O’Donnell is an Embarrassment

If you’ve been reading news reports lately, you’ve heard about the foolish comments made by unfunny comedian Rosie O’Donnell in regards to Kelly Ripa.  If not, let me give you a quick update.  The site, “My Way News” has a good synopsis of the flap:

NEW YORK (AP) - Barbara Walters said Wednesday all is now “well with the world” following a flare-up earlier this week between Rosie O’Donnell and Kelly Ripa on “The View.” Ripa called in to the ABC daytime talk show after co-host O’Donnell accused her of making a homophobic comment to Clay Aiken, a guest host on “Live With Regis and Kelly.”

The crux of the matter is that Ripa gave Aiken a half-hearted chastening when he covered her mouth with his hand.  When Ripa moved his hand, Aiken said: “Oh, I’m in trouble,” to which Ripa responded: “I don’t know where that hand’s been, honey.”  Apparently, Ms. O’Donnell took it upon herself to translate that into a homophobic comment stating: “If that was a straight man…she would have said a different thing.”  You can read the rest of the column by clicking on the link.

I have a major problem with this.  Clay Aiken has never said he is/was a homosexual.  Some people have questioned him about his sexuality but he’s never made a public comment nor is he entitled to.  Is O’Donnell simply trying to add to the numbers of celebrities who have came “out of the closet” so to speak?  Why would she make such a horrible assumption when the man himself hasn’t said a word?  This follows on the heels of her stupid comment equating Christians to Terrorists a few months ago when she first came on the show as a replacement to Star Jones:

On the September 12 edition, in response to fellow co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s comment that militant Islam is a grave threat, O’Donnell stated that “radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America.”

How long is Barbara Walters going to allow this to happen on her show?  O’Donnell is nothing but a hate-filled person who in just three short months has shot the show’s credibility in the foot.  I might add that before O’Donnell officially came on the show she was firing mean-spirited comments at outgoing host Star Jones for her rapid weight loss.  I thought Walters’ whole idea for the show was to provide a light-hearted discussion show with successful women from all walks of life in a setting not unlike a Starbucks coffee shop?  When it started with Star Jones, Lisa Ling, and Meredith Vieira I could see it’s potential though I didn’t watch.  My wife did and while we didn’t always agree with everything that was said, it had a viable cast and I think Walters was on the mark in what she was aiming for.  Since then, the show has embarrassed itself with the Star Jones flap and now this.

How can a serious media pro like Walters tolerate someone like O’Donnell firing shots at Jones, criticizing a large percentage of her audience (Christians), and now questioning Aiken’s sexuality?  If I were Clay Aiken, I’d sue ABC for defamation based on O’Donnell’s assumption and ask for her job to drop the charges.  I admired Ripa’s gutsy call to the show and calling Rosie on the carpet for her stupidity.  O’Donnell tried to make it look like she was being the big person here giving Ripa an outlet to vent but if she didn’t, Ripa would have taken it to the media and bigger problems would have ensued.

From a Christian worldview I’m offended that my view is panned by O’Donnell as hateful, intolerant, and equitable with terrorism.  Apparently, if you’re a homosexual and play the victim card like she does, you’re not questioned for your views and misstatements.  Is this incident so much different from last week’s media flap over Michael Richards making racial epithets at African-Americans in his audience at a California comedy club?  Is there a standard?  I certainly hope ABC television thinks so and does the right thing.  Rosie O’Donnell’s “view” is one that isn’t needed on “The View”.  It needs to ride out into the sunset with Richards’ racist views.

Sadly, I doubt that will happen anytime soon.  Neither one is Ted Haggard.