With a New Baby and a New Blog, Elisabeth Is Back

Jan. 9, 2008 — -- Elisabeth Hasselbeck has earned a reputation as the feisty blond conservative co-host on "The View."

After giving birth to a son, Taylor Thomas, Nov. 9, she's back at work this week, already drawing attention for controversial remarks.

"I don't even trust any emotion anymore from politicians," Hasselbeck said Tuesday after seeing New York Sen. Hillary Clinton well up with tears.

With a new baby, a new blog and now back in the hot seat on "The View," she's busier than ever.

Hasselbeck spoke to ABC News correspondent JuJu Chang, who welcomed her third child, Mason Blake, just nine days later, about her life, her politics and her rocky relationship with Rosie O'Donnell.

How She Does It

"I look chubby and sleep-deprived and you look like you came back from the spa. How do you do it?" Chang asked.

"You know the secret of hair and makeup," Hasselbeck said jokingly. The talk show co-host says she's started putting herself together again for the show, but was enjoying her hiatus from grooming in the early days of maternity leave.

"Well, most of those days didn't involve a shower. I'll start there and you know, things like deodorant and toothpaste are still hard to come by these days."

New Blog

On top of juggling her job, handsome quarterback husband Tim Hasselbeck, a newborn and a 2-year-old daughter named Grace, Hasselbeck also now has a job blogging for Dreft.com.

"I'm hoping that moms will go there and just kind of feel maybe like they're not alone in the process," she said. The entries recount her experiences with a good-humored twist, such as the recent title "Mommy, Why Are You Still in Your PJs?"

Now that Hasselbeck is back on "The View," she jokes that her daughter barely recognizes her all made up.

"Grace definitely looks at me now like, 'Ooh Mommy, you look fancy.' And I think it's just because I wanted to sleep but couldn't. And I thought wow, if I just keep the PJs on, maybe my body will feel rested."

She says motherhood is changing her world view, and influencing her politics. "I think motherhood constantly stirs up questions about life. You look at it differently. I'm not voting just as a single woman anymore or just for myself. I'm actually looking at how this world will be shaped so that my kids can live in a place that's safe for them. And that is my main goal."

Hillary Clinton

Despite Hasselbeck's controversial remarks about Clinton on the show, the senator sent her a baby note. "She sent Taylor a 'welcome to the world' note. It was actually quite a nice gesture. I was waiting for the cash that she wants to give. … I was in there looking for that!" she said with a laugh.

Nonetheless, she says she's still not considering voting for her. "I'm sure that she's an exceptional woman. … Politics, speaking of politics only, we would just disagree on things. And her policies aren't something I necessary support, but it's not a personal thing."

Rosie

Hasselbeck's conservative politics are well-known, particularly because she clashed publicly last season with then-co-host Rosie O'Donnell.

"You know, it's funny. People sort of build it up like we had this rivalry the entire time. And it really wasn't. … I think that day was a combination of things. I think you have an emotional topic. I think any two people discussing the war will bring some emotion to the table, literally. Since that time has passed, there's been good healing."

Though they haven't spoken by phone yet, Hasselbeck says they've been e-mailing. "She [Rosie] shot me an e-mail right before I started back at 'The View' wishing me well. … So, I think that was really nice. And I think that she meant it. … So, I think that we are in a good place. I really do."

Glad to Be Back

Now that Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd have joined the team, there's a whole new dynamic that Hasselbeck is adapting to.

"Whoopi and Sherri, they're a great team They bring such humor in different ways too. You know, Joy is so hysterical. But I thought 'oh, three comedians, that's gonna be overwhelming.' But it's just overwhelmingly funny."

Even though she's busier than ever and misses her kids when she's not home, she says she's happy to be at work again. "But you know why? Because it just feels as though you're going back to your friends."