Here we go again. I was just watching The View and Elisabeth threw out a comment about Senator Biden saying Governor Palin would be a step back for women. When Whoopi and Barbara questioned her on the source, she couldn’t come up with it. I decided to fact check the info: September 9, 2008 Biden: Palin Would Be ‘Backward Step for Women’ @ 1:08 pm by Andy Barr Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) says that if Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) becomes the first female vice president it will be a “backward step for women.” Asked by a local television reporter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin if electing Palin would be a step forward for women, Biden said, “well look, I think the issue is what does Sarah Palin think? What does she believe?” “I assume she thinks and agrees with the same policies that George Bush and John McCain think,” Biden added. “And that’s obviously a backward step for women. So obviously Senator Biden was talking about the policies of Bush/McCain/Palin. I’m an admirer of The View, but instead of women voicing their own opinions, Elisabeth has crossed a line and entered new territory. I’m sure she would be much better suited for Fox news. I think she should either offer Senator Biden a formal apologize, presenting the info she spouted in full disclosure or be fired. She is now hurting the credibility of the show.

Hi Whoopi, I’m so glad you decided to join ” The View “. A strong woman who listens is exactly what the show needed. I also can appreciate that Barbara,Joy, Sherri, Elisabeth and yourself can exchange passionate opinions, while at the same time trying to present the facts, that the opinions are based on. No easy task. I’ve had discussions with many(over 1000) people about the upcoming presidential elections. For the most part, I just listen. There are three things that amaze me: 1) Many people are passionate about what they believe 2) What they believe for the most part is not based on fact 3) They are frustrated with the mainstream media providing them with controversy and not educating them about the issues and full disclosure of fact. Yet many of these people still base their opinions on the mainstream media. I ask these people if they have ever heard of politifact.com and to my surprise only a couple of people have. When I mention it, they thank me and say they’ll check it out. It is an independent fact checking site, that also references other independent fact checking sites. They can check the site and make their own decision, based on full disclosure of fact. The mainstream media does not provide this full disclosure of facts. They feel that reporting and analyzing on semi-discloure of facts will help create controversy. In turn, this will drive viewership. In turn, this will drive ad revenue. Bottom line, they generate $, not education for the American people. How often do you hear the mainstream media mention politifact? It would be nice if people were educated with the facts. I have a suggestion for your show. Since all of you seem to talk daily about the upcoming election, what if on Monday’s, Elisabeth was to select one of the politifact topics for that day and on Tuesday’s, Joy was to select one of the politifact topics for that day and on Wednesday’s, Sherri was to select one of the politifact topics for that day and on Thursday’s, you were to select one of the politifact topics for that day and on Friday’s, you all propose a topic and then vote on(your own version of Congress) which one will be discussed. Then if the topic is being posted for the studio and home audience to view, everyone is looking at the same thing. No Filtering! People get the facts, get to listen to your opinions and then make up their own mind. Keep voicing your different opinions, we all learn that way. Just a thought from an average American who thinks this presidential election means something.

If he was willing to serve, I would like to see Mr. Colin Powell selected. This selection would really be a positive change in our political system. Not only would it represent a new way of thinking in Washington, Mr. Powell would bring credibility, listening, patriotism, experience and most of all good judgement. Many seem to be focusing on experience in this election. I think that is short sighted. In the mid 70’s we had the mideast oil crisis. So with all this experience we have had, the # 1 issue at the time was not recognized with a long term solution, despite President Nixon’s attempt to start the process with Project Independence. Where are we today, over 30 years later. This is only one example of many where experience has failed us. It’s not how many years you’ve spent doing something that matters, it’s what you’ve done with those years that counts. Give me good judgement over experience any day. That is why I’m voting for Senator Obama and feel he and Mr. Powell would make a powerful American ticket. By the way, this is the first time in 30 years of voting, I’m voting for a Democrat for President.

I don’t watch much TV, probably a dozen shows a week. I do always try and catch Boston Legal. While I agree it can be zany, that’s part of its charm. It is a multi dimensional program. The subject matters that are considered affect everyone. Imagine if the media took these subjects and addressed them to our presidential candidates. I don’t mean a soundbyte, but a meaningful conversation. We would all be better served. In the meantime, I’ll continue to listen to what Mr. Kelley presents in Boston Legal. It’s thought provoking and should probably be required viewing for our officials in Washington D.C..

Reverend Wright has had no influence on me. I’m still voting for Senator Obama. While the Media, Senator Clinton and the Republican Machine continue to stir the pot, the public is less educated on substance. The Republican Machine is consistent in its approach to Presidential Politics. It’s not about substance, it’s about winning. Senator Clinton, I’ve been disappointed in. While I think she is extremely intelligent, politically savvy and competent to run the country, I do have a credibility problem with her. She has taken the Republican approach to winning and while she has provided substance, more often than not she dwells (directly and indirectly) on the insignificant vs the substance. I had a lot more respect for her at the beginning of the campaign. Now insignificant vs substance debate is a little like ice skating competitions, judgement is in the eye of the beholder. But I’ll bet anything if you asked the American Public which they would rather hear about, it would be obvious: Iraq War vs Reverend Wright Nuclear weapons vs Reverend Wright Global warming vs Reverend Wright Immigration vs Reverend Wright Homeland Security vs Reverend Wright Healthcare vs Reverend Wright Recession vs Reverend Wright Price of Gas vs Reverend Wright I could go on and on, but I think I make my point. The Media in general, the real quilty party in all this mess. They give the above issues of substance a sound byte. I’m not saying that the Reverend Wright story shouldn’t be reported, but it would be nice if it was proportionally reported. Unfortunately, that will not happen today. The Media thrives on controversy and minimal research on a story, which drives viewership (only because there is not a choice), which drives Corporate America (advertising). Americans are highly susceptible to marketing and the media uses the low road to abuse that. End result - the American Public is not educated. I do have hope. The day is coming when the Media will not control content for viewership. Imagine American Idol voting on everything we watch, but with no delay, immediate feedback. Corporate America will love it, because they will be able to quantify and immediately adjust their advertising deals. Imagine the pressure that the Media’s employer, Corporate America, will be exerting. There’s a sense of it now with Nielsen ratings, but those will be obsolete when Corporate America has direct access to viewership feedback. Anyway, my two cent contribution. Have a nice day.

I voted for George Bush in 2000. I’m sorry.

Wanda, with all due respect, I believe experience is less essential than sound judgement. I believe the following will be the defining moment of the 2008 Presidential Elections. On January 6, 2008 Senator John McCain was interviewed by Tim Russert on Meet The Press. Please google it, so you can hear the full content for yourself. Mr. Russert asked Senator McCain, if he had known that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, would he still have invaded Iraq. He said, YES. He said the war was not a mistake, but how it was handled was. So with 20/20 hindsight, he would have started a war with Iraq, despite now knowing that Iraq was not an imminent threat to the national security of The United States( The reason Congress and the American public and the world were given to justify the action). This is dangerous, not wise and reflective Presidential Judgement and exactly what we have in office today. Experience can be valuable, but it is what you do with the experience you’ve acquired that matters. That is called Judgement.