'View' Co-Host Elisabeth Hasselbeck on Sarah Palin: 'As Real As They Come'

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," September 5, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: She is the sole bright conservative voice on "The View." And yesterday I caught up with Elisabeth Hasselbeck at the RNC, and I got her reaction to all the activity and, of course, the Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANNITY: It's good to see you.

ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, ABC'S "THE VIEW": Good to see you always. In person it's nice. I watch you every night but...

HANNITY: Thank you. We love having you on the show. But more importantly — all — Sarah Palin, she had four fewer networks and almost the same amount of viewers as Barack Obama. What are your thoughts?

HASSELBECK: Oh, my goodness. All I can say is cover is off the ball. She knocked it out of the park. She addressed everything dead on. Not afraid. She is a true American. I am — I am thrilled with Senator McCain's choice.

HANNITY: I am, too.

HASSELBECK: I think there are a lot of people. I actually had the chance to sit and talk with her today.

HANNITY: Tell us about that. She has access we don't have. All right. So you spoke to her. What did you say?

HASSELBECK: I did speak with Governor Palin today. I was at a luncheon for Cindy McCain. Great tribute to her. And Governor Palin actually made the time to talk to me. And she didn't have to. She's got a busy schedule.

And she is as real as they come. You could tell that she loves her family. She's the last person to be affected by the smear campaign that's going on by the left.

HANNITY: I want to ask you about that, because it's — I've been using the line that journalism is dead in America. You know, she has had more questions about her 17-year-old daughter in five days than — than Barack Obama had about his friendship with Bill Ayers, who I've talked a lot about, in 19 months.

HASSELBECK: Yes.

HANNITY: What do you think about that? And what do you think the result of that will be?

HASSELBECK: I think we should be paying attention to the fact that there are those on the left that are afraid of dealing with the issues. Why? Why don't they deal with the issues? Why don't they put their names on their campaign banners? Why are their names not on there?

HANNITY: Right.

HASSELBECK: What are they so afraid of? They're so afraid now of Governor Palin that they cannot even attack her on her credentials, because she — she blows them away...

HANNITY: Right.

HASSELBECK: ... that they will then go after her daughter who's a minor. ... And the child she's about to have.

HANNITY: Right. You know, one of the things — but you know, think about this. And I was asking callers on my radio show today. And we've been asking any liberal that will come on with me on FOX. You know, they want to make experience the issue. That's one of the things I've been asking.

Do you know what a community organizer is? Because I still don't know what one is.

(LAUGHTER)

And, I keep asking, what are the three things that Barack has done to be president?

HASSELBECK: Well, and you see, anyone who tries to answer that question will stumble and then go back. Here's what he has done, and it was said last night. He's written two memoirs and no laws. His priorities are where?

I think we came to understand that clearly last night. Former Mayor Giuliani, I think, had no restraint in terms of...

HANNITY: That's the mayor we know.

HASSELBECK: Breaking it down for the American people and letting us know what's really happening. And apparently, Senator Obama has been focused and able to write a bunch of things about himself.

HANNITY: Right.

HASSELBECK: But nothing for the American people as of yet. And that's definitely an important thing to consider.

The other thing was — that I loved when he said there are no "present" votes when you're in a position to govern.

HANNITY: That's true. That's true.

HASSELBECK: And should we be in a position of crisis, you can't vote neither a yes or a no. You need one or the other.

HANNITY: America — America's watched, you know, you and your two wonderful children. And you talk about your kids a lot. And you're a working mom. It's this balance between, you know, career and as successful as you are and as in demand as you are and balancing your family life.

They talked, for example, a lot at the Democratic convention about Joe Biden. And I actually praise him for this, after the tragic loss of his wife, he would travel by Amtrak every night. And he would go home and raise his kids. Why do they bring up the issue or raise the question that maybe Sarah Palin can't do both? Is there a sexism there?

HASSELBECK: Of course. I mean, we're going to see this misogyny through the rest of this election and probably beyond it.

But I do believe this. It's ironic to me that the party that wants to wear the banner of women's rights will then be the one to condemn her for being a woman, carrying a career and a family at the same time. Let me tell you, having a family makes a career seem easy.

HANNITY: You really identify with, you relate to Sarah Palin?

HASSELBECK: Sure, absolutely. You know, I had a good friend of mine call me. She lives in Ohio in a small town there. And she said to me, "Gosh, Elisabeth, I thought that Senator Clinton was my only choice. I was — I tried to identify with her and couldn't, for a lot of reasons."

When Sarah Palin took the stage, she said she finally felt as though she had a woman who was speaking for her. And I would gather that there are millions out there who feel the same way.

HANNITY: It was a historic night last night. And I would argue that this is going to be a big game changer.

All right. So now we have the dynamic on "The View." Are you going to be the only one supporting the ticket? Do you know where the other girls stand? Where is Barbara? Where is Whoopi? Where's...

HASSELBECK: I think we — I think we know where Joy stands.

HANNITY: No, she's on the hard left.

HASSELBECK: She's hard left.

HANNITY: Yes.

HASSELBECK: And that's why sometimes I think I seem so hard right. You know, it's when you're paired up against someone who's so liberal.

HANNITY: Like Alan.

HASSELBECK: Exactly! In terms of Whoopi, and Barbara, and Sherri, I actually think there's potential there for them to now see something on this side of the ticket that maybe they weren't seeing before in a new way.

HANNITY: Right. How is the audience reacting so far?

HASSELBECK: You know, I've seen a great shift in our audience, actually, Sean.

HANNITY: Wow.

HASSELBECK: Before when I would say something in favor of the Republican side of the ticket or for Senator John McCain, you know, there would be a little bit — a little bit of noise. And afterward, someone would quietly come up to me and say, "Hey, I want you to know I agree with you."

HANNITY: Oh, they say it quietly.

HASSELBECK: Who's going to come out and hurt you if you say it out loud?

Now I have seen a great shift. And it's been gradual, which I think is better. It's been a gradual shift, where people more and more are getting loud about their support for the Republican ticket.

HANNITY: Right.

HASSELBECK: And I am — I think it — I think it indicates a big change going on. But it's a steady change, which I prefer.

HANNITY: Right.

HASSELBECK: It's not something that's dramatic. And I think it's going to be a lasting one. So it's getting loud there at "The View." It's getting loud for McCain. I like it.

HANNITY: It getts loud on "Hannity & Colmes", too.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, thanks for being with us.

HASSELBECK: Thank you.

HANNITY: We love having you on "Hannity & Colmes."

HASSELBECK: Any time.

HANNITY: From the FOX experience and the RNC convention.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALAN COLMES, CO-HOST: And here we are, all back in our home base.

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