'View' Hosts Bash 'Dr. Stupid' Cheney

The women of ABC’s The View quickly pounced on the Cheney shooting story. The Monday, February 13 edition featured co-host Joy Behar, who stated that the incident shifted Cheney’s image "from Dr. Evil to Dr. Stupid." She added, "So, in a way, it’s kind of like, hey, I’m not so evil anymore. I’m just dumb." Behar then finished her critique when she quipped, "It’s in the historical context of Dan Quayle."

Barbara Walters also participated in the segment, airing at 11:18AM EST. She wasn’t interested in the shooting accident, but preferred to convict Cheney for involvement in the CIA leak case:

"I mean, I think he’s possibly in more trouble because his chief of staff, Scooter Libby, who has been indicted for releasing information about a CIA agent, which is against the law, has said that it was his superiors, or superior, who said that he could do this. Who is his superior? Richard Cheney."

First off, Scooter Libby has been indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice. Walters incorrectly implied that this was specifically for releasing information. Secondly, note how quickly she convicted the Vice President. A few minutes later, perhaps regretting her comments, Walters backed off:

"I want to make clear that Scooter Libby has not named the Vice President. So let’s be fair to the Vice President."

A partial transcript follows:

The View 2/13/06 11:18AM EST

Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselback

Barbara Walters, Meredith Vieira

Barbara Walters: "Yeah, but does this really- what are the ramifications of this?"

Vieira: "Of shooting the guy in the face? He’s fine."

Walters: "So it’s an accident and the guy is fine."

Vieira: Definitely.

Walters: "I mean, I think he’s possibly in more trouble because his chief of staff, Scooter Libby, who has been indicted for releasing information about a CIA agent, which is against the law, has said that it was his superiors, or superior, who said that he could do this. Who is his superior? Richard Cheney. So that could be a big problem, but do you think the fact that, you know, we’re all laughing at the fact that the guy-"

Hasselback: "I know. Packing up that equipment takes a long time. I think it takes, like, two hours to get all your stuff together and get out there in your vest."

Behar: "It’s kind of a good image change for him. Cause he went from Dr. Evil to Dr. Stupid. So, in a way, it’s kind of like, hey, I’m not so evil anymore. I’m just dumb."

Hasselback: "It is important too, because I think the President also said, I mean, that these leaks have been going on for so long that I think the President said he would do the right thing. So we’ll wait and see."

Walters: "I want to make clear that Scooter Libby has not named the Vice President. So let’s be fair to the Vice President."