ABC’s Barbara Walters showed the 13.2 million viewers who watched her Thursday, Dec. 4 “Ten Most Fascinating People” special that she can swallow pretty much anything but mainstream conservatism.
Walters gave cushy treatment to actors Will Smith, Frank Langella and Scientologist Tom Cruise, Olympian Michael Phelps, comedienne Tina Fey, embarrassingly photographed actress/singer Miley Cyrus, and pregnant "man" Thomas Beatie. She named liberal President-elect Barack Obama 2008’s most fascinating person (see Brent Baker's account), but went head to head against well-known conservative Rush Limbaugh, and ran repeated criticisms of former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Walters asked Palin’s impersonator, Fey, to mock the Alaska Governor one more time, yet challenged Limbaugh to say something "nice" about Obama. Walters did not interview Palin but did air an embarrassing interview clip and a montage of pundits calling her a "drag" on the Republican presidential ticket.
At the end of her interview with Fey, Walters stated, "I want you to, as Sarah Palin, tell me how pleased you are with this wonderful interview that I did, okay?" Fey complied:
FEY as Palin: I think this interview went real good. I think this went better than a couple of the other ones that I did. (Winks.) (Laughs)
WALTERS: (Laughs.) I love you, Sarah Palin.
FEY as Palin: Thank you. I’m happy to be here.
Fey also told Walters her impersonation wasn’t "mean" because "we stuck to, a lot of times, things that she herself had said." Fey added, "There’s a very strange double standard because it’s a woman portraying another woman. The jokes we used to do about George W. Bush were that he was an idiot. No one ever would stop and say, like, ‘well, that seems kind of mean.’"
Walters failed to ask Fey what she thinks about the news media’s obsession with her unflattering impersonations of Palin.
In contrast to the treatment she gave Fey, Walters’s "heels were on and gloves off" for her interview with Limbaugh.
When Limbaugh claimed he was, "the most unthreatening, tolerant, lovable guy you could ever meet," Walters challenged him to say "something nice about the next president of the United States."
Walters attempted to paint Limbaugh as an elitist simply because he "came from a very good family" and "had money," a charge he quickly rejected. She also challenged him about a line he tossed out during the presidential primary that asked, "Does the country actually want to watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis?" Then, as seen in the transcript below, she challenged his explanation of the comment:
WALTERS: I want to quote something you said. "Does the country actually want to watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis?" You said this about Hillary Clinton.
RUSH LIMBAUGH: Yes.
WALTERS: You have watched me get older on a daily basis. Right. Sarah Palin, whom you love, is going to get older on a daily basis.
LIMBAUGH: Yes.
WALTERS: Men get older on a daily basis. What's with you, Rush?
LIMBAUGH :(Laughs) you know, the context...
WALTERS: (laughs) I never thought I’d be sitting here doing a number with you.
LIMBAUGH: The context of the statement was how unfair our culture is to aging women versus aging men.
WALTERS: You weren't fighting our battle.
LIMBAUGH: I was.
WALTERS: No.
LIMBAUGH: I meant it as a comment on our culture in a sympathetic way.
WALTERS: Okay. I will let that go.
On his show, Limbaugh found media treatment of another exchange with Walters fascinating.
—Colleen Raezler is a research assistant at the Culture and Media Institute
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Mirror mirrow
December 6, 2008 - 11:00 ET by 10ksnookerOn the wall, what's the most fascinating flaw of all ...
"It isn't that Liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
Sarah Palin
December 6, 2008 - 15:31 ET by jcharlesIt is amazing how one honest woman causes panic in the hearts of the multitude of hypocrites. The good Sarah Palin, who an army of Marxist lawyers with ready cash from the Obama thugery gang couldn't find one scrap of "dirt" on her. Even when they hacked her personal email. Pure and clean. They have to hire a comedy actor to invent stuff, and the Moonbats Liberals believe Saturday Night Live is the evening news!! No wonder we have someone like Barak Obama for President. Case closed.
BA BA
December 6, 2008 - 11:03 ET by davy42055When is this cranky old hag gona goaway..her days have been over for a loooooong time now.
Barbara Biased?
December 6, 2008 - 11:12 ET by northoneOur dearest Bawbawa biased? She only pointed out that Sarah Palin was a flash-in-the-pan; like a celebrity who achieves instant fame and then burns out quickly. Where Palin goes from here is anybody's guess. Rush? Just a woman-hating, Hillary-bashing buffoon who's good for the left intelligencia to look down on and laugh at. Bawbawa biased? Well, she's always careful in pointing out on "The View" that she is a journalist and can't express her opinions. Therefore, she isn't biased. Case closed!
What, and no montage on Biden's endless gaffes?
December 6, 2008 - 11:48 ET by jondelwicheI am shocked! Shocked!
OK, not really. Now we have a VP, a heartbeat away, who
thought FDR spoke on TV after the great stock market crash.
The campaign locked him up the last two months, and no way
Barbie was going to make him "fascinating," although his rise to
power remains stunningly scary in a dementia type of way.
As for Palin, we often forget the praise that the left's former
hero, Bill Clinton, lavished upon her during his Sept interviews.
PDS is alive and well.......
Walters: "You have watched
December 6, 2008 - 12:09 ET by Chris NormanWalters: "You have watched me get older on a daily basis..."
Could Babawa have been fishing for a compliment?
Don't use fish...
December 6, 2008 - 12:22 ET by Joe4Coulter...and Walters in the same sentence...it brings about a bad visual.
Good Orderly Direction
Speaking of fish, Barbara
December 6, 2008 - 13:48 ET by motherbeltSpeaking of fish, Barbara Walters has not jumped the shark, but has herself become a "jump the shark" moment.
Rush is the boogieman...
December 6, 2008 - 12:19 ET by Joe4Coulter...to the left. They will never, ever acknowledge him in any way other than a negative. Which means.......he's right and he's hitting them where it hurts.
The scary part is that (even considering the MSM's unfair editing practices) Rush seemed fickle with the attention from 'the great Bawbwa'. I saw just a 'dash' of what I constantly see from BOR when he thinks he's made it onto 'their' (MSM / liberal elites) good side.
I love Rush. He's a true American hero of mine. But I can also understand the natural human nature of wanting to be liked by everyone - especially your adversaries. While IMHO BOR is constantly flip-floping for the adoration of these people, Rush always is aware of this danger and educates against it. As in, why good conservatives get elected, go to D.C. and then get sucked into the intoxicating aspects of the attention from these backstabbers, i.e. McCain.
I'll write it off as my misperception or possibly Rush's maturity allowed his guard to be down.
Good Orderly Direction
Actually.......
December 6, 2008 - 12:31 ET by Joe4CoulterWalters should put herself on her own list.
- she's rich, like Rush
- she denies who she is, like Obama
- she's a terrible actor, like Cruise
- she pretends to speak for all Americans, like Fey
- and.....she was once a pregnant man, like Beatie
Good Orderly Direction
"Elitist" Limbaugh?
December 6, 2008 - 13:35 ET by nkviking75Walters attempted to paint Limbaugh as an elitist simply because he "came from a very good family" and "had money," a charge he quickly rejected.
If Rush had followed in his family's footsteps and become a prominent Missouri lawyer rather than the most popular and powerful radio talk show host in history, would the elitists like Walters even be aware of Limbaugh? They certainly wouldn't consider him one of them.
Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!
13.2 Million
December 6, 2008 - 14:37 ET by MichiganVetThat's the most amazing thing of all, that 13.2 million people were curious what this prune considers "fascinating".
And in the picture, is she "floating" - oh yeah, that's what hot air does ......
I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy
Rush was great...
December 6, 2008 - 15:03 ET by Travis NoodleYou know Rush was great when being interrogated by Bawbwa. He did not take offense or get defensive. She was clearly taking the "aging" comment out of context and he new it.
Let's face it...
December 6, 2008 - 15:06 ET by Georgia7There's no excuse for Sarah Palin. Now we hear we spend 100K on her hair and makeup and laud her as a hockey mom. This turd don't float folks. And she can see Russia from her house? Miami is closer to Caracus than Wassila is to any Russian soil. She talks like a runaway train and reveals herself as someone who never really left Wassila. Ever.
We need a fiscal conservative and an honest talker, and someone who does not fuse church and state. Our founding Fathers would be appalled right now.
Actually, there's no excuse
December 6, 2008 - 15:11 ET by Jack BauerActually, there's no excuse for some conservefauxtive like you give out advice.
You're the turd in your own toilet. You don't like Palin, I could give a turd, but dude... please don't quote what Tina Fey said in an alleged "comedy" routine.
It makes you sound like an ill-informed turd, Know what I mean?
jack
December 6, 2008 - 15:17 ET by botgonce again you beat me to it
how many votes did socks get in the last election?
----- Radical Liberal
OK, where do I begin.
December 6, 2008 - 15:59 ET by PeskyDaneOK, where do I begin. First of all, Juneau, being the capital of Alaska, is where the Governor resides and works. On another level, she never said, "I can see Russia from my house." Even The View has dropped that myth. Wrap your brain around that. You are less informed than the girls from The View.
Regarding Wassila, let's not pretend to be an expert on medium sized Nothern towns, particularly about one which most of us never heard of before the Autumn leaves turned this year. residence not Wassila.
As far as her money for hair and clothes, there were all outlays paid out from the campaign. I dare say the DNC spent an equivalent amount on their candidates and spouses, and this is a non-issue.
BTW, does mom know you're using her computer?
Georgia, I'm sure you're not really that stupid, but....
December 6, 2008 - 17:51 ET by northoneGeorgia, dear, Sarah Palin never said she could see Russia from her house. That, in fact, was Tina Fey doing her level-best to portray Palin as an idiot on "Saturday Night Live". Most of us with a brain know the difference between reality and a satirical TV show. We also don't take something created by a Liberal comedienne and try to convince America that Palin actually said it. $100K was not spent on her hair and makeup. That, again, is a rumor being spread through the MSM and leftist bloggers. The only thing the Founding Fathers would be appalled at is that the United States of America has somehow managed to produce someone as ignorant and ill-informed as you are. Time to pull your head out of your ass, dear. Have a nice day.
What I will face
December 6, 2008 - 19:37 ET by DEVILDOCMOMis that you never read a substantive article about Sarah Palin in your life. You are like all the idiots who receive their "information" from SNL or the lying media.
So ... I bet you are one
December 6, 2008 - 22:14 ET by NL207So ... I bet you are one of those who think Government Eavesdropping via FSA warrants ins invasion of privacy. Right?
The same person
December 6, 2008 - 15:51 ET by God Bless the USAThis is coming from the same person who said Rahm Enanuel could not possibly be a "thug" because he studied to be a ballet dancer.
What an insightful journalist she is!
The Sarah Palin bashing
December 6, 2008 - 16:57 ET by Clear thinkerThe Sarah Palin bashing seems to know no bounds. Yesterday I posted this link The Left Still Hating Gov. Sarah Palin which is a piece about a guy that posted an online petition to "Tell Sarah to shut up". Well I did some research on the guy that started it and it seems as if he is a minor D.C. Republican insider. Go back to the same link and check out the UPDATE.
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Tina Fey: Overrated hack
December 6, 2008 - 17:52 ET by Jnoble"The jokes we used to do about George W. Bush were that he was an idiot. No one ever would stop and say, like, ‘well, that seems kind of mean.’"
This reminds me of that famous quote from someone after Nixon was elected: "How did he win? No one I know voted for him!"
Now that Palin is (for now anyway) old news, maybe Tina can go back to her sinking in the ratings sitcom 30 Rock and pumping out more crappy films like 'Baby Mama' which Babwa incorrectly described as a "smash hit"
I'd love to see the reactions of people like Fey or Jon Stewart if someone did a mean-spirited imitation of THEM on primetime TV. You know they'd suddenly not find it very fun anymore.
This ditz's mumbling has all the import of breaking wind...
December 6, 2008 - 20:35 ET by wnaegeleSigh!
Babwah Never Even Interviewed Palin
December 6, 2008 - 20:36 ET by TaserCatNice that Walters had the time to talk to Fey who only made the list because of her leftist trashing of Palin. But she couldn't even take the time to interview Palin.
Her "profile piece" was only a running narration by Babwah.
Either she didn't have the time, or couldn't be bothered to go to Alaska. Perhaps Palin dissed her. Too bad she couldn't take the time to interview her.... I mean she IS one of the top 10. You'd think that'd be enough incentive to do her job... or not.
Rudeness!!
December 6, 2008 - 21:24 ET by ashleye3592I thought it was very rude how Barbara threw it in Rush's face how much money he will be making. How much does that broad make to be saying things like that to other people? Also, I did not like how she rudly cut off the interview with Rush. He was in the middle of saying something about Obama and she cut him off.
She wonders why Sarah Palin will not do an interview with her...she is just a rude person. I have lost all respect for her.
ashleye...I can't LOSE respect for BW
December 6, 2008 - 21:43 ET by Cape Conservativebecause I never have had any to begin with!
I watched only the Rush interview and the AUDACITY of the woman to mention that he had watched her 'age' - my goodness, she has had everything on her face nipped and/or tucked a dozen times at least! How could anyone 'watch her age' when she is constantly doing that? If women who insist on plastic surgery could only see how phony they look, they might give it a second thought...but, then again, how many women in their seventies try to look many years younger?
Barbara Walters is nothing but a trashy broad who bragged in her book about her affair with married Senator Edward Brooks, a black man, and then came on to Barack Obama during his "View" appearance and told him how SEXY he was. I guess she was trying to demonstrate how 'cosmopolitan' she was. Well, she came across as an old dame acting like a 15-year-old...and it didn't matter how many facelifts she's had, she still looked and sounded STUPID!
Her actions embarrass any self-respecting woman! No...this woman has never had any respect from me!
And Rush did good! He kept his cool and didn't let her get under his skin - she certainly laid enough traps for him but he skirted them all ;-)
A PROUD member of the Oogedy Boogedy branch of the GOP!
Instant Recall
December 6, 2008 - 22:43 ET by northoneI recall an episode of "The View". I believe that they were interviewing someone named Barrack Obama. The topic was his economic plan. Sheri Shepherd made a joke that Barbara was going to be real mad because her taxes were going to go up. Barbara went ballistic - she berated Sheri on the air, telling her that the issue of her income was out-of-bounds and that no one knew how much she made.
Guess the same rules didn't apply when she made the big deal out of Rush's salary. Hypocritical old bag!
Wealthy conservatives are
December 6, 2008 - 23:41 ET by SmartypantsWealthy conservatives are always blasted by the left, as if they did something illegal to attain their fortune. Look how they made a huge deal over how many houses John McCain owns (okay, so he's not exactly a conservative, he is a Republican and to the left that is evil enough). In 2004, John Kerry and his wife's enormous fortune was off-limits. Kerry and his wife were so out of touch, they had no clue what food was served in a Wendy's. In 2000, there was little mention of John Edwards wealth (other than from right wing pundits) and how he garnered it.
This theme is the same for other characteristics. Liberals make openly racist comments and receive little or no criticism for it. Obama calls his own grandmother a "typical white person" and the media yawns. Republicans are removed from public life for statements that are not one-tenth as overt as that one.
Rush is right, to the media your intentions and feelings are all that matter. If you're on the left, you're on the good side, so your indiscretions are overlooked. If you're conservative, there is no such thing as a benefit of the doubt. Sarah Palin is a perfect example of the application of this mindset.
Rush's millions are his own and so is the public knowledge
December 8, 2008 - 15:17 ET by HarmlessWhen Rush signed the contract, there was a national press release and huge press conference where the numbers were thrown around like a barn door in a tornado. He also trumpeted the fact of his advance and salary repeatedly on his show. It's not like she sent someone digging through his garbage to find that number.
Rush made it an issue and she was right to bring it up. When she signs a contract, she doesn't hold a press conference touting valentines to her greatness like he does; she keeps it quiet. Frankly, it's none of my (or anyone else's) business how much he makes.
Rush may say he chooses to not participate in the recession, and with a big advance/salary bump like his, it may look like he doesn't have to. But his listeners (read: us) have to deal with it every day with salary cuts, lay-offs, plant closings, mortgage defaults, failed businesses, and retirement savings evaporating like the morning dew on a summer day. And it's us, who buy the products of those businesses who advertise on his show, that coughed up the dough for the advance/higher salary. He may not be taking part in the recession, but the recession is part of the real world for the rest of us.
Also, he signed that contract before the main wave of the current recession hit, so while he gets to keep the money, some of the advertisers who paid for it might not even be around next year. Ford, Chrysler, & GM aren't selling as many SUVs and pickups as they used to, you know.
(yawn)
December 8, 2008 - 15:20 ET by Free Stinker(yawn)
→ Harmless
December 8, 2008 - 15:33 ET by Cool ArrowI'm not saying it isn't so.
But I am asking you for a link to Rush's announcement of his latest contract.
I can't seem to find that "huge press conference" either.
Can you help me out here?
Rush's announcements
December 8, 2008 - 16:02 ET by HarmlessGee, I don't know why you can't find it. I did a Google search for you and got over half a million hits. I read about in my local paper the day after the signing; it was on like page 2 or something.
One need only seek and ye shall find...
And the dyslexic think is hilarious!!
→ Harmless
December 8, 2008 - 16:11 ET by Cool ArrowAre you referring to Clear Channel's announcement, or Rush Limbaugh's announcement?
Did EIB make the announcement?
The "Fascinating" Man of Mystery
December 8, 2008 - 08:50 ET by BrightfameIf someone (such as our President-elect) were truly "fascinating," wouldn't a supposedly intelligent woman like Barbara Walters want to find out more about him and share it with us ignorant proletarians? Well, here's her chance: the first 40 years or so of Mr. Obama's life are still virtually a complete mystery to most of us. Why not do a half-dozen specials that dig into the background of his birth, those mysterious college years, his shadowy affiliations, and his unremarkable career as an Illinois state senator? There's PLENTY of "fascinating" information that was left untouched by "journalists" like her during the 2008 campaign. Let it fly, Barbie!
2 questions:
December 8, 2008 - 15:19 ET by Harmless* How long did BHO run for POTUS?
* Where were you in all that time?
One question: What did
December 8, 2008 - 15:25 ET by NL207One question:
What did Obama ever tell the masses about his program other than "Hope" and "Change"?
And where were you?
December 8, 2008 - 16:03 ET by HarmlessIn his many debates and interviews, not to mention his acceptance speech at the DNC, he gave plenty of details. I don't know how you could have missed them.
Harmless, He hasn't told
December 8, 2008 - 16:22 ET by Scuba DudeHarmless,
He hasn't told us SQUAT!!
Why won't he release his birth certificate? It would clear up very quickly if he was a natural born citizen.
Where are his records from his time in the Illinois State Senate? Is he afraid people will see he really did nothing while he was there?
Why hasn't he released his medical records? Is there some physical or mental condition he is hiding?
Why hasn't he released any of his school records? Is he afraid people are going to see he was either an average or below average student?
Why hasn't he released his thesis? Will it reveal how much of a socialist/marxist he is, or show a poorly thought out paper?
Except for 2 books of which one of them appears to have been ghost written we know virtually NOTHING about him.