Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters Spins Spitzer Scandal: Prostitution Is 'in the Realm of Normalcy'
By Scott Whitlock | July 30, 2013 | 4:54 PM EDT

 According to Barbara Walters on Tuesday, prostitution is "sort of in the realm of normalcy." The View co-host and longtime ABC journalist was attempting to differentiate Eliot Spitzer's call girl scandal and Anthony Weiner's sexting controversy.

Walters insisted that Weiner's actions were "somewhat deviant behavior." Shocking her co-hosts, she said of prostitution: "I don't know how to put it. I said that's sort of in the realm of normalcy." She quickly added, "Because it's not kinky. It's wrong, but it's not kinky. Weiner's is kind of 'what? Why?'" [See video below. MP3 audio here.]

Barbara Walters Defends Maher Calling Trig Palin Retarded: 'Don't Think He Intended to be Mean-Spirited’
By Noel Sheppard | June 17, 2013 | 4:59 PM EDT

As NewsBusters reported last week, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin called out vulgarian comedian Bill Maher for referring to her Down Syndrome son Trig as "retarded."

On ABC's The View Monday, co-host Barbara Walters astonishingly defended Maher saying, "I don't think he intended it to be mean-spirited" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

Barbara Walters to Retire Next Year, Will Announce on Monday's 'The View'
By Noel Sheppard | May 13, 2013 | 12:00 AM EDT

It appears this time it's more official than the last Barbara Walters is retiring rumors in March.

The Hollywood Reporter claimed moments ago ABC's longtime newswoman will announce on Monday's The View that she will retire next summer:

Reports: Barbara Walters Retiring in 2014
By Jeffrey Meyer | March 28, 2013 | 5:13 PM EDT

If reports from TVNewser are true, the long time co-host of The View will be retiring from ABC in 2014.  Walters has been with ABC News since 1976 and prior to her tenure at ABC she began her career as a host for NBC’s Today in 1961.

If the rumors of Ms. Walters’ impending retirement are true, we thought it would be best to relive some of the best, or worst, moments of her infamous career.  Walters has been known for her softball interviews throughout the years, and we at NewsBusters have documented some of the most ridiculous interviews courtesy of Barbara.

Joy Behar Claims ‘You Can't Really Stay On TV Unless You're Likable’
By Jeffrey Meyer | March 11, 2013 | 3:00 PM EDT

Following her announcement that she will be departing the cast of ‘The View’, co-host Joy Behar has taken it upon herself to reach into the depths of absurdity in her final few months on the daytime talk show.  On March 11, the five co-hosts were discussing Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s recent book Lean In, and the role women have in the workplace.

Following Whoopi Goldberg quoting Sandberg’s book, where she states that, “working women are not assertive enough. And this quote, they don't have leadership, there's a leadership ambition gap”, Behar claims that, “When Hillary Clinton becomes president, the glass ceiling will be broken.”  [See video after jump.  MP3 audio here.] 

Barbara Walters Denies Elisabeth Hasselbeck Leaving 'The View'
By Jeffrey Meyer | March 11, 2013 | 11:57 AM EDT

After intense media speculation over the weekend surrounding Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s future on ‘The View,’ on the March 11 edition of the talk show, host and creator Barbara Walters shot down any speculation that Hasselbeck had been fired.  Speaking on Monday morning, Walters denied the rumors and stated that:

“The truth is we love Elisabeth. I like her personally, and she's just a wonderful person. But beyond that we value and appreciate her point of view, it's important to us, because Elisabeth helps give the show perspective and balance. And believe me she's tougher than she looks. She’s had to sit here for a decade and take the kind of guff we give her. So we have no plans for Elisabeth to leave this show.”

The View Co-Hosts Freak Out Over New NRA Ad
By Jeffrey Meyer | January 16, 2013 | 3:06 PM EST

What a surprise that the ladies of The View are outraged over a new NRA commercial that addresses President Obama’s hypocrisy over having armed guards in schools across America.  Discussing the ad on Wednesday, January 16, the women of The View had some harsh words for the "sick" NRA spot.

After playing the ad, the entire cast expressed outrage, furiously talking over one another in a rush to bash the NRA as “nuts." Host Barbara Walters claimed to be particularly offended at the reference to President Obama’s two daughters in the advertisement, failing to point out the true message the NRA was arguing.  [See video after jump.  MP3 audio here.]

Barbara Walters Has No Political Questions for Obamas; Asks About Family Dog Bo
By Jeffrey Meyer | December 27, 2012 | 1:09 PM EST

ABC’s Barbara Walters' "interview" with the Obamas on Thursday's Nightline ran much more like a celebrity infomercial. Walters was her usual self, asking questions void of substance and fawning over every detail of the First Family.

With the fiscal cliff looming just weeks after the interview originally took place, Walters had no questions on any matter of political significance. She did find time to discuss the family's dog Bo, pressing Mrs. Obama, "Does he follow you around all day?" and "What is Bo getting for Christmas?"  [See video after jump.  MP3 audio here.]

ABC’s World News Highlights Walters Wondering How Obamas Get It On: ‘How Do You Keep the Fire Going?’
By Brent Baker | December 27, 2012 | 10:21 AM EST

ABC News had to wait two weeks to get on air Barbara Walters’ interview with the Obamas -- and then the network’s evening newscast decided to focus on her asking Barack and Michelle Obama about their sex life.

“An ABC News exclusive,” fill-in World News anchor David Muir teased, “Barbara Walters at the White House, asking Michelle Obama if she’ll run for office next. And a personal question, too.” Viewers were then treated to a clip of Walters with the Obamas: “How do you keep the fire going?” The two laughed as Mrs. Obama giggled: “That’s a good question!”

Obama: Keeping Secret Service 'With Guns Around At All Times' to Protect His Girls Was Incentive to Run Again
By Noel Sheppard | December 27, 2012 | 7:59 AM EST

The anti-gun Obama isn't so anti-gun when it comes to protecting his own family.

During a predictably gooey interview with Barbara Walters on ABC's Nightline Wednesday, the President joked about his daughter Malia dating boys saying, "I always talk about how one of the main incentives for running again was continuing secret service protection so there are men with guns around at all times" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

ABC Hypes Obamas' Love Life, Barely Mentions Impending Fiscal Cliff
By Jeffrey Meyer | December 26, 2012 | 12:27 PM EST

ABC’s Good Morning America barely talked about the upcoming fiscal cliff on Wednesday but found time for another Obama-promoting fluff piece. Previewing Barbara Walters's upcoming interview with Mr. and Mrs. Obama on Wednesday evening’s Nightline, GMA picked a clip of Walters fawning over the couple's romance.

Walters touted "the most-shared photograph in the history of Twitter" of the President and his wife hugging. She later asked, "How do you keep the fire going?"  [See video below jump.  MP3 audio here.]

MSNBC's Toure Slams Barbara Walters From the Left for Sexist Interview with Hillary Clinton
By Jeffrey Meyer | December 14, 2012 | 1:32 PM EST

Barbara Walters is known for asking ridiculous questions during her famous interviews, but this time it appears she has gone too far, annoying even the liberal co-hosts of MSNBC’s The Cycle.

The day after Barbara Walters’ annual Most Fascinating People Special Wednesday night, the cast of The Cycle, most notably co-host Toure, savaged Ms. Walters for her “embarrassing, dereliction of duty” interviews with Hillary Clinton and Chris Christie.  [See video below page break.  MP3 audio here.]