Rosie Versus Elisabeth: The Battle for The View

After nine months of mini-eruptions, the political views of Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck exploded on television screen on the May 23^rd broadcast of The View. Two polar opposite, strong-willed women, Rosie and Elisabeth found themselves confronting their tensions relationship as well as the views that divide them along party lines. While the other regular host, Joy Behar failingly tried to serve as referee, the heated discussion last over five minutes, pushing the show beyond its normal commercial break limits.

Begun in 1997 as the brainchild of Barbara Walters, The View has been a catalyst for discussion and debate over a plethora of topics. While the cast has changed intermittedly over the years, the core of the show has remained the same. That core being Barbara Walters and her quest to be more journalistic than sensationalist. This goal seemed to have been compromised when in looking for a replacement for departing cohost Meredith Viera, Ms. Walters selected Rosie O'Donnell. Rosie who has had tremendous television, film, and comedic success is recognized not only for her humor as well as her extreme views. Many were curious of how she would blend into the nonconfrontational style of forum The View has made itself out to be.

For the first ten years, Joy Behar was as dramatic and off-the-cuff as the show was willing to be. An established comedienne, Joy made the show enjoyable, rarely following the typical stream of thought and bringing a pulse that was missing with the journalists who commanded so much of the discussion.

On the recent broadcast, the discussion became heated when Joy Behar shared a series of truths about the presidency of George Bush. Not a Bush supporter, Ms. Behar expressed her frustration at Al Gore choosing to focus on global warming than running for the presidency. In the midst of her diatribe, an irritated Elisabeth Hasselbeck tried to put the breaks on the Bush slamming. In what has become the norm, Elisabeth was overmatched as Joy and Rosie teamed up on the war in Iraq and what they call the worst president in American history, President Bush.

The discussion took a decidedly different tone when Rosie, shied away from the discussion having been ridiculed and lambasted on conservative radio and tv over the weekend for a comment she made last week. And whereas one would have thought her pain came from being misrepresented, she was more hurt and offended that her friend Elisabeth had not come to her rescue to defend her and her opinion,

In what has become a daily part of the show, Rosie and Elisabeth were sparring last week about the war in Iraq, when a listener could have misinterpreted Rosie's comments to mean that she saw the U.S. troops as terrorists. When the concept hit the airwaves, a tidal wave ensued and Rosie was flooded with venom for such a statement. A staunch supporter of the troops and an equally staunch despiser of the war, Rosie felt betrayed by her friend who chose to be silent rather than come to her defense.

For whatever reason, Elisabeth's actions soured Rosie to the point that Wednesday's conversation was the perfect ingredients to get the volcano to erupt. On Monday's show, Elisabeth seemed to give Rosie the chance to explain herself. Something Rosie took light of, as if Rosie needed to receive permission to clarify her points.

Having been called cowardly, Elisabeth fought back criticizing Rosie for being a sensationalist and using hyperbolic statements rather than facts. This took the fight to another level as Elisabeth fought to defend herself and her actions while condemning the irresponsibility of Rosie O'Donnell.

This particular show was simply the lava rising to the top. It has been steaming for quite some time as anytime the war in Iraq or an issue that divides the country is mentioned and these two polar opposites defend their views not only to each other but to the nation. Elisabeth has oftentimes seemed so blind by her conservative views that she misses the forest for the trees. At the same time, Rosie seems so committed to the extremes of thought that she missed the same set of trees.

When the fight was over and the show went to commercial break a nation grasped for breath hoping the debate would continue. It did not, another battle without a winner. But neither side is worried. They both knew that in less than a month, Rosie will be departing her seat on the set, choosing not to renew her contract with the show. While at the same time, Elisabeth is a couple of months pregnant and will be taking some time off for her pregnancy. This volatile confrontation was probably the last spectacle for viewers to see. Rosie has promised to be mum on the political issues and to allow Elisabeth the chance to ratchet up the faucet on conservative dialog.

Looking back, this battle has very little to do with Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. These two women are a glaring simile for where we are as a country; a nation divided along views, not political parties.