Network: 
Rosie O'Donnell announced this morning that she is leaving 'The View.' She said the reason is that ABC wanted her to sign a three-year contract, and she only wanted to renew for one. While there was absolutely no mention of her being asked to leave as some have speculated, I do wonder if we are being told everything about why she's leaving now.
Just yesterday, AOL News ran a story on the 'Queen of Controversy.' The reaction to Rosie from readers (see polls below) was largely negative. 55% "hate her" and 81% don't generally agree with her viewpoint.
In the news blog that accompanied the AOL story, over 1500 people left comments. Whether Rosie is leaving of her own accord or not, what struck me about people's retorts to 'The Queen of Controversy' piece were the targets at which readers directed their dislike, namely, that she's 1) a fat pig, 2) a "muff-diving lesbo", and 3) an opinionated woman who should keep her mouth shut.
Do Rosie's weight, sexual orientation and gender make her a triple threat to people's sensibilties? As a big-boned uber-dyke with a strong viewpoint who isn't afraid to comment on Fox News' conservative bias, or G.W. Bush rushing overnight to comfort people at (mostly white and affluent) Virginia Tech but waiting a week to visit (mostly black and poor) Katrina-affected areas, I can't help but think that people hate her for all the wrong reasons.
Rosie's views are no more outrageous than the popular shock jocks of our day. In fact, I would say that Bill O'Reilly, Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh and others of that ilk are far more offensive than Rosie. But they aren't fat (Rush is "husky"), they aren't dykes, and they aren't women.
Is that what this is really all about? Just a question.
Rosie's departure from 'The View' is a loss for gay America. Yes, she's out there, she pushes people's buttons, she -- according to some -- gives gays a bad name, but I liked that she had a forum like 'The View.' And plenty of people love Rosie and learn from her, including stay-at-home mothers and working women like my own mom. It tickled me that there was a big fat dyke on TV who would take on Rupert Murdoch. But then, I love fat dykes, and I can't stand Rupert Murdoch.
I'll miss Rosie. But that's just me.
AOL News Poll:
Video: Some AOL video fanatic seems to have assembled a collection of footage about Rosie leaving and various pieces that appear to be both pro and con. Have a look at rosiequits.com
Comments:
(337)Add a comment
Wednesday 25 April
By Chuck
I'm gay and completely disagree with you on the Rosie thing. She's a loud, unreasonable bully who spouts nonsense (conspiracy theories, expresses more concern for terrorists than our troops, etc).
And while I'm not a big O'Reilly fan, how is he more offensive than Rosie? Or Rush Limbaugh for that matter?
Have you listened to Limbaugh. He might be arrogant, but hardly ever offensive.
Rosie, our unelected gay spokesbitch on daytime TV, did quite a bit of harm to gay visibility. Lets hope we're not all seen as shrill, unpatriotic, hanging upside down dingbats.
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Wednesday 25 April
By ed devine
rosie continues to show her ignorance,with her comments.she is so blinded by her hatred for the president is clouds her judgement.and as for her so called stand up routine last night about wanting to give a baldman a boner weres the outrage there were young kids in audiance typical of the left ...
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Wednesday 25 April
By Chuck
I'm very glad to see her go. She's totally without class, manners, and informed perspectives.
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Wednesday 25 April
By Kenneth
To Chuck: I guess being offended is subjective.
What Rush Limbaugh has said:
"Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"
"The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies"
"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."
What O''Reilley has said:
"The Family Research Council and all the other have all the other data that says [children with gay parents would be better off with a mother and father], that there is a -- something missing in the emotional realm, but I don't even want to get into that. Nature dictates that a dad and a mom is the optimum, does it not?"
Those comments don't offend you? In that case, I guess we are very different kinds of gay man.
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Wednesday 25 April
By Jim
In all my years of living, I have yet to meet one person, gay or straight, that I agree with 100% of the time. Who wants a world full of sycophants?
I think people are always threatened by any opinionated female. For the life of me I cannot understand why. I suppose we're not as advanced a society as we would like to claim to be.
The labels fat, dyke, etc. Insults are the realm of those with low or no intelligence, who devolve to insults rather than make an attempt at a dialogue or intelligent conversation. Perhaps it is easier to spit out eff you, rather than think.
I may not agree with every word that Rosie says, but I respect her for speaking her opinion. I love her for being "out, loud, and proud". I'm sure if I ever spoke my mind on television, I'd have some people spinning like a whirling dirvish. I expect there to be the usual round of name calling, crowing, and insult throwing. To all of it I say, how pathetic.
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Wednesday 25 April
By Leslie
Rosie did this to herself. Her behavior would be unacceptable for any person. She lacks any manners. class, compassion or any empathy at all for her fellow human beings. A jerk is a jerk, gay, straight or in between. WHy should we support that as a nation of consumers? How is Rosie helping? She is not facilitating discussion; she is creating controversy. If it backlashed against her, welcome to mainstream America where normality rules. Good riddance to bad rubbish, imo.
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Wednesday 25 April
By Red7Eric
I'm completely with you on this one, Ken. The fact that most white gay men that I know have more tolerance for white male blowhards like Rush and O'Reilly than they do for an outspoken lesbian like Rosie is really sad to me.
Most of Rosie's critics never watched The View, and only have to work with what the media gives them, which is rarely the full picture. Rosie had some questions about 9/11, but she never accused the Bush administration of treason. Rosie pointed out that the U.S. military has killed thousands of Iraqi civilians, but never showed any sympathy for the terrorists who brought down the Twin Towers or that plant roadside bombs in Baghdad. Her ideas aren't that far away from most thinking Americans, but she's been bulldozed by the conservative media -- and we let them because she's a big fat dyke.
Shame on us.
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Wednesday 25 April
By PAULA
DOESNT MATTER WHAT HER SEXUAL ORIENTATION IS OR WHAT HER GENDER, SHE IS A LOUD MOUTH PIG. WHO OBVIOUSLY IS STARVING FOR ATTENTION. ITS APPARENT SHE HAS SOME SELF-CONFIDENCE ISSUES AS WELL AS A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF POLITICAL ISSUES, AND SHE WILL SAY ANYTHING THAT GOES AGAINST THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WEATHER RIGHT OR WRONG.
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Wednesday 25 April
By Diana
The only reason I watched the view was because of Rosie. I am sorry to see her go. This is America and I think people have forgotten that. Freedom of speech. Even though I don't always agree. That is what this great country is about. To be able to voice the way we all feel about things!
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Wednesday 25 April
By James Ranson
Kenny you know my feelings for Rosie but I'll share them again. I think she is a bullying, bitch who loves to start fires solely for sake of focusing more attention on herself. I think you once described Perez Hilton to me as a bullying bitch in your mind; so I find it interesting that you despise him, yet give props to Rosie. They're really one and the same; she just has the bigger stage, and (the part I hate:) nationally syndicated television to seemingly legitimize her bullshit propaganda.
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Wednesday 25 April
By Kevin B
If it turns out Rosie is indeed a spokesperson for gays in any sense, I'm headed back into the closet folks!!
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Sunday 13 May
By Joni
I am so glad rosie is outa there!! She is a disgrace to the show and all they wanted her for is ratings. You may have the ratings but a blowhard on the panel who makes her point by belowing out her beliefs and shoving them down our throats
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Wednesday 25 April
By sephanie
Well I guess Rosie has done her job ... she has everyone talking...........Whether you agree with her or not .... she has you talking ... talking about the president, the war, gays, virginia tech, making you take a stand and some of you are doing something about your opinions.....Way to Go Rosie !!!!!!! I wish she would stay .. she has America talking and taking action... we need more like her.
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Wednesday 25 April
By Jan
I tried to watch Rosie on The View. Everytime I turned it on, she was talking loud, interrupting other people, being rude.
It felt like she had to have all the attention, all the time.
Perhaps some of her behavior is due to depression or the medication she is on, but mostly it appears to be ego-driven.
What a shame. It was a great forum to gain respect and show that we are "everyday" people. Instead she wasted her time there creating stupid feuds.
BTW, there are many web sites that address the theories about World Trade Center Building 7 and how it came down. Rosie was not spouting any new ideas.
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Wednesday 25 April
By Andrew
** I just thought what Jim said should be said again because I liked what he wanted to say.
"In all my years of living, I have yet to meet one person, gay or straight, that I agree with 100% of the time. Who wants a world full of sycophants?
I think people are always threatened by any opinionated female. For the life of me I cannot understand why. I suppose we're not as advanced a society as we would like to claim to be.
The labels fat, dyke, etc. Insults are the realm of those with low or no intelligence, who devolve to insults rather than make an attempt at a dialogue or intelligent conversation. Perhaps it is easier to spit out eff you, rather than think.
I may not agree with every word that Rosie says, but I respect her for speaking her opinion. I love her for being "out, loud, and proud". I'm sure if I ever spoke my mind on television, I'd have some people spinning like a whirling dirvish. I expect there to be the usual round of name calling, crowing, and insult throwing. To all of it I say, how pathetic."
Thanks Jim :)
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Wednesday 25 April
By boredwell
Rosie, Sen Reid, Imus, the student in Colorado, the Professor at Emmanuel College...our right to speak out seems,at this moment in time, to be in jeopardy. Our collective intolerance has yielded results: Imus (justified) and Professor (unjustified) were sacked;the former with public fanfare and ceremony; the latter summarily; the student arrested; aand Sen Reid attacked as undermining the morale of our troops. And then there is Rosie. Imus was crude and rude,probably will continue to be. Rosie is brash and enjoys brandishing her view of the zeitgeist. The VIEW (in my opinion is a lame excuse for entertainment! I was embarrassed by their collective personas. I mean, sitting around on a sofa while they compete to be heard. Reminds me of my neice's sorority sisters! Rosie enjoyed brandishing her "view" of the Zeitgeist. While her delivery was raucous and rather self-centered she commanded an audience of 31 million (women AND MEN!).Unheard of for ANY daytime show. Rosie the the polar opposite of those well-dressed mannikins cooing and cackling, legs primly crossed and competing to shout out (or down) the most innocuous stuff and silly humor. Rosie upset those prims and propers. She breached their tacit agreement to NOT speak up, speak out on the "rough stuff" that is better left to THE NEWS HOUR! Yo, Rosie's a real shit kicker and I'm glad she knows how to stand up and take it as well as give it! It's ironic that the very same audience wants to express his/her opinions (mostly negative and egregiously so). Why does this audience feel the right to express oneself should NOT be extended to Rosie? Another glaring irony: the show is called THE VIEW. Alright already!!!
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Wednesday 25 April
By KittenPurr
I used to love Rosie. Once upon a time she embodied that child like wonder that lurks in all of us.
What happened??
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Thursday 26 April
By Ci
I cannot stand Rosie yesterday, today & tomorrow, nor could I ever tolerate her. Who gives a big daamn what her sexual preference is? Who cares what her personal thoughts are? Better yet, why do we have to hear them day in & day out? For heavens sakes, look at the polls....and if the rating went up while she's been on the View all I can say is, I'm sure the rating were sky high during the O.J. Simpson trial and now the Phil Sector disgrace. So rating do mean people watch a wide variety of things on television good and horrible and to watch a human like Rosie make a daily ass of herself is no exception. I'll say one thing (and sorry to say it) I have lost total respect for Barbara Walters. I suppose she's proof there is a time to retire at a graceful age and leave when you're on top. Instead she's worked overtime to loose all the credibilty she once had. Thank you for this forum to vent my anger on this whole subject.
Ci Ingram
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Wednesday 25 April
By betty
SO SO glad to see Rosie leave. She is OFFENSIVE, Big mouthed, and I don't care if she is gay... I don't want it thrown in every other thing she says. She never missed a chance to toss in sexual orientation. I feel no need to do that! Most people don't. I hate having lesbianism shoved down my throat every other time she speaks. She does not have a "wife" since she is not legally married..she has a live in lesbian lover. I don't care...I'm just sick of hearing about it..
so glad the damnable pig is leaving.
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Wednesday 25 April
By cindy
rosie slams those she disagrees with - refering to them as idiots,and in may instances, much worse. She has gone as far to say that such individuals should not have a forum in which to spout their "bigoted" views. She then declares herself as a champion of free speech. You can't have it both ways.
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