"The View" Fights Over John McCain As Whoopi vs. Elisabeth Heads Into Round II

America's breakfast table heated up again Thursday morning as the ladies of "The View" engaged in a screaming match prompted by the latest John McCain attack ad. Exactly two weeks after Whoopi and Elisabeth's showdown over the N-word, the pair — along with Joy Behar — sparred about McCain and Barack Obama.

The discourse was civil enough, if juvenile, until Joy suggested that McCain's celebrity equivalent is Quaker Oats and diabetes commercial star Wilford Brimley — at which point a pig-tailed Elisabeth asked, "You wanna get into friends of candidates? Let's talk Rezko. Let's talk Reverend Wright. Let's talk Ludacris."

When Elisabeth got some pushback on that point ("This is about the ad," Whoopi reminded her), she cried out, "This is a free country!" at which point the fun started.

Watch (transcript below)

Elisabeth: It seems to be that you can only have one opinion in this country right now.
Whoopi: Oh really? After the last eight years you can say that? Don't go there, please. On one opinion, I know. I got eaten by what one opinion should be in this country.
Elisabeth: I'm saying, you experienced that.
Whoopi: Yes I did, so that's not what I'm doing. I'm trying to get this ad out, to talk about this ad, whether you think it's good or whether you don't think it's good. Not because he went here... What was wrong with that ad is, Is there no other way to do this? John McCain is a great guy. I like him. But this was beneath him. He is a much better guy than this. And that's what agitates me.
Joy: Well, he used to be. He used to be. He's not anymore.

Comments

[jemiltd]

I find it interesting that this show continues to give voice to a myopically visioned person, who has her own issues with flip-flopping, depending on who is the given guest. (Referring back to her fawning of Senator Obama when he was on the show) She truly believes her own hype, which is appallingly irritating, choosing to cry when she doesn't have a leg to stand on or cannot get her way -- playing the poor blonde victim when it suits her purpose. I found Barbara's chastisement of her the other day interesting -- she immediately flip flopped again right after -- and maybe that's a sign that she's tired of her too. I hadn't watched the View that much until Whoopi was casted, because she generally has a point of view that has some substance.

[hugs4u]

Elisabeth has always been the village idiot, and the show would be a lot better if they would replace Elisabeth with Rosie.

[Jinxykb]

I appreciate that they are trying to represent a diversity of politics and opinions, but surely they can find another conservative woman who is not so narrow minded. Village idiot is right.

[jcwtts1]

If she seemed to know anything at all I think I'd like her more. I mean Whoopie isn't a great political mind but at least she has a world view that reflects reality.

J

[equivoque]

Indeed!

If the producers really wanted to present a balanced opinion, why would they use that clown? Either they are as blind-sided as Elisabeth or they would place a brain, not a parrot, to push their opinions.

I believe the former - A pretty face will sell it and if they need a pretty face to sell the story, they are really running out of answers.

They are assuming that most of the US voters are stupid. At the very least, a registered voter has the brain to vote!

[peppermint]

Three ultra libs can't take it huh, please spare us ---- Chuckd74 is absolutely right. Then you put old Barb Wawa in there and it's overkill.

[Melissa]

I think they should replace Elizabeth with another liberal like Sheri. Now, that is a really, really, intelligent person!!!!

[chuckd74]

Then it would truely be a one opinion show at least elisabeth has the guts to go in there everyday and do what she does how man liberals would go on a show daily with 3 conservatives? My guess is none liberals fear confrontation unless the numbers are in favor of them.

[truthmachine]

Your "guess" is the same sort of dishonest dreck we get from all right wingers.

[FirstShirt]

Oh yeah, Rosie is certainly the sharpest crayon in the box. I always watch her out of curiosity.

[sonny088]

Elisabeth has the most annoying voice I ever heard, I can't understand how anyone can listen to her for more than maybe 5 seconds. I used to like her but I have since changed my mind. What exactly is her claim to fame? Her runner-up pick to be on 'Survivor'? Why would anyone at all be interested in what she has to say? On the other hand, I really like Whoopi, and Joy is a riot. Barbara I think is kind of bland on there, but she is an icon in the industry, so you have to give her that. If Elisabeth just sat there without talking, I think it would be a much better show.

[nuQlerOstrich]

Up until July 18, just a few weeks ago, the McCain Campaign had a page on their website touting John McCain as a "Celebrity."

If being a "Celebrity" has suddenly become such a bad thing, I guess that's why that particular page on their website was scrubbed?

Google - McCain Celebrity and click on cache

Jeez, Obama is wildly admired all around the world and Granpa John can't stand it. The Democratic Party has had to schedule a stadium for Obama's Convention speech. and prominent Repulicans are already saying they have other "commitments" rather than attending the Republican Party Convention. Even the Home State Senator where the Rep. Convention is being held has "other plans." Pretty soon the Repulicans will be able to hold their convention at the Motel 6.

Nuff said.

[truthmachine]

The Rove strategy is to attack the opponent's strengths; thus the McCain campaign is attacking Obama for being popular, athletic (he eats MetRx bars!) and urbane (he's an "elitist" who drinks organic tea!).

[Nader2008]

I love McCain's Ad. He hit it right on the spot. That is why Obama is protesting too much. Obama is the "American Idol" candidate.

[maidenofdforest]

Obama is not protesting, he is just firing back to McCain's petty idiocy and his campaign think -tank.

What could you say about McCain graduating second to last in his batch, then, to Obama's being an Idol candidate?

You've got a mornic candidate, bless you.

Just admit it Nader2008.

[harriscrl3]

I really HATE the View. I wish they would take them off the air.

Carol

[equivoque]

Don't breath that air!

[Monrocsol]

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WATCH IT CAROL.

[alsm9]

Yes Carol you don't have to watch it!! Not everything on air is tailored to you.

I like that there is a least a show out there that lets women have opinions. Because in this society today, we still are not suppose to have an opinion on anything, ESPECIALLY politics! I may totally disagree with EH (and sometimes Sherri for that matter...), but there are millions of people who think like them and they are there to represent that. And judging by how many people feel the need to commment on the View, it's obviously a relavent show.

[equivoque]

"It is the mark of an educated man (woman) to be capable of entertaining a thought without accepting it." (Aristotle)

If they want a balanced 'view', why don't they employ an intelligent person to juxtapose the liberal voice??? Granted that is a tall order, but it is as small minded as Elisabeth to believe this is not possible!

[dawlishgal]

HA...perhaps revenge for the way Faux Newz uses that bland so-called liberal as a perfunctory foil for Hannity's huffing and puffing.

The REAL irony here is that both Britney Spears and Paris Hilton are approximately the same age as Mrs. McCain #2 (as far as we know) was when McCain, in his 40's, dumped his wife for her and, perhaps, her father's money. He USED to like blondes in that age group enough that he was willing to dump the wife that waited 6 years for him to get out of the prison camp to take up with one of them. Now he is trying to link them to Obama. What gives? Oh yeah, he is desperate enough now to find something, anything, that the morons who believe anything will buy into.

My reading is that if McCain could hug Bush after Bush sent his filthy surrogates out to slime McCain's lovely adopted daughter from Bangladesh, then McCain is capable of doing or saying anything that is politically expedient for him.

[jean1]

with the news that mcCain might choose a female vp... the person will look like britney, paris and current wife. just my prediction!?

[Fagin0]

Do you even understand what you are saying?

[Fagin0]

I suppose you consider Bill Oreilly or Rush Limbaugh "intelligent"....how about George W. Bush?
Yes! After all, he is the ultimate representative of right wing intelligence being a twice-elected president. America is well and safe in the hands of such incomparable intelligence - never seen since the likes of Aristotle.

For my part, when I observe these people....these adjectives come to mind -- soulless, manipulative, war-mongering, intolerant, ugly from the inside out.....intelligent? yes, but it is of the snake-in-the-mind intelligence.

[zanngra]

On Wed. they talked about a story, that was not confirmed, about Obama releasing his prayer from the wailing wall to the media. Elisabeth was outraged, she said well that tells you everything ;you need to know about Obama. The next day, Whoopi had to retract, because it was not true. Elisabeth sat in silence. This show has become so irresponsible, they let Elisabeth spew out false information all the time. Nobody corrects her, either because they can't get a word in edge wise, or because they don't know the facts. The producer, Bill Geddy, is a republican so I'm sure he eggs her on. But Barbara, where are you? Did you throw your ethics out the window for ratings?

[Belisarius]

Why not watch World Wide Wrestling instead? It's staged too and just as relevant.

This show is a variation of the Jerry Springer formula but instead of having invited guests slugging it out, they have the hosts slugging it out.

But if you enjoy this kind of thing, why not. And try wrestling.

[dawlishgal]

Why watch wrestling when one can watch POLITICS? Both are basically the same kind of show biz, according to my husband. People who buy into McCain's crapola are just the new version of the morons who used to yell "towel heads" and "YEW-ESS- AY" at the wrestlers who pretended to be Arabs. My kids used to watch, but they grew up. Thank God for that.

Elizabeth is just another gullible little girl who has no credentials to be on a network program, except her blonde appearance and her political-learnings that are supposed to provide balm for the tortured disgruntled morons who still think that Republicans have their interests at heart. Instead, she is turning into a laughing stock.

[FirstShirt]

"Why not watch World Wide Wrestling instead? It's staged too and just as relevant."

This deserves HuffPo pick of the day!! Great post.

[Fagin0]

The only way you can change the direction of America is to change the American people's mindset and the American people's lifestyle.

Washington is the way it is because the American people let it be what it is....no country in the world...allowed such complete freedom of thought and speech and if this latter was snuffed out since 9/11 it was because the American people allowed it. The current administrator is not a dictator - it is a liar and a manipulator - but a dictator it is not...the American people.... allowed themselves to be manipulated, cheated and hoodwinked. They "want" to believe not the truths but the "things" that make them feel good about themselves...They choose to...not care about....the world...impacted and effected by U.S. foreign policies - these which... feed the spiraling hatred around the world.....

Many Americans fought the Bush administration....they saw through all the lies but in a country of 300 million they were a minority. A minority whose voices were snuffed out by the "democratic" majority of the Patriot Act.

You CANNOT blame Washington WITHOUT blaming the American people.

....................

America wants change not because of the biggest lie and crime of the century of the President they elected (twice) has led to over 600,000 killings of Iraqis by Americans but because they are starting to feel a pinch on their bellies.

The blame game -- take it to the American people. Not Washington.

for the full letter thegoodguy.netuy.net

[mark227]

Lets have one example of the Patriot Act snuffing out free speech.

[Fagin0]

You wouldn't hear of it, would you? Of course not. Do you know why?

Because it was snuffed out!! Intimidation lets-lynch -traitor tactic work!

How many have auto-censured themselves out of fear of repercussions or what may happen to them? Americans afraid of America and of fellow Americans!

Ask Susan Sarandon, ask Whoopi Goldberg herself and many other dissenting voices like them? Why do you think so many "liberal" celebrities when they say on TV "3000 American soldiers have died in this senseless war" - but stop themselves short of saying along with it "and 300,000 Iraqi civilians!" It's because they are afraid --- of their fellow Americans!!!

[JDowlin1]

I watched the show this morning and what ticked me off was what came later with Joy recreating Ludacris with his obscene rap about Hillary being a b**tch and irrelevant. What form of bewitchery has overcome the ladies of the "View" ? They laughed about the song while Whoopie provided the beat and then they never discusssed about how offensive it was to HRC, McCain, and W (not even Elisabeth!) I remember when the campaign began they were all for Hillary and women's rights. Now they are infatuated with BO to the point where nothing fazes them. Nothing is ever BO's fault. Not Wright, not Ayers, not Rezko, not Pleger, now not Ludacris. When Elisabeth brought up his associations she was crucified. Webster's definition of infatuate, by the way is "to inspire with a foolish love or admiration." That about says it all.

[FirstShirt]

If there is any consolation, remember Harry Truman holding up the headline "Dewey Wins!".

[mdey]

Get a conservative replacement for EH, that is bright . Someone who can debate and not cry or pout when they lose. A couple of suggestions are Mary Katharine Ham or Amanda Carpenter. Away from fox news they are pretty good...

[LeBelAge]

LOL! No such animal exists. There is a reason conservatives don't debate outside the secured confines of studios.

Can we start referring to Elizabeth as "The Hassel", like David Hasselhoff is known as "The Hoff"?

[AmandaBC]

"Get a conservative replacement for EH, that is bright"

A "bright conservative" is just like a "compassionate conservative." Nothing more than an oxymoron.

[Kalima]

Looks like Elisabeth swallowed the brainwash pill and coming from a woman those words
were extremely ugly. Free country or not Elisabeth, you have been had by your leader and
the guy who is running a tacky campaign, with hopes of becoming the next one. The mouth
on you girl!

[presto]

I'm a die-hard Democrat. But still reasonable. The only physical description you chose to indulge in was aimed at Elizabeth. Not surprising - bias is like that. But "pig-tailed"? Huh? Do you mean her hair? Where is the "pig-tail"? Or did you mean something else that I don't get?

[KrazyKat]

I wonder if this site would call a similar fracas on HardBall or McLaughlin Group a "Screaming Match."

I see it more as a spirited political argument.

This seems like a sexist headline.

[quixoto]

Screaming match? I'm not sure what's wrong with your computer but over here the headline reads "The View" Fights Over John McCain As Whoopi vs. Elisabeth Heads Into Round II.

Is it possible that you might just being looking to be offended?

[KrazyKat]

The huffPo headline in the Media section says: "Whoopi (and Joy) vs. Elizabeth In Screaming Match Over McCain Attack Ad"

No, I'm not "looking to be offended" -- I'm not even necessarily a fan of this show, and I'm a dude -- I just had to wonder if "Screaming Match" would have been chosen as a headline description for a similarly loud argument on HardBall or other shows.

[decibelJONES]

Some people read past the headline.
I mean, It is all the way down in the... FIRST sentence of the article, but surely you might have checked before posting.

[whatsthatsound]

Ditto!