Posted on 07/16/2004 3:50:17 PM PDT by jmstein7
Deconstructing Whoopi - a Republican Fires Back
By Jonathan M. Stein
In response to being fired by Slim-Fast for her lewd and outrageous anti-Bush diatribe at John Kerry’s exclusive, closed-door fundraiser on July 8th, the now-infamous Radio City “Hate Fest,” Whoopi Goldberg stated that “America's heart and soul is freedom of expression without fear of reprisal.” A close reading of Ms. Goldberg’s remarks divulges Hollywood’s fundamental misunderstanding of the First Amendment and the freedom of expression. The First Amendment is not the exclusive property and privilege of the Hollywood elite; but, perhaps more pointedly, the First Amendment absolutely does not shield people who exercise their First Amendment rights from the consequences of the resulting expression. Unlike the idyllic bubble-world that is Hollywood, in the real world – including portions of fly-over country that elite celebrities like Goldberg would never dare set foot in – actions have consequences.
Of course, the authorities cannot stop a speaker from exercising their freedom of expression for fear of the audiences’ reaction – the so-called “heckler’s veto” – but, on the other hand, the speaker has no right to suppress that reaction. Goldberg averred that “The fact that I am no longer the spokesman for Slim-Fast makes me sad, but not as sad as someone trying to punish me for exercising my right as an American to speak my mind in any forum I choose.” Someone should point out to Ms. Goldberg that the First Amendment only protects her from government reprisal; it does not insulate her from the ire of ordinary Americans who she might have actually insulted with her remarks. Apparently, the fact that people might actually disagree with her never crossed her mind; whither the favorite phrase of the entertainment elite “dissent is patriotic.” For Ms. Goldberg, dissent is patriotic, as long as it is not her remarks that one is dissenting from.
In fact, the First Amendment is not the exclusive privilege of the denizens of Beverly Hills; regular folks – ordinary consumers – had every right to express their own ire by demanding that Slim-Fast drop Whoopi. To paraphrase Justice Holmes, America is a marketplace of ideas. Ms. Goldberg’s overt belief that her ideas are superior to John Q. American who expressed his idea – i.e., “I choose not to buy products that Whoopi is associated with” – to Slim-Fast merely evinces her sheer arrogance.
Predictably, instead of accepting responsibility for her actions, Whoopi blamed the Republican Party for her dismissal – a pathetic cop out. Her automatic assumption that every single incensed person who contacted Slim-Fast was a Republican Party operative is preposterous. One needn’t be a registered Republican to be insulted by what is known of her remarks. In her defense, perhaps her remarks were taken out of context by reporters. If that is indeed the case, Americans will never know – the videotape of the event has been shrouded in secrecy, and the Kerry campaign has refused to let America see it. Perhaps it has been secured in Al Gore’s “lock-box”?
The bottom line is that if vociferous celebrities choose to carelessly, and publicly, emote with inflammatory rhetoric, which is their right, the ultimate audience of that rhetoric has every right to react with expression of its own – including boycotts. In case Ms. Goldberg hasn’t heard, boycotts are one of the most time-honored forms of expression. And, for Ms. Goldberg to call the indignation expressed by Americans participating in the boycott “disingenuous” merely adds insult to injury. The implication is that that the elites have a monopoly on genuine expression, which is asinine and deprecating.
Other reactions to Ms. Goldberg’s dismissal from Slim-Fast have been quite laughable, albeit predictable. Asa Khalif, head of Racial Unity USA in Pennsylvania, and self-proclaimed “diversity promoter” released a statement relating to Goldberg’s firing. He stated that “I smell racism from beginning to end. . . . SlimFast must realize that black women have every right to voice their views.” Well, the race-baiters are out in force. Now it is just a matter of time until Jesse Jackson is marching, with his trademarked grim expression, on Slim-Fast headquarters. In all frankness, Khalif’s absurd remarks should not merit media attention. However, it won’t be long until the misery merchants and masters of discord capitalize on the opportune firing of – gasp – a black woman. Perhaps Mr. Khalif glossed over the fact that people found the content of the remarks objectionable, not the person delivering them. I can guarantee Mr. Khalif that if lilly-white Michael Moore had delivered those remarks, the reaction would have been identical.
Like Mr. Khalif, I too smell something… but it isn’t racism.
What she means is, "Freedom means being able to act however you like, without the fear of consequences." This isn't freedom; it's license.
You may want to reconsider that eternal allegiance or you could end up looking like Calista Flockhart (I think that is her name).
Not Bad!
Maybe you could be FR's official poet!
Whoopiecushion Goldbrick, has made a fortune off of spewing inanities that no one else could have gotten away with. Hey Whoopie! Welcome to the real world.
That is unless your name is George W. Bush and you can simply have the USSS herd them into a so-called "Free Speech area".
Clinton did this too, and FReepers were justifiably outraged.
But when Bush does it, they cheer.
That's a chance I'll just have to take. So long as I can mix Slim-Fast with Diet Coke and dip my french fries in it, they have a customer in me!
"What she means is, "Freedom means being able to act however you like, without the fear of consequences." This isn't freedom; it's license."
As a youth I exercised my "freedom of speech" to my boss.
He fired me!!!!!
The difference between me and Whoopie is that I learned something from it.
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.
Every decision we make has consequences, be they good or bad.
*curtsy*
*adjusting my laurel wreath headgarb I fashioned from DU tinfoil hats*
Excellent! Send it to the NY Post.
Predictably, instead of accepting responsibility for her actions, Whoopi blamed the Republican Party for her dismissal – a pathetic cop out. Her automatic assumption that every single incensed person who contacted Slim-Fast was a Republican Party operative is preposterous. One needn’t be a registered Republican to be insulted by what is known of her remarks. In her defense, perhaps her remarks were taken out of context by reporters. If that is indeed the case, Americans will never know – the videotape of the event has been shrouded in secrecy, and the Kerry campaign has refused to let America see it. Perhaps it has been secured in Al Gore’s “lock-box”?LOL ! Yeah, really. Good article, jmstein7!
We've traded bytes before.
Very well composed and thoughtful analysis.
Regards,
John
Yesterday, I was in a cab in Washington, D.C. Without any prompting by me, the cabbie (a black guy) started ranting about how he hated Whoopi and her x-rated stunt. He said he had disliked her ever since she showed up at a few pro-abortion rallies. I gave him a nice tip.
It is funny or sad actually that the "Smart people" like Whoopie, Tim "I ENUNCIATE" Robbins and the other hollywood types who think themselves more intelligent than GW.
They call him a moron and yet they have absolutely NO understanding of the Constitution.
Freedom of speech and protection against reprisals means the government is not going to come after you. It does not say "Slim Fast" cannot "let you go" or that radio stations HAVE to play Dixie Chics if their listeners do not want to hear them.
Too bad the smart crowd is SO STUPID.
GW didn't do this, and you know it.
We did it as American citizens. It is amazing how you whacked out Looneytoonarians get all excited when Republics say we aren't going to finance our enemies.
As a looneytooniarian, you are telling us that we don't have the right to do what we want with our hard earned after tax dollars. You are as bad as Whoopi!
Now slither away to your looneytoon spidey hole, you back stabbing troll.!
You can tell just by listening to how they all talk that their world is just an echo chamber.
She,and most of her friends probably don't even know any conservatives or Republicans.
Whoopi may just do well in reminding guys why they need Viagra or Cialis! Doing what you should when you really don't want to.
"Whoopi blamed the Republican Party for her dismissal – a pathetic cop out."
I am an Independent and got offended so therefore it wasnt just the Republican party.
Excellent!
"I, for one, found both the remarks, and the person who stated them, objectionable."
I find E.T.'s twin sister really objectionable.
Everytime I hear about her, I'm reminded to check the bottom of my shoes.
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