Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) defended her decision to not conduct a town hall on Fox News, saying on The View Thursday she would "go everywhere" but would not help a "hate-for-profit scam."
Unlike other Democratic presidential candidates like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.), and South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg, Warren turned down Fox News's invitation earlier this month, blasting it as a platform for "bigotry and racism."
Meghan McCain, who worked at Fox News before joining The View, said she was surprised by Warren's sharp rejection, and she repeated criticism earlier this month that it was "shortsighted." Sunny Hostin called Warren's decision "very dismissive" at the time, and Whoopi Goldberg said Warren couldn't face the country if she couldn't face Fox News.
"I really do think it's a mistake ... It's such a huge audience, and it's such an interesting part of the country that watches," McCain told Warren.
Warren replied "I want to go everywhere" and boasted about the different states she's visited that aren't likely to vote for a Democratic candidate, like Mississippi and Utah.
"But here's the deal about Fox News executives, and that is they're running a hate-for-profit scam," Warren said to applause.
"Not all of them," co-host Joy Behar said.
"But the executives ... They're out there pushing white nationalists at a time people are marching in Charlottesville," Warren said. "They give a platform to people who describe immigration as making our country poorer and dirtier. They attack a young man and try to sully his reputation after he's murdered just because they think it's a good attack on Democrats."
Warren said Fox News made a "lot of money" off town halls with Democrats, drawing more cheers when she said she would not help Fox raise money or gain more credibility.
"I was really proud to work at Fox News. I don't consider them a racist organization," McCain said. "There's so many people that watch that are really good people ... I just think you're alienating an audience, and for me, it comes off that you don't care about the people who watch Fox News."
Warren said she did care and would find "a thousand" ways to reach out, pointing to her other town halls.
Sanders and Buttigieg received high marks for their performances on Fox, with some media observers calling it a boost to their candidacies. Other candidates like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) and Julián Castro will appear on Fox News for town halls in June.