Courage: Barry Manilow Afraid to Appear on 'The View' With Hasselbeck

By Richard Newcomb | September 17, 2007 | 14:25

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Barry Manilow epitomizes the liberal reaction to being forced to share a stage with someone with whom he disagrees- instant flight! Manilow is apparently cancelling his scheduled appearance on the mostly-liberal gabfest show 'The View' because new host Elizabeth Hasselbeck is a conservative. According to TMZ, Manilow said of Hasselbeck,

In an exclusive statement to TMZ, Barry says, "I strongly disagree with her views. I think she's dangerous and offensive. I will not be on the same stage as her."

So it seems that is is perfectly acceptable for liberals and/or Democrats to only go where their views will not be challenged, isn't it, Barry? I seem to recall the major Democratic candidates for President refusing to appear in a Fox-sponsored debate because they consider Fox 'right-wing'. I suspect that the real reason was that they might actually have to answeer questions that are not softballs about how terrible George W. Bush is and how unfeeling/corrupt/warmongering/[insert your preferred criticism here] the Republicans are. It seems to be a liberal failing to be unable to handle a frank exchange of disagreeing viewpoints. Maybe it is because they are so used to having a liberal echo chamber in the mainstream media?

However, if a Republican were to refuse to go on, say CNN due to the left-wing viewpoints espoused by so many of CNN's reporters and talking heads, the liberal media would scream. It seems that liberals and the media want complete freedom to say whatever they wish without any criticism, no matter how offensive or untrue, but cannot grant that privilege to anyone with whom they disagree. Remind me again about liberal support of free speech? It seems that only they and those who agree with them are entitled to free speech- anyone who might be *gasp* a conservative is not granted that right. I'm wondering when the media will comment on the one-sided nature of this approach to free speech, as well as denigrate Manilow's cowardice as he surely deserves. I won't hold my breath.

Cross-posted at StoneHeads.