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.
JM--a most excellent treatise,well written and to the point.
Please send it around to be published--with a copyright notice attached, of course.
Thank you for distilling the argument so clearly. Nicely done.
Well, it certainly took them long enough to lob THAT charge. I don't recall anyone on Whoopi's side of the aisle jumping to the defense of Condi Rice or Colin Powell, who were true targets of racism by Dims. I also do not recall Whoopi jumping to the defense of Rush or Dr. Laura.
Cleo--you have a truly original Freeper name. It gave me a chuckle--thanks.
Plus, your limerick was right on target.
Man, the talent we have here at FR.
Thanks, exit82. Just doing my part. I'm still a neophyte here, so look forward to a lot of good bellylaughs with my new Freeper buddies!
Sorry for the hijack. How dumbocrapic of me.
Please remind Whoopi she has a right to speak out, which everyone of us here should/will defend to the death (and many of us HAVE!!). She DOES NOT, however, have a RIGHT to be heard!!!!!
bttt good
WHOOPSI
Most of the Hollywood militia were behind the war against Dr. Laura, especially Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. When it happens to one of the "anointed" they squeal like the pigs that they are.
It's a cliche, but one the Hollywood crowd has never grasped: With freedom comes responsibility. The Hollywood crowd is perhaps the most selfish, childish, and irresponsible demographic in the nation.
That was my thought too...acting as one wishes, without care to others, without any consequences...At the very least, it's moral anarchy. Let's be honest: Whoopi is a moral sinkhole.
And L.A. spooks
The F.R. nukes
Will close your books
So don't forget folks
Thats what you get folks
For hiring Whoopie
If you buy SlimFast, you are contributing money to the DNC. The owner is a Democrat who has provided over a $1 million to RATs.
You can thank him -- but don't buy the product.
I can remember the first time my late father saw Whoopi in the movie, "The Color Purple". He asked me if I knew how to get in touch with her. I asked why. His reply, "Son, if I could place her out in my corn field, she would have crows bringing back corn, they stole three years ago". I had a mouthful of Myers's Rum and Pepsi, which went all across the living room. I'm laughing now, thinking back on that evening.
Well said Grampa Dave!
The irony of all this is that Whoopi's comments may have had very little to do with her dismissal. I suspect Slim-Fast was simply looking for an excuse to fire her . . . because her beam is a bit too wide for someone who's supposed to be selling a weight-loss product.
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