Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain shared his love of the band, ABBA; he says that although ABBA has enjoyed unparalleled success, people still view their fans as tasteless.

Former President Bill Clinton is still focused on making his mark in the 2008 presidential election. Although his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, lost the race for the Democratic Party nomination, Bill is eager to get a Democrat in the White House this November.

Clinton has thrown his support behind Senator Barack Obama; some suspect that the move may be a ploy to bolster Hillary’s bid for the vice-presidential spot. Others wonder whether Bill’s involvement will hurt Obama’s odds, since he was perceived as a distraction during his wife’s campaign.

Michelle Obama’s appearance on The View last Wednesday is still at hot topic this week. Several media outlets, including the New York Times, report that Mrs. Obama appears more personable and friendly after co-hosting the show.

The dress she wore has also become the must-have item of the political season, as stores are rapidly selling out of the black-and-white floral ensemble from White House, Black Market.

Yesterday’s show, which Michelle Obama co-hosted, went extremely well. Some viewers anticipated conflicts among the hosts; in fact, all of the women were able to share their varied opinions.

Mrs. Obama joined the hosts, and spoke about her roles as the wife of presumptive presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Elisabeth will appear on Hannity & Colmes on FOX News, while Joy is scheduled to speak on Larry King Live, which airs on CNN.

Mrs. Obama admitted that she did not want her husband to enter the ugly business of politics initially, but changed her opinion once she considered the kind of life and leadership she wants for her family and fellow citizens.

Should Senator Obama win the presidential election, the Obama daughters, Sasha and Malia, would become the youngest children in the White House since the Kennedy administration. Still, Mrs. Obama says that her girls keep her grounded, as she sees her primary role as a parent, not a politician.

The family-oriented nature of the Obama campaign was bolstered by Barack Obama’s Father’s Day speech, in which he called on fathers to take responsibility for their families and children. Although he cited larger societal factors that contribute to parental absences, Obama also called on individuals to be accountable to their loved ones.

On The View this morning, Whoopi asked Michelle Obama the following question: Should the country take a lesson from Big Business and do some diversity training?

Mrs. Obama responded, saying that diversity comes from discussions such as those on The View, where people share perspectives that may stem from differences in personality or background.

When asked whether sexism in the media as it affected Senator Clinton’s campaign, Obama agreed that it did, saying that people aren’t used to strong women and don’t know how to talk about them; indeed, a cover story today in the New York Times talks about Mrs. Obama’s image and how she might go about softening it. To that end, Obama praised Clinton’s efforts, saying that her daughters will have an easier time because of women like the New York Senator.

Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama, co-hosted The View this morning.

The discussion began with questions about an infamous sound bite that detractors claim demonstrated a lack of commitment to the United States. Mrs. Obama reaffirmed her pride in the country, saying that her story, which includes her family’s ability to send her to Princeton, would not be possible elsewhere. She says that she has anewfound pride in the political process, which is due to an increase in engagement across demographics.

Obama did acknowledge the need for politicians to be cognizant of speaking in public in this media age; she says that she takes cues from First Lady Laura Bush, who she describes as a calm and rational figure, who never adds fuel to a fire.

Be sure to watch The View tomorrow, June 18, as Michelle Obama joins the ladies in co-hosting the entire show.

In April, Cindy McCain helped co-host the show; Michelle Obama will follow her this week as the second time the wife of a presidential hopeful shares the stage on The View. Viewers can anticipate answers to questions about her husband’s political stances and plans, as well as insights into her life as the candidate’s spouse.

According to Barbara, networks have certain rules governing journalistic conduct, including withholding personal opinions and not attending political fundraisers. She does acknowledge, however, that contemporary news practices deviate from these guidelines, because commentators and hosts garner higher ratings when they do share their opinions with their audiences.

Although some viewers prefer to rely on the insight and expertise of someone who is more knowledgeable in political matters, the fact/opinion blend delivered by these on-air personalities can be limiting, since people tend to gravitate toward news sources that support positions they already hold.

Tim Russert, who was named one of Time’s Most Influential People of 2008, recently suffered a fatal heart attack.

Russert served as host and commentator of the political analysis program, Meet The Press, where he posed the difficult questions that he maintained would enable viewers to discern relevant information from the politicians and other leaders he interviewed.

Russert will be missed, though Whoopi says she won’t mourn his life, as it was full, pleasant, and full of hope.

Journalist Tina Brown has written what many consider to be the most comprehensive story about the life of Princess Diana in her book, The Diana Chronicles. Brown’s time at Kensington Palace supplied her with insider knowledge and information that allowed her to portray an image of the Princess unseen by many.

When asked about current affairs within the Royal Family, Brown says that although Camilla has finally married Prince Charles, the two now fight more than ever. She also discussed Prince Harry’s desire to return to Afghanistan in a military capacity, but agrees that his involvement endangers his colleagues because of the constant publicity surrounding him.

Brown plans to write The Clinton Chronicles about the political lives of Bill and Hillary Clinton over the past 16 years in the spotlight.

Senator Barack Obama’s historic run for the presidency has raised questions about race in the United States; one issue of note is the ongoing debate about whether Senator Obama will truly be the first black president of the country.

Because Obama has a white mother and was raised by her family, some claim that the Senator is not black, or at least not black enough; Obama, however, has always identified as such, and is forcing many people to reconsider what being black in the United States actually means.

Potholes in the streets, pet waste, and non-functional or missing crosswalk lights are some of the topics Joy has taken to the New York City Council for reconciliation. She encourages others to write or call their city council members, as political life starts at home.

]]> http://www.livebloggingtheview.com/2008/06/12/409/feed/ http://www.livebloggingtheview.com/2008/06/12/diddy-for-obama/ http://www.livebloggingtheview.com/2008/06/12/diddy-for-obama/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:36:55 +0000 judith http://www.livebloggingtheview.com/?p=400

Diddy, the popular rapper whose real name is Sean Combs, has posted a video online pledging his support for Senator Barack Obama’s run for the presidency.

Aside from garnering allegiance to the Senator, the video will likely engage a younger voting demographic and encourage interest in the presidential race.

In New York, the $100 fine for not picking up after one’s pet has remained unchanged for years; the apparent neglect of the issue has led to people becoming more brazen about leaving excrement on the sidewalk.

Crime and disregard for fellow residents are also problematic. In a striking example, viewers were shown a video clip of Angel Torres, an elderly Connecticut man, as he was hit by a car on a busy street. No passersby aided the man, who lay in the street for nearly a full minute before anyone took action. Whoopi proposed the theory that perhaps no one took the incident seriously, due to the prevalence of shows like Punk’d, in which bystanders often fall prey to arranged pranks.

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama are both left-handed, as 60% of American presidents have been. Studies suggest that southpaws tend to be more expansive and integrative thinkers, as opposed to righties, who appear more detail-oriented.

Senator Hillary Clinton dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination last Saturday and has thrown her support behind Senator Barack Obama.

The move may allay some fears harbored by pundits who worry that Senator Obama has not received enough support from working-class white voters.

Senator Clinton’s support has not waned despite her concession, either. As Gloria Steinem suggested on CNN this morning, “men are liked when they win; women are liked when they lose.”

News reports suggest that Caroline Kennedy is part of the team that will help select Obama’s running mate.

The View’s co-hosts speculate that having a Kennedy as part of a presidential campaign effort will boost morale and interest, though Senator Obama has already received an endorsement from Senator Ted Kennedy.

Some candidates have been named as possibilities to run on the ticket, but the question everyone is asking is whether Senator Clinton will be the chosen one.

An article in Vanity Fair magazine claims that Bill Clinton has been philandering again; the article suggests that aides were apparently worried about a relationship with actress Gina Gershon.

Mr. Clinton claims that the article was only published to hurt Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the presidency, though the author of the article is married to former White House Press Secretary DeeDee Myers.

Ms. Gershon has taken action in demanding that Vanity Fair retract the article; she claims that no inappropriate contact ever occurred between her and the former president.