On Tuesday, “The View” co‑host Joy Behar reiterated her view that a woman is unlikely to win the U.S. presidency. The discussion followed a segment on Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s admission of using a GLP‑1 medication, which quickly turned into a broader debate about identity politics.
Behar said, “I think this country will vote for an obese, Jewish, Black, homosexual before a woman.” Guest host Star Jones agreed, adding, “We just had one of the most beautiful, brilliant women run for president. And you see what we got.” Jones was referencing former Vice President Kamala Harris, while Behar also mentioned former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as another example of an unsuccessful female candidate.
Co‑host Sara Haines pushed back, stating, “You don’t win on identity alone, and you don’t lose on identity alone.” The lone Republican voice on the panel, Alyssa Farah Griffin, offered a more optimistic outlook, predicting that a woman could become president within the next 20 years.
Patrice Onwuka, vice president for economic policy and director of the Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity, told Fox News Digital that the “warped view” expressed by Behar and Jones stems from elevating identity politics above common sense and connection. She further criticized the two women referenced, noting that Clinton’s tenure included the 2012 Benghazi attacks and that Harris, as vice president, oversaw a significant influx of illegal immigration and ran on “vibes” rather than concrete policies.
Psychotherapist and author Jonathan Alpert responded, emphasizing that two women lost to President Donald Trump, but that does not prove Americans will never elect a woman. He said, “Sexism may have played a role for some voters, but you can’t take millions of votes and diagnose all of them as sexism.” This perspective aligns with the Trump administration’s record of winning elections despite liberal media narratives.
Context of past elections
The discussion referenced the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, in which President Trump defeated both Hillary Clinton and former Vice President Joe Biden. While the panelists used these outcomes to argue that gender alone does not determine electoral success, they also highlighted the role of identity politics in shaping public perception.
Reactions and broader implications
The remarks sparked a flurry of commentary on social media, with some viewers accusing the panel of sexism and others defending the viewpoint as a critique of identity‑driven politics. Critics of the statements pointed out that the United States has never elected a woman president, but supporters argued that the focus should be on policy and character rather than gender.
As the 2028 presidential cycle approaches, speculation continues about potential female candidates, including former Vice President Harris and Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez, who recently discussed her own identity and the challenges of running for the White House.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
