I don't know if the rumors about View host Elisabeth Hasselbeck going to Fox News Channel are true or not (Hasselbeck and the show deny it), but at this point I wouldn't blame her one bit.Hasselbeck has had a lot of battles on the show with her co-hosts, from Rosie O'Donnell months ago to Barbara Walters. But today was the day I actually felt bad for her. The group was talking about the election, and how nasty the election could soon get in the final few weeks (Joy wasn't on the show today, so it was Elisabeth, Whoopi, Sherri, and Barbara). After playing the funny debate sketch from Saturday Night Live, the women discussed Governor Palin's attack on Barack Obama over the weekend, linking him to Bill Ayers (probably a desperate gambit by McCain but a fully legitimate one, I believe). Now, this has been brought up before, most notably by George Stephanopoulos in a debate and also by Hillary Clinton if I remember correctly, but the McCain campaign is bringing it up again.
So when the women discussed it, you can pretty much guess what happened.
Elisabeth was ganged up on. Now, it's fine that the other women on the show have their views, but they hardly give Elisabeth a chance to even give her opinion for any solid block of time. Whoopi gets a full two minutes to keep talking and talking, and then Elisabeth tries to talk, and after about 30 seconds the other women start screaming over her, and then they go to a commercial for Pampers or something and after the break they've moved on to another "Hot Topic."
It doesn't help that Elisabeth probably isn't the most articulate person on the show. She gets very flustered and upset and emotional and her words come out too quick, but I can't imagine being the only person on a national TV show who has a certain point of view and is teamed up against by the others (and then has to deal with the audience clapping wildly for the others). At the same time, while I think Joy makes a lot of good points for her views, how can McCain possibly answer a question like Whoopi posed on the show a few weeks ago, about whether or not she has to worry about slavery coming back? I mean, seriously? But Whoopi gets claps and laughs instead of being dumped on for even bringing it up in the first place. As for Barbara, well, you can see she runs the show with an iron fist.
Elisabeth, hang in there.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
10-06-2008 @ 2:20PM
Rocketboy said...
I too feel bad when everyone gangs up on Elisabeth. I also get confused. I thought the Democrats were the party of tolerance? There's no need to shout down someone who does not agree with you. That's an ugly way to treat someone regardless of what side of the fence that they are on.
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10-06-2008 @ 7:32PM
Dan said...
Oh, and poor little blondie never yells over the other women with her shrill, condescending voice. Did you see her face during every moment Whoopi spoke? She obviously wasn't listening and just waiting for her turn to spew some BS that has nothing to do with anything. The fact that this moron is allowed a national stage to infect us with her stupidity is bad enough, we really don't need to give her MORE time to speak.
Honestly, people who are actually reading the facts (you know, from the AP, Reuters and other neutral news sources, not Fox News and right-wing blogs and radio shows) all support Obama (or, like me, are simply against McCain and will vote 3rd party or Obama, but simply not McCain-Palin because that would be stupid) and can't find anything good to say about Palin. Just because she'd be an okay lay if you could tape her mouth shut does not mean she should be defended in any situation.
10-06-2008 @ 8:23PM
Lynda said...
Once again the white, conservative, Christian gets shouted down. I stopped watching the view because of the outright prejudice against white, conservative, Christians--look back at the tapes, folks, even their guests who fit that bill get slammed. I really like all the women on the view but the View has a definate racist and anti-conservative and Christian slant. Too bad, too. Many of us would rather watch anything else. Hang in there Elizabeth. You do represent the once majority, now minority of our country--white, conservative, Christians.
10-06-2008 @ 11:44PM
Jason Doan said...
Ya, the poor downtrodden white, conservative, Christians sure have it rough in America.
10-08-2008 @ 7:36PM
Robert Juarez said...
The the demi's and liberals always get dogmatic, when you do not agree with their opinion. As to Sherie and Woopie they seem to always point out moral issues but forget they have none. Joy and Barbara have even less room to talk. Cheaters they all are, I honestly think that they are jealous of Elizabeth because of age and looks
10-09-2008 @ 5:28PM
Cindy said...
All of those of women should be ashamed for the way they treat Elisabeth. It seems that all media is on the Obama ban wagon and the View women are no exception. The two black women were screaming at her as if she did not have a RIGHT to an opinion. She is an island and if you didn't feel sorry for her - you are not human. She is entitled as is every American to vote for whom ever they feel is suited for the job of President. Leave her alone. Bullies...
10-14-2008 @ 12:43AM
kallie said...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ajifnGtVQ
10-06-2008 @ 2:31PM
rick cokely said...
While I think it is in poor taste to shout someone down (but I mean this is the View, and Elisabeth isn't a saint when it comes to that) I think you Bob may be under the misguided principal that every story has two sides.
It isn't "fair time" when one side bases their argument on facts and the other bases it on conjecture and lies. While I don't like that the ladies are not giving Elisabeth time to speak and get her thoughts out, it's also true that it isn't "fair" to give her unmitigated access to a national audience to outright lie about the subject at hand. "Equal time" in the media is what got us into this situation where they give both sides the same amount of time to talk about the issues when it is clear that there is only one side to a particular issue. The democrats are also just as bad at doing this, but since we're talking about Elisabeth I'm focused on the republicans.
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10-06-2008 @ 2:42PM
Rocketboy said...
Well, there is no such thing as only one side to an issue. It may seem to you like the counter argument is dumb, or based on lies. The best thing to do in that case is to let them hang themselves. That, and if you are resorting to shouting someone down, you weaken your position, and it makes it look like you are the one who cannot make a firm argument for your position.
10-06-2008 @ 2:58PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
Rick:
Care to provide an example of Elisabeth's conjecture and outright lies? No fair looking it up on Media Matters!
Also, as to there being only one side to a story, this is just one more example of shouting somebody down. Go to that previous TVS story about Elizabeth jumping to Fox. The talkback is full of comments like "good riddance to that ignorant bitch." "She scares me" with her "dangerous views." She, with her "Catholic-school education," doesn't even "deserve to be heard."
And now, here's Rick with "there's only one side to the story." Who gets to decide that, Rick? You?
Of course, it doesn't help that we have a presidential nominee is a who feels that half the country is living in the intellectual dark ages, "bitterly clinging to God and guns."
10-06-2008 @ 4:22PM
0megapart!cle said...
Everybody says things they regret. I'm sure Obama regrets his statements in a private occaision about religion and guns, just like McCain regrets his humor about bombing a sovereign nation in front of a TV camera.
10-06-2008 @ 7:38PM
StillBash said...
I think this discussion is totally unfair. Obama could only make this statement because his mouth isn't stuffed with delicious birthday cake like McCain's during hurricanes.
That was sarcasm.
10-06-2008 @ 2:33PM
Tina said...
I was out of work for a year and a half in which time I started watching The View religiously. But, I will say that there were days that I would just change the channel because all they were doing was talking over each other and who in the world could keep up with all of that crap! I agree that they don't give Elizabeth enough respect for her views. I believe that they need to get another commentator that is Republican. They brought Sherri in who has many of the same religious beliefs as Sherri, but definitely not when it comes to politics! I'm with you...Hang in there Elizabeth..
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10-06-2008 @ 2:43PM
Ganesh said...
bob, at the point that whoopi made her comment about slavery, mccain was setting the founding fathers up on a pedestal, as many conservatives do. her point was satirical, that not everything the founding fathers did or believed is worth bringing back in 2008, that there has in fact been progress in the past 230-ish years and that the conservative admiration for the days of the founding fathers is a small-minded fantasy.
satire is tough and can be biting. mccain handled himself well after she asked him about slavery, acknowledging her point. why the outrage?
as for hasselbeck, i think that any public figure reckless enough to defend conservative values and deeds (a war we should never have been in; deregulation of the financial markets; etc.) deserves to be ridiculed on-air or in public. she should be ashamed of her beliefs, and if she leaves the show, all the better.
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10-06-2008 @ 3:19PM
Rocketboy said...
Unlike someone who never had time to think if the Earth was flat or round? Or that nothing predated Jesus? That's ok, but if someone is on the other side politically, they should be "ashamed of [their] beliefs". The shame, should fall upon you.
10-06-2008 @ 4:24PM
0megapart!cle said...
Uhm, did you forget to make a coherent point, Rocketboy? I think so.
10-06-2008 @ 7:05PM
Rocketboy said...
Hey, not my fault you have no idea what show you're commenting on... here's someone that should be ashamed of their statements...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNC117UYsHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckb0Pwfpkbc&feature=related
10-31-2008 @ 6:58PM
Debbie said...
Ganesh, the woopi comment on "returning to slavery" was nothing short of ignorant and irresponsible. If we as a country are trying to get beyond racism, why would she bring to the attention of the world, something so hateful, except to make Mr. McCain look bad and her to look (as it did) ignorant!!! On behalf of Elisabeth, she shows more integrity and moral character than any of the others on the show; I applaud her for her convictions and the guts to stand against "the gang" in front of the National T.V. audience. I wonder if the shoe were on the other foot, which of "the gang" would be able to stand againt the onslaught of "a gang" of Republican supports?
May Elisabeth continue to stand strong, gutsy and CONSERVATIVE!!!
10-06-2008 @ 3:24PM
segsig said...
Whoopi's question about slavery was made in response to McCain's statement about justices interpreting the Constitution (at least he acknowledge's the document, unlike Bush). The Ayers thing has been debunked by factcheckers a gazillion times over and it's a very risky proposition for the republicans to bring up as it opens up the association debate; considering the entire campaign heirarchy are lobbyists, the past association with KEATING, and John Singlaub. Ouch.
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10-06-2008 @ 3:25PM
Carissa said...
Democrats are very tolerant, as long as everyone thinks just like they do. They do not believe in freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of anything that falls outside their line of sight.
Elizabeth may be easily shook up, but I would be too if stuck alone in a crowd of liberal b*tches like she is. Poor dear. And I'm not even a conservative!
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