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Cindy McCain's "The View" Complaint Baffles CNN Panel (VIDEO)
Just in case you were wondering, even the nation's entertainment reporters are treating Cindy McCain's complaint that the hosts of The View "picked their bones clean" last Friday with a dose of studied incredulity. On last night's CNN Showbiz Tonight, host A.J. Hammer was joined by panelists Lauren Lake and Terry Anzur, unanimously praising The View's "professionalism" and expressing confusion over Cindy McCain's remarks.
For her part, Anzur wondered why Cindy McCain would detract from an appearance that she felt was uniformly positive for her husband:
ANZUR: I think the McCains, both John and Cindy, came off very well in this interview. When they pressed John McCain on the abortion issue, he didn't come across like some extremist who`s going to send the abortion police to your house. He indicated that while he has his views, he is open to other views as well.
And then it was up to Whoopi to come in with her view that maybe the strict construction of the founding fathers might not be appropriate to today's America. But she did it in a way that was using humor and was very respectful and made the point and didn't go over the top.So I would say, you know, for Cindy McCain to be complaining about this, maybe she was just more concerned that she and her husband had gone to a forum where they knew people did not agree with them and they faced the tough questions and they came off pretty well.
Lake, however, was more critical, offering up the sort of copy that far exceeds anything said by Barbara Walters and company:
LAKE: Out of touch with America -- I think what was illuminated by that line of questioning is how out of touch Cindy McCain is with America. If she feels like her bones were picked clean, that some way implies she has some meat on her bones. Well, most Americans are starving and that`s what I think people want Cindy McCain to know.
[WATCH.]
HAMMER: Tonight, an explosive new controversy over "The View" and how the ladies grilled John McCain and his wife, Cindy. Cindy McCain is taking off the gloves and letting the ladies have it. Wait until you hear Cindy`s very fired-up response to the grilling and, no she's not chilling.
Joining me tonight from New York, the one, the only, Lauren Lake. She's a criminal defense lawyer and TV host. And joining us tonight from Hollywood, Terry Anzur, who is a talent coach and was a TV news anchor.Story continues below
advertisementAll right. So last Friday, the McCains sat there on the couch of "The View" for nearly an hour. And basically, for the whole thing, they were taking tough question after question, especially from Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg. So there was a Republican dinner the day after. And at that dinner, Cindy McCain let everyone know how she felt about that appearance. You've got to listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CINDY MCCAIN, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: In spite of what you see in newspapers and on shows like "The View" - I don`t know if any of you saw "The View" yesterday. They picked our bones clean. In spite of what you see, that's not what the American people are saying and what they are believing.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Not what the American people are saying and believing. Cindy basically saying the "The View" is out of touch with America which is a little odd to me. Lauren Lake, does she have that in any way right?
LAUREN LAKE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND TV HOST: Out of touch with America - I think what was illuminated by that line of questioning is how out of touch Cindy McCain is with America. If she feels like her bones were picked clean, that in some way implies she has some meat on her bones. Well, most Americans are starving and that's what I think people want Cindy McCain to know.
People are in financial trouble, they're losing their jobs, their homes. So I just find it interesting that she felt attacked when a lot of people out here - they are desperate and they need these questions asked and answered. And I think she came off as a little bit aloof feeling as though she was attacked at this point in the campaign when tough questions are necessary.
HAMMER: Yes. So if people are watching this and wondering, what is it that got Cindy so riled up, if memory serves, it seemed like everything went well. Let`s give you a taste of the kind of grilling that the McCains got last week on "The View." Watch this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "THE VIEW": How is it that Gov. Palin is going to reform you, the Senate, the Congress, the Republican Party?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Terry, Cindy McCain says, again, "The ladies of "The View" picked our bones clean." Listening to that question and questions just like it, I'm wondering, is her complaint fair?
TERRY ANZUR, FORMER TV NEWS ANCHOR: I think that the conduct of all the women on "The View" and especially Barbara Walters was very professional. And I have to disagree strongly with Lauren. I think the McCains both John and Cindy, came off very well in this interview. When they pressed John McCain on the abortion issue, he didn't come across like some extremist who`s going to send the abortion police to your house. He indicated that while he has his views, he is open to other views as well.
And then it was up to Whoopi to come in with her view that maybe the strict construction of the founding fathers might not be appropriate to today's America. But she did it in a way that was using humor and was very respectful and made the point and didn't go over the top.
So I would say, you know, for Cindy McCain to be complaining about this, maybe she was just more concerned that she and her husband had gone to a forum where they knew people did not agree with them and they faced the tough questions and they came off pretty well.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, I think - I truthfully think, you know, they were within their full right to ask the kind of questions they did and do it for the entire hour of the show. Look, we`re in one of the most important elections of our lifetime as cliche as it sounds. I don`t even think that the ladies of "The View" didn`t strike back after Cindy McCain made her comments. I want you to watch what Whoopi Goldberg did to respond on "The View" today to what Cindy McCain said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Everybody asked legitimate questions that you would ask of any candidate. And when Obama comes - and I hope he gets here soon because people are starting to talk - I think we will ask him the same kinds of questions because they`re the nominees.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So what Whoopi is saying they didn't single the McCains out. Lauren, we do expect Barack to come back on the show? He's been on before. I would imagine those questions are going to be just as tough, don't you?
LAKE: Absolutely. I do. And I don't think - I think he should be ready for those. And I just have to say really quick, any points John McCain may have gained on that abortion issue, he lost when they asked how many houses they had. I'm sorry. People in America who are struggling, they know how many houses they have, and it's just that simple.
HAMMER: All right. Lauren Lake, Terry Anzur, I appreciate you both being here tonight. Thanks.
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September 17, 2008 12:21 PM