On The Huffington Post, blogger Beth Arnold asks the question "Is Elisabeth Hasselbeck Too Dumb to Be on The View?" Certainly, many would wonder if this is some sort of rhetorical question, considering intellectuals like Joy Behar wondering if Tim Johnson’s brain hemorrhage was a Republican conspiracy, and so on. But Arnold is serious.
When Hasselbeck announced she would introduce Sarah Palin at a campaign rally, she was apparently declaring she was as ditzy-dumb as Palin, and Paris Hilton. It demonstrated "the lack of her own curiosity and intellectual dynamism," unlike Arnold, whose bio-line boasts that her lively, dynamic brain lives and works in Paris:
I'd missed the Survivor show on which Ms. Hasselbeck was a contestant. Thank God. It would not have made feel any better about her replacing dynamic Lisa Ling on this television show I used to love, to discover Ms. Hasselbeck became a celebrity because she ate worms. And as the American dream works these days -- for example, Paris Hilton -- she became a bigger celebrity because she was a celebrity. The blondes even look alike. Do they have similar views? Oddly enough, with Ms. Hilton's past antics, it would be odd to think of her as having a higher IQ than anyone, but Ms. Hasselbeck graduated from college and had a job before she reached the heights of stardom by grubbing for survival and voting people off her island.
So Barbara Walters plucked her out of her new career of doing things like judging Miss Teen USA to sit with the ladies who had lots to say and spout off her deadly and dull conservative views. As my husband says, it makes for spirited conversation on the show -- and skyrocketed the ratings with Ms. Hasselbeck's discussions with Rosie O'Donnell.
But if The View is truly like women friends getting together to chat, discuss, dish -- whatever you want to call it -- Ms. Hasselbeck wouldn't be included, because that group of women wouldn't be friends.
Arnold is clearly and arrogantly stating that The View was a better show when there weren’t any conservatives on it, since conservatism and intellectual dynamism-slash-curiosity are apparently opposites. Notch that as another endorsement for the Fairness Doctrine in the Age of Obama. But it continued:
In this vigorous political season, has Ms. Hasselbeck gone too far? With her latest announcement that she'll be campaigning with and for Sarah Palin -- and that is an honor -- does this, unfortunately, demonstrate the lack of her own curiosity and intellectual dynamism. Has it become something her colleagues on The View and the rest of us can no longer ignore?
Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum will be together this weekend, blonde and brunette, no doubt wearing tight dresses. I only hope they'll also wear matching outfits to ratchet up the ratings with the Sarah Palin look.
Arnold might think that a more dignified method for stars of The View to behave in campaign season is to unload an X-rated "comedy" routine about keeping "bush" in your pants "instead of in the White House."
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
People like this just
October 24, 2008 - 11:31 ET by SmartypantsPeople like this just believe the political spectrum starts on the left and moves left from there.
I some what agree with
October 24, 2008 - 11:36 ET by smoto66I some what agree with her . Hasselbeck is to classy to be on that show! tweedle dee anb dum are Behar and whoopi they have passed some of the stupidest remarks ive ever herd on t.v.
What the...
October 24, 2008 - 11:53 ET by KC BeachWhat is it with these liberal women spewing their hateful rhetoric at OTHER women who simply disagree. Feminism isn't about advancing women's rights - it's about furthering the liberal agenda.
What did George Carlin call feminists like Joy?
cum catchers!
If Elizabeth had any self-respect and sense of dignity
October 24, 2008 - 11:54 ET by Paul AtreidesShe would leave that show. Those squawkboxes are not her friends, never were her friends, and never will be her friends.
"...Ms. Hasselbeck became a
October 24, 2008 - 11:39 ET by AllRighty"...Ms. Hasselbeck became a celebrity because she ate worms."
Elizabeth won't, then, have a problem handling ignorant Libbies.
"Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum will be together this weekend, blonde and brunette, no doubt wearing tight dresses."
Sounds like Beth the Elitist Oinker Arnold is a little jealous. Liberal women always use this line of ammunition. Just goes to show ya how much ignorance is liberally passed around...
"So has Elisabeth Hasselbeck finally revealed too much? Is she too dumb to be on 'The View?'"
I would say there is a hint of validity to this, in a way. What conservative, pretty, intelligent woman really wants to hang around and chat with a bunch of old, shrieky, jaded, liberal women?
OMG....Arnold is impressed
October 24, 2008 - 11:41 ET by motherbeltOMG....Arnold is impressed by the intellect of those who ride the short bus of TV talk shows?????
I am speechless.
Well,
October 24, 2008 - 12:13 ET by Paul AtreidesShe is rant-, er, writing for The Poofington Host. I think the first qualification they ask for there is a list of all of the anti-psychotic medications that the author is taking.
If that's not enough, two words: ARIANNA HUFFINGTON
Fortunately for us...
October 24, 2008 - 11:53 ET by The DistributistFortunately for the U.S. the man with two first names, Beth Arnold, has already left the country to live in, er, infest Paris. From her bio:
In a previous life, Arnold earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) and was
a therapist in a community mental health center as well as a
consultant.
I guess she wasn't smart enough to become a community organizer.
"The decay of society is praised by artists as the decay of a corpse
is praised by worms." -GKC
What a stupid article (on
October 24, 2008 - 11:53 ET by balboaWhat a stupid article (on HuffPo, not NB). Hasselbeck is no member of mensa, but she's not stupid. Being on this show has likely upped her knowledge because she has had to familiarize herself more with issues.
Just a guess
October 24, 2008 - 11:55 ET by Paul Atreidesbut, I think that Elizabeth has a hard time expressing herself, especially knowing that she has to talk over three other people while doing it.
I don't think she has a hard
October 24, 2008 - 14:55 ET by SmartypantsI don't think she has a hard time expressing herself in general. When you hear her in other venues, she comes across as fairly intelligent and well-informed. It is simply hard for anybody to overcome THREE or FOUR other people who are screaming over your every sentence and who will not let you finish a thought. Even Rush Limaugh would have trouble dealing with that madness.
Too stupid for The View
October 24, 2008 - 11:57 ET by ArminiusFor anyone who has watched The View, it should be obvious that no one is too stupid to be on that program.
If Liberals are so smart,
October 24, 2008 - 11:59 ET by mattmIf Liberals are so smart, why are they Liberals?
matt... You
October 24, 2008 - 12:07 ET by Clear thinkermatt...
You singlehandedly confused the hell out of millions of liberals with just one question. Congrats!
Sarah Palin And Her Happy High-Profile Warrior
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
I love Elizabeth!
October 24, 2008 - 13:08 ET by MNotaroElizabeth is too smart and intelligent for that show--she can barely get a word in, and when she does, she is cut off, and talked over. I love how she never backs down! She never backs down when being attacked over and over and over again! I would hate to see her leave though...then we would be stuck listening to a bunch of left wing liberal illuminati spewing their retarded BS at us!
OR!
October 24, 2008 - 14:20 ET by HelenSOr, you'd finally have no reason whatsoever to watch the V-tripe! Woohoo, FREEDOM!
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." - Paul (Rom. 13:1)
I can't believe I'm doing this
October 24, 2008 - 13:49 ET by BlondeBut I'm going to defend Paris Hilton. She's about as dumb as a fox. She's parlayed her celebrity, and her image, into multi-million dollar businesses. Her ditzy blonde act is just that....a routine. She's no dummy (even though she plays one).
As for Elizabeth Hasselbeck, she's not Laura Ingraham, but look at the disadvantages she has to face on a daily basis....three (or four, depending on the guest) vicious, stupid, kool-aid drinking liberals. Elizabeth does just fine, thank you very much.
I'm catching the green-eyed goddess vibe here. Anybody care to guess what Beth Arnold actually looks like? I'm guessing a cross between Jeanine Garofolo and Cindy Sheehan....but that's just me.
In his own words (19 seconds): This man is qualified to be VP?
Is it even POSSIBLE...
October 24, 2008 - 14:27 ET by Secret Conservative...to be too stupid to be on The View???
I'm not a big fan of Elizabeth Hasselback, and if it had been me I would have RUN to FOXNews when I had the chance. The fact that she decided to stay is evidence of her lack of savvy. But she is still not in the same league as the rest of the shrews on that program - and that is a compliment. I really don't understand why they all keep insisting they are "such good friends" when they are all such nasty people!!!
SC... I think their next
October 24, 2008 - 14:35 ET by bigtimerSC...
I think their next guest should be ........ he'd fit right in.
Make sure and listen to all of this bunk....sad.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Arnold must be really
October 24, 2008 - 15:10 ET by XJ.JonArnold must be really ugly. You can detect her jealousy of Hasselbeck throughout the whole article. I think it is so ridiculously sad, that it is absolutely hilarious.
Hasselbeck, Jeri Thompson, and Sarah Palin
October 24, 2008 - 22:38 ET by pbthinkerDoes anyone else think that would be a great team? I'd still bet the press would trash them, but they've trashed them all, at one time or another, anyway. Hell, they could add Greta to this bunch and make it a quartet.
Democrats: Stuck on Stupid since 2000.
»→ pbthinker
October 24, 2008 - 22:50 ET by Cool ArrowAdd Kirsten Powers, and you might see some honest Liberal -vs- Conservative discussion. Without the fire never melted steel nonsense.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
kirsten powers
October 24, 2008 - 22:59 ET by porpoiseboyyeah but the thing about her ( besides being a hottie ) is that twice in the last two days i have heard her admit that the media is totally in the tank for obama and treats the conservatives unfairly, but she's still voting for bho. a libs a lib. to say you acknowledge that there is a complete unfairness and inbalance in the field you work in, but you are still on that side...i dunno, takes a great willingness to put politics b4 principles...hard to respect that if you really think about it. ( but i do wish hannity would replace colmes with her ) :-)
Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
I know porpoise
October 24, 2008 - 23:09 ET by Cool ArrowBut I'd just like to see the level of discussion raised at this point.
It's the straight ticket politicians make me sick. Lieberman's a loser on a lot of issues, but he will at least listen to reason.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Beth Arnold: Blondes is glass houses shouldn't throw bottles
October 25, 2008 - 00:28 ET by Lame CherryBeth Arnold is quaintly amusing as she actually is attempting to show she is more intelligent than Elizabeth Hasselbeck, but the problem is she writes in a style equal to Virginia Kelly (Bill Clinton's mother).
Intelligence scale such as William F. Buckley is intelligent in construction, word useage and verse. If one examines Mrs. Arnold her one statement for example of, "So Barbara Walters plucked her out....." is so boorishly vernacular one expects to hear the hogs squealing as she toots the horn telling them mama is home.
It is one thing to write as I do for a myriad of groundses for the purposes of moving the pieces around, but it is another when Mrs. Arnold snuffing things French snobisme to conclude the truffles her nose roots out are more adept fungus when her l'odeur est l'affaiblissement de forêt only has her writing in liberal rags as the affirmative action token ugly girl.
le tisk Beth Arnold de tisk, sont nous se cachant toujours derrière
notre intelligence quand nous n'en avons aucun et les jolies filles
sont encore jolies.
PS: Bethy make sure you don't ask your husband which of you three he would rather be with as you would not like the answer due to the fact you can put the dress on but you are still searching for the Lady in the room.
You are not that smart honey to be ill mannered and you are too ugly to play cute, inside and out.
God bless you Beth Arnold.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
cherry
October 25, 2008 - 00:38 ET by porpoiseboypardon MY french...but i have no fv*kin' idea what you just said...but man...sniff'....it was beautiful!!
Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
porpoiseboy
October 25, 2008 - 00:49 ET by RESTLESS 1Lame can be hard to understand at first, but if you cut through it, he makes sense. He doesn't respond to posts, so responding to his is futile.
Do like I do, read the first paragraph or two and decide if you want to proceed. If you can get throught the typos (Lord knows I've gone through my past posts, and I have no idea what I was saying sometimes), you will find that a lot of what he says is true.
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
r1
October 25, 2008 - 00:57 ET by porpoiseboysorry ....i probably spent too much time trying to be cute to get my point across. i was serious. i really liked the part i understood. and agreed with it. i was just expressing my jealousy over not being nearly an equal when comes to writing prose. shucks, it was so pretty it was almost poetic.
cheerio pb+
Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.