The right of African-Americans to vote in the United States is not permanent according to "View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg. On the July 14 edition, Whoopi echoed the popular Internet rumor from a few years ago that voting rights for African-Americans was set to expire in 2007. [audio available here]
"Do you know that we are the only people in the United States who have to have their voting rights okayed every couple of years? Did you know that they have to vote on the Voting Rights Bill for black folks? Can we just, can one of you candidates- can we just take care of that so I don’t have to worry every year, my God am I not?"
The show’s sole "conservative" Elisabeth Hasselbeck agreed "it’s ridiculous" and "something needs to be done."
Before spouting such inflammatory charges on national television, Whoopi should check the facts beforehand. Responding to some rumors, the Department of Justice issued a press release clarifying the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Specifically, the 15th amendment to the Constitution prohibits racial discrimination in voting. The voting rights Act of 1965 enforces that Constitutional amendment. Because amendments to the Constitution do not expire, the 15th amendment is permanent.
Additionally, most of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is permanent as well. The few sections with limited time include "special provisions containing extraordinary remedies applied in certain areas of the nation for a limited time."
Such provisions were renewed in 2006, but even if they did expire, according to the Justice Department, "they can be reinstated by court order if there is renewal of discriminatory practices."
So Whoopi should sleep well knowing she will not lose her right to vote and next time should research her facts before scaring a national audience.
—Justin McCarthy is a news analyst at Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Whoopi's comments
July 14, 2008 - 14:26 ET by merlin61Whoopi and all the elite liberals need to check
the truth before opening mouth and inserting foot.
Another reason this show is just plain trash.
But what's worse merlin61
July 14, 2008 - 17:48 ET by DEVILDOCMOMis that the "conservative" Elizabeth AGREED with her! Please, couldn't they have someone with more intelligence and gumption in the "conservative slot" on the show. Someone with some actual knowledge and able to see past the garbage the others try to put out.
Whoopie: even a 12-yr old
July 14, 2008 - 14:41 ET by SickofLibsWhoopie: even a 12-yr old knows to check urbanlegends.com and/or snopes.com to prevent making an ass out of yourself.
Sad thing is, I'm sure 80% of the studio audience went home believing it, not to mention your vast TV audience. I'm sure they'll be a retraction tomorrow.
She's probably one of these people who also forwards every email hoax she gets.
check facts ??
July 14, 2008 - 14:39 ET by pagg30You want Liberals to check facts before opening their empty heads?
Wish in one hand...
Yes, whoopi and the libs
July 14, 2008 - 14:39 ET by athoughtor2Yes, whoopi and the libs speak out of their collective rear ends. But can we get a token conservative to actually know a few things, so she can call them out on their BS. Laura Inghram is my vote. She is hot, so that would take care of the need for a "good looking blonde" to be on hand.
Whoopi pulls a whoopsie?
July 14, 2008 - 14:40 ET by c5thenIronically, I think that anyone who falls for the 'urban legend' rumors circulating on the internet should lose their voting priviledges for being too stupid.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
And...
July 14, 2008 - 14:53 ET by ontheright...lose their internet privileges for not fact checking...and breathing privileges for perpetuating the lies in front of a television audience of who knows how many impressionable sheople...and generally beng a dumbass.
Hey, Whoopi
July 14, 2008 - 14:45 ET by greenfairieIt's called http://www.snopes.com...
Yep
July 14, 2008 - 15:23 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarJust type in "black vote" under the search and it's the first article to come up on the list.
Problem is Whooptydoo will come out tomorrow stating that she believes the voting rights do need to be enforced in places like Dade County where Al was ripped-off.
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
Sadly, millions of people
July 14, 2008 - 14:58 ET by mattmSadly, millions of people will buy into Whoopi-doo's idiocy.
"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." - Mark Twain (attributed)
The Miseducation of The View
July 14, 2008 - 20:34 ET by Kenny BunkportUnfortunately millions of voting women will accept this as fact and will never be told otherwise.
A gun in your hand beats a cop on the phone.
Other myths
July 14, 2008 - 14:55 ET by KC MulvilleTemporary voting rights? Now that's a new one for me. And people fell for it? You wonder what other myths are floating around out there.
Look, if people are going to believe everything they hear, we'd better not tell them about the secret plan to sell New York City to the Chinese. I mean, they're already getting suspicious about the banks who are financing the deal, you know, pretending to go bust so that we can manipulate the final price. The Chinese are so efficient with over-populated cities, and that's why we gave them the Olympics as part of the deal. We can't have the public discovering the plan.
So shhh, mum's the word.
KC, this mean that the
July 14, 2008 - 14:58 ET by bassndudeKC, this mean that the liberal folks who reside in NYC dont get to vote in this election? Or any others?? Woo hoo!! What took so long to get that sale done?
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Whoa whoa whoa
July 14, 2008 - 15:17 ET by KC Mulville<whispering> ix-nay on the ale-say ... remember, the locals don't know about it yet. We were going to tell them that the real vote is sometime in December. If that doesn't work, we're going to tell them that the polling machines are down, so they can go on the internet and vote at eye-ma-moron.com. We're also going to assure them that the Democrats in Congress have reinstated the poll tax, but they can pay the $12 with their credit cards, and it will only take a couple minutes online. After all, this way, they won't have to stand in line at the local kindergarten.
We figure we'll be able to pay off the Iraq war in no time. </whispering>
Sounds like a...
July 14, 2008 - 14:58 ET by Clear thinkerSounds like a segment for TV show Myth Busters!
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
Well, you know what they
July 14, 2008 - 15:01 ET by dscottWell, you know what they say, once a Klaner always a Klaner. After 40 years you would think there is a different crop of people in charge than in 1965. Whoppi, are you libs so bereft of legitmate causes that you have to refresh and relive the solved ones? I guess you libs need to find something to feel good about since the AGW and alternative energy panacea is going down the tubes so you won't be moralizing about that anymore.
Elizabeth! Please, stop agreeing with these people, it encourages them in their lunacy, you need to gain some self respect again.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Idiots!
July 14, 2008 - 15:01 ET by ArtisteWhoopi, as with most liberals, NEVER check facts. It's so much more convenient to strike at nerves. I think they think it makes them seem smart and pro-active. Absolute nitwittery!
Can someone...
July 14, 2008 - 15:03 ET by HeavyChevyPlease take Whoopi off our hands, my people don't want her anymore.I'll throw in a nice shiny quarter to sweeten the deal.
"9 out of 10 doctors agree that flag burning is the number one killer of liberals."
They need to change the
July 14, 2008 - 15:05 ET by charlietexasThey need to change the name of The View to The Stooges happy hour. They're all stupid.
Thanks for watching it.....Justin
mom
I'd say that this is a case
July 14, 2008 - 15:16 ET by Chris NormanI'd say that this is a case of too little knowledge getting one into trouble, but, let's face it, Goldberg won't get into any trouble. She and her audience will skate along, secure in their delusion she is right about this. Now that wild claims from a liberal celebrity on television are accepted as fact, only the truth and sanity are in trouble.
McNotObama '08
Chris, "only the truth
July 14, 2008 - 17:51 ET by msh1973Chris,
"only the truth and sanity are in trouble"
Oh wow, you just said a mouth full. I agree with you 100%.
I really hope The View
July 14, 2008 - 15:17 ET by oldArmyI really hope The View corrects this. Whoopi should be the one that straightens this out.
LOL, Bahahaha, dude they
July 14, 2008 - 15:40 ET by dscottLOL, Bahahaha, dude they have already moved on to the next conspiracy theory, libs don't admit when they get something wrong, they just move on to the next wild assertion. In the lib world any assertion is true until it is proved wrong. It's their version of innocent until proven guilty with the same ground rules of the accuser bearing the burden of proof. In this case they're telling you the truth until you present the facts, it's your burden to bear not theirs.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Sure your name isn't
July 14, 2008 - 15:36 ET by Hero SquadSure your name isn't actually "Whoops" Goldberg?
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
What's she mad about?
July 14, 2008 - 15:37 ET by okiehawk44I can vote for a socialist-democrat or a Joe Lieberman-democrat. Either way Whoopi I have NO vote.
I sure hope they clued Obama
July 14, 2008 - 15:41 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsI sure hope they clued Obama in on this fact so when he is elected President in August he can fix it!
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Who
July 14, 2008 - 15:48 ET by MOONSTRUCKin their "right" mind would watch this b as in b s as in s?? Seriously, I want to talk to someone who actually watches this show. No one in my circle has a low enough IQ to watch........just sayin'. sad situation.
Whoopi in Wonderland (again)
July 14, 2008 - 16:19 ET by wizardjrSo "Alice" how is it in Wonderland these days? Welcome to planet Earth.
Did Whoopi thank the Republicans for the VRA of '65?
July 14, 2008 - 16:52 ET by Hunter12I hope Whoopi has studied her history and remembers that she has conservatives to thank for the initial passage of the VRA in 1965. Contrary to history ala Gore, Al Gore.Sr voted against this bill and tried to filibuster it. When passage became almost a certainty, he tried to strip the guts out of it and make it ineffective. I think the parts that are not permanent were actually written by the Goracle's father.
[Edit: Actually, Gore,Sr. tried to kill the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including a 74-day filibuster. He did vote for this bill. But again, had not Republicans overwhelmingly supported these bills, passage in both chambers of Congress would not have been possible.]
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Checking facts? That has
July 14, 2008 - 17:48 ET by msh1973Checking facts? That has never stopped the folks over on the View before. Minor detail.
Whoopie and her friends
July 14, 2008 - 17:50 ET by cocodrieWhoopie and her friends just want to be able to register in adjoining states and vote in all of them. We are depriving them of voting over and over again. Thats why the demoncrats strongly oppose requiring picture ID at the voting poll.
Whoopi to much
July 14, 2008 - 18:52 ET by ScrapironWhoopi has made too much whoope in the drug/booze bottle. She drags the black population down to the imbicle level every time she opens her mouth. If your only contact with blacks was through her what would you think? Her and 'fire won't melt steel' Rosie are a good match. Too dumb to walk and chew gum at the same time. Evidently they are both clones of Hussein O who without a teleprompter they can't put three true words togather.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
Whoopi to much
July 14, 2008 - 18:53 ET by ScrapironWhoopi has made too much whoope in the drug/booze bottle. She drags the black population down to the imbicle level every time she opens her mouth. If your only contact with blacks was through her what would you think? Her and 'fire won't melt steel' Rosie are a good match. Too dumb to walk and chew gum at the same time. Evidently they are both clones of Hussein O who without a teleprompter they can't put three true words togather.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
Whoopi Goldberg - I still can't believe
July 14, 2008 - 19:06 ET by jefflebowskithat Ted Danson slept with that! Man, he better be glad he's not one of my friends or his life would be permanently miserable!
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
its what beer goggles can
July 14, 2008 - 19:45 ET by TruthMongerits what beer goggles can do to you (shudder)
Stupid is....
July 14, 2008 - 20:26 ET by ChasvsThis just goes to show that ANY stupid idiot can make it in America!
Whoppi cushion
July 14, 2008 - 20:34 ET by j17ghsWhoppi cushion's diarrhea of the mouth will echo through black urban areas just like the Demo-Nazi's Big Lie about AIDS.
If you are that dumb maybe
July 15, 2008 - 04:52 ET by USA4freedomIf you are that dumb maybe your right to vote should be taken away..
idiot!
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendil 2012 (if,we survive)
Elizabeth is not a
July 15, 2008 - 05:08 ET by bigtimerElizabeth is not a conservative IMO...but she is pretty, well used, and laughs all the way to the bank...now there she may be conservative...
The View is a piece of propaganda...thank you Wawa and others.
Sad that people even listen.
Sadder that people agree...
Saddest that they can vote....
Nothing like lemmings...
Destructive little creatures...not knowing why ...but they think themselves important somehow while they go over that cliff...
Tally-Ho...or some-such.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
whoopi is slowly becoming a
July 15, 2008 - 09:17 ET by clarkfkwhoopi is slowly becoming a skinny, black version or rosie...
Skinny?
July 15, 2008 - 12:05 ET by Gordyn/t
-gordy.
Questionable Assumtion
July 15, 2008 - 10:16 ET by Jonah JohansenEveryone assumes that Whoopi is misinformed or ignorant of the truth.
I think it is far more likely she is knowingly intentionally
lying.
One thing you must have observed about liberals is the fact that a total well
publicized debunking or refutation of a liberal talking point/myth/distortion/falsehood
is not sufficient to remove the lie from their repertoire or future rants.
Evidence Ambassador Joe Wilson aka Mr. Plame.
When the ecidence of his dishonesty and the deceitfulness was revealed as part
of the 9-11 commission report. Kerry fired him from the campaign
and a number of MSM outlets detailed his dishonesty.
Yet, 6 months or so later he resurfaces and is treated as if he was a
credible source.
I believe if you were to confront Whoppi with the
facts already cited about the voting rights law, she would hem and haw and make
some excuses maybe even claim "artistic license" or some other lame
excuse and then a month later you would see her on TV repeating the same lie.
Usually I like Whoppi...but...
July 15, 2008 - 12:04 ET by GordyThe ignorance displayed here just angers me. Her arguments are usualy well thought-out at least. She obviously is towing the Jesse Jackson line here, and that's dissapointing.
-gordy.