The liberal hosts of The View on Monday took one last chance to fawn over Michael Bloomberg, touting the "bold" actions the exiting New York City Mayor made against guns, soda and cigarettes. Walters, who has joked about flirting with the billionaire, referenced a skit she appeared in with the left-wing politician: "I would like to point out that you and I got married on the program, supposedly. It was never consummated."
Walters introduced Bloomberg by enthusing, "Michael Bloomberg has been more than just the mayor of New York City for the past 12 years. Some people think he's the best mayor we've had." The supposedly neutral journalist touted "his bold actions on issues like gun safety" and "banishing smoking in public places." Whoopi Goldberg hit the mayor from the left, demanding to know why he didn't go further: "This is a question I always ask folks about sugary drinks and cigarettes and things: Why not just ban them outright?" [MP3 audio here [1].]
Goldberg, who is very supportive of abortion rights, added, "Why not just ban the sale of cigarettes themselves?" (Bloomberg politely told her that a mayor probably couldn't do such things.)
Co-host Jenny McCarthy puffed, "So, why aren't you running for president? I know that people have asked you. Many people want you to. Why won't you?"
Walters kept explaining to viewers how Bloombeg "is also a very close friend of mine."
The journalist closed out the segment by showing footage of a skit where Bloomberg appeared on The View as a mock groom for Walters [2]. The host blurted, "I would like to point out that you and I got married on the program, supposedly. It was never consummated. And now maybe you will have the chance."
It's an odd subject to joke about. In 2008, Walters revealed that she had an affair with Senator Edward Brooke [3].
A partial transcript of the December 16 segment is below:
11:33
BARBARA WALTERS: Michael Bloomberg has been more than just the mayor of New York City for the past 12 years. Some people think he's the best mayor we've had. His bold actions on issues like gun safety, banishing smoking in public places has inspired many in and out of government. But just days from now he will be passing the torch to New York City's New York City's new mayor, Bill de Blasio. Mayor Bloomberg is also a very close friend of mine, so I'm always happy, we all are, to welcome him.
...
WALTERS: And these people applauding, they're not all just from New York!
WALTERS: So you have been our mayor for 12 years. As you step down, how do you feel about it?
WALTERS: What are you going to do after this? You don't need to earn a living.
...
WALTERS: So if you can, in a short space of time, greatest accomplishment, biggest disappointment?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: I was with you [on the soda ban] whenever we'd talk about that on hot topics on the soda ban that you were trying to stop.
...
SHEPHERD: How do you past the back bite of people not wanting you to put bans on things like we were talking about, the soda and sugar and smoking?
...
JENNY MCCARTHY: So, why aren't you running for president? I know that people have asked you. Many people want you to. Why won't you?
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG: I think it's probably fair to say that my views would not get you a lot of votes. Very pro-choice. Very pro-gay rights, against guns. I'm pro-immigration on most things.
...
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Can I ask you a question? Because this is a question I always ask folks about sugary drinks and cigarettes and things. Why not just ban them outright?
GOLDBERG: Why not ban the sale of cigarette themselves?
...
WALTERS: I would like to point out that you and I got married on the program, supposedly. It was never consummated. And now maybe you will have the chance.
— Scott Whitlock is Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Scott Whitlock on Twitter. [4]