Mario Cantone's take on Elisabeth Hasselbeck of "The View"

I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with Mario Cantone that was posted on AfterElton.com this week. I just love people who don't give boring and safe answers and allow themselves to come through in an interview.

At one point, Michael Jensen asks Mario about the buzz last year that he was being considered to become the first male panelist on "The View" after he guest hosted a number of times. It didn't happen and he seems relieved that it didn't but admitted that it would have been a tough gig to turn down. Then Michael asked Mario about the show's token conservative voice, Elisabeth Hasselbeck who famously clashed with former colleague Rosie O'Donnell.

AE: I don't know how freely you'll want to speak on this, but what's your opinion of Elizabeth Hasselbeck?
MC: I get along with Elizabeth very well. I get along with all of those girls really well. I think she's coming along a little bit, too. I can disagree with her a lot politically, believe me, but so did Rosie, and they were very, very close at one time. So there's something about Elizabeth as a person that's really - she's a good girl. I want to smack her, too, when I watch the show sometimes - and she knows that - but it has nothing to do with who she is as a person and what's really in her heart.

AE: I don't find it hard to believe that she's a nice person, I just don't think she's the deepest thinker in the world.
MC: No, she's not. But I think she's a smart girl and I think her intelligence will ultimately override her idealism. I think she's going to continually grow. Especially being around those women every day, you can't help but look at the other side of things. You know, with Whoopi there, with Joy there, I just think that ultimately she's gonna come over to the dark side [laughing].