John McCain appeared on “The View” this morning, where the questioning from Barbara Walters and the other hosts quickly and predictably devolved. McCain answered a question about whether he would “work to overturn Roe v. Wade,” by saying that he and Palin would work to nominate judges who have a “clear record of strict interpretation” of the Constitution. He added that he believed Roe v. Wade was a “bad decision,” eliciting a slight boo from the audience. Goldberg, who joined the show as moderator in 2007 replacing Rosie O’Donnell, then asked, “Did you say you wanted strict constitutionalists? Should I worry about being a slave? A return to slavery? Because there are things in the Constitution that (should have changed.)” McCain responded, “you have a good point,” as Walters jokingly reassured Goldberg and another African-American host, Sherri Shepherd, that she would “protect them” from the impending 21st-century slave market McCain would undoubtedly instate. Other questions from Whoopi included, “Do you believe in a separation of church and state?” and this follow-up: “Does it not give you pause that, should God forbid something happen to you, Sarah Palin doesn’t have the same view?” She was referencing the faith of McCain’s running mate, and Palin’s oft-misrepresented request for prayer for our mission in Iraq, which she delivered to her former church in Wasilla. McCain took the opportunity to talk about the utterly mainstream faith of himself and his running mate, and his respect for others with different beliefs. Walters peppered McCain with questions about Palin’s reputation as a reformer, rivaling many cable news hosts with her tendency to interrupt, which prompted McCain to tell her “now, let me finish” on several occasions. The seasoned interviewer also went for her trademark tear-jerking moment by presenting McCain with recently-found video of his emergence from a Hanoi prison cell, asking him to comment on it. McCain remained dry-eyed, but the moment was emotional as he silently contemplated the young version of himself for several seconds before expressing gratitude that he was able to make it home alive and in the company of some of his comrades.
