Anderson Cooper: A 360 View on Rosie, Trump
Ok, s
o as a View devotee (and recent interviewer of Executive Producer Bill Geddie), I've of course been taken by this whole Rosie/Trump battle. In case you're focusing on more, um, significant matters, here's the summary:
After reports of Miss USA, Tara Conner, drinking, snorting cocaine and gallivanting with guys, Donald Trump, who owns the pageant, held a news conference to pardon the 21-year-old. Rosie O'Donnell then called out Trump on The View for exploiting the girl and staging the whole thing to get publicity for the new season of his show The Apprentice, which premieres in January.
She told him to "sit and spin, my friend," likened him to a "snakeoil salesman" and said he'd been "bankrupt so many times, where he didn't have to pay the people he owed." Trump then hit the press circuit, telling the Insider that Rosie was "disgusting," and "a slob" who "talks like a truck driver" and that he wanted to take "some money out of her fat-ass pockets." He also told the New York Daily News that when he saw the tape, he said he was going to send one of his "friends" to "take" her girlfriend.Quoting the article: "I imagine it would be pretty easy to take her girlfriend away, considering how Rosie looks."
Ok, it's all ridiculous. But not so much that CNN's - and the blogosphere's - favorite newsman Anderson Cooper didn't want in on the action. On last night's 360, after playing clips of both Rosie and Trump, Cooper deadpanned: (click here for full episode transcript) "I don't even know what to say. I think these two people take themselves far too seriously. Anyway, I don't want to get into this. I don't even know what to say. I'm completely verklempt. So let's just move on, shall we? Let's."
Buuut, he didn't do that before mocking Connor's teary apology - what he called his "favorite sound bite of the week," saying he was going to be "the best gosh darn Miss USA you've ever seen." Hmm…
On today's View, Rosie had but a smirk for Donald, although she did bring her partner Kelli to the show saying she was afraid someone with a combover might otherwise have taken her away. (clip courtesy of The Blog You Love to Hate via YouTube)
One thing no one except Gawker seems to have picked up on, Conner was a guest judge on episode two of this past season of Bravo's Project Runway . She had the designers pitch her gowns and got on famously with Kayne, the endearingly loquacious pageant expert - seemed like a nice girl then.
I was hoping Bravo's resident blogging mouthpiece Andy Cohen might give us some inside dish on his post today, but all he gave the whole shenanigan was a mere "niblet" about how riveting he finds the Rosie/Trump feud. Disappointing.
By Anne Becker
BLUE commented:
If we saw this kind of exchange on a kindergarten playground we would pull the children apart and try to teach them restaint and respect for one another. Taking sides is the most foolish position we could find ourselves in. Think about it people!
rosiefan commented:
The View isn't Rosie's "2nd chance"; you don't think BW didn't BEG Rosie to help save the View??? Nobody was ever going to talk about what Elisabeth and Joy were saying, not to mention Barbara's endless plugs for her other shows. Now The View is big news everywhere. Go Rosie!!!!
jude commented:
We should let Mr. Combover know just how powerful woman are and boycott the Apprentice. That should harm more than his ego...
go rosie commented:
Donald Trump makes me ill. I saw a program where they went into his home to show off his new baby. He has no clue what real life is all about. When asked if he changes diapers his comment was a resounding NO. All of Rosie's comments about him were right on the money. His comments about her just showed his true ignorant side. I sure hope his new wife who is 26 years his junior never gains any weight like real women sometimes do. 26 years older than his wife, that is sick.
Former Cooper Fan commented:
I believe Rosie didn’t get or need a “second chance". She left tv of her own volition and if memory serves me right, her ratings were VERY strong and the studio producing her show begged her to reconsider. She checked out of life in the TV fast lane to focus on being a parent. BW asked her to come and do the show and she agreed to a 9 month contract to test the waters. It seems most people (including Mr. Cooper) missed her whole point with her comments on Trump. She was pointing out that he is a sleazeball and that this whole thing had nothing to do with anything other than his own self promotion for his upcoming season of the apprentice (which has been in the ratings basement the last few times out). Her other point being- the man has no morals. He cheated on his wives, cheated his investors, cheated his long time employee Carolyn out of her success and recognition by firing her when she was getting too much attention and taking away from his limelight. Sadly, the average American who considers People magazine to be literary genius, Burger King to be culinary excellence and Monster Truck rallies to be superior entertainment probably also thinks Trump is a financial genius. Yes, really successful Billionaires always sign on to do reality shows dontcha know! The Gates and the Buffets of the world know this is a true measure of financial acumen! Why waste time trying to cure terrible diseases in 3rd world countries when you can be promoting your failing businesses and bad taste on TV! Hopefully his cheap and transparent (to anyone with an IQ over 50) publicity stunt will result in the network finally getting smart and using his own pompous words on him-You're Fired! My only regret is Rosie gave him more PR. I am very disappointed in Mr. Cooper. Usually he is much better than that.
joanne commented:
Donald is going hoarse from trying to keep this non existant feud in front of the cameras, Rosie has shown the high road and ignored his hateful spews, Anderson dropped the ball failing to support Rosie, who has done so much for the victims of Katrina. Hey Anderson, Oprah has a camera on you, now will you be nice?
Sandy commented:
Rosie is a comedian with strong opinions. Trump is a walking, talking blowhard who happens to be rich and has a TV show premiering soon. Rosie was commenting, not on the fact that Miss USA was given a second chance, but on the fact that Trump is passing moral judgements on this girl when his personal track record is anything but (unfaithful to his wives, married multiple times, not paying his debts, etc). Make sense now? For him to come back and call Rosie disgusting, a slob, a loser and fat-ass just shows that money cannot buy class or taste. I'm boycotting his lame-ass show - it's been going steadily downhill anyway...
sps commented:
How sad it was listening to Mr. Trump discussing his feelings about Ms. O'Donnell! They both have a lot to learn about life! I am neither rich nor popular but I have morals! I love life, my family, my friends, and My GOD! I pray that my God will help them to learn the true meaning of life before it is too late for them both! I Hope Mr. Trump will listen to the tape of himself talking to Anderson. Maybe that will tell him something!Mr. Trump and Ms. O'Donnell I am a teacher. I love teaching more than anything in the world. There are so many schools that need finicial support. I wish that you both would take out your frustrations with each other on helping some of our schools rather than hurting each other! May God Bless you and peace fill your hearts!
Anne commented:
If you dont have something nice to say-then dont say anything at all. That is the quote I was raised on-maybe they both should try and follow it. I do think Mr. Trump should reconsider his comments about truck drivers. Most truck drivers I know have and excellent vocabulary. Maybe Mr. Trump should think before he makes such offensive comments.
i luv rosie commented:
The Donald is a rich hateful misogynistic twit. rosie tells the truth. donald wouldn't know morality if it hit him in the face.
iluv rosie commented:
donald is a twit and a liar. rosie speaks the truth. i love that on a medium that's full of bull.
JenJen commented:
Puleeze, this is a publicity stunt for both of these people, nothing more.
hmcmo commented:
I LOVED Anderson Cooper's take on the whole O'Donnell / Trump spat on Thursday's program (Dec 21st) when they kept cutting back to him in-between clips of Rosie and Donald and Anderson is snacking on something new each time.. popcorn, soda, twizzlers. That's why I love Anderson Cooper. He's got a sense of humor about the silly stuff
LCass commented:
I'm not a fan of either, but I think most people would expect this from Ms. O'Donnell, after all she is a very outspoken woman. And that's just it, she is a WOMAN, and for a supposed gentleman to speak in such a way about a woman, NO MATTER what, is disgusting and shows that Mr. Trump is the poster child for "Just because you have money, doesn't mean you have class". If he was that upset, he should've done things the decent way, through lawyers. He is a PIG!
Commenter commented:
Oh please....it's the pot calling the kettle black...ummm seem to remember Rosie herself getting a second chance...um when she got the job on the View.
Maybe Trump should have taken the high road and said just that to rebut the butinski Rosie...but from the get go Rosie has NO business criticizing someone for giving someone a second chance...Rosie should think..gee I think that is exactly what Barbara Walters did for her.
JEG commented:
You can love her, hate her, or just be annoyed by her, but one thing I admire is the fact that she's not afraid to speak her mind. She has a big heart and gives a ton of money to charities and becomes personally involved in creating many. She built a lot of shelters for the Katrina refugees that were rotting in FEMA parks. Her shelters have nurses, psychiatrists, counselors to help people reenter the world, huge playgrounds for the kids, etc. and all with her own money. She is very involved with them and visits often. She cares and gives a lot. If she annoys you, fine, but just look past that at how she gives before you pass judgement. I don't have a problem with Trump necessarily, but his ego is used to everyone bowing down and kissing his ass. He's beside himself because he's been called out. He would show more class by not responding. Rosie is a tough cookie and she speaks her mind. You gotta admire that.
SWalker commented:
In regards to Mr. Trump I totally agree with Rosie. Mr. Trump treated all his wives badly, especially Ivanna. In interviews with his now grown children he makes it sound as if he was a committed parent raising his children, when it was Ivanna that was the full time committed parent while he was out making bazillions more money. He was unfaithful to all of them, and although Ivanna helped him when he was no one and nothing, he fought her tooth and nail for every penny when they broke up. He's shown no remorse for his bad behavior, and I think Rosie hit a nerve no one else dared go near. He's Mr. Ego and has never shown any remorse for what he's done to his wives and family. It's nice and sweet Ms. USA got another chance and everyone needs at least one, but what about the stuff that realy counts, your family? He'll lose if it goes to court.