View co-host Barbara Walters kissed the "superb" Joe Biden during an interview on Tuesday. Whoopi Goldberg swooned, "The most fabulous man came in. He gave us gifts. Walters praised, "I don't think there's much doubt that you're a superb Vice President." [See video below. MP3 audio here.]
Walters began the segment by touting the presents Biden brought. She awkwardly wondered, "Is one allowed to kiss a Vice President?" Biden enthused, "Oh, I'd love that." The audience whooped it up as the two shared an embrace. Walters then touched his cheek and insisted, "I don't want you to come home to Jill with my lipstick."
Given her history with married politicians, the anchor probably didn't want to give the wrong impression.
To her credit, Walters did press Biden on ObamaCare with her first question:
WALTERS: So, I want to start, of course, with -- not of course but ObamaCare which has been the most controversial aspect of the President's program since he was in office. There are glitches. People lost their current plans and doctors and a recent congressional report found that ObamaCare will cause more than two million Americans to quit their jobs or cut their hours. Is it a job killer, ObamaCare?
The View co-host followed up: "But why was it such a mess coming out?"
Sherri Shepherd openly lobbed softballs, at one point parroting, "I know you have a key message that you want to get out to, to a key group of people for ObamaCare, which is moms and young adults. So, is there something you want to say to them about Obamacare?"
The question was so stilted, Biden murmured, "Thank you for the prompt." Jenny McCarthy then asked the VP what he would like his "legacy to be."
A partial transcript of the February 25 segment is below:
BARBARA WALTERS: Thank you for our gifts.
JOE BIDEN: You're welcome.
WALTERS: We don't usually get gifts from vice presidents.
BIDEN: No one ever remembers vice presidents, so I thought –
BIDEN: Oh, I'd love that.
[Walters and Biden kiss.]
BIDEN: This is the most comfortable couch I've ever been on.
WALTERS: I don't want you to come home to Jill with my lipstick.
...
WALTERS: So, I want to start, of course, with -- not of course but ObamaCare which has been the most controversial aspect of the President's program since he was in office. There are glitches. People lost their current plans and doctors and a recent congressional report found that ObamaCare will cause more than two million Americans to quit their jobs or cut their hours. Is it a job killer, ObamaCare?
BIDEN: This is a really good report. Let me explain why. You get beyond the headline about 2,000 jobs will be lost. Mr. Elmendorf, the guy who runs the Congressional Budget Office, when he testified he pointed out this is about freedom. How many of you are single women with children in a dead-end job, you're there because of your health insurance. You would rather have the opportunity to spend the next couple of years with your child until they get -- if that was your choice, until they get into primary school. You're now trapped in that job because if you leave, you lose your health insurance. No, you be able to make an independent choice.
...
WALTERS: But why was it such a mess coming out?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: Well, I know you have a key message that you want to get out to, to a key group of people for ObamaCare, which is moms and young adults. So, is there something you want to say to them about Obamacare?
BIDEN: Thanks for the prompts. The truth is, now matter how old we get, we still listen to our moms.
...
GOLDBERG: Well, why do you think young people are not flocking? Because all I wanted was health care when I was in a young mother.
JENNY MCCARTHY: I just wanted to mention a little something while I have time. I was talking to my son last night, Evan, who's 11-years-old and I said "do you know what the job of the vice-president is" and he said "yeah, he has to attend a lot of funerals." I laughed and said "I'm going to make you watch so you can tell him what you want your legacy to be."
...
WALTERS: I do not expect you to come on this program and announce that you are going to run for President. I won't object if you want to. Do you want to?
...
WALTERS: I don't think there's much doubt that you're a superb Vice President.
