Behar: Palin 'Wants to Be the Next Paris Hilton'; Reagan, Bush Were 'Mental Midgets'

October 20th, 2009 2:06 PM

If you have been a regular viewer of CNN Headline News' "The Joy Behar Show," you've probably seen the nightly cheap shots at conservatives, usually in the form of jabs at Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh.

But on Behar's Oct. 20 program, the HLN host used a panel discussion with liberal flamethrower/comedian Janeane Garofalo and S.E. Cupp, conservative author of "Why You're Wrong About the Right" to attack former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"But [Palin's] favorability, popularity rates are going down," Behar said. "And is it possible her 15 minutes are up?"

"No way, that's - no," Cupp replied. "She's been out of the spot a little bit, writing her book, and that needs to happen."

Behar suggested this was Palin's way, through writing her book, to get attention similar to the manner a Hollywood celebrity might.

"Maybe that's why she's doing this, to get herself back up," Behar said. "Maybe she wants to be the next Paris Hilton."

Cupp called Behar's tabloid characterization what it was and offered reasons for Palin's lower poll numbers.

"No I think that's a little cheap," Cupp replied. "But see, Mr. Romney's been out of the spotlight and his favorability is down a little, and Mike Huckabee's is up because he's on Fox all the time. I think that this sort of ebbs and flows. And once her book comes out, I think the ratings will go up again."

However, Behar made one of her most extraordinary comments about Palin, insulting her and former Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush.

"People call me, you know, people just call me and say, ‘Do you think she's actually going to have a shot at the presidency?' ... I say, ‘I lived through Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush and I never thought those two mental midgets would ever become President, and they did."