'The View' stars Meghan McCain, Joy Behar clash over presidential candidates, socialism
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Things got a little tense on Tuesday's "The View."
During a discussion about Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg, the gay mayor of South Bend, Ind., and his recent rise in popularity, Meghan McCain referred to a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll suggesting many Americans would be okay with a homosexual president.
The same poll, McCain pointed out, found only 25 percent would approve of having a socialist as president.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}MEGHAN MCCAIN TWEETS SUPPORT FOR JOE BIDEN, CALL HIM 'TRULY DECENT AND COMPASSIONATE'
"It’s interesting this NBC/Wall Street Journal poll talked about characteristics voters find enthusiastic or what they’re comfortable with," McCain said.
"The top of the list are African-Americans, second a white man, third a woman and fourth gay/lesbian. It’s not nearly as taboo as I think maybe old adages may have thought.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"What I also found fascinating was at the very bottom, only 25 percent of Americans are comfortable with a socialist becoming president."
McCain's liberal co-host Joy Behar then interjected that voters will "come around" on socialism once they get a better understanding of what it is - and the conversation got heated.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 09: Pete Buttigieg speaks onstage at Conversations About America's Future: Mayor Pete Buttigieg during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin City Limits Live (Photo by Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW) (Getty Images)
"People are smart," McCain said, to which Behar shot back: "So am I."
After a series of heated comments, including Behar pondering if her co-host was questioning her intelligence, McCain lamented: "I miss Whoopi [Goldberg] when she’s not here."
Goldberg, another co-host, was not on Tuesday's show.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}McCain wrapped up the testy segment by saying: "I’m just trying to explain... Democratic Socialists could be leading you toward the path of Trump getting re-elected. Instead, I’m told I don’t understand what a Democratic Socialist is. I assure you, Joy, I do."