Actress Sophia Bush used her guest-hosting appearance on The View Thursday to argue that the political left may need to abandon some of its traditional restraint, declaring that Democrats have spent too much time trying to remain “classy” while political battles have grown increasingly combative.
The conversation unfolded during a discussion about Hunter Biden’s ongoing disputes with members of the media. As the panel examined the broader state of political discourse in America, Bush suggested that she no longer fully embraces former First Lady Michelle Obama’s famous “when they go low, we go high” approach.
Bush acknowledged that she misses an era of greater civility and stronger journalistic standards but argued that the current political environment has changed dramatically from the one many Americans remember.
“The kind of old rules, unfortunately, don’t exist anymore,” Bush said.
She went on to lament what she described as a decline in public discourse, saying she misses a time when journalism relied more heavily on research and corroborated reporting rather than claims that gain traction online before later being disproven.
At the same time, Bush argued that avoiding contentious political spaces altogether can create opportunities for bad information and harmful rhetoric to spread unchecked.
According to Bush, disengagement leaves room for “the worst misinformation,” as well as racism and sexism, to grow without challenge.
While she expressed admiration for Michelle Obama and said the former first lady should continue to remain above political mudslinging, Bush made clear that she personally feels less inclined to take the same approach.
“I was raised by a mother who was raised in the Bronx,” Bush said. “If you want to go low, I’ll meet you in the gutter.”
The remark drew laughter and reactions from the panel as Bush continued to argue that political fights sometimes require a more direct response.
“I’m done. We have to get in the fight,” she added.
Co-host Sunny Hostin quickly embraced the sentiment, offering her own variation on Obama’s famous phrase.
“When they go low, we go to the Earth’s crust,” Hostin said.
Bush enthusiastically agreed.
“This is what I’m saying,” she responded. “We kept it classy for too long.”
She then delivered perhaps the strongest statement of the exchange, saying that if someone comes after her politically, she intends to respond aggressively rather than simply absorb the criticism.
Not everyone on the panel was convinced that such an approach is wise.
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg cautioned that responding in kind often carries consequences and can ultimately harm the person doing the retaliating.
“You can do that, but all it does is blow back on you,” Goldberg said.
Goldberg added that while she understands the temptation, she prefers a different strategy.
“When they go low, I chuckle,” she remarked.
Bush conceded Goldberg’s point but questioned whether there are moments when engagement becomes necessary, particularly when trying to reach audiences that might otherwise hear only one side of an argument.
The discussion ended on a lighter note as Goldberg joked that waiting until the tenth offense before responding seemed excessive.
“Well, 10 times is a lot to wait on,” Goldberg quipped. “Five is okay.”
The exchange highlighted an ongoing debate within left-leaning circles over whether political opponents should be met with restraint or with a more confrontational style as America’s political climate remains deeply polarized.
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