The View: Michael Moore and Elizabeth Hasselbeck Argue 'Should bin Laden Have Had a Trial?'
Right wing leaning Elizabeth Hasselbeck went head to head with known ultra left wing Michael Moore in a debate about the treatment of now deceased al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden on Wednesday's episode of "The View."
Barbara Walters read out comments Moore had made in a previous interview: "I think Osama shouldn't have been killed, people should not have been celebrating.”
Moore explained how Nazi war criminals were put on trial after World War II, and bin Laden should have received the same treatment.
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"(We are) spending 'billions' of dollars of our money on something that has nothing to do with a real threat. The way we show the world that we're different is that we give even the most heinous person their day in court,” Moore said. “If we start to say that we're afraid to hold trials because terrorists might hurt us, we look like a bunch of wussies.”
Hasselbeck, strongly disagreed with Moore’s comments had and fired back with, "You're telling me Osama bin Laden deserves a trial, but where, in New York City at the site of the slaughter of our own 3,000 on 9/11? Absolutely not!”
She added: “Rights are not afforded to him as they are our citizens who obey the laws of our country. Osama bin Laden never deserved those rights. Never did, ever.”
Before the debate could get too heated the segment finished and went to commercial.
After the show Hasselbeck posted a message to her Twitter reading, "Had ctd conversation w @MMFlint - actually might grab lunch together! I respect his authenticity. We simply, passionately agree 2 disagree," referring to Michael Moore and a comment she made toward the end of the segment.
Commenters from “Ontheredcarpet.com” weighed in on the debate, and were heavily divided.
"Michael Moore apparently doesn't know that the Nuremburg trials were held in Germany by the Allies…He blatantly misrepresents the facts. He should tell the troops overseas we aren't currently at war," said user joemassich.
While user rkyoung27 said, "The View should have been cancelled years ago. The Hasselbeck woman is an idiot typical of the brainwashing from the Right Wing. Michael Moore, once again, right on!"
Moore was on the show to promote his new book "Here Comes Trouble: Stories From My Life" while Hasselbeck debuts her new show, "Angels Among Us," where she interviews survivors of the Sep. 11 who believe they were spared by angels.
