Barbara Walters: John McCain Rejected Invite Back On "The View"

John McCain's appearance on "The View" in September was an instant classic, but chances are he won't be coming back to the ladies' couch anytime soon.

Barbara Walters told a crowd gathered at a breakfast sponsored by Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Communications Tuesday morning that the Republican presidential nominee rebuffed her invitation back on the program, according to a writeup of the event by Portfolio.com's Jeff Bercovici.

Bercovici transcribes Walters' comments:

I had an experience at a dinner in Washington, two weeks ago, the Alfalfa Club dinner. Senator McCain was there. He had been on The View and was not very happy. And when we walked out and I saw him I said, "Senator, so nice to see you. I hope you'll come on The View again." And he looked at me and said, "Not anytime soon."

McCain's wife Cindy famously commented that the co-hosts "picked our bones clean."

Also at the breakfast panel, Walters predicted that the network morning shows would outlast evening news broadcasts.

Walters appeared on a panel about "The Art of the Interview" with "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft. Kroft said that Sam Donaldson, who is retiring from ABC News, has "made a career" out of asking stupid questions.

Comments

[lmvd3]

01:42 AM on 02/20/2009

Good. Did viewers a big favor.

[Mustang Sally]

07:08 PM on 02/19/2009

"Idiocracy", here we come!

[JamesRiver]

11:42 PM on 02/18/2009

Bawa, you asking JC back on is abt as enticing as a proctologist calling back a patient to offer a free colonoscopy.

[harriettubman]

06:24 PM on 02/18/2009

I like BW and she's cut back on her career. At almost 80 I like to see her specials, not every day.

[Rianna]

05:33 PM on 02/18/2009

Someone who wants to run for President, should have been able to take on 4 women, especially a tough
vietnam vet!

President Obama had a rough time too. During the ABC debate between Hillary and Obama, Good ole George and Charlie singled him out, and gave him a hard time.

McCain should stop acting injured, and look more grown up. The women in "The View" were not responsible for McCain and Palin losing the election.

[jimrs6]

05:32 PM on 02/18/2009

Nobody voluntarily wants to get near that hideous behar creature. She represents nightmares for men everywhere.

[Mustang Sally]

07:10 PM on 02/19/2009

Yet, WOMEN love her - get a message? Clean up your act, guys.

[Citizen13]

03:18 PM on 02/18/2009

Four against two, not is kind of crowd. One good beating is enough.

[amerima]

02:49 PM on 02/18/2009

Smart move! Barbara Walters can actually look up when she asks a question if she isn't interviewing McCain. I thought Joy was going to have a stroke! She moved and fidgetted on that couch so much while McCain was there, that I thought she had become ADHD. Obama got a fair interview from Bill O'Reilly!!!!! So did Hillary!!! But poor McCain was basted, barbequed, and broiled. Why can't "civil discourse" like Predident Obama speaks about actually be seen on these shows. And Whoopi's slave analogy came from a planet I don't live on! Come on! As a teacher, we are losing the battle of civil debate. But more worrisome, is the fact that the opposing view is shown absolutely no respect. Instead of accepting the other person's right to have an opposing view, younger and younger students are turning to violence to express their opinion. Screaming and yelling were never acceptable in debate. Now schools teach it as a debating tool. Wonder why????

[Citizen13]

03:35 PM on 02/18/2009

It replaced manners class.

[uvymopkq]

12:52 PM on 02/18/2009

McCain does not like to talk to shallow people.

[huffyfan2]

01:48 PM on 02/18/2009

No, the man is a WUSS.

[2008FedUP]

02:16 PM on 02/18/2009

Yipeeeee. Glad to know that he won't be on anytime soon. He should retire and go back home to SINdy. His wooden teeth keep chattering.

[PDXTransplant]

11:39 AM on 02/18/2009

I wonder how this crankyoldman feels today to have Obama in his state helping and speaking to homeowners...Ha! I can't wait to hear his reaction.

[imsosure]

11:35 AM on 02/18/2009

Something about Babs suggesting all shows in the future will be morning shows reeks of Babs hoping she'll remain relevant to someone.

[contemporarymom]

09:18 AM on 02/18/2009

Wake up View watchers. Any politician appearing this year or next for that matter on any of these entertainment shows should get booted. With things as bad as these so called intelligent people tell us and with Obama saying this stimulus probably wont be enough and will need more than NONE of them should be on these shows wasting our time. They should be working over time!

[asia09]

08:27 AM on 02/18/2009

i think that people should realize the great things he could do for our country. We need to stop focussing on the negative things and let the positive shine. Think about how great our country would be if we put McCain's mind and Obama'a together. People are starting to angry about the democrats being ridiculous and unfair! Yesterday, we were officially signed into a socialist country. Maybe you should of stopped and asked us teenagers if we wanted to pay for this bill the rest of our lives!

[Rogan]

09:14 AM on 02/18/2009

Mccain's mind? Watch those clips again. We must never forget that when it was arguably most important that the debate be open and honest - during a presidential election campaign - Mccain chose to lie, again, and again, and again.

Most politicians equivocate, with gruesome regularity, on both "sides of the aisle." But our weakened country can no longer afford to tolerate bald-faced liars in public office or other positions of influence. Literally: we can't AFFORD it.

[2008FedUP]

02:18 PM on 02/18/2009

McCain and "mind" should not used in the same context , if u don't "mind" please!!

[contemporarymom]

09:14 AM on 02/18/2009

Good point, even Obama has made use of McCains knowledge. I said it before and I'll say it again. No politician should be on any of these silly shows, they SHOULD BE WORKING NOT HOB-KNOBBING with Whoppie (who I love) and Joy.

If things are truley as bad as they say then appearing on the View is a waste of OUR time.

[NCRedhead]

11:15 PM on 02/18/2009

Given how unhelpful McCain was during anything having to do with the economy (and I don't just mean in the past year), I would rather he make the round of TV shows and stay out of the decision making.

[bellabeach]

08:15 AM on 02/18/2009

He can't stand the heat, and he is not running for anything so he basically doesn't want to be embarrassed again! If he had trouble with the airheads on the View, can you imagine him as our President?!! I am sure Sarah would be able to carry on for him....LOL!

[jaslyn]

10:28 AM on 02/18/2009

I think he carries major grudges and puts his big phony smile on pretending he's not boiling inside. He's still pissed at the women of the view, and especially at Obama for snatching his life's dream right out from under his nose. Boo hoo.

[wonkguy]

03:04 AM on 02/18/2009

Let me get this straight, the gagle at the view was too tough for McCain? Didn't he spend the Vietnam War in as a POW? Isn't he supposed to be the original tough guy? And he thinks the View is too tough?

[PlayTOE]

03:53 AM on 02/18/2009

Strange as it seems ... Sherri Shepherd (the dumbest girl on the View) totally outsmarted McCain on politics and in understanding the constitution.

Now I think she was coached by Babs ... (no reason, I just think that) but it was still a total slam. he had his bones picked clean.

The episode is well worth a re-watch, and still gets lots of hits each day.

[pupnyny]

02:55 PM on 02/18/2009

sherri sheppard is much smarter than elizabeth (say what the RNC wants me to say from the notes they send me) hasselbeck!

[contemporarymom]

09:12 AM on 02/18/2009

Probably thinks its a waste of time, which it is especially with Obama saying that the sky is falling. They should all be getting to WORK and not chatting with joy.