Alyssa Farah Griffin Bashes Anti-Abortion Activist on ‘The View’: “The Worst Spokesperson for Our Beliefs”

The View kicked things off with a tricky topic at the start of today’s show. The panel, which consisted of regular co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Ana Navarro, in addition to guest hosts CNN political commentator Alyssa Farah Griffin and NewsNation television show host Dan Abrams, began with a discussion on abortion in regards to an exchange yesterday between California Congressman Eric Swalwell and an anti-abortion activist.

In the clip, Swalwell asks Catherine Glenn Foster about whether or not a 10-year-old should be able to choose to carry a baby, relating to the shocking national news story about a 10-year-old rape victim who had to cross state lines from Ohio to Indiana in order to be legally permitted to receive an abortion.

Foster, who is staunchly anti-abortion, responded that because it would impact her life, that her situation is an exception and so therefore terminating the pregnancy would not count as an abortion. Her response astounded both Swalwell and The View‘s panel, sparking comments from all, including former Trump White House staffer Griffin.

“I’m personally pro-life but the woman in this clip is the worst spokesperson for our beliefs and our movement,” she began. “It has been Republican party orthodoxy for decades that we believed in exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother and now we’re seeing that flipped on its head and people are going back against this. To me it’s unconscionable to think that a 10-year-old rape victim should have to carry the baby to term and not have that decision.”

Griffin continued on to add that extremes on both sides were only further complicating the issue, and called for a coming together to reach a compromise or middle ground on the topic. Goldberg, however, pushed back that what people really need to do is pay attention to our country’s laws and morals.

“If somebody needs to have [an abortion], it is not my place, it is not your place, it is not the church’s place, it is not the government’s place to tell you whether or not you should have it. That’s between you and your family and your doctor.”

After her statement was met with the audience’s applause, Goldberg took an extra moment to make sure everyone was on the same page.

“Just to be clear, I have nothing but respect for people who have decided not to, that it is not their religious belief, and I respect that,” she said to both the crowd and rest of The View‘s panel. “I respect what you need. I need the other side to understand I need the same thing.”

The View airs weekdays at 11/10c on ABC. Watch the full conversation in the video above.