The freedom of speech is a powerful and valuable weapon for American citizens. It gives them the power to say what they want.

The Latest Talk Show Controversy

Joy Behar is the latest television personality to face controversy regarding several statements that she made on television. According to FOX News, ABC received over 30,000 calls against the co-host of the popular ABC talk show, The View, following the controversial commentary that she made regarding Vice President Mike Pence's views on his faith.

The campaign against Behar was piloted by the Media Research Center, which encouraged its supporters to call the network. The organization believed that if they called ABC about Behar's outrageous comments, the network's management would be able to discipline Behar. They also stated that if Behar did not retract her statements, the Media Research Center would use its supporters to call the show's advertisers.

"These characterizations of the Vice President's faith are insulting not just to him, but to all Christians," wrote L. Brent Bozell III, the Media Research Center's founder and president in a letter to ABC.

The Controversial Comments

The whole episode surrounding the Media Research Center's battle with Behar started on Feb. 14, when the show talked about former White House staffer and Celebrity Big Brother houseguest Omarosa Manigault Newman's disturbing claims regarding Vice President Pence's alleged extreme Christian views.

Co-host Sunny Hostin, who is also a Christian, stated how Pence's religious beliefs were "dangerous" and said that she did not want to have a Vice President that speaks in tongue. That was when Behar jumped in with her colorful commentary, claiming that Pence was using his faith as a clutch to mental illness.

"Like I said before, it's one thing to talk to Jesus. It's another thing when Jesus talks to you. That's called mental illness, if I'm not correct. Hearing voices," said Behar, according to the Media Research Center.

Vice President Pence Defends Himself

According to The Daily Beast, Vice President Mike Pence went after ABC and The View during an appearance on the cable news program, Fox & Friends. Pence told the morning news show that he could not sit back and let someone make fun of his religion.

"People of all different faith traditions, they cherish their faith in God. And to have ABC have a forum that spoke in such demeaning terms, I think it's evidence of how out of touch some in the mainstream media are with the faith and values of the American people," said Vice President Pence, in a conversation transcribed by The Daily Beast.

Other Controversial 'The View' Moments

This is not the first time that The View made headlines for getting into controversies. Behar and new co-host Meghan McCain squared off in a heated verbal debate regarding the Robert Porter scandal on Feb. 9. Both ladies stated that they were offended by their political parties' actions.

On Jan. 30, Rose McGowan generated headlines when she visited the show and talked about her past with disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Also, the ladies firmly sided with Jane Fonda following her feud with Megyn Kelly.

Enstars reached out to ABC and the Media Research Center for comments.

Tags: Joy Behar The View ABC