The View hosts took a break from talking about President Donald Trump to discuss another controversial figure in the political world.
Whoopi Goldberg kicked off the show’s Wednesday, June 10, episode by discussing Democrat Graham Platner‘s win in Maine’s Senate primary race, noting that his victory could help the state take control of the Senate. “But with new allegations of inappropriate behavior against him, and his former campaign manager publicly pulling her support for him, people are split on the baggage he’s bringing into this general election,” she stated.
The show went on to show clips of political figures expressing their opinions on Platner, including Trump’s former presidential senior counselor, Kellyanne Conway, who, in a recent interview, questioned whether Democrats are willing to look past his numerous allegations for the sake of gaining political power.
Goldberg, for her part, found Conway’s comments to be hypocritical given Trump’s own controversies. “Do you remember who you helped put in the White House? I mean, in terms of scandals, he’s boasted about grabbing women by their private parts. He’s been reported to have cheated on all three of his wives, allegedly avoiding paying income tax for years,” she stated. “He was taken to court for allegedly stiffing his vendors and his bankers. And he’s the only president in American history impeached twice for high crimes and misdemeanors. So, you can question, but you can’t question. You can’t question because you helped put him in there.”
Sara Haines agreed with Goldberg’s take, but argued that partisanship shouldn’t excuse bad behavior from candidates on either side. “We have literally witnessed some of the most disgusting humans rising in power, handed over by voters, and you are telling me we are going to put another person up and turn our faces at the human he’s shown us he is?” she stated, adding, “When you’ve shown me you have so much hate in your heart that you can literally wipe off full groups of people, and you name it, fill in the blank, he has.”
Haines went on to criticize Platner’s controversies, which include allegations of sexual misconduct, having a tattoo of an antisemetic symbol, and making inappropriate comments about numerous groups, which he has denied. “All the things he’s shown us, and we’re gonna say, ‘Well, this time, because we might agree with his policies, we can turn our heads,’” Haines stated. “I cannot turn my head, and I hope other people would join me in that.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin said she has known the person accused of sexual misconduct for over a decade and stands by her claims. “Just because the guy in the White House doesn’t rise to the level of the character we wish that we would see in all our elected officials, if we then make that the standard, and we say nothing matters anymore, it is a race to the bottom,” she stated, adding that she would rather back Republican Susan Collins.
Sunny Hostin shared a different opinion. “I don’t think Republicans at this point can ask us to take the moral high ground. That is over at this point. That is over. I am sorry,” she told her co-hosts. “Democrats have always fallen in love, and Republicans have always fallen in line. It’s time for Democrats to stop that nonsense, our emotions on the side.”
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Hostin said that if she lived in Maine, she would “hold [her] nose and I would vote for Platner.” Guest host Sheryl Underwood shared Hostin’s hopes for a Democratic win, but said that the country is “messed up” for allowing such controversial figures to run for office in the first place.
Goldberg wrapped up the discussion by sharing her take on the matter. “For some reason, we always thought that our politicians were better than us. … They’re not. No, they’re not. They’re just as bad as all of us,” she stated. “So, we have to come to terms with that. And then, figure out how to say to them, ‘This behavior is abhorrent to us. It’s abhorrent, and we’re telling you we know. We’re telling you, and we’re watching you. But if you can’t correct this ship, then you can’t be here.’”
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