HOW I GOT SNIPPED BY 'THE VIEW'

Michael Smerconish

July 12, 2007

I THINK I got muzzled while appearing on "The View."

Ironically, I was on to talk about the need for less censorship and more-free conversation on matters of public interest.

Two years ago, I wrote a book called "Muzzled," in which I argued that political correctness is so pervasive in the United States that it threatens our ability to win the war on terror. The book briefly made the New York Times best-seller list, and its recent paperback release accounted for my invitation for a discussion with Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Kim Coles (in Rosie's old seat).

I had the good luck of being booked on a show headlined by recent "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis. We taped the show on June 11 for a June 14 airing.

During my segment, I made the case that society needs a thicker skin, and a freer exchange of ideas. Words and actions in this country have been muted by those who assert their political correctness while sacrificing the individualism that's been the hallmark of our nation.

I argued that, in the past, this sanitization of what we say and do would have been debate-worthy, but only a minor irritant to our quality of life. But now it's a cancer that's metastasized into the war on terror, where it threatens our very survival.

The ladies of "The View" seemed receptive to my comments, and the audience was psyched when they were told they would each get a free copy of the book. So far, so good.

So I was pleased when I learned that the program would re-air on July 4, a day when many Americans would be home to tune in. I certainly did. But what I saw was a slightly different broadcast. About 20 seconds of my comments were edited out, and not seemingly because of a time constraint.

In the June 14 version of the show, I said that my disdain for political correctness didn't forgive the far-out remarks of Mel Gibson, Ann Coulter or Isaiah Washington, at which point I was asked by Joy Behar about Don Imus' recent comments.

I said: "I believe that Don Imus said something boneheaded, and that the public flogging that he was enduring was punishment enough. And I had a difficult time accepting Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson as the arbiters of good taste."

The crowd applauded. I continued: "And look what happened. Al Roker is the guy who called for [Imus'] dismissal. Have you followed what's up with Roker? Roker made a comment last week about folks with epilepsy. And all of a sudden, he's apologizing . . . one of those phony apologies . . . 'To the extent that I offended anyone . . .' "

(Roker had made the joke about epileptic behavior while discussing a video featuring the logo for the 2012 Olympics, which some claimed triggered epileptic seizures. Roker apologized the next day, saying, "If anybody was offended, I heartily and really humbly apologize.")

Walters cut in and said she didn't think Roker meant to offend anybody. She then told me she had to "muzzle" me due to the time, and the show ended.

But when the episode was re-broadcast, my comments about Roker were gone, edited out.

What possible reason would ABC have for deleting my comment about an NBC personality?

Well, unknown to me, but brought to my attention by many of my radio listeners, is that Roker's wife, Deborah Roberts, is a news correspondent for ABC.

Sounds like something straight from my book.

A conversation about overbearing censorship and political correctness can't even occur without it being reshuffled to appease somebody. How ironic, and fitting, that the mere discussion of that appeasement is subject to the same fine-tooth comb.

We can't keep mining our conversations for every little nugget that might be deemed offensive to somebody. We need to rediscover our ability in America to let the small stuff roll off our back, and to settle things with hand gestures, not lawsuits. Our ability to clearly see the war on terror depends on it.

Don't get me wrong. I appreciated the invitation to appear on "The View," and happy that my episode was rerun so soon after it first aired. Too bad it wasn't quite deja-"View." *

Listen to Michael Smerconish weekdays 5:30-9 a.m. on the Big Talker, 1210/AM. Read him Sundays in the Inquirer. Contact him via the Web at www.mastalk.com.