Was Whoppi Goldberg out of line about her remarks about Michael Vick..Should Goldberg remain on the View?

Question

Whoopi Defends Vick in Her 'View' Debut
AP
Posted: 2007-09-04 17:46:33
Filed Under: TV News, The View
NEW YORK (Sept. 4) - So much for the sedate alternative to Rosie O'Donnell on "The View." Whoopi Goldberg used her first day on the daytime chat show Tuesday to defend football star Michael Vick in his dogfighting case.

Goldberg said that "from where he comes from" in the South, dogfighting isn't that unusual.

"It's like cockfighting in Puerto Rico," she said. "There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of the country."

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges last week, admitting that he provided money for a dogfighting ring that operated on his Virginia property and helped kill six or eight pit bulls. Vick grew up in Newport News, Va.

Goldberg was selected by series creator Barbara Walters to replace O'Donnell, whose stormy tenure on the ABC program lasted less than a year.

In the Vick discussion, Goldberg served notice that she won't shy away from controversy.

Co-host Joy Behar looked horrified at Goldberg.

"How about dog torture and dog murdering?" Behar asked.

For many people, dogs are sport, Goldberg replied, and it appeared it took awhile for Vick to realize that he was up against serious charges.

"I just thought it was interesting, because it seemed like a light went off in his head when he realized this was something that the entire country didn't appreciate," she said.

Answer 1

One of the stupidest comments I've ever heard her make. She might as well have said,, " in Iraq it's Ok for our soldiers to kill people,, because, over there it's normal,, people grow up killing people,, so that makes it normal and ok. Idiot. And she's not stupid either. I'll give her the benefit of the dought on this one,, but next time,, it may be time to say something. C.

Answer 2

I am very upset about this because I think it is an attempt to disparage Whoopi.. I saw it with my own eyes and Whoopi was NOT defending Michael Vick at all. She said that she thinks what he did was wrong. She said it twice, but because she said certain cultures in certain areas of the south have a different perspective of dogs than say, pet owners and the media never even touched on the fact that there is an underground culture and that Vick probably did not think that people would be so freaked out if he ever was caught because of the fact he grew up in this culture and everyone around him did it and the authroities turned a blind eye to it in his hometown and surrounding area. No one mentions that at all and that's the point she was trying to make. That's what I determined was the jist of her statements. She was not defending him at all she was actually trying to say the media failed in covering that particular angle of the story. But of course, they have to sell papers and get ratings on the news so they once again took someone statements out of context and put a flashy, controversial headline on it and now everyone has license to hate Whoopi, which I am sure people were waiting to do since they announced that she would be on the View. She did not defend his actions she said that she wondered why the media chose not to cover the fact that this is a pretty widespread, lucrative underground thing in the South.

Seriously, if people REALLY cared about this, they would stop focusing on Vick and/or Whoopi which is not at all helping the thousands of animals that are still subjected to this cruelty and start focusing on the whole syndicate of underground dogfighting. I think they just enjoy watching someone fall from grace and kicking them while they are down. None of these attackers care about the dogs.. The problem is WAY bigger than Vick and Goldberg. Period. Righteous indigation is futile.

Answer 3

When I heard Whoopi was going to be on the View I thought it would be a good change of pace. It didnt take long for me to change my mind about that. Dogfighting is one thing. I dont understand why people like that, but the other part-about killing the dogs because they dont fight hard enough is absolutely ludicrous. For Whoopi to defend Michael Vick has to be one of the worst moves she could have made. I'll be interested to see how long she lasts.

Answer 4

Not at all. For goodness sake, what is the name of the show "The View" it's just an opinion. We spend too much take waiting for a chance to drop the hammer on these celebrities. They are people just like any of us. First of all dog fighting is a part of our culture, I don't personally agree with it, but I do know that it exisit. I also don't agree with hunting poor helpless defenseless animals, but I also know that it exisit. What makes a dog more valuable than a deer, nothing in my opinion. Some people consider dog fighting and hunting as a sport, that is an issue to be discussed not someone's opinion, not even mine. Whatever happen to freedom of speech. Many people have died to give us that right, but it is slowly being taking away and we the people are doing ourselves. So don't start bitching about it when you are sitting in a court room for something that you said.

Answer 5

I totally think she was out of line. She offended so many people. Just b/c you are from the south doesn't mean that you are ok with dogfighting. There is nothing right about it! It is against the law and is completely cruel. To the person who said you have to kill them b/c the are trained to fight- first of all, they shouldn't have been trained to fight in the first place. And if he had to break that law and he doesn't want a dog that "isn't good enough" there are other ways to put a dog down than killing them the way he did. Yeah they cant be adopted out but they can be put down by a vet or a trained professioal at the humain society! But he is a big boy not a child he knows the difference from right and wrong. He know what he was doing was wrong and if he didn't then he seriously needs help. Not to mention if he can do that to a dog what the hell would he be willing to do to a human. And for Whoppi to defend him just shows her ignorance. And for those of you who say she wasn't defending him that just shows your ignorance. I dont think she was defending him "because he is black " though. And for this to be turning into a race thing is rediculous. But I do think if she is going to say its ok b/c thats what they do in the south then what is the difference between dog fights in the south and slavery in the south. It used to be apart of the culture way back in the day. That didn't make it right. Or Hitler... it was apart of his culture too. But i guess since its apart of his culture then all the people he tortured and killed were just out of luck. Just like all the dogs Vick tortured and killed were just out of luck also!

Answer 6

It doesn't sound like she was condoning the dog fighting or killing, just saying that in some areas, it isn't unusual. That would be giving a fact, not an opinion.

If you think about it from the standpoint of someone who has trained a dog to kill another dog, what do you do with the ones who won't fight or loose consistently. You can't turn them into a pound, they wouldn't make good pets, all they know is fighting. You also probably wouldn't want to support them into old age.

I think people who take part in such "sports" are cretins but if you look at it from the other point of view, you can see what Whoopie was saying.

Answer 7

I didn't think she was trying to offer excuses for Vick. I think she was trying to clarify WHY he might have felt that what he was doing wasn't wrong. Dog- & cockfighting are, unfortunately, things that happen in rural areas. I don't agree with dog- or cockfighting, and think that if Vick EVER plays a professional sport again he got off too lightly.

Answer 8

Regardless of the issue of whether or not Michael Vick is a sorry excuse for a human (which I believe he is)....What would be the point of the show if everyone agreed...whether it be politics, dog fighting, gay rights, fashion, health, etc. That's why the show is called "The View". Argument is entertainment!

Answer 9

I watched the episode and found her to be saying exactly what she intended. Whoppi was simply saying that it may be customary in the South to have grown up with this type of 'sport' and that he was used to it or it did not offend him. I did not notice that the rest of the panel were upset, in fact, they seem3e to understand what Whoopi was saying. She contended that she did not agree with the practice and that it should be reviewed. You have only put part of the whole discussion on your question, and maybe it would be beneficial to all interested to relook at the whole context of the conversation and dissect it then, with an opinion after listening to it. I for one, think this practice is not advantageous in any capacity, given its nature, and whether or not is is allowed in the South, or the North, or the East, or the West, it should be an offense that is punishable.

Answer 10

Her ignorance was horrifying. Virginia is not considered 'the south'. She states 'There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of the the country' What the heck does that mean? That doesn't make it right. Blacks are still tortured and terrrorized in the south Is that okay because that's how it is where they are from? Does she really expect people to buy this crap? No light just went off in his head he was hiding it because he knew it was illegal. She insulted everyone from the south in my opinion.

Answer 11

She wasn't condoning dog fighting.
It's like, in the country areas where there
are forests, people are aloud to shoot
deer and other animals for the sport.
But you can't go to the California parks
and go shooting the animals to hang on
your wall. The newspapers are so quick
to criticizes, because they want to make
money, they want to have the best article.
Whoopi cleared it up today, explaining her
REAL point in the comment.