Just moments before Hillary Clinton appeared on The View, Tuesday, the co-hosts speculated on the “bias” people have against a female president. The panelists blamed it on “talk radio” and “religion.” Joy Behar ranted, “The Catholics, there are no female priests for example. In the orthodox Jewish faith, the women stay upstairs. The men stay downstairs. So, religion certainly contributes to sexism.”
She added, “People listen to talk radio.” After quoting Rush Limbaugh speculating on a woman aging as president, Behar complained, “I mean, these are comments that people hear on talk radio constantly being bombarded with sexist remarks, and it penetrates the brain.”
Goldberg began the segment by teeing up a grievence for Clinton: “Study after study seems to find that voters are still biased against a female president, and it doesn't seem to be just men. Why do we think that is?”
Later, when Clinton actually appeared, Behar offered this softball:
BEHAR: I know you and I find you so warm and lovely and authentic, and yet there are people out there who have this idea that you're not trustworthy, that they don't like you for some reason. What is that about, in your opinion?
She followed up in a bewildered manner, “What’s inauthentic? What’s inauthentic mean?” Clinton agreed, “I don’t understand that.”
A partial transcript is below:
The View
4/5/16
11:01WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Study after study seems to find that voters are still biased against a female president, and it doesn't seem to be just men. Why do we think that is?
PAULA FARIS: Listen, I mean, I have my own theories. I think, too, growing up in a faith-based household, a very, I would say in some sense, a conservative, Christian household, I think there is this sect of Christians that have a hard time with women in leadership, whether that be elders or pastors. I know growing up, you know, it was taught at least to me that women weren't allowed to be in those positions and I evolved, you know, as a Christian. Now, I won't go to a church unless there are women in ministry, women in powerful positions.
JOY BEHAR: Isn't that true of most religions though? The Catholics, there are no female priests for example. In the orthodox Jewish faith, the women stay upstairs. The men stay downstairs. You know? So, religion certainly contributes to sexism. People listen to talk radio. Let me read you a couple of things I found about Hillary Clinton. This is from Rush Limbaugh. He says, “Will Americans want to watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis?”
FARIS: That’s not correct.
BEHAR: That's Rush Limbaugh. Too much Oxycontin. Tucker Carlson, Tucker Carlson says "There's just something about her that seems castrating." It's always about Mr. Happy, isn't it? I mean, these are comments that people hear on talk radio constantly being bombarded with sexist remarks, and it penetrates the brain.
...
11:21
BEHAR: I know you and I find you so warm and lovely and authentic. And yet there are people out there who have this idea that you're not trustworthy, that they don't like you for some reason. What is that about, in your opinion?
