Barbara Walters on Michael Moore's 'Sicko': 'I Think Everybody Should See It'

Barbara Walters, who plays an objective journalist on TV, loves to offer her ringing endorsements for left wing films. About a year ago, in June of 2006, Walters, upon interviewing Al Gore, asserted "it’s very important to see [‘An Inconvenient Truth’]." On the June 19, 2007 edition of "The View" Walters spoke with Michael Moore and again endorsed his new socialist advocating film "Sicko."

"A lot of the film is about, is about the insurance companies and the condemnation of them. I just have to say, I don't usually give opinions, but whatever you're Republican or Democrat or whatever you are, this is an amazing film. I thought it was -- I think everybody should see it. When it premiered last night, you got a standing ovation. That's unusual for you. Everybody loved you."

As expected, "The View" was more balanced than usual with conservative activist Star Parker alongside Elisabeth Hasselbeck. However, that did not stop Walters from asserting her authority over the guest co-host. Through the course of the Michael Moore interview, Walters along with Joy Behar, cut off Parker in a fashion similar to how Rosie O’Donnell treated Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

WALTERS (TO STAR PARKER): Excuse me, can I just ask my question? I know we, we promised each other that we would try to each one get a question

STAR PARKER: That’s true.

WALTERS: Okay, fine (looking pack to Parker)

PARKER: (laughing)

[...]

PARKER: Thank you. I get to ask my question, because, you know, it's a real complicated issue. Because I did watch the film and I thought about the points that you were making. It's so personal. But my question is about the socialized medicine part going into other countries to decide it. But I want to preface it with okay, what we have in our country now, you know, you mentioned the 47 million that our uninsured. That down the households, that's about ten percent of Americans. Ten percent have no insurance. Then you have about ten percent that are like people like myself, who go and buy their insurance on the open market. And there are complications there, of course, because I can’t buy across state lines--

JOY BEHAR: What's your question?

WALTERS: This has to do with socialized medicine. That’s what you’re talking about.

PARKER: I'm getting to it. Now, there’s two other segments. 80 percent of Americans have their employer buys their insurance for them. And that's the ones where you're talking HMO’s. They have complications because a third party is paying the bill.

WALTERS: Star, darling, would you ask your question?

PARKER: Socialized medicine, the other half. I lived in that. I lived on welfare. That other half, 50 percent of that group the government already pays for. My question is, why would you go to a foreign country, you know you talk about --

BEHAR: Got the question.