WASHINGTON, DC – Barney Frank has challenged Rush Limbaugh to a duel of one-liners.

After Limbaugh made what some are calling a homophobic joke at Barney Frank’s expense, he has again fallen under criticism for going too far.  Barney Frank has responded by challenging him to a Zing-Off, a contest of one-liners judged by a bipartisan triumvirate of judges.

The conflict started Wednesday afternoon when Limbaugh commented on Barney Franks town hall.  Barney Frank said to a woman who was holding a picture of Obama as Hitler, comparing health reform to eugenics, “On what planet do you spend most of your time?”

Limbaugh shot back at Frank, on his radio show Wednesday, “Isn’t it an established fact that Barney Frank himself spends most of his time living around Uranus?”  A reference to the fact that Frank is an openly gay member of Congress.

In a post show interview Limbaugh admitted that writing the joke took him about 3 hours, but he was very proud of how it turned out.

Limbaugh is an admitted huge fan of stereotype humor, jokes based on broad stereotypes.  Critics are wondering if this will cost him, and Vegas odds put him at 1/3 based purely on this strategy.  Frank is known to rely heavily on compliant-based humor, popular among many Jewish comedians.  If his response to the Town Hall heckler is any indication, it will be difficult for Limbaugh to throw Frank off his game.

The competition will be overseen by a bipartisan triumvirate of judges including Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin, and Don Rickles.

Like many previous disputes Limbaugh has been involved in, this one will be settled on Pay-Per-View.  Limbaugh says “This will be too easy!  But Barney’s used to guys pounding him into oblivion.”  Frank responded, “Put down the Twinkie and bring it!”