I read about this a few days ago and I really wasn’t sure I wanted to address it.

First of all, I am unconcerned about Elisabeth Hasselbeck being moved to tears by the bigotry and hypocrisy of her co stars.  She goes to work every day knowing that her fellow View ladies are ideologically opposed to her.  While I admire her refusal to quit, I have to hope she is strong enough to deal with what she deals with every week.  In fact, I have to say that she has sown incredible strength previously, so I know that she has it in her.

So my outrage is not that sweet Elisabeth cried.  It is that her co hosts are so pitifully racist.

The issue is of course the word Nigger.  After Jesse Jackson got caught muttering it over a hot mic, the topic has once again raged discussing who can say it, when they can say it, and who they can say it to.

The reality seems to be that if you are black, you can say it to a black person, as long as you mean it lovingly as a term of endearment.  At least that is how Goldberg and Shepperd of the view see it, in their racially nuanced position.

Hasselbeck sees it more fundamentally.  If it is wrong, and bad, then no one should feel comfortable saying it.  Period.  Walters seems to agree, though she is partially patronizing too, and she is shut down by Shepperd as well.

One would think that black co star Goldberg would applaud her, but no.  Poor white Elisabeth is deluded, apparently.

Here is the full transcript, with my comments in line.  I will follow this with two other reactions I thought worthy.

WHOOPI GOLDBERG: I don’t know whether you’ve been watching television last night or this morning, but new footage was leaked that apparently shows Jesse Jackson using the “n” word. Fox News says the tape was leaked. They didn’t have anything to do with it. So I ask you, is any of this a surprise?