The View is lost to Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow has refused to appear on the television show, The View, because of his disagreements with one of the hostesses, Elizabeth Hasselbeck. This is despite the fact that he has appeared before on The View with Hasselbeck on the show. Apparently, he's still miffed over the spat that Hasselbeck and Rosie O'Donnell had earlier in the year which led to Rosie's departure.

I can only call this refusal silly, because it accomplishes nothing positive, and it makes people of his political leanings - liberal Democrat - look like sore and petty losers. Rosie's problems preceded her spat with Hasselbeck, and in truth, Rosie was to blame for the problems she found herself in, not Hasselbeck. And Rosie then promptly quit rather than go on. There's a term for this: Rosie could dish it out, but she couldn't take it. Anyone who is going to be as outspoken as her needs to develop a hide of iron, or they won't last long at all.

As for Barry, instead of pulling this silly stunt of his, he should have gone on anyway and, while onstage, he could have made some kind of statement that he misses Rosie being on the show or a statement like that. He could have sang that song of his that has the lyrics "I can't laugh, and I can't sing. I'm finding it hard to do anything" and dedicate it to Rosie.

I doubt that Hasselbeck was hurt or even felt guilty over Barry's stunt. It says more about him than her anyway. Bad move, Barry.