'They Don't Hate the Country!' Whoopi Goldberg Adamantly Defends Flag Burning, Patriotic Americans

newsbusters.org ^ | 11/29/16 | Kristine Marsh

[matthew fuller]

"While the whole panel agreed that this punishment would be a violation of the First Amendment, co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg went out of her way to defend the action of flag burning in the first place."

Does the whole panel or Whoopi also believe that the burning of crosses is OK under the First Amendment?

[Steve_Seattle]

Why isn’t flag burning considered a hate crime? Just wondering. And why is displaying a swastika or Confederate flag considered a hate crime? Isn’t it just making an unpopular political statement, the same as burning a flag?

[TheCipher]

Hey WHOOPI, in your criticism of Trump and what he said,did you take a moment to mention that the last time Congress considered making it a crime to burn the US flag, it was a bill co-sponsored by Hillary Clinton - the Flag Protection Act of 2005. The law would have prohibited burning or otherwise destroying and damaging the US flag with the primary purpose of intimidation or inciting immediate violence or for the act of terrorism. It called for a punishment of no more than one year in prison and a fine of no more than $100,000; unless that flag was property of the United States Government, in which case the penalty would be a fine of not more than $250,000, not more than two years in prison, or both.

Thought not.

[vpintheak]

Nope. They are just prissy little pant-loads who need to get the crap beat out of them. That’s all. They don’t hate America, nope, even if they say they do, they don’t.

[ConservativeStatement]

What would Whoopie say if the rainbow flag was burned?

[~Pandora]

I’ll bet Whoopie doesn’t like the Confederate flag. Why are they removing it. Isn’t it protected by free speech, too? I’m offended by the rainbow flag, can I force it to be removed?

[knighthawk]

Yes they do and so do you Whoopi. Please all get in a bus and head off to Canada!

[Timpanagos1]

“And why is displaying a swastika or Confederate flag considered a hate crime?”

in the United States, you can display all the Confederate flags and swastikas you like and you will not be charged with a hate crime or any other kind of crime.

[Kickass Conservative]

Burn an American Flag and you are exercising your Free Speech Rights.

Burn a Mexican Flag or a Rainbow Flag and you are committing a Hate Crime.

[Timpanagos1]

“Does the whole panel or Whoopi also believe that the burning of crosses is OK under the First Amendment?”

In Virginia v. Black the Court found that cross burning, as long as it is not intended to intimidate, is an expression of free speech and protected by the First Amendment.

Obviously, determining intent of the cross burner would be difficult to determine, but it is understood to mean, that it is perfectly legal for you to burn a cross on your own property, but if you go onto someone else’s property without their permission and burn a cross, it could be considered an act of intimidation and not protected by the First Amendment.

[Timpanagos1]

“Burn a Mexican Flag or a Rainbow Flag and you are committing a Hate Crime.”

No.

If you like, you can go out and buy a rainbow flag and a Mexican flag and burn theme both and you would not be charged with a hate crime.

Now, if you go onto someone else’s property and take their rainbow flag, Mexican flag or American flag and burn it, you would likely be charged with a crime.

[delete306]

BS. It was a different world 25 years ago. Legal or not, if I ever see some d*** BLM terrorist, illegal, college "activist" or whatever desecrating the flag, I'll go full Negan.

[Kickass Conservative]

I live in CA.

They will turn it into a Hate Crime one way or the other.

[databoss]

Liberals are so dumb, Whoopi is imbecilic.

[Squantos]

< / disinformation on > ...Does the leftist POS snowflakes know that Trump owns every US and Foreign Flag company or controlling stock in said manufacturing companies on earth and they are making him richer every time they burn a US flag ? ... < / disinformation off >

[jonrick46]

Whoopi, when America makes you angry, maybe you can take your anger out on some flag TP:

That's the ticket!

[jazzlite]

...”WHOOPI: People are angry. They sometimes get angry and they burn the flag. Sometimes they burn the neighborhood, you know.”...

Yes, Whoopi, people are angry and the proof is in the election of Donald Trump to clean up the swamp you have been a part of for as long as I can remember. The difference between your angry people and mine are that we are not violent. We try to change things in a decent, law-abiding way, but, make no mistake, we will fight if the time comes when that is necessary to save our nation and our system of freedom. We will not allow the ultra-rich elites steal that from us.

[kearnyirish2]

The worst part of the enemedia nonsense was that while the public was shown only part of the Rodney King video, the jurors saw the whole thing and acquitted the cops. The resulting riots left people dead, and their blood is on the media’s hands - as is all the damage from the riot.

I’m glad to see more blacks waking up to their “leadership’s” deal with the Devil concerning the Democrats; Trump had some endorsements from ministers and such, and blacks didn’t turn out for Hillary as she needed. Hopefully going forward Democrats have to earn the black vote with real progress instead of the welfare plantation mentality.

[DH]

One thing you can bet on is that if it’s not black Whoopi HATES IT!

[trebb]

Yeah - burning the one enduring symbol of the Nation says, “I’m a patriot” like nothing else does....