Bill O'Reilly on 'The View' Becomes Often Surreal, Bizarre

Bill O'Reilly, the pugnacious radio and TV personality, was on The View recently. O'Reilly had a great time mocking the ladies on The View, especially Joy Behar, and making controversial statements, such as calling Barack Obama a "communist."

The View is a kind of part political gab fest/part TV freak show. It is most famous when somebody says something outrageous on it, such as when Whoopie Goldberg openly feared the return of slavery or any time Rosie O'Donnell was on. Elisabeth Hasselbeck is usually a voice of reason, but hers is a lonely voice as she is outnumbered by her far left co-hosts.

Joy Behar maintains that The View is a serious, news making program since it gets mentioned in the New York Times often. Of course Ms. Behar may be unaware of how far into the tabloid the Times has descended in recent years, as evidence the hit piece published recently on Cindy McCain.

The View is one of those shows that proves that there is nothing on television so silly and occasionally so repugnant that someone will not want to be on it, to get face time on TV, to push a new book or album or something or, in the case of Bill O'Reilly, because they just like to fight.

And fight Bill O'Reilly did. Besides calling Barack Obama a communist, which he later modified to "socialist", he mocked Joy Behar, suggesting that someone with her first name should be happier than she is and then called her a "kool aid drinker." O'Reilly accused Keith Olberman, the far left news anchor on MSNBC, of being jealous. O'Reilly, to show his even-handedness, even took a gentle shot at Sarah Palin and referenced the current wardrobe kerfuffle.

Joy Behar, with the help of Barbara Walter, gave as good as she got. She accused O'Reilly of drinking kool aid for George W. Bush, which he denied. She said that she "disliked" Bill O'Reilly and didn't believe anything he said. Showing O'Reilly's picture as a child, Joy Behar suggested that is what the devil will look like when he comes.

Barbara Walters helped things out by showing a clip of Bill O'Reilly's recent screaming match with Congressman Barney Frank. The idea was to suggest that Bill O'Reilly is often out of control. Mind, most people seeing and hearing Barney Frank too much tend to want to scream as well.

It looked like everyone had fun with Bill O'Reilly's appearance on The View. And fun always makes for good television, even if it sometimes descends into the surreal and bizarre.

Sources: Bill O'Reilly On "The View": Obama A "Communist," Olbermann Is "Jealous," Joy Calls Him "Devil", The Huffington Post, October 22nd, 2008

John McCain on "The View", Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, September 12th, 2008

Bill O'Reilly and Barney Frank Have Screaming Match on O'Reilly Factor. Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, October 3rd, 2008