Wednesday morning’s episode of The View got a bit heated when the panel decided to weigh in on the Supreme Court’s controversial Hobby Lobby ruling. Liberal guest host and former CNN legal analyst, Sunny Hostin sought to inform the audience of the “scary” and “dangerous” decision made by the Supreme Court.
Curiously enough, Sherri Shepherd offered “another opinion” and stood by Hobby Lobby by attempting to explain the strongly-held religious beliefs of the company's owners. That's when Hostin, a former ABC World News Now anchor, erupted, “No. Sherri, you are so wrong on this!”
It was a rare side of Shepherd, but she explained to the audience that Hobby Lobby still “covers a majority of things for women.” Shepherd defended the company’s religious beliefs by stating that “If you don’t stand for something you’re gonna fall for anything!”
"Why can my employer tell me I can’t get an IUD?”, Hostin shot back. Shepherd, visibly agitated quipped, “Well then why don’t you run your own business?” The co-host seemed to completely understand the notion of standing up for one’s beliefs. But she was alone on this issue, the other panelists predictably hewing to the leftist feminist side of the controversy.
Moderator, Whoopi Goldberg asked if Hobby Lobby had issue with the morning after pill and Shepherd explained that “if you think you might have a baby and you take it and you’re gonna abort it.” Goldberg responded, “Who are you? You are my employer. You’re not my husband. You’re not my family.” Hostin agreed. Goldberg did make the reasonable point that a religious employer could explain what their insurance package covers, so the employee knows what they're signing on to.
The yelling match ended with McCarthy joking that, “It’s an arts and craft store. They can make their own contraceptives!”
The rare display by Shepherd deserves some applause as she accurately offered the other side of the Hobby Lobby decision.
The relevant portion is transcribed below:
ABC
The View
July 9, 2014
11:07 a.m. EasternWHOOPI GOLDBERG: I think it's kind of interesting. I do remember they did not -- they did not speak about the religious beliefs until it became about ObamaCare. I understand that's your religion. Isn't that something that someone should see when they on hire on to your job? You reserve the right religiously to decide for them what they’re going to do. They didn’t do it before.
SUNNY HOSTIN: What's so dangerous about this case, I hope everyone has looked at it and read it. What's so dangerous about this case is that the supreme court found - I’m putting my little legal hat on. I’m a lawyer - That a corporation that a corporation that has thousands of employees could actually be a person entitled to have religious beliefs because it's closely held family corporation.
JENNY MCCARTHY: Do you think it can be overturned?
HOSTIN: I don't think it can be overturned. This is a very scary decision and I hope everyone is listening because 90 percent of corporations are closely held. So this can effect every single person.
MCCARTHY: This isn’t a war on women like everyone is saying. It’s a war on Individual rights favoring corporations.
HOSTIN: But it is a women’s issue
SHERRI SHEPHERD: But first of all, Hobby Lobby, yes they were covering this. They weren’t aware of all - because they cover like out of 20 methods, they cover about 17. Three were taken out.
HOSTIN: It’s four. Four were taken out.
SHEPHERD: Four were taken out, so they still cover a majority of things for women. So, they didn't know they were covering something. Their religious beliefs say, birth begins at conception. So if it goes against their religion and their belief and it’s their company why should be forced to cover something -- If you don't stand for something, you’re gonna fall for anything.
HOSTIN: No. Sherri, you are so wrong about this.
SHEPHERD: But it’s their company. It goes against their belief. I’m just giving another opinion.
GOLDBERG: I feel a this is for what it's worth, if I come to apply to your company. I now want to know all the stuff that you believe in and whether you can accept that I'm going to do the job that you're hiring me to do. But I may not follow your religious beliefs.
SHEPHERD: Well then why don’t you run your own business and make your own money? This is a corporation -- You just want us all to agree? I'm giving another opinion. Okay? Good grief. Before y’all jump on me! Hobby Lobby said they wanted to form their own
business, they work hard. This is their company. It's their belief, you're telling me I can't -- I don't want to support something that goes against what I believe in.GOLDBERG: But – but what – this is the thing, is it the fact that you don’t like the morning after pill? Which part –
SHEPHERD: Because the morning after pill is if you think you might have a baby and you take it and you’re gonna abort it
HOSTIN: They believe it’s an abortive method.
GOLDBERG: Who are you? You are my employer. You’re not my husband. You’re not my family. I understand what you’re saying, but Sherri – this apparently dose not seem to be – this only seems to be this one gentlemen’s opinion and I just feel like if you’re gonna do this you need to let every woman know what your thought process is gonna be.
MCCARTHY: Considering its an arts and crafts store, they can make their own contraception.
