On Monday's The View on ABC, co-host Whoopi Goldberg labeled former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and other Republicans as "bigots" and, as she addressed them, charged that "[you] let your bigotry show first and foremost" while Barack Obama was President.
As if Republicans only just started criticizing Democrats when Obama was elected, Whoopi claimed that Republicans could not "[get] over the fact that a black man became President."
The liberal host began her rant after the group discussed a recent comment by liberal CNN political commentator Paul Begala, who accused President Donald Trump of being a "moral midget" and a "needy little baby" in response to the President's Saturday speech. Santorum -- who is currently a CNN political commentator -- had given a response to Begala which was read out loud by Goldberg:
Rick Santorum said, well, you know, "Barack Obama deeply offended me. He deeply offended the people in the crowd because he spoke down to them. He didn't try to elevate them. He was morally condescending, calling people bigots and racists, people of faith, calling them out for their religious beliefs. You don't know how agitated that base got with Barack Obama."
As The View co-host then began her commentary, she listed several examples of individual Republicans lambasting President Obama over the years -- sometimes with incendiary language -- as if Santorum and other GOPers generally were responsible for everything said by any individual Republican:
So, Rick, honey, let me give you some food for thought. The Republicans and the conservatives sort of started on the day after Barack got elected constantly questioning him about his birth certificate, calling him a Muslim and repeated using his middle name "Hussein," saying he's not qualified to be President, just a community organizer.
Rep. Joe Wilson interrupting his State of the Union shouting, "You lie!" Comparing him to a tar baby, Rep. Doug Lamborn. "This animal we call President," Florida Senate candidate Carlos Beruff, "the most ignorant President in history," Donald Trump. And "the most successful food stamp President in American history."
Whoopi then began generalizing about Republicans being "bigots" as her commentary continued:
You want to talk about insulting, sir, and name-calling? This, you want to talk about being President of the United States? Y'all started because, you know what, if you had just gotten over the fact that a black man became President and didn't let your bigotry show first and foremost, we would have just thought you didn't like his policies. But you let your bigotry show. So when we call bigots out, know that we're just as insulted.
Addressing former Senator Santorum, The View co-host concluded:
We're just as insulted. And when a guy starts out the campaign by saying, you know, Mexicans are rapists and murderers, it kind of shoots a volley into the air that makes people say, you know, "Maybe he's a little small-minded." So, Rick Santorum, that's what I say to you. We'll be right back.
