In Left-wing Panel on ABC, Former Cheers Star Kirstie Alley Speaks Up as Voice of the Right

A mostly left-wing panel on Friday's Good Morning America forced former Cheers star Kirstie Alley into the role of speaking for the right. Liberal journalist George Stephanopoulos moderated a health care discussion with Democratic operative Donna Brazile and People magazine editor Larry Hackett. Alley surprised the group by opposing Barack Obama's plan for government-run health care. [Video available here. Audio available here.]

Stephanopoulos casually asked the ex-sitcom star, "Are you rooting for this to pass?" After Alley firmly replied, "No," the surprised host blurted, "No? Why not?" The actress explained, "Because, we don't have one trillion dollars! We can pretend like we do. But, we're in this huge debt and we don't have a trillion dollars." Alley continued, "You know, I think that I would rather have a tax credit for being well and sort of rewarded for being well."

Stephanopoulos quickly recovered and moved into his default mode, defending the White House: "Actually, some of that, I think there are credits there to encourage wellness inside the bill."

Is this ABC's idea of balance? Current and former Democratic operatives Stephanopoulos and Brazile versus the star of Veronica's Closet? (Additionally, Hackett's People magazine often publishes fawning coverage of the Obamas.)

A partial transcript of the March 19 segment, which aired at 7:37am EDT, follows:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you rooting for this to pass?

KIRSTIE ALLEY: No.

STEPHANOPOULOS [Surprised]: No? Why not?

ALLEY: No. Because, we don't have one trillion dollars! We can pretend like we do. But, we're in this huge debt and we don't have a trillion dollars. You know- You try to come up with solutions, just the mom sitting at home, thinking about it. You know, I think that I would rather have a tax credit for being well and sort of rewarded for being well. Because I don't see these doctors visits and all this the medical as the solution to health anyway.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Actually, some of that, I think there are credits there to encourage wellness inside the bill. But it's just a small piece of it.

ALLEY: Let's have it be a big piece. We don't have $1 trillion. So, why are we pretending like we do?