It’s good to be a Democrat running for president on ABC's The View. The combative, liberal women are prone to interrupt and attack if a Republican presidential candidate comes on. But Joe Biden appeared on Tuesday for a friendly, gushing interview that lasted 24 minutes and 41 seconds. He faced almost no tough questions and talked for minutes on end without an interruption.
Co-host Sunny Hostin actually thanked the presumptive Democratic nominee at one point, encouraging him to hammer Republican Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus. Biden then talked, uninterrupted, for two and half minutes:
Vice President Biden, This is Sunny. You said that Trump has neglected, minimized and lied about the virus. I completely agree with that. And now you are doing daily briefings on the virus from your home in Delaware. I thank you for that. Is this to counter the misinformation that Trump is putting out that you’ve referenced before?
Co-host Whoopi Goldberg offered up her version of “How you holding up, champ” with this attempt at a question:
There are more than 46,000 cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. and a third of the country is in some form of lockdown. How are you doing and what are you doing to get through your lockdown?
Later, Goldberg tossed Biden this softball: “What are the three first things you would do if you were president right now that would specifically help Americans?” He proceeded to talk, uninterrupted, for 3 minutes and 18 seconds.
Token conservative Meghan McCain wasn’t on the show on Tuesday. All of this is quite different from when a GOP candidate appears on the show. In fall of 2008, Meghan’s father stopped by. Goldberg asked the Republican presidential candidate if she should worry about a return to slavery.
Yes, she really did: “Did you say you wanted strict constitutionalists? Should I worry about being a slave? A return to slavery?”
Now, when a Democrat ISN’T running for president, they sometimes get rougher treatment. In 2009, co-host Joy Behar bashed Biden for being part of the incompetent Obama response to swine flu. She mocked, “Joe Biden doesn’t remember he’s the Vice President sometimes. He thinks he’s playing card games with his friends in Atlantic City. I mean, I like the guy but I think that he doesn’t realize that he is number two…”
Naturally, that didn’t come up on Tuesday.
Here's the one attempt at a mildly tough question. It came from Hostin:
Mr. Vice President, this is Sunny again. Republicans have been reluctant to criticize the President’s initial response to the virus. What do you say to Americans who feel that Democrats are, in a way, politicizing the issue and we should be standing behind the President because this is an American problem?
A partial transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more.
ABC's The View
03/24/2020WHOOPI GOLDBERG: There are more than 46,000 cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. and a third of the country is in some form of lockdown. How are you doing and what are you doing to get through your lockdown?
(....)
GOLDBERG: Let me put it to you. Every day we’re being told different things from different people and understandably people are uneasy. What is the number one thing you’re most concerned about and what do you want to tell the American people?
(....)
SARA HAINES: Vice President Biden, this is Sara Haines. In Hot Topics, we talked about Trump saying the government would reassess the recommended period for keeping businesses shut and people at home. Are you at all concerned that we can’t let the cure be worse than the problem itself?
(....)
SUNNY HOSTIN: Vice President Biden, This is Sunny. You said that Trump has neglected, minimized and lied about the virus. I completely agree with that. And now you are doing daily briefings on the virus from your home in Delaware. I thank you for that. Is this to counter the misinformation that Trump is putting out that you’ve referenced before? [Biden talks for 2 and a half minutes.]
(....)
SARA HAINES: Saturday night, you logged into a social distancing hosted by DJ D Nice. Our own Sunny was there as well. Now, is this social distancing at it best?
(....)
HAINES: I want to ask you about campaigning in the age of corona. You can’t hold events or do big rallies. You can’t shake people’s hands. How worried are you about losing those personal connections in this new world. And what will virtual campaigning look like?
(....)
WHOOPI GOLBERG: The last time you were on the show was after Iowa and New Hampshire. And the naysayers were like, “Oh, Joe. Yes, it’s all done. Doom and gloom.” And we did suggest to people that they take the time and let it play out. So, when it was dark and doom and gloom, what kept you bolstered? What kept you going?
(....)
GOLDBERG: What are the three first things you would do if you were president right now that would specifically help Americans? [Biden talks for 3 minutes and 18 seconds.]
(....)
HOSTIN: Mr. Vice President, this is Sunny again. Republicans have been reluctant to criticize the President’s initial response to the virus. What do you say to Americans who feel that Democrats are, in a way, politicizing the issue and we should be standing behind the President because this is an American problem? [Talks for 2 minutes.]
(....)
GOLDBERG: We have heard you commit to picking a woman for the ticket. I have told people endlessly that I've turned it down and they should stop asking me. But do you have a short list… Is there a short list of women you can talk to us about that maybe you'll start vetting soon?
(....)
SUNNY HOSTIN: Mr. Vice president, speaking about lawyers, you said that you would pick a black woman for the Supreme Court and I was thrilled at that announcement. Who stands out to you?
