Things got heated on the set of “The View” this week in yet another on-air tiff involving co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain. However, the highlight may have been the back and forth between Joy Behar, Abby Hunstman and Hostin, while McCain sat quietly in her corner following a swift shutdown, courtesy of Hostin.
Tensions rose Wednesday as the ladies discussed Sen. Kamala Harris‘ exit from the 2020 presidential race. Harris, a promising presidential hopeful, suspended her campaign Tuesday amid financial trouble and reports that her team was in complete disarray.
a recent debate discussing Kamala Harris’ exit from the presidential race. (Photo: The View / YouTube video screenshot)
“I’ve taken stock and looked at this from every angle, and over the last few days have come to one of the hardest decisions of my life,” she announced in a video statement. “My campaign for president simply does not have the financial resources that we need to continue.”
Hostin weighed in, saying she couldn’t understand how Harris was polling higher than Sen. Amy Klobuchar, yet the latter was still in the running for the Democratic nomination. That’s when McCain offered her two cents by arguing Klobuchar’s “statistical numbers were trending upward” while the California senator’s were doing the opposite.
“Actually… if you look at the polling,” Hostin began.
McCain quipped: “I look at the polling every day, everybody knows that.”
Hostin went on to hit her conservative co-host with the facts, rattling off polling numbers for Klobuchar and fellow Democratic candidates Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Yang, among others.
“She’s been steady,” she said of Harris, “and not trending downward.”
When Joy Behar attempted to ask a question about Harris’ campaign having less money than Klobuchar’s, McCain interjected, “Can I finish please???”
“I’m actually not done speaking, but it’s fine,” Hostin shot back.
The reprimand caused McCain to fold her arms in frustration and pout, saying, “Just forget it.”
McCain’s fellow conservative co-host Hunstman decided to tag herself in.
“Can I also just point out one point against what you were making?” Hunstman began. “This country voted in a black president for two terms….to say this country has not proven the opposite of what you’re saying I think is factually wrong.” Adding that Harris should consider looking in the mirror for the faults of her campaign.
Hostin had been attempting to highlight Trump’s presidency and a divided America to prove her point that Harris’ race and gender played a role in what became her flagging support, but it was to no avail. “I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make,” responded Hunstman before Behar jumped right in. “The fact that Trump is there could be a reaction to a black president.” To the dismay of her cohosts, however, Hunstman was utterly unconvinced, saying, “I think that’s far-fetched.”
Viewers didn’t waste time picking apart Hunstman’s take. “”Far fetch” sounds like most white people. Not trying to be offensive, just saying.”
Another added, “the same America turned around and voted a racist in. The same America saw a surge in White Supremacist organizations, progressive and color blind liberals voted in a token and regular black people feel the effect of the backlash liberals are in denial about. Race matters, ask someone black, or another person of color… People also thought him speaking the little he did on race “divided” us. It matters, it won’t ever not matter. and one of the reasons we have a hard time moving on is because people think a token represents progress. You are wrong and so is Abby.”
Hunstman did have her supporters. One viewer commented, “I thought what she said was a very good point. American people want to vote for who they think is most fit for the job. They dont care about race or gender. Its about what a person thinks not who they are. Obama becoming president should be proof black politicians can do well.”
“it showed that people were willing to vote for a black man into office, which does support her point that America isn’t all that affected with race,” said another.
McCain, meanwhile, sat quietly until Behar solicited her opinion. But the Fox News alum’s latest on-air fit sparked a flurry of criticism online.
“Meghan is incredibly ANNOYING!! She comes off as the “know it all, I’m right, you’re wrong” person,” one viewer commented.
“Meghan cannot go one show without behaving like a petulant child,” another chimed in. “I’m so over it. I am over her. She interrupts EVERYONE when they are making their point, but is the first to say, ‘let me finish’ [or] ‘I’m speaking.’ I am so tired of her bulls**t.”
The dust up comes just months after McCain stormed off stage mid-show following a similarly heated debate.
