An Open Letter to Barbara Walters
Dear Ms. Walters,
Although you probably do not know who I am, you have been a fixture in my life since about the time that my television habits changed from being mostly animated. I have always loved your interviews with world leaders and celebrities and often watched 20/20 as a teenager during the time you hosted it. It should go without saying (since I write for the blog Watching the View) that The View has been a staple for me for a long time. Because of this, and because I read (some parts of ) your memoir Audition, (As an aside, everyone who is going to read the book has already heard about it. Please stop plugging it. It is not just useless, but borders on obsessive), I know that one of the most important things to you is how others perceive you. Or, more correctly, how you perceive that others perceive you. For this reason, I thought it was important that I take a few moments to share with you the knowledge that I have obtained, to give you insight on what I, and many others, think of you now.
What first and foremost comes to mind is your falseness. While at one point I considered you to be (I think correctly) one of the most trusted people on television, now I really don’t believe anything you say. You have lied about Star Jones , Rosie O’Donnell, Donald Trump, and more, in some attempt to . . .what? Make sure people still like you? Make sure people don’t think badly of you? Now anytime you make a comment about The View, whether it be about the camaraderie of the hosts, how much you love a particular guest, or just how much gosh-darn fun you are all having, you might as well be trying to sell me a bridge somewhere — I’m not buying it.
Even more puzzling than the perpetuation of your unnecessary lies is your penchant for believing that your audience is made up of morons. I consider you to be a feminist, given your record of trail-blazing, so why do you hold such a low opinion of the (mostly) female viewers that your show garners? If my website is any indication (and I believe it is), your audience are intelligent and well-read and do not need to have current events explained to them like they are children. You can just start talking about that Jewish/Catholic wedding you went to without making sure to painstakingly explain to your audience what a yarmulke is. Trust me. They know. In fact, they probably know more about what is going on in the world than you do. By talking down to your audience, you are not educating them, you are aggravating them and turning them off. And, in turn, they are, in droves, turning your show off.
The biggest complaint that I have received from others about you and your role on The View is how out-of-touch you seem to be.* While some people might point to an awkward guest interview or your lack of knowledge about social media as evidence that you are past your prime, I always come back to one thing that I can point to that shows that you just don’t get what your audience wants. What is that one thing that is holding you back from making The View a modern, intelligent show for all kinds of women (and men)? Sex Surveys. Although you think that a hot topics segment is not complete without talking about the latest sex survey, we just don’t care. At all. While many of us may love sex (or not care for it for that matter), we don’t need to hear the results of another survey telling us that 1 in 10 women want to have sex on Tuesdays while their husband sings show tunes.
The whole thing is unnecessary and pointless and does not further any dialogue about anything important. Granted, some topics need to be less serious than terror attacks, but you can find fun, frivolous topics out there that do not involve a sex survey. (Really!) Anytime you refer to “all the letters” you get from your audience who says that they want you to talk more about sex, I don’t believe you. And then I wonder if they are from prison inmates, because the last time I was in a male prison, every television set had your show on. Hmm. I may be on to something there. However, since the advertisers are not really coveting the prisoner vote (not because they don’t matter, but because they cannot shop outside of the prison commissary and won‘t buy their products), I think you should can the sex surveys. Completely.
While you are at it, I think that the guy who wakes up at 4am to find you “hot” topics needs to be reassigned. I will happily take his place. You know where to find me.
Sincerely,
Winnie McCarthy
Watchingtheview.com
* I am not even going to get into the poor excuses for “fascinating” people that you have selected for this year‘s special, because I am holding out hope that your number one most fascinating person will be Barack Obama. If it is not, expect my diatribe on how un-fascinating your fascinating list is on Friday.
an open letter to Barbara Walters, Barbara Walters, The View
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
OMG!!! Winnie you took the words out of my mouth! And said it far better than I ever could! For a very long time, I have been bothered by BW’s falseness. I just wrote that she is in the final phase of “dancing as fast as she can” to build a full page obituary. Her focus is on her book and her lame “10 Most Fascinating People” interviews.
Well said, Winnie McCarthy!
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Winnie;
That so succinctly stated all that we have been feeling over the last year or so. I don’t sincerely think they have been looking at or reading any letters from any one. They haven’t responded to any of us who have written let alone take action.
I, too, grew up with Barbara Walters and have found her so disappointing lately.
Thank you for writing for all of us.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I “second” that emotion!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Thanks Winnie,
You’ve expressed yourself well. I think BW started off in charge of the show and little by little has lost control over it. I always thought the topics discussed seem to be what some men think women would like to talk about.
I think TPTB are mostly men and that may be the reason there has been such a decline in every aspect of the show. I agree that the audience is talked down to and they act as if women aren’t politically active or knowledgeable about world events.
When Palin and Clinton ran I didn’t make a big deal about it to my daughter, because I always believed that women are just as capable as men and if you work hard you can do whatever you choose to do. I never figured out why there was so much focus on women being able to run for high office. We all know that women are great at multitasking.
I think a show about women and for women should be dominated by women in front of and behind the scenes. Nothing against men, but that was the original concept of the show.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Barbara Walters has further cheapened herself by promoting her book at every opportunity. Writing a book about her sex life with many men and then hawking it on her own show is self-serving. Having Rush Limbaugh as one of her 10 Most Fascinating People even shocked me.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
This letter also expresses my views,also. You didn’t mention EH and her getting away with saying disrespectful things about Michelle Obama but it can be up to many of the rest of us to express our displeasure about that to ABC.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
That’s a great letter Winnie. I grew up watching and hearing about how Barbara paved the way for women. Watching her now and seeing how she operates, I wonder how many women can still feel the knife wound scars in their backs that Barbara made on her way to the top.
The way she behaves, the whole catty women/cater to the male atmosphere there is definitely not doing women any favors now.
More and more lately I think she acts off her rocker.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Good job Winnie…a very well written letter. Thank you for speaking for all of us here. Maybe this will get through, since I have contacted the show several times with complaints, but I don’t think they ever get passed on. This is a wake up call for BW, and if she doesn’t get it, then it’s time to move on. Kudos to you Winnie. Thanks for sharing.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
On a recent show, the Ladies were discussing what they would like to do, after they retire. During the conversation Barbara made a remark, that she would be leaving the show, “sooner than later”. I thought it was strange that none of us bloggers posted any remarks about that statement. I think it was the day that Whoopie disclosed she wanted to do another ambassadorship.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
The only thing you missed is their inconstancy with facts. There has been many times where they gave incorrect information as fact and it was never corrected.
Just like today, when Sherri was blaming the children for causing that teenager death… Sherri said the parent helped her child set up the account….. when actually the child helped the mother set up the account and caused the death. Elisabeth corrected her but I dont think Sherri understood.
If you get the job Winnie…. I could be your fact checker
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
WOW!! Winnie..
Fantastic.. you said EVERYthing I have been thinking.
Maybe Rosie was right when she screamed “you are a “F ” Liar” to BW!
All BW cared about during the Trump mess with Rosie was that “suddenly” the ratings went up.
BUT when Trump was threatening to sue for Rosie mistakenly saying Trump had gone bankrupt..BW “Saved herself”..
Here’s how I see BW now.
She is a SAD, old woman, sitting at home alone with her Cha Cha..
3 failed marriages, 3 miscarriages, 3 troubles with Women ( her daughter, Star and Rosie) and the TRUTH of being a total HYPOCRITE that she SAYS is FOR women when she was “the other woman”.
She has the guilt that she ruined a senator’s Life and Rosie’s time on the View ( now the truth seems to be out)
Joy, Bill and BW are TIRED and a shadow of their younger selves.. holding on to what WAS and is now fading rapidly with BORED audiences.
WG in her clothes for the garden, often acts the fool, finds every excuse to beat the racist drum..
BTW.. Up here in Canada we have NO African-Canadians.. just Canadians!
SS at 41 has hit the peak of her career and she is a “self-made” woman who has worked her way up to what now seems a dead duck Program..
She is a funny person, and one does wish her well with the challenges of raising a son and “hustling” to keep her comic career alive. She put her foot in her mouth very badly, thinking very naively that she could LIVE like a stand up comic saying anything to shock and hold an audience.
Maybe she has learned.. it’s up to her.
EH is going nowhere but back into her kitchen or wherever.. maybe working for the GOP..
She certainly won’t get many offers to go to any other program after the hatred she has created with her CRUEL and insensitive comments and Opinions. She’s the constant Party-pooper!!
JB is still a good comic, has realized how LUCKY she is to have a good Man standing beside her in her personal Life..
BW.. they call her “the First Lady of TV”..
maybe she should get out now.. while the excellence of her “Interviews” still gives her some form of Respect from the TV world.
Are there any CPR chances for this???
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Excellent letter Winnie. I agree with you whole-heartedly. It’s time Ms. Walters steps down from her throne and sits in her rocking chair. I didn’t read her book and have no desire to know with whom and how many times she has slept around.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
#9 Marilyn–
Barbara made a remark, that she would be leaving the show, “sooner than later”.
I took that to mean that she was old and would be leaving the show sooner than later because of her age.
#5 Diane10–
Barbara Walters has further cheapened herself by promoting her book at every opportunity.
That doesnt really bother me, like I have said before, I think it is a running gag…. they have people on all the time “hawking” their books…. personally I dont think she is comfortable with it, so they turned it into a running joke. IMO
Winnie–
What first and foremost comes to mind is your falseness
That is a great point…. we are all adults… we can deal with honesty…. we can deal with the show being taped….. did u notice that she said on today’s show that she had something else to do after the show on Friday….. isnt all Friday shows recorded??
Even more puzzling than the perpetuation of your unnecessary lies is your penchant for believing that your audience is made up of morons.
I might have thought that about some of the people on here…. but I wouldnt treat them like a moron.
well at least not on purpose
good lord I crack myself up sometimes
Great post Winnie
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Way to Go Winnie!!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Roger, yes, their guests are on the show to promote “themselves.” Barbara Walters promoting herself via her book is another story…and not a good one. She is simply “not allowed” to do that over and over and over again and expect a positive response. It’s in poor taste and is self-serving.
It is referred to as “crossing a line” especially when it is her show.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
She’s crossed more than just that line!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Winnie– in a word PERFECT!! Thanks!
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Actually, to me, this is very sad. This is not the way I would want to “go out” in my golden years. I would want to be true to my core beliefs and wave goodbye from a position of not selling myself out to a book and my personal list of the 10 most fascinating people.
It screams “greed and notoriety” from a self imposed position of importance. She is rewriting her own history.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
BRAVO BRAVO Winnie, fantastic letter, thank you for writing the letter & for sharing it here!!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Instead of “Audition” maybe she should have titled it
“I pooped the Bed”..??
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Winnie
I STRONGLY suggest that you submit your ‘an open letter to BAWA” to HUFFINGTON POST. It suits their format where contributors from all walks of life write these types of open letters and essays. Your opinion is valid given your role with WTV and Huffington Post is always covering happenings on the View. Can you please submit it to Huffington Post or, I would be happy to submit it on your behalf. Please let us know.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Winnie,
Without a doubt you have exposed BW for what
she is and how her audience feels about her.
I sincerely hope if she does respond to your
open letter to her that you will share it with your blog fans.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Great idea Sunny (#21) I bet if it gets out there it would cause a HUGE buzz… Who knows… maybe it would even cause a TV spot…. wouldnt that be exciting!!
Get the word out Winnie….. follow Sunny’s advice!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Even though I did not vote for Barack Obama, it would seem to me that being the first African American elected as President of the United States would, indeed, validate him as one of the 10 most fascinating people! That, alone, disqualifies her as having both “oars in the water.” And, Rush Limbaugh? Why?
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
winnie please try and bring this to bw attention. she needs to hear it.
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Brilliant Winnie! No truer words have been printed about the duplicitous crone.
I agree that “greed and notoriety” seem to be her modus operandi in her declining years, cartoonish in many ways.
Thanks for all you do Winnie and again this was spot on!
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I like your idea, Sunny.
Great letter Winnie!
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
GREAT letter, Winnie! I sure hope they (ABC) are reading this blog!
Had it been me who was writing, I would have added that BW appears racist when she refers to the black community and black people or a black person as “a black” or “the blacks” and never says *person* or *people*.
Probably why she puts up with the little blonde racist on the panel….
In any event, I think your letter was terrific and I hope they all see it!
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Thanks Winnie. A first-rate summary of what’s wrong with Barbara and the show. If only Barbara herself could read it! I have a feeling she’d be taken aback because by all appearances she lives in a self-protective bubble. I suspect that Bill Geddie enables and even nurtures her illusions about both herself and The View.
A word of caution about The Huffington Post. Sunny’s idea is certainly worth a try but keep in mind that Barbara and Arianna Huffington are longtime friends and Barbara is godmother to one of AH’s daughters. Many of my own comments on The View (and especially Barbara) never make it past the moderation stage because, I suspect, the HuffPo editors consider them unduly negative.
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I think BW is simply out of touch. Literally. I think BG and his team keep her head in the clouds. She berates others who berate her.. and that makes her better how? Oh, because she didn’t say their name?? A book about being an adulterer, outing a married man 30+ yrs later that no one would have ever known about. What, why and who would do that?? Being rude and interrupting guests?? Why?? I don’t give BG all the credit, but at least half of it. I used to think classy would describe her. She has sadly proven herself to be class-less. But her “people” tell her otherwise.
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
10 fascinating people according to BW:
1. B Obama
2. Thomas Beattie (that man who keeps getting pregnant)
3. Frank Langella
4. Sarah Palin
5. Michael Phelps
6. JailBait Cyrus
7. Rush Limbaugh ( hate monger)
8. Tina Fey
9. Tom Cruise
10. Will Smith
—-
BW..
her objective is to PROFIT from a ( home-wrecker) book. And she’s trashing two other women ( Ro and Star ) in her way to the bank.
So why is this woman held up as a feminist icon???
Why don’t you spill all the secrets you know about Tom Cruise and John Travolta?
But you will note, Barbara Walters never says anything bad about boys.
——-
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Carolyn, so Barack Obama is on the list? How did I miss that? He should be on the list. But, having Thomas Beattie on the list is too, well, tabloid!! What is she thinking? Perhaps nothing.
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Brava!! Brava!!! Brava!!!
Rush Limbaugh was the straw for me. Ms Walter’s lies about the women of The View being friends got old. However, when her list named druggie Rush - well, I feel the old gal is losing it.
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
BW has obviously gone Total Tabloid:
re her BOOK!
——-
It is more than obvious that to bring up an inter racial affair that is more than 35 years old is a transparant effort to sell her book.
Simple as that!
All the living she has done, she could have come up with something better to write about, really?
And the man is remarried, and now 88 years old—come the hell on!!
It’s all about the money, selling her book.
If you attach some kind of sensationalism to the book, well, you have an instant readership, and here we all are commenting about something that is almost as old as dirt, and who cares?
With the economy in such decline, so many people losing their jobs, homes,and facing severe financial hardships,this is microscopic!
Amounts to nothing in my book!
A ploy to get her book sold.
Money is the name of the game.
I won’t buy the book.
Why? Because I don’t care.
Now if she had written a book on how to break into the wonderful world of TV (Talking for a living and get well paid)
I would have grabbed the first offerings of a book like that.
If she wrote something that offered financial advice for women, disclosing solid investiment information, that would have benefited lots of women.
Hope the book collects dust!
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Rename the show ” The Hypocrits View”
and this site: “No Longer Watchingthe View”..
Can you tell I’m Pissed ??..
BW’s star has fallen to the ground for me..
The Nursing home should revoke her day passes!
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
re:Carolyn/auditions, etc
I have to think there are back stories to all the world leaders/dignitaries and even star interviews she has done over the years. That could be an interesting book worth a quick read!
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
BW should donate her profits from her book to children waiting to be adopted and abused women and children. At least put the money to good use…unless she didn’t make a profit off of the book? I know I didn’t run out to buy the book or even check it out at the library. Come to think of it, since she is always plugging the book on the show, maybe she didn’t make much money off of it after all. Makes you wonder?????
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Thanks Winnie always for your insight, and valuable comments…
I must add though, that Barbara Walters came from the old school of journalism….they were taught to never assume anyone ‘out there’ knew what was going on in the world. Journalists were taught (they still are in journalism programs) to assume their readers had landed on Earth a few moments ago and not to assume everyone was up to speed with information. ‘
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
#35
Breath
The View is but a television show ….Click….PBS
I’d love to see this site getting over the name calling and get on to ideas for women’s programming. I can’t begin to express my gratitude for Barbara Walters energy…
Calling names for the most part will only end up as a patchy tattoo on your own heart.
Do I want a show that really portrays the lives of women…yes…this show is so not in touch with my friends.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:03 pm
The View is turning into a Jerry Springer show without the chair throwing. Probably a good thing, can you imagine how ugly that would have turned out to be? I think BW thinks they are so popular because of the cat fights they have on the air (and Off). Just because other networks and websites were discussing them doesn’t mean they were getting good reviews…actually they were being laughed at. That’s a poor way of getting good ratings.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
#39.. the word is Breathe..
I do not have a patchy tattoo on my heart.
I have a big pain in my Heart!
I am, after SO many years of totally admiring BW..
SO totally disappointed with the level of CONTENT she has allowed her “Show” ( and BOOK ) to fall to.
I thought she was a woman with good judgment and “class”.
Many people on this site have shown interest in women’s programming..
Many people have TRIED to be in direct contact with the View and have been ignored.
I personally have written MANY times giving factual information to deepen knowledge of issues.
The View would rather do the Springer thing, fights..insults,firings..just for the ratings!
Barbara Walters has talked with probably more of the World’s TOP people than anyone in history..
BUT what does she decide as her written legacy.. a trashy, self-centered book of her Affairs.. and fights and heartaches..
She appeared on Canadian TV saying the book is about “her Lovers”… *yawn*
Such an experienced journalist surely can come up with a better Final Word..
of such a fabulous Life of talking with fabulous ( fascinating ) People!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I did read Barbara’s book (borrowed from library) and she came across as very self-serving. This is a woman who is used to being very well-known and she is in danger of not being known at all to the text-message generation (that’s what I call my 16 yr olds generation). Let’s face it, nowadays in order to be famous you either have to be on a reality show or star in a porn video. Barbara showcases both on the View (Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Jenna Jameson). At some point a long time ago Barbara stopped being a journalist and became a personality. I think she was always more interested in making the news rather than reporting it.
Kudos to Meredith Viera for going back to her journalism roots on the Today show.
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Thank you susieq..
I am just catching up on the progress of this story.
I think BW and BG should consider packing up their tent and “going home”..
because they have sold out any semblance of integrity and VISION they once had.
The FACT that they pay a ridiculous amount of money to EH to just POISON every conversation shows what their priorities are now.
They have become lazy and unfocused,they even removed the Ask questions part of the front page on the website.
When half a program involves talking about rodents.. you know it’s in BIG trouble!
Sure it is easiest to just grab the remote ..
I just thought maybe there was a chance to somehow revive what many of us were once very entertained and educated with.
If BW’s book is an “Audition”.. I say.. she doesn’t get the part!
Painting yourself as an adultress is not a very attractive Memoir.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:10 am
To have Palin, Limbaugh and Cyrus on that list is truly insulting to all intelligent Americans! My top 3 would be:
1. President-Elect Barack Obama
2. Will Smith (No. 10! [rolls eyes] Please, get a clue Babs!)
3. Tina Fey
I understand Michael Phelps making the list, but the rest are just nonsense.
It’s obviously Bill Geddies who made out that list.
December 4th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Great letter! I agree completely! And as someone said in another thread on this site….if she doesn’t change her ways - my generation of women will not be watching. In fact, I stopped and just read here. Don’t want to inflate the ratings…..when they change the focus (and get rid of EH) I’d FOR SURE watch again!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Just a note. #11 stated that in Canada there are no African-Canadians. Well, just as a note, at the hair salon I go to, all the women there refer to themselves as African-Canadian. Just an FYI. Also, the history of racial tensions that exist in the US are not the same in Canada….there’s less in Canada - so the experiences of Black Canadians is different then Black Americans - less racism in Canada. When I first moved to Canada, I had to get used to that - the tension I experienced in the US is not as prevalent up here…..BUT, I think the reason why many Black Americans refer to themselves as Black American or African-American is simply to foster a sense of community (oneness) to (in some small way) combat the everyday inequities that can exist.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:33 am
i have a feeling this is her last season on the view.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:33 am
ITA! I’m SO sick of hearing about her book. But you know half of that show (or more…) is about promoting her other specials - always mentioned at least 3 times in the segment after showing a clip and mentioned again at the end with an aw shucks “can I tell them when it’s on? OK!”
And most of the guests are on ABC shows. Heck, even that gadget guy is PAID to promote the products he does. The bulk of the show is an advertisement for something else. It also has the LONGEST commercial breaks, esp. the one at the half way mark and have you noticed the show ends at 7 minutes before the hour? That’s when I turn it off. They only come back for 30 seconds to do the sign off.
That show really began to be something relevant with Rosie. Someone needs to give her a daytime show where she discusses relevant issues. Her no-bullshit attitude is the antidote to the hypocrisy at The View. Now that I know Joy’s lines are scripted I see how lame her timing is and how pathetically she waits for her cue…
I’m watching out of habit now and will shortly move out of annoyance to sheer boredom and then complete disinterest.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Excellent letter, Winnie.
#31 - BW is a feminist icon to those who grew up when I did. Women were never in leading roles on tv, except for Lucille Ball or Carol Burnett, who had their own shows. In news or public affairs, BW was a leader. Aside from Pauline Frederick, there wasn’t another woman who was in the forefront of news and public affairs.
But her time has passed. Everyone has a time to step back and let the younger generation lead. It is sad to watch someone who I loved watching and respected lose their “chops”. She was a first in tv…an icon to be sure. I wish she would retire grcefully before losing the right to that title.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:56 am
#46.. Thanks for your insight and you are right.. I just wanted to make the point that LABELLING everyone is getting a bit old..
As much as the Evolution of “African-Americans” is a horrible and shameful story in history..
I lived next door to a “black” in Alberta as a child and nobody said a negative thing to or about them
Also.. I read somewhere that Calling Barrack Obama an “African American ” isn’t quite correct. He’s BI-racial.. and the writer of the article , who is a Latino.. asked the question..
What percentage of African blood does it take to be labelled “African American” and should she call herself ” Latino American”..
——-
Now about the View and it’s slide into mediocrity and smut..
EH’s bigoted/racist comments about Deepak Chopra are a disgrace.
I found an article, very lengthy but if you care what Chopra’s reasons were for saying the US is part of the cause for the rise in terrorism in the world ( and thus Mumbai ) please check:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-haimoff/my-uncensored-interview-w_b_147960.html
Some quotes from Chopra:
(1) “I spoke about how we are funding both sides of the conflict through our military-industrial complex, which is a huge industry and we fund it through our petrodollars, through the Saudis who then buy weapons from all over the world, but including from us. And these weapons end up in the hands of terrorists as well, so willy-nilly we are participating in the funding on both sides.”
(2) “Why don’t we remember? We have such short memories that Saddam Hussein was a CIA sponsored thug that our CIA brought out of exile, put into power after a coup in Iraq. Then George Bush Sr. flooded billions of dollars into Iraq in his support, all the while knowing full well about his torture chambers and rape rooms. It didn’t bother us because the US policymakers thought they could use him to their advantage. When they found out not, now he suddenly becomes this evil person which he was all along.”
(3) “If you start to tell the truth or even want to know the truth, the atmosphere that has been created in the last eight years in the Bush administration and also with the patriot act and so on… if you start to even look in that direction in the last eight years it has become extremely dangerous because you, first of all, are accused of not being patriotic. You probably want to see the US government overthrown and you are a traitor. I’ve got some really good friends at CNN and other places… The good people are scared. They’ve been scared. It’s very different to snap out of that mindset.”
December 4th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I haven’t written on your site in awhile but felt compelled to do so after reading your entry. I couldn’t agree more and very well said.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Barbara Walters was just on with Diane Sawyer with snippets of her top ten list. I almost hurled when racist, mudslinger, hate monger Rush’s fat face appeared.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Did you see her on The Colbert Report?
Unbelievable!
December 4th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I, too, saw the snippets this a.m. I don’t hate Rush Limbaugh. He is passionate in what he believes. Because he lives in the United States he has the privilege of free speech. However, that said, I am very often bothered by the way he borders on cruelty in describing individuals. He can easily be called a mudslinger..no doubt about it. I can’t hate him but I do feel sorry for him. There are far more effective ways to get your point across to your viewers. We all might witness a change in old Rush over the next four years. If we don’t, we need only not tune him in.
On a lighter note, I thoroughly enjoyed Tom Cruise. I believe him to have been misunderstood because of his scientology beliefs. I have enjoyed all of his movies.
December 4th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Nice job Winnie, you have written the thoughts of many of women. Thank You
December 4th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Amen, Winnie!
December 4th, 2008 at 9:50 am
#53 “…borders on cruelty” ???
Rush Limbaugh is a pill-popping Archie Bunker.
Rush Limbaugh: “phony soldiers,” Michael J. Fox “exaggerating” his Parkinson’s disease, “stupid and unskilled Mexicans,” George Soros “a self-hating Jew,” “Take that bone out of your nose and call me back (to an African American female caller), “The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies,” “Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.”
Rush Limbaugh: “I tell people don’t kill all the liberals. Leave enough so we can have two on every campus – living fossils – so we will never forget what these people stood for.”
“I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.”
“You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed.”
“Barack the Magic Negro”
“halfrican American”
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/elections/top-10-racist-limbaugh-quotes/
I agree with Winnie.
My thoughts on Barbara’s pick of Rush Limbaugh:
“A nation which makes great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.”
- THUCYDIDES, 460 B.C.
Cowards – Rush, Rove, Hannity-Hasselbeck
Fools – Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld
December 4th, 2008 at 9:57 am
#56 Kelly, I phrased it “borders on cruelty” because I knew it would attract large comments.
Rush is a mess!
December 4th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Oh my goodness. I just read some of those quotes from Rush. Some I knew about. A few I didn’t.
Disgusting.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
The shamless book plugs on today’s show-really–REALLY!
UGH!
December 4th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
#58. I agree.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Today, for the first time I tried to give my comment to ABC, The View. Impossible to do, so I guess they are not interested in the viewers comments. I was totally disgusted with the show of which 3/4’s was commercials for the hosts books and upcoming appearances. BW’s out and out lies and EH dogmatic stupidity (she needs a sock in her mouth) have become tiresome and what at one time looked like a promising show has become another hr of trash TV. Maybe a host like Lisa Ling could revive the intellect of the show.
December 4th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I agree with it all. One hundred percent.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Seriously, LOVED that letter. I totally agree with everything you said; her lack of authenticity seems to be increasing with her age for some reason.
Anyway, great letter!