James Poniewozik, a television critic for "Time" magazine, criticized McCarthy's addition to the series and Walters' endorsement of McCarthy, arguing that "The View" is largely aimed at parents, on whom the public health system is dependent, and that the credibility that McCarthy's hiring will give her will endanger the public. Poniewozik argued that McCarthy's views, which might be brought up in discussions with the other hosts, would have the effect of framing the issue of whether vaccines cause autism as a matter of opinion, rather than a firmly refuted idea.