FReep ABC's The View for their Bush-bashing!

transcript from the Media Research Center's CyberAlert ^ | Thursday February 20, 2003

[occam's chainsaw]

From this morning's MRC Alert:

Jamie Lee Curtis and The View Crew Rail Against Bush on Iraq

An anti-Bush outburst from a Hollywood celebrity on ABC's The View on Wednesday. When penta-host Meredith Vieira dared to pass along how President Bush said he will not be swayed by the anti-liberation of Iraq marches because he will not make policy based on a "focus group" since "he believes that the role of a leader...is to decide policy based upon the security of the people," guest penta-host Jamie Lee Curtis flew into a rage: "So then what is he talking about that it's a focus group? That was millions of people!...That was millions of the people that he's supposed to serve."

Later in the show, Curtis boasted of how she had attended a "peace" rally over the weekend.

Penta-host Joy Behar offered this belittling quip about Bush: "What I think we should do is draw up a petition, everybody sign in crayon, and then he'll understand." Another of the five hosts, former NBC News reporter Star Jones, snidely lamented: "I guess the President says the majority of the people didn't elect him, he doesn't have to listen to 'em anyway."

MRC analyst Jessica Anderson transcribed the war protest discussion on the February 19 The View, the daytime ABC program created and produced by Barbara Walters. This week the New York City-based show is being broadcast at 8am PST from Los Angeles with a different guest host each day joining the regular four.

Former CBS News reporter Meredith Vieira segued from a discussion about the popularity in Britain of penis extension surgery, to the war protests: "[President Bush] will not be deterred from war against Iraq if he thinks that's what we need to do. He says that he's not going to decide policy based upon a focus group. He believes that the role of a leader -- and he has a point here -- the role of a leader is to decide policy based upon the security of the people."
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, raising her voice: "But he's the leader of the people!"
Vieira: "Right."
Curtis, very loudly: "So then what is he talking about that it's a focus group? That was millions of people! That is not a focus group. Fifteen people, you know, talking about a movie plot is a focus group. That was millions of the people that he's supposed to serve."
[Left coast audience applauds]
Barbara Walters: "Does anybody remember 'hell no we won't go'?"
Curtis: "Yeah."
Vieira: "Oh sure, Vietnam, absolutely."
Walters: "The Vietnam War, in great part, ended -- and it caused Lyndon Johnson to resign -- it ended because of the people's will, the public protests."
Joy Behar: "I think it cost a lot by then, too."
Walters: "Well, you know, you can have arguments on both sides."
Vieira: "Right, but for example he would point out that there were isolationists before World War II, and he does, and that if FDR had listened to them and we had not gone to war, would that have been the right thing?"
Behar: "Well, you know, what I think we should do is draw up a petition, everybody sign in crayon, and then he'll understand."
Vieira: "Okay."
Star Jones: "Whoa!"
Curtis: "She is feisty today."
Jones: "Yes, she is!"
Behar: "I'm a little under the, you know."
Vieira: "You aren't feeling well, I know you're not feeling well."
Jones: "Yeah, but we do need to at least listen to what the citizenry has to say."
Curtis: "Oh, absolutely, absolutely."
Jones: "That's the best part about being citizens of the United States."
Walters: "On the other hand, people who said, you know, remember in the Gulf War they called his father by that terrible name, 'wimp,' remember that?
Vieira, Jones, Behar and Curtis: "Yes."
Walters: "This is a man who is showing strength and this is a man who is showing leadership."
Jones: "Sometimes strength is best shown in restraint."
[Audience applauds]
Vieira: "But the rap against Clinton was that he always had his finger up testing the wind, that he basically governed by focus group. Is that any better?"
Jones: "Well, I guess, you know, I guess the President says the majority of the people didn't elect him, he doesn't have to listen to 'em anyway."
Curtis agreed: "They didn't elect him, actually, at all."
Jones: "Gosh, that felt good!"
Vieira: "But Presidents are not elected by the majority of the people, I mean, it doesn't have to be. It's not a popularity-"
Jones: "I know. Well, that's his prerogative."

[occam's chainsaw]

E-mail regarding ABC's Primetime and Daytime shows, as well as our Movies and Specials, can be sent directly to our Audience Relations Department at netaudr@abc.com

Or email the co-hosts directly.

[BibChr]

Gee, if only liberals could get their views in public, you know, like a talk radio show....

< /blistering sarcasm >

Dan

[The_Victor]

I refuse to even notice those cackling hens.

[glennaro]

Thanks for posting this. I'll use its content with my "peacenik" friends. BTTT.

[yoe]

"Barbara Walters: "Does anybody remember 'hell no we won't go'?"

Hell yes and does anybody remember Cambodia? Because of the left those people were left to die or how the socialists/Marxist’s like Ms. Walters; Ms. Fonda caused many more American lives to be lost? Celebrities have their place, maybe it is on the front line where they can really get a good view.......

[evad]

Oh well..add her to the list :(

Mel Gibson better start making a heluva lotta movies.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Walters: "The Vietnam War, in great part, ended -- and it caused Lyndon Johnson to resign --

Johnson did not resign, Baba. He declined to accept the nomination of his party for a second term. Big difference. Twit.

[Conspiracy Guy]

The View? I thought that was a show on landscaping on TLC. Instead it sounds like a gathering of crows. Stupid crows at that.

[farmfriend]

Why would anyone watch that show anyway?

[occam's chainsaw]

Why would anyone watch that show anyway?

Don't ask me - I wouldn't waste my time with The View or the West Wing.

[ken5050]

Actually, the libs DO have a network..it's called NPR..

[aristeides]

I heard on the radio this morning that ABC News has rehired Rick Kaplan, of CNN notoriety. O'Reilly can't be too happy about that news.

[blackbart1]

I have listened/watched occasionally but mostly because of Star Jones. Now I have no reason to watch The "liberal" View. These silly people are hurting themselves and others in Hollywood by their words and actions.

I saw Jeff Daniels on FOX NEWS this AM. He and his family live in Michigan just because he can't handle the Hollywood atmosphere. He was really cool.

[Republican Red]

Freeped. I know it does no good but I wrote them anyway.

[I am the GOP]

WOW! How scary! And the libs are upset by Fox News..... like they don't already dominate TV!

And to think, none of these women had a coherent argument..... full of name calling and mud slinging! I hope the women/men (?) who watch this show don't absorb their views like a sponge.....

And it is a sure bet that the gals on The View value their freedom! They just don't want the messy job of preserving and protecting it!

[F16Fighter]

'The View'??

ABC knowingly is doing nothing less than sponsoring a Democratic Party 'dis-infomercial' with this dreadful gaggle of liberal menopausal hags.

Ring Leader Barbara Walter's, who the other evening attempted to masquerade and associate herself on Jay Leno's show as part and parcel of "ABC's 'News Division'," may as well just open up 'The View' with red-lights and graphics: 'Will Whore My Celebrity For The Democratic Cause'.

[occam's chainsaw]

I know it does no good but I wrote them anyway.

It doesn't hurt. The worst they can do is delete your message, but if they get enough complaints they might (at least) tone it down a bit and apologize.

[Steve_Seattle]

This conversation referenced WWII, Vietnam, and the Gulf War, but ommitted reference to the war in Kosovo, even though there was a reference to Clinton, and even though Kosovo is our most recent war and the most apt for purposes of comparison. It amazes me how people already sem to have forgotten Kosovo, a war that violated the following liberal principles but which was nonetheless supported by most liberals: (1) Serbia/Kosovo posed no security threat to the USA; (2) it was a civil war, and therefore none of our business; (3) it involved a conflict between 'ancient enemies' and therefore was probably insoluble and would involve us in an endless quagmire; and (4) there were bad guys on both sides and neither side merited our support. But it was Clinton, so they HAD to support it. But now it's Bush, so they HAVE to OPPOSE it. The facts of the situation are irrelevant.

[Damocles]

I saw that segment with Jeff Daniels, funny stuff.

They asked him why he doesn't live in Hollywood and his answer was, "Have you seen Hollywood?", and he didn't want his kids growing up in a place where everyone lives in a make believe world and all the kids are kids of famous people.

Kind of refreshing.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Wow! How scary!"

Please, this is a scary-free zone. "Scary" is a liberal word.