Elisabeth Hasselbeck is shown in Vegas during a live taping of ‘The View’ on 6/24/08. Credit: WENN
Last month we reported that host Sherri Shepherd had drawn the ire of The View’s grande dame, Barbara Walters, and that Barbara was considering letting her go. Shepherd was involved in a minor controversy in which she said some regrettable things to a Christian woman’s magazine about how she’d had more abortions than she’d cared to count and that she’d like to see her boss Barbara “saved” by a televangelist.

Fast forward to the heated discussions on the show about the contentious US Presidential race and it’s token conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck who’s pissing off the 78 year-old co-creator and co-producer. Elisabeth got upset in a discussion on air about VP Republican candidate Sarah Palin and Walters had to tell her to “calm down” and the show went to a commercial. Off air, The National Enquirer reports that Walters scolded 31 year-old Elisabeth and told her that if she can’t be measured in her opinions she should get a new job:

Elisabeth… got snippy [with her “View co-hosts] during a heated discussion of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the show’s September 2 season premiere.

Sensing the debate was spinning out of control, Barbara ordered Elisabeth, an ardent Republican, to “calm down,” and the show immediately cut to a commercial.

“During the break, Barbara lashed out at Elisabeth,” an insider revealed. “In her typical style, she maintained her composure so it appeared everything was OK, but she made it clear to Elisabeth that she needed to calm down…”

When the taping was over, the… TV veteran had more to say to Elisabeth, according to the source.

“Barbara told Elisabeth that everyone welcomes her opinions, but demanded that she find an appropriate way to express them, and she said that if Elisabeth can’t do that, then maybe she should consider a new line of work,” said the insider.

“Elisabeth got teary-eyed and told Barbara that she feels as if the others are always ganging up on her. But Barbara quickly pointed out that Elisabeth brings most of that on herself.”

[From the National Enquirer, print edition, September 22, 2008]

It seems like they could get another conservative on The View to back up Elisabeth and represent the other side. Sherri Shepherd doesn’t count because she’s not informed enough, has admitted she’s never voted, and just comes off as a ditz. Elisabeth is decent with the guests, but she does try and dominate the conversation when they’re talking politics and her points aren’t that educated. She also gets too upset when people don’t agree with her. I like to see Whoopi because she’s funny, kind and a breath of fresh air on that show. She’s liberal but really measured in the way she presents things and is mellow and friendly. If Barbara wants a balanced panel she should create one. As it is, a lot of people say it’s skewed left and that Hasselbeck is a weak voice for the right.

If everyone got along though the show would lose some of its appeal and we definitely wouldn’t be talking about it as much. When Hasselbeck’s liberal nemesis Rosie was there The View got some of its best ratings despite being difficult to watch. With good-natured Whoopi running things it’s not as contentious and just doesn’t generate as much buzz despite being a much better show. Add a conservative version of Whoopi and it will be more sweetness and light and agreeing to disagree.