Always a hotbed for political discussion, The View created another touchy moment on Tuesday when Dr. Ben Carson criticized the ever increasing welfare system in America.
Actor and football player Terry Crews, who sat in as a guest co-host, asked Dr. Carson the question that set off the heated debate: "Do you think the welfare system is racist?" Here was Carson's candid answer:
"Let me put it this way: when you rob someone of their incentive to go out there and improve themselves, you are not doing them any favors. When you take someone and pat them on the head and say, 'There there you poor little thing,' I'm gonna give you food stamps, I'm gonna give you housing subsidies, I'm gonna give you free health care.'"
Unsurprisingly, this "controversial" statement prompted the other co-hosts to jump in and question his view. But, Carson was determined to finish his point and offer a solution:
"What would be much more empowering, is to use our intellect and our resources to give those people a way up and out."
Crews applauded and agreed with Carson's perspective. As for Goldberg...not so much:
"As a former welfare mother, very few people want to be on welfare. Very few want to walk with their kids and take food stamps. Most people would rather work. I don't feel bad about being a welfare mother because I contribute as an American - that's what we do. And because the welfare system is so bizarre, you can't work, they don't allow you to work because they take the money from you. So if we fix the system so that it doesn't hurt the people, maybe it'll get better."
She ended that rant with a pleasant, "Thank you."
Unfortunately, Goldberg's statement is pretty accurate. She may not have meant to, but The View host and Oscar winner just further proved Carson's point: our current welfare system is reeking with disincentives. Why find a full-time job when you can take a part-time job that comes with enticing government benefits?
Good for Dr. Carson for bringing his conservative ideals to the ABC talk show. With Elisabeth Hasselbeck's departure, The View has certainly been lacking this perspective. Carson also had no problem slamming Obamacare and proposing alternative options such as health savings accounts.
Watch all his common sense arguments – and the co-hosts' lively reactions – here: