Bush on 'American Idol' Sends O'Donnell and Behar Over Deep End ("Idol Racist!Weightist!")

MRC ^ | Thursday May 3, 2007 | BrentBaker

[fight_truth_decay]

The brief taped appearance of the President and First Lady on Tuesday's American Idol, to thank the viewers who contributed $70 million the week before to the show's "Idol Gives Back" fundraising effort on behalf of children's health charities, enraged the ladies Wednesday on the ABC daytime show The View and led them into some unusually bizarre -- even for them -- claims. Rosie O'Donnell ridiculed Bush's charity endeavor by comparing it with money spent on Iraq ("$500 billion in Iraq, but he wants to thank America for the $70 billion," really million) and linked the appearance to how "all of the pundits who are pro-Bush are on the Fox network." But Joy Behar made O'Donnell look well-informed, by comparison, as she insisted that President Bush "has access to all the money that we pay taxes for. He is able to do whatever he wants to do with that money." When Elisabeth Hasselbeck pointed out that Congress must approve spending and it is controlled by the opposition party, Behar remained undeterred by reality: "He could do it though, he could do it."

Fox's page for the "Idol Gives Back" effort: www.americanidol.com

O'Donnell managed to criticize Bush for helping a charity effort during a war, as if without the war there would be no need for charity fundraising: "I was more disturbed that, you know, he's thanking the American public for giving up their money. We've asked the American public for money during every tragedy. But, you know, $500 billion in Iraq, but he wants to thank America for the $70 billion [really million] of their own pockets that they gave, but he doesn't mention the $500 billion that he spends in Iraq. I think it's very distorted." O'Donnell let loose with a personal attack on Bush -- "I would prefer that the President spend his time at the funeral of a dead soldier than on American Idol" -- before really going off the conspiratorial deep end by seeing a practical connection between the Los Angeles-based Fox broadcast network, which has no news content beyond one hour on Sunday, and the Manhattan-centered cable Fox News Channel: "It's on the Fox, it's on the Fox network, which is all of the pundits who are pro-Bush are on the Fox network, so I thought it was interesting as well."

The May 2 segment started comparatively normal with Joy Behar contending Bush "should be voted off" American Idol, prompting Barbara Walters to admonish her: "Do not expect to be invited to any state dinner." To which, Behar declared "I would not go to the White House" because "I'm not going to sit there with somebody who's doing what he's doing. I won't. I would not." Rosie O'Donnell agreed she would not accept an invitation to the White House -- as if one might arrive before 2009.

[This item was posted late Wednesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

The MRC's Brad Wilmouth provided a transcript of most of the second segment on the May 2 edition of The View, picking up as the panel discussed the appearance of George and Laura Bush the night before on American Idol:

Barbara Walters: "What they were doing was they were thanking people who contributed to American Idol for both African and American charities, and they were obviously reading exactly from the [speaks very slowly] tele-promp-ter."

Joy Behar: "I think he should be voted off. What do you think?"

[audience applause]

Walters to Joy Behar: "Do not expect to be invited to any state dinner."

Behar: "You know what? I would not go to the White House." Walters: "Oh, it's the White House!" Behar: "I would not." Walters: "Well, that's wrong." Behar: "I have my principles." O'Donnell: "You wouldn't go?" Behar: "I wouldn't." O'Donnell: "Interesting." Hasselbeck: "You wouldn't go even to protest?" Behar: "Protest, yeah, outside, but I'm not going to sit there with somebody who's doing what he's doing. I won't. I would not." Hasselbeck: "You wouldn't sit there just to try to get a moment with him and tell him what you think, one on one?" Behar: "Oh, like he would spend a moment with me." Hasselbeck: "Maybe he would. Maybe he would. Sheryl Crow got to Cheney." [O'Donnell corrects her, noting it was Karl Rove] Behar: "She practically had to assault Karl Rove. She practically had to be on top of the guy." Walters: "I think, at some point, if you're invited to the White House and it is the President, I do think that your opinions are your opinions, but I think you'd go. But, you know, you probably-" O'Donnell: "I don't think I would go either. I hadn't thought of it until you said it, Joy, but I probably wouldn't either." Hasselbeck to O'Donnell: "Did you like him on Idol last night? Were you disturbed that he invaded Idol, for you?" O'Donnell: "A little bit. But I was more disturbed that, you know, he's thanking the American public for giving up their money. We've asked the American public for money during every tragedy. But, you know, $500 billion in Iraq, but he wants to thank America for the $70 billion [really million] of their own pockets that they gave, but he doesn't mention the $500 billion that he spends in Iraq. I think it's very distorted." Hasselbeck: "I think it was a great thing that the American people did, and to just-" O'Donnell: "I think we're asking a lot of the American people while we're wasting their money and not giving them enough to live on, you know." [audience applause] Hasselbeck: "These weren't forced donations to ask of people, I mean, $70 million, it's a lot of money for kids, and the fact that people gave, it's a gift."

...

O'Donnell: "But on another thing is I would prefer that the President spend his time at the funeral of a dead soldier than on American Idol." Behar: "But that would be a photo-op he doesn't want to go to." O'Donnell: "I know." [audience applause, Behar says something unintelligible to Hasselbeck] Hasselbeck: "I've said he should be there. I've said that he should be there." Behar: "He should put his money where his mouth is, and let's see him show up at one of those funerals." Hasselbeck: "I don't think it's bad for him to be on American Idol thanking the people for donating $70 million to this country and also to Africa." Walters: "I don't think it's a bad thing at all. I think it's a fine thing, but I think it's just interesting that of all the different outlets and with all the different ways of spending money, and with all the time constraints that a President and a First Lady had, that this is what they choose to go on." O'Donnell: "And consequently, it's on the Fox, it's on the Fox network, which is all of the pundits who are pro-Bush are on the Fox network, so I thought it was interesting as well." Hasselbeck: "Let me ask you this. Would a President, then, be not so wise then to choose an outlet that didn't reach as many people? I mean, this is in terms of just getting to American people and reaching the public, that was probably the smartest way to do it." Behar: "He has access to all the money that we pay taxes for. He is able to do whatever he wants to do with that money. Congress will be very happy-" Walters: "Not exactly." Behar: "Well, practically." Hasselbeck: "It has to be approved now, especially with the changes in Congress." Behar: "He could do it though, he could do it."

[fight_truth_decay]

O'Donnell: "And consequently, it's on the Fox, it's on the Fox network, which is all of the pundits who are pro-Bush are on the Fox network

And the majority of the anti-Bush pundits are not on ABC,NBC,CBS, MSNBC..and for all but one..The View?

Furthermore there is no love lost between Idol and Rosie.

Text Below:

Rosie Calls American Idol Racist

Rosie called the program “racist” because they cut Frenchie Davis (who is black) for racy photos but kept Antonella Barba. Video here. And get this, Fox actually cared to respond.

“It started with the two special-ed boys and then my concern about Paula (Abdul’s) possible non-attentiveness and then saying that I thought it was sexist or racist and weight-ist that they put Frenchie (Davis) off and not Antonella (Barba),” O’Donnell said.

As a result, Fox has apparently banned Rosie from showing American Idol video clips. And they had this to say:
“Ms. O’Donnell has, once again, spoken without thought or knowledge. Viewers need only look at the show tonight to realize that ‘American Idol’ constantly confirms to America that talent has nothing to do with weight or color.”

[Frenchie was paid for her pre-Idol porn, while Antonella's photos were private, and published without her knowledge or permission.]

Fancy that. The consummate bully of daytime television has met her match. Read the full retort by Fox’s Nigel Lythgoe here.

[Rummyfan]

It takes a lot to out-stupid Rosie O’Donnell, but Behar managed it!

[YOUGOTIT]

And those that are anti-American are on the al-Qaeda networks of CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN and MSNBC. O’Donnell is as anti-American as one can get her support for those that want to kill Americans is disgusting and she should be in jail for her treason.

[sono]

Rosie O’Donut ... the gift that keeps on giving.

[dragonblustar]

* Good Bye Rosie! Now if we only could get Joy Blow-Hard to go, life would be great.

[Vaquero]

Behar and O'Donnel with their panties (boxers?) in a twist....

it dosen't get any better than that.

[NRA1995]

If only the fat stupid idiot realized that the $500 billion spent on defense doesn’t even come close to the $18 trillion spent on entitlement/govt giveaway programs.....

[pjr12345]

Rosie O’Donut ... the gift that keeps on giving.

Yes, she's every bit the "social disease".

[himno hero]

what a slug!

Everday there is someone out to get the poor guy... she needs to recognize that before he does anything too scandalous, he has to consult all around hmi inclusive of the opposition. And then there is still the media that wanna spin the situation..... Its a highly competitive world out there, but obviously not in rosi world.

[BeckB]

What most liberals forget is what it will cost monetarily if we lose the war and give an advantage to those who wish to destroy our country and way of life. I don’t know why liberals can’t get their mind around a concept. All they can see is what has been spent but can’t remember how much one terrorist attack on 9-11 cost New York, the Airline industry, the tourism industry. etc

[noname07718]

ABC has to be so proud of what passes for programming.

[HarleyLady27]

I would imagine anything would send Fats O’Donut and GaGa Blowhart over any edge.

[silverleaf]

Hasselbeck is such a lightweight.

Throw Laura Ingraham or Michele Malkin in there with those stupid overwrought lefties!

Multimillionaire babes, all of them and bashing the system that put them there.

[CT102ndInfSister]

I agree. I used to think Behar was funny. Now I just see her as a dumb and uninformed liberal.

Why can’t these “entertainers” (modern day court jesters) keep their mouths closed??

[pjr12345]

Think bigger; think Disney.

I, for one, am doing everything in my power to avoid giving any of my hard-earned dollars to the Disney Corporation. They are a shame to their namesake, and their spokeslesbian is just one example of their hostility to my values.

[Volunteer]

Every day, I think there is just no possible way the Left can look dumber....

and every day they take dumb to the next level.

Congratulations Joy and Rosie, you are truly stupid.

[twonie]

I thought I had heard that Rosie O’Donnell had been fired from The View. Am I wrong here?

[MrB]

Every time you wonder why someone can hold a leftist point of view,

they demonstrate it with their total stupidity and ignorance.

... “Oh, that’s why you have that opinion, you’re stupid! It’s all so clear now.”

[popdonnelly]

Who cares what these two sows think? Now they want to run the President off television. It’s amazing that anyone could think they are so self-important that they have a right to tell the President what to do.

[Badeye]

“Who cares what these two sows think? Now they want to run the President off television. It’s amazing that anyone could think they are so self-important that they have a right to tell the President what to do.”

Same thinking here. That said, its obvious Rosie’s going to spend the next few weeks before leaving saying ever more outrageous things on the show.

I doubt she makes it to June.

[JZelle]

They must screen their audience members the same way the libs did for Clinton’s town hall meetings.

[fight_truth_decay]

Rosie leaves in June and will moonlight, thereafter.
However, Roseanne Barr has said she will take the $10 million. ;)

[henkster]

Who else but slack-jawed bugger-eating libs would care to go watch that show?

[TNCMAXQ]

GWB got 62 million votes in 2004. How many votes did the View get? Hmmm. Of course all the elites and the intelligentsia who know better than we peons do tell us we are too dumb to know what is right.

It must be sad to be like Joy and Rosie and be so consumed with hate and bile. That kind of thing is not good for your health.

[Niteranger68]

This show’s purpose is to make women as dumb as possible and keep them there. The presence of EH only creates the illusion of objectiveness.

[Badeye]

“It must be sad to be like Joy and Rosie and be so consumed with hate and bile. That kind of thing is not good for your health.”

Thats how I see it.

How is it Democrats gained control in the House and Senate, and appear to be even more angry, more miserable, today?

They seem to wallow in it.

[layman]

I wonder how much the donut industry poster girl gives to charity.

[keepitreal]

[audience applause, Behar says something unintelligible to Hasselbeck] Really??

[Doctor Raoul]

Behar and O’Donnell are sick puppies.

[rod1]

Clearly Rosie hates kids.

[JFC]

The bad thing is.. there are stupid people who believe in what Rosie O and Joy have to say. The closer she gets to leaving The View, the more outragious she will become. She is trying the patience of all. I refuse to watch NBC or ABC, CBS for that matter. As for me and my house it is Fox all the way.

[JRios1968]

Any Rosie O'Fat report on FR should include this:

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

They should change the name of the program to “The Spew” because that’s exactly what it is.

[BigLittle]

[Beckwith]

Think bigger; think Disney.

Disney is loaded with homosexials. It is the corporate equivalent of San Francisco.

[Beckwith]

Clearly Rosie hates kids.

Fixed it!

[syriacus]

O'Donnell: "But on another thing is I would prefer that the President spend his time at the funeral of a dead soldier than on American Idol."

Did Democratic President Harry Truman attend the funerals of the 3,000 Americans who died during the first 5 weeks of the Korean War?

Truman would have found it necessary to attend 13,963 miltary funerals during the first 6 months of his Korean War.

If Truman had not abandoned the newly freed South Korea prematurely after WWII, perhaps 34,000 men would have lived to choose to watch "American Idol" or "The View."

BTW, Truman told the American people that he was sending troops to Korea to fight "police action" against "bandits". Would Democrats consider that a lie?

[reagan_fanatic]

[conservative blonde]

Walters’ little anti-Bush digs are not above the stupid level on the IQ meter either. Maybe Barbara is rehearsing anti-Bush drivel to take over the mantel when Rosie finally leaves. What’s really amazing to me is that many American women find the View so entertaining and fact filled that they watch everyday. What a bunch of stupid women. Most of whom I would assume are parents. What’s scary is that they vote.

[cubreporter]

They are a sad, pathetic group of women. Elizabeth is fine but too weak to debate a bully like rosie. rosie is like a bulldozer. Every clip I have seen from that show she emerges big, loud, obnixious and over bearing. She has some real important issues she needs to deal with I think. She is needy and thrives in the limelight. She is a sad personality.

[cubreporter]

They are a sad, pathetic group of women. Elizabeth is fine but too weak to debate a bully like rosie. rosie is like a bulldozer. Every clip I have seen from that show she emerges big, loud, obnixious and over bearing. She has some real important issues she needs to deal with I think. She is needy and thrives in the limelight. She is a sad personality.

[matt1234]

[NickatNite2003]

O’Donnell and Behar..A daily venerial dose
of Dumb & Dumberer.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I got a solution to our problem here, don’t watch the View.

[RonF]

O'Donnell: "I think we're asking a lot of the American people while we're wasting their money and not giving them enough to live on, you know."

Perhaps it has not occurred to Ms. O'Donnell that it is not the job of the American government to give U.S. citizens enough money to live on; it's the job of the citizens to earn enough money to live on.

O'Donnell: "But on another thing is I would prefer that the President spend his time at the funeral of a dead soldier than on American Idol." Behar: "But that would be a photo-op he doesn't want to go to."

The presence of the President of the United States at any function turns that function into a zoo of cameras, reporters and security details. Hardly the kind of thing that a family mourning it's dead need. But then, concern for the family that has sacrificed a child takes a back seat to political agendas for such as these.

[noname07718]

She is working to the end of her contract. Gone by June 1.

[twonie]

Not soon enough. Ought to be gone now. But what do I expect from the people who would hire her in the first place?

[fight_truth_decay]

As for me and my house it is Fox all the way

"Fox conquered Wednesday with "American Idol" up a tick versus last week, paired with procedural drama "Bones." "Idol" scored a 10.8 among adults 18 to 49, according to preliminary Nielsens, with lead-in "Bones" earning a 3.0 to win the 8 p.m. hour. Fox also led in households.--- Thursday, May 3, 2007 TVWeekDaily