'View' Shocker: Co-Hosts Discuss Sharpton's Anti-Mormon Remarks

Despite "The View’s" left wing slant, the co-hosts, as previously reported, are no fans of Al Sharpton. The ladies discussed the reverend’s latest gaffe implicitly insulting Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith. Joy Behar first mentioned the topic, quoting his inflammatory statement: "those of us who really believe in God will defeat Romney for the White House." Behar did note that Sharpton is now backtracking from the comment.

Guest co-host Marie Osmond, a Mormon, felt Romney’s response was "gracious," and even took a shot at Sharpton.

"Al didn't have a beautiful past himself, so I don’t think that he should necessarily make these statements, you know."

The relevant transcript is below.

JOY BEHAR: Al Sharpton’s in trouble with the Mormons, with Mitt Romney. Do you know about this? Because you’re a Mormon. I thought we’d talk about it.

MARIE OSMOND: Yeah, I'm a Mormon, go ahead and ask me.

BEHAR: He was in a, he was in a, you know, a conference of some sort, a debate with Christopher Hitchens, who is a very well known writer and I believe he’s an atheist.

ELISABETH HASSELBECK: He’s an atheist.

BEHAR: Christopher Hitchens, and so Sharpton-

ROSIE O’DONNELL: He wrote some negative books about Mother Theresa which I just think is funny.

BEHAR: She wasn't all that.

O’DONNELL: Yeah, that’s what he said yeah.

OSMOND: Now I know she's drunk.

BEHAR: I'm quoting him, I’m quoting him.

O’DONNELL: Quoting him. Go ahead, go. What did Al say?

BEHAR: Okay, Al Sharpton, so He said in a debate, he said: "those of us who believe in God-"

HASSELBECK: He said "really believe in God" I think.

BEHAR: "-who really believe in God" -that’s right- "will defeat Romney for the White House."

O’DONNELL: Say it again, say it again.

BEHAR: "Those of us who really believe in God will defeat Romney for the White House," Al Sharpton said. So, so he now is back tracking on that and saying what he meant was people who believe in God as opposed to atheists, not to Mormons.

[...]

OSMOND: I think, I think that the Mormons' the Jews were the only people that had extermination orders against them because of their beliefs. But, but, the point is, going back to Mitt, is, you know, I think that everybody should study the candidates. I think that Mitt's response was gracious after what was said.

BEHAR: He said it could be construed as a bigoted remark.

HASSELBECK: He said he didn't think he was a bigoted man -- a bigot himself, but the concept [unintelligible]

OSMOND: Al didn't have a beautiful past himself, so I don’t think that he should necessarily make these statements, you know.