"The View" discusses fashion and celebrities, but it also has raised interest and D.C. notice by talking politics. In recent days, the five hosts -- Walters, Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck
and Sherri Shepherd -- have jousted over gay marriage, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's derisive remarks to lawmakers and the appropriate venue for the Sept. 11 terrorist trials. New York
Gov. David Paterson help analyze the State of the Union speech, joining political guests this season that have included Rudy Giuliani, Janet Napolitano and Mike Huckabee.
The political
focus is going to get even more intense as this year's midterm elections near. With almost 3.8 million people watching on average this season, "The View" is on track to have its second-highest-rated
season ever. The show's success underscores how much politics is now intertwined with popular culture.
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