Note to Whoopi Goldberg: Newport News Virginia is NOT "The Deep South"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Nice try Whoopi.

Whoopi Goldberg defends Vick's dog-fighting role
Wed Sep 5, 2007 5:26AM EDT



http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0444500720070905

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Outspoken comedian Whoopi Goldberg drew a scathing rebuke from animal rights activists on Tuesday for defending U.S. football star Michael Vick's role in dogfighting during her debut on ABC's talk show "The View."

"He's from the South, from the Deep South ... This is part of his cultural upbringing," Goldberg said of the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, whose recent fall from grace has been one of the most stunning in the history of U.S. sports. Vick pleaded guilty last week to federal dogfighting charges, admitting he took part in an illegal, interstate enterprise known as Bad Newz Kennels and helped kill underperforming dogs.

The 27-year-old, who grew up in Virginia, faces up to five years in prison when sentenced in December. He has been suspended indefinitely by the National Football League.

"For a lot of people, dogs are sport," Goldberg said on the show. "Instead of just saying (Vick) is a beast and he's a monster, this is a kid who comes from a culture where this is not questioned."

Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980 in Newport News, Virginia), (a.k.a. Mike Vick), is an American football quarterback under contract with the Atlanta Falcons (2001-present), widely thought to have helped draw record attendance at home games at the Georgia Dome before his August 2007 suspension by the National Football League (NFL) due to a plea of guilty to federal felony charges resulting from the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation and related gambling activities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Vick

[northzax]

1. oh yeah?

you been there? geographically, maybe not, but culturally, it is the worst type of southern ghetto.

[karlrschneider]

2. You obviously know nothing about the subject.

...

[IndianaJones]

3. Yes it is. nt.

[WillParkinson]

4. That drops her a notch for me

I love her as an actress but defending him lowers my estimation of her as a caring individual.

[Fresh_Start]

5. Newport News is more Southern than lots of locations

which are geographically further south

[CatWoman]

17. two words: Pat Robertson

[Mike Daniels]

18. What's that prove?

Given that Robertson is based in Virginia Beach which is just as suburban as parts of Northern Virginia I fail to see how that he proves NN or any city in that geographic area is the deep south.

[CatWoman]

19. a lot of people equate Newport News with Pat Robertson

can't get any more lowlife than that.

[Mike Daniels]

31. That's interesting that Pat's associated with Newport News

Virginia Beach hasn't really been seemed to fit in with Pat Roberton for a couple of decades either but I think he set up camp when VB was still mostly fields from the Princess Anne County days with an oceanfront on the far eastern end.

[Virginia Dare]

41. Pat's got deep Virginia roots..

I know because quite unfortunately we share a gene pool. He's one of the FFV (First Families of Virginia). Personally, I consider myself a Virginian, but not a southerner. "Southerner" conjures up too many painful images for me.

[Webster Green]

6. It's the deep south..

I've lived in the area.

[neohippie]

7. I'm from the deep south

Florida, it's way further south geographically, and well, I wasn't raised fighting dogs, nor do I condone dog fighting, chicken fighting, chicken hawking or slavery!

[Clark2008]

8. I'm from the Deep South

Tennessee, it's much further South, geographically, than Virginia, and I also wasn't raised fighting dogs, nor do I condone dog fighting, chicken fighting, chicken hawking or slavery.

I think every Southerner on this board should point this out.

[Hosnon]

24. Pointing it out. I was raised in Georgia and never, ever heard of a dogfight or

knew of how to find one if I wanted to find one.

[RebelOne]

29. I live in Georgia, and believe me, there is a lot of dog fighting

happening here in the North Georgia area. I know for a fact.

[Hosnon]

32. Interesting. Well, I can at least attest that it is not ubiquitous knowledge.

Is the practice more likely in the South? Perhaps, but I see little evidence to support that notion.

In any event, it is certainly not such a part of Southern culture that I would consider it "a part" of that culture.

[RebelOne]

43. My son, who is in no way involved in dog fighting, has had 9 pit bulls

dumped on him because they won't fight. He has them all on runs in his back yard. He finds homes for them.

[Virginia Dare]

45. Your son is an angel..

it's good to know there are people out there who will take some responsibility despite all the other people fucking up our society...thank him for me..:hi:

[ProudDad]

35. Are you really representative

of the sentiments and "culture" of the populations of people who engage in this sort of thing? :hi:

[midlife_mo_Jo]

44. I LOVE that photo!

Peace.

[underpants]

9. I have to agree with the original poster on this

NN is not even "deep south" like Hampton Roads southside. That (peanut country) is much more akin to what most people consider to be the deep south. Also the incredible amount of military in the area though not "eclectic" in any stretch does bring in different influences and waters down the local influence. As a friend of mine says "Don't say that people in Hampton Roads can't drive most of them aren't from here"

I grew up in York County and lived in Denbigh if you were wondering.

[Mike Daniels]

14. Agreed. As a Hampton Roads/Tidewater native I once referenced myself as being from the south

and got verbally spanked by everyone in the area who lived from North Carolina southwards.

Whoopi just keeps stepping in it deeper and deeper.

[CatWoman]

21. funny

I've experienced just the opposite.....

[Duppers]

23. Correct! I'm in York Co., a few miles fr. N.N., and this is NOT Deep South

You want deep southern attitudes, go to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, or the Memphis area of TN.

Once, this area was considered deep south, but not any more.

BESIDES, HOW DOES BEING IN THE SOUTH JUSTIFY DOG FIGHTING??? Wrong is wrong.

Folks, slavery was a 'deep southern' cultural attitude too -- DOES THAT MAKE IT RIGHT?!

Forget you, Whoopi!

[jhrobbins]

47. I was thinking the same thing too - about the slavery issue, that is..

Whoopi might do well to rethink this.

[Virginia Dare]

40. My litmus test...

if the natives speak southernese, it's the south.

[Beausoir]

20. Your sig picture is amazing. Haven't seen that one before.

[Webster Green]

30. Here's a larger version..

[Wiregrass Willie]

10. Whoopi is fuller of shit than a trailer park septic tank n/t

[Mutineer]

11. My partner is from the South

He tells me that this is the first he's heard of dog fighting as being a "Southern" thing. It's another sterotype, a sterotype that needs to be set right.

And I can't believe Whoppi defended this.

[LiberalFighter]

12. It may be cultural but he knew it was illegal

It use to be a cultural thing to have slaves.

It use to be a cultural thing to segregate restrooms, bus seats, water fountains and schools.

It use to be a cultural thing to hang blacks.

[Duppers]

25. Wow, you said it.

Sorry, I didn't read your post before posting 'upstream,' LF.

It was 'culturally correct' in my family to vote republican too. Fuck that noise!

How can any wrong thing be excused by saying it's a 'cultural value'?!

-d

[Virginia Dare]

46. Lots of people use the argument that the confederate battle flag

is a cultural thing too. Culture should not desensitize you to something that is illegal and/or immoral.

[T Wolf]

13. Newport News is as "southern" as it gets. I grew up there and the

combination of the southern racists and the military assholes stationed there give it an abundance of ultra-conservative characteristics.

They fought integration long after it was accepted in other places.

Nixon was supported there long after he resigned.

And the old-style southern Democrats (with all their faults) have given way to extreme right-wing repukes.

And finally, confederate flags still are evident all over the place.

[WinkyDink]

16. Maybe all true, but do they condone illegal dog-fighting?

[Duppers]

26. it's as republican as it gets, but

As bad as it is, I've seen worse racism.

Western NC has dog fighting, cockfights, but N.N. is urban, an environment that usually doesn't support such 'sport.'

Damn, calling dog fighting a 'sport'---how low can ya go, Whoopi?!

[WinkyDink]

15. 1. Not a "kid"; 2. He's been out of that "culture" long enough to know he was committing a crime;

3. He pled guilty. 4. Whoopie is using a stereotype to "explain" Vick? How...ironic.

[Virginia Dare]

42. Agreed, and very succinct and accurate summary..

of the situation...:hi:

I watched the montage ESPN had put together of Vick interviews. Either he was hiding his true self in his college and early pro years, or piles of money corrupted him, because he didn't appear to be quite as cocky and "street" in the earlier interviews as he did in the latter.

[tears4terra]

22. Whoopie was born and raised in NYC!

When did she become an expert on Southern culture?

This Southern gal who is also an animal welfare advocate is disgusted by Whoopie's ignorant remarks.

[Lex]

27. If you go by the Mason-Dixon line, it's def NOT in the Deep South.

nt

[Catherine Vincent]

28. Leave Whoopi alone. n/t

[Reciprocity]

33. Why?

[LeftyMom]

38. Why?

She said something stupid, insulting and ignorant while trying to claim some sort of cultural expertise something she apparently doesn't know a damn thing about. People deserve criticism when they do that.

[ProudDad]

34. Virginia sure as hell was Deep South

when I lived there during Jim Crow...

It wasn't that much different from Georgia...

They nearly elected Macaca boy...and did elect an "ex-republican"...

[IndianaJones]

36. Virginia is deep south. Its not about geography. nt.

[ProudDad]

48. Y'all got that right! (n/t)

[carolinayellowdog]

37. Not even close

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_South

This is not a matter of opinion, regardless of what anyone here imagines. It is a matter of fact that Virginia is and has always been considered part of the "Upper South," a phrase that becomes absolutely meaningless if the Deep South extends halfway up the east coast.

[David Zephyr]

39. A very ignorant statement by Whoopi.

Ignorant.