutely utilized."

Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough then questioned whether Lawrence just fabricated these claims. O’Donnell responded, "No, I didn’t make it up. Are you kidding me? They’ve done all sorts of exposes of rampant wild drug use in the WWE by these guys who are in the process of killing themselves for money so Linda can get phenomenally rich and run for the Senate. Use of steroids, use of drugs, and they did nothing to police it. Because everyone thinks your business is a joke, that's why you’re off the hook for this one.”

Linda jumped in, saying, "Come on, I’ve got to stop you now. This is all entertainment. WWE is entertainment." In what is a textbook definition of a non sequitur, she immediately shifted to the ratings WWE garners every week, citing the 16 million viewers on a weekly basis, 17 percent of those who are 18 and older.

The segment began with MSNBC posting the latest Rasmussen Reports poll from February 1, 2010 that shows Rob Simmons (R) at 35 percent to Attorney General Blumenthal’s (D) 54 percent, while Linda McMahon trails Blumenthal’s 56 percent by exactly 20 points in the Connecticut Senate race with a margin of error of 4.5 percent.

Linda noted that Blumenthal has been a recognizable figure in Connecticut for 20 years, but she expected to run against him rather than Chris Dodd because of how dismal Dodd's poll numbers turned out in 2009.

[Torch reader Mike also contributed to this report.]

We suggest these recent related articles...

WWE NEWS: Superstars SPOILERS - Results from Chicago Raw

WWE NETWORK: Monday, Oct. 12 Schedule - Raw pre-show, Sting DVD preview

WWE NEWS: Lana & Rusev reportedly engaged - follow the interesting 2015 timeline