Sunny Hostin and Sara Haines Clash Over Antisemitism: 'This is Not an Argument You Should Both-Sides'

The View doesn't have the best track record when it comes to tackling antisemitism, and on Friday morning, the co-hosts' deficiencies were once again on full display as they discussed the rise in anti-Jewish hate in the United States.

The roundtable discussion began with Sara Haines, who attempted to argued that antisemitism "crosses the entire political spectrum" and "comes in all shapes and forms." She added that antisemitic remarks have "gotten passes across the spectrum," but "it is racism, and every time — in every form in every shape — it needs to be called out."

Joy Behar wasn't having Haines' both-sides equivalency. "The difference is that when it comes from the left, the Democrats speak out against it," she said. "When it comes from the right, it's silence."

Still, the discussion continued, and when Alyssa Farah Griffin cited Rep. Ilhan Omar as an example of antisemitism on the left, Sunny Hostin jumped in to note that "she got training, and spoke out again" to apologize. "Far-right extremists are responsible for the overwhelming majority of domestic extremist-related murders in 2021," said Hostin. "The FBI director made it very clear that this is coming from one group. So this is not an argument, in my view, that you should both-sides. Let's call out where it's coming from."

"The unique part of antisemitism is that it is actually pretty equally represented and allowed on both sides, full stop," replied Haines, offering nothing additional to back up her claim. She went on to say that her husband, who is ethnically Jewish but not religious, "does not want anything indicating that our children are Jewish" out of fear for their safety.

ADDRESSING THE RISE OF ANTISEMITISM IN U.S.: Following NBA star Kyrie Irving apologizing for an antisemitic post, #TheView co-hosts weigh in as the FBI warns that America is experiencing a steep rise in antisemitism over the past few weeks. https://t.co/cVclFZyKV0 pic.twitter.com/9EkHwxA83V

— The View (@TheView) November 4, 2022

"Can I say something on this both-sides thing?" replied Navarro. "Bigotry exists everywhere, but the reason I don't think this is a both-sides type of thing is because you have a Joe Biden, who two days ago got up and made a full speech in front of the nation against hate-fueled violence."

"But Ilhan Omar is still on the Foreign Affairs Committee!" replied Griffin. "But Nancy Pelosi made her apologize," fired back Navarro.

The ladies continued to talk in circles and repeat themselves, until Behar took it upon herself to end the segment with a common refrain: "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist ... Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me."

While it's admirable that The View is so committed to discussing antisemitism, there's a way to do so that feels productive and timely — and this definitely wasn't it.

Claire Spellberg Lustig is the Senior Editor at Primetimer and a scholar of The View. Follow her on Twitter at @c_spellberg.