Conversation | 11/28/2008 5:00 am

Whoopi Goldberg on 'The View': 'Somebody's Got to Put the Fire Out'

Whoopi’s mega star is burning ever brighter these days. ‘The View’ has the highest ratings since its inception 12 years ago. Liz Smith sits down with Whoopi to talk about it …

With Liz Smith and Whoopi Goldberg

Editor’s Note: This is part two of Liz Smith’s exclusive interview with Whoopi Goldberg, where she talks about Elisabeth, Barbara and her own role on "The View." Click here to read the first part of this interview.

LIZ: Variety said recently that politics have really paid off with "The View." Do you agree? I mean, "The View" is the No. 1 program in key female demos for daytime — for the first time in the show’s history. And the show is 12 years old. So do you think politics paid off?

WHOOPI: My mother taught me that you can have the dialogue, disagree and move on.

WHOOPI: I’ll tell you what, I’ve no idea what our ratings are because I don’t care.

LIZ: You don’t care. Well I’m just telling you what Variety said. Are you amazed? Are you pleased?

WHOOPI: I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it. You know, I think more than anything the show is our joy.

LIZ: Well, I know you say you don’t care, but maybe you do …

WHOOPI: I mean, I watched "The View" occasionally. I’ve been on it occasionally. So, I didn’t know they didn’t talk about important stuff. I always thought that they did. But what I like more than anything is that it was the right time for me to be talking on television, at this point in the world. So for me, going on "The View" was perfect.

LIZ: Well, you also got a big rave from one of the columnists in Time about how the realistic exposure of your points of view helped the audience to understand. They said the viewer learns who has what ideology and so forth and can better understand the argument. I mean, this was an argument for opinionated television. And I see that Elisabeth Hasselbeck has transcended her minority conservative status and she’s become more feisty and outspoken than ever. And is this good?

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Dear Frank - it was clear to me you were not gay - just a mysogonist and in my experience that is not how I would define gay men. I am not surprised you voted yes on Prop 8 - you clearly have a problem with human rights extending to all. I am always very wary of men who won’t let women have their own things and their own voices - this site is Women on the Web - a place where we can express ourselves. If you have difficulties with the views expressed by the women of The View - that’s legitimate. But to attack them for their age and/or looks is childish and unnecessary. I have found through my 50+ years on the planet, those who attack the meanest in relation to someone’s appearance, characteristics, gender, ethnicity and sexual preferences usually have very low self esteem - hence the need to assert single women in your community are attracted to you - perhaps there is a male shortage? Joy Behar is a very enteraining woman who is not afraid to say it how she sees the world and Barbara Walters, regardless of your assessment of her performance on the View is a hugely successful trailblazer who has broken barriers for others to follow - she commands respect for that alone. Perhaps Frank you could give the airspace on this site and respect the women who want to communicate with other women?

By Noeline Rudland on 11/30/2008 2:54 am

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Noeline: I’m speaking for Frank Marks. Lets see, I hate and distrust women, and have a problem with human rights. I realize this is a site for women, but extend me the human rights I deserve. You shouldn’t back yourself into a corner like that. I’m much too sharp. I agree attacking ones age and appearance is childish, I apologize if it offended you or anyone else. I did not attack anyone because of their gender, or ethnicity. Joy Behar is a trailblazer like Hillary Clinton is a cheaters opponent. Give me a womans point of view. Do women respect Hillary Clinton for accepting her husbands urge to grope anything that breaths? How many of the 100 affairs he’s had do you think she knew about? He did Monica nine times in the Whitehouse. She was 21 at the time. What a guy. I came on to this site looking for Whoopi Goldberg several months ago. I heard her using the N word several times. She was trying to teach Elizabeth about blackness. They bleeped the N word, but the studio audience and crew had to hear her ranting. Frank Marks has been on ever since, he was then purposely blocked by this blog to make comments. Will you speak out about that?

By Frank Key on 12/01/2008 2:34 am

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Frank Key, “Do women respect Hillary Clinton for accepting her husbands urge to grope anything that breaths? How many of the 100 affairs he’s had do you think she knew about? He did Monica nine times in the Whitehouse. She was 21 at the time. What a guy.” Thank you for asking those questions! Here is my response in regards to “that theme only” I have just as much respect for Hillary Clinton, as I do for Gov. Spitzer, John Edwards, Rev. Jesse Jackson and even Monica Lewinsky if you know what I mean. It was Sen. Clinton’s decision to stay with Bill Clinton. However this is why I respect Gov. Palin so much more than Sen. Hillary Clinton. Palin NEVER married into politics. She is her own woman and I love that! And yes some may argue well Hillary was born in a different time etc..etc…etc.. and I can understand that up to a certain point. However, one wonders where Hillary would be if she had chosen not to marry Bill Clinton or if she had chosen to divorce Bill Clinton back then. No one really knows the dynamics of the relationship of the Clintons except for the Clintons. Hillary has had a rough road but one wonders in what ways could that have been avoided. Just a thought-nothing more nothing less.

By T P on 12/02/2008 11:21 am

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Merrell: I don’t think you’re anti woman, just anti Palin. Yes you are jealous of her, otherwise you would have supported her in some way. You didn’t have to vote for her because of her beliefs, policies, or the party she represented. Why did you and thousands of other women find it amusing to tear her to shreds? The difference between Obama and Palin is with Plain you’ll get a straight answer. Did she lie about her feelings regarding abortion? No she did not. It may not be popular with many women, but she didn’t lie. Obama on the otherhand is a walking flipflop, say anything to get elected bullshitter. You’ll see more of that as times moves foward. Fact is, he has no idea what he’s doing. Notice how he keeps referring to the team he’s putting together. Stop using words like drivel, it makes you look that much less intelligent. You don’t scroll by my posts, you read them twice.

By Frank Marks on 11/30/2008 1:21 am

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Merrell, After reading comments by you and a few other women I have to agree with Frank’s observaton of the jealousy of Gov. Palin. As an experiment, I had a few male co-workers read some of the comments and without asking them all of them commented “What is up with the jealousy?” Some of the male co-workers were straight and some were gay. I think we underestimate men as much as men underestimate women. There’s always two sides of the coin. Just an OPINION.

By T P on 12/02/2008 10:48 am

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Yes, Merrell G, I agree. Ignore Frank entirely because he’s just here to get a rise out of us, if you know what I mean. He’s sitting quite erectly at his keyboard these days, stimulated, no doubt, by the attention of we women. How creepy….

By Char Star on 12/04/2008 10:19 am

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Margaret: I read your post, thats dues enough. Walters is the only one on that panel that has paid any type of dues. Although I like Elizabeth she was a reality show member from the show Survivor before the View. Joy has been trying to find a home for some time. She’s been on the View from almost day one. Since she couldn’t hack it at any other job she’s had, she spews some hatred at Bush, but keeps her mouth shut so she keeps her job. Sheri doesn’t have a view, she doesn’t know her ass from a hole in the ground. Like you said she’s learning. Now for Whoopi. Ms. Goldberg is where she is at because of one man, Steven Speilberg. He was right in casting her in The Color Purple because she did an excellent job. Since Ghost in 1990 she’s probably been in 100 shows or movies but you wouldn’t know it. Thing is, anybody could have played her character in Ghost just as well. Name somthing she’s done in the past 10 years you can remember. Maybe the uncredited part she had in a Star Trek movie. Read what she says about the Democratic party in this article referring to her radio show being cancelled. http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2007/11/whoopi-goldberg-loses-last-ma… Is this the proper way to spell hypocrite? I watch the View when I’m not working. I don’t hate women, I hate bullshitters.

By Frank Marks on 11/30/2008 2:03 am

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So reading my post was “dues enough”, huh?…. you’ve got quite a mouth on you. Your answer to me was to tell me about the women on The View, some accurate stories. But you don’t have to tell me about them… I know their bios…. I watch The View everyday. I knew about Elizabeth’s being on Survivor. Never watched her on it, but knew about it. As for Joy Behar, maybe you don’t like her, but she is humorous and that’s why she’s made it in the business on t.v. and on the comedic circuit. Evidently Larry King thinks she’s worth hosting his show when he’s busy doing something else. Humor and a quick wit will take people a long way…. something you should learn. What she “spewed” about Bush was TRUE! And your abusive comments about Sherri, who is just trying to contribute… well, you must be a sophomore in some ivory tower somewhere. Every one in this country gets a chance to contribute if someone “taps” them as the producers on the show did and asks them to be on the show. “They” thought she brought something to the show that was positive. Go talk to them with your abusive comments about her. I noticed you switched from calling everyone by their first names until you got to “Ms. Goldberg”. I believe you have forgotten that Whoopi had her own One Woman Show on Broadway in 1985, which attracted Steven Spielberg (note correct spelling of his name) to her talent thus, being asked to play the part in The Color Purple. Whoopi may have received the part in The Color Purple due in part to Mr. Spiellberg, but who amongst us hasn’t had someone who has given us a start? Who hasn’t had a friend somewhere who thought we were good enough to mention to an employer as a good candidate for a job, thus giving us a start? Why is that so unusual? I don’t have to mention anything Whoopi has done in the past 10 years to enjoy watching her now. See her bio and YOU can catch up: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/gol0bio-1. And when it comes to your not hating women, just bullshitters… in your case, it takes one bullshitter to know another. And when you speak to Mugsy, “Mugsy, just know this phrase in relation to Frank: ‘Illegitimi non carborundum’. That’s all you need to remember, Mugsy.”

By Murphy Mac on 11/30/2008 7:40 am

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Margaret: It seems you have quite a mouth yourself younglady. Last time you were called a younglady you were most likely on horseback. Thats what happens when you call someone a bastard, and a bullshitter. Please continue correcting Frank Marks grammer and spelling. It’ll make you feel like you’ve acomplished something.

By Frank Key on 12/01/2008 2:03 am

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Margaret: It seems you have quite a mouth yourself younglady. Last time you were called a younglady you were most likely on horseback. I was never fortunate enough to be on horseback, Frank, but I get called “young lady” lots of times by lots of good people, so thanks. Thats what happens when you call someone a bastard, and a bullshitter. Frank, normally, I do not call people names. I think you really believe what you say so from now on, no more names for you. Please continue correcting Frank Marks grammer and spelling. It’ll make you feel like you’ve acomplished something. “Folks like me” (a teacher of learning disabled children) never found it fun or accomplishing to correct spelling or grammar because it wasn’t these children’s strong suit. Believe it or not, I don’t care about spelling as long as I can read and get the content of what’s being said. I picked on your spelling because I was angry and just wanted to be picky. I apologize for that. It’s not my way to be picky about spelling. I will sign off from you by remembering that though we disagree on some issues, we still have that right to disagree. I also believe that even though we disagree, the issues that bring us together are that we are still in “the same boat” living in this country, trying to make a living, pay our bills, have some fun in life and keep our country safe. You have your following on wowOwow and that’s fine. There are others who say not to read your replies. I’ll make up my own mind about that from now on. I also leave you with this quote: “[Humanity] has unquestionably one really effective weapon—laughter. Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution—these can lift at a colossal humbug—push it a little—weaken it a little, century by century; but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.” Mark Twain, The Mysterious Stranger, chapter 10 (1916) I think your responses would be better received if you showed some genuine humor and stopped playing the role of “the bad boy who will go to great lengths to get attention, even negative attention.”

By Murphy Mac on 12/01/2008 11:46 am

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Margaret: I originally came on this blog to let Whoopi Goldberg have it for using the N word several times on the View. Although it was bleeped over the air, her studio audience and crew all had to hear her ranting. Elizabeth doesn’t need an education in blackness. If it made it out over the air, she would’ve been fired immediately. Since that time we’ve had an election, Prop 8, and plenty of Palin haters. Plenty to comment on. You couldn’t help yourself with the condescension? “I think you really believe what you say.” What I say is the truth, I sleep well at night knowing I didn’t bullshit anyone. I’ve been truthful and factual about everything I’ve written. You only see the wise ass in me. You said you’re called younglady by lots of good people. Are you saying I’m a bad person? Apology accepted about the spelling. My humor, like it or not is 100% genuine, I’m not copying quotes from Mark Twain, you are. My turkey comments were original thoughts. You also said I go to great lenghts to get attention, even negative attention. I’m just being myself, of course there is nothing wrong with stirring the pot a bit. Lets see, you’ve indirectly called me a bad person, that I’m not genuine, and I’m just looking for attention. I thought you were going to stop with the name calling? Regarding attention, the people on Facebook couldn’t get enough of me.

By Frank Key on 12/01/2008 2:03 pm

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Frank, I understand why you came onto this site to find Whoopi. I disagree with you about Elizabeth, or any other white person, needing an education on blackness. But I understand your concern. No condescension intended, Frank. I believe what I say until I stand corrected with the factual truth. Believing in what you say is different from what you say being “the truth”. Everyone has his or her own truth. I remind you I corrected you about your factualness about how Whoopi got her start. I’m glad you sleep well at night. I think you mistook my saying I’m called “young lady” by lots of good people as saying therefore you’re a bad person. I’m not saying you’re a bad person even though I think you meant my being called “young lady” as a dig. Glad you accept the apology about the spelling issue. I guess I haven’t detected your humor as being humor. I’ve detected acerbic sarcasm and sophomoric zings, like the one toward Sherri: “she doesn’t know her ass from a hole in the ground”; “I hate bullshitters” (this seems to me to be a generic sweeping statement which could at any one time include nearly the entire population); “Obama on the other hand is a walking flipflop, say anything to get elected bullshitter. You’ll see more of that as times moves foward. Fact is, he has no idea what he’s doing.” (Yes, that will stir the pot, but it’s neither factual nor humorous); to Mugsy: “If thats proper grammer I’ll eat shit. You mentioned in a previous post something about your wit. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, you’ve never possessed any. Wit means you’re clever or sharp, like me. The oppisite of wit is dull, like you.” (Again, neither factual or humorous, just narcissistic and very sarcastic); to Mugsy: “It seems the nitwits on this blog find it more valuable to constantly criticize Palin…” (talk about name-calling…); to Mugsy: “If Palin believed, by lying about her view regarding abortion would win her an election, she would’nt do it. You don’t have to agree with her views, but they’re the truth.” (again, your opinion, not necessarily “truth”; maybe it’s Palin’s truth and yours); to Mugsy: “If I’m blocked from this post, its not because of my language, its because no one has an answer for me.” (that is the very essence of arrogance… no one has an answer for you?); then, tell me what kind of humor it was to say you just wanted your skin boat to find or go into tuna town (don’t know exactly the wording)…. were you thinking you were endearing the women on the web to you? No, Frank, I did not call you a bad person… I corrected that. I think you are genuine, but I think you are equating your “genuineness” with “the world’s truth” and no one has everyone else’s truth. I’m really not calling you names… I’m putting names to the behaviors I see. As for people finding you on Facebook, my son has 536 friends… and so I doubt each person on Facebook is your best buddy. I haven’t even mentioned the fact that you preach. I read a list of other blogs you thought women on the web should go to. Frank, I don’t care about your politics as you don’t care about mine. I don’t care about your views as you don’t care about mine. I don’t care about your humor since we have vastly different definitions of what humor is. I don’t care what you think truth is or whether you are egocentric or not. In short, Frank, stay in California because I don’t care about you. If you were a woman, with the same characteristics you presently possess, I wouldn’t care about you. I wish you no harm, but I just don’t care about

By Murphy Mac on 12/01/2008 4:43 pm

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Frank, the reply above was for you. It’s starts out “Margaret, It seems you have….” By Margaret Scarborough on 12/01/2008 12:54 pm

By Murphy Mac on 12/01/2008 11:59 am

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Mugsy: Here is a list of adjectives for you. http://www.esldesk.com/vocabulary/adjectives.htm Your last sentence to me was; “Not to mention that your grammer isn’t even correct.” If thats proper grammer I’ll eat shit. You mentioned in a previous post something about your wit. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, you’ve never possessed any. Wit means you’re clever or sharp, like me. The oppisite of wit is dull, like you. Why would someone be ignorant for admiring Elizabeth? She has campaigned with McCain and Palin at their rallies. Joy is just a shill. Shes not bad looking for an old bag. I’m sure shes looks atrocious without makeup. I want to repost the comment I wrote regarding Sarah Palin. It seems the nitwits on this blog find it more valuable to constantly criticize Palin rather than talking about real womens issues. I wrote this after reading the Palin Turkey Murder Interview and its comments on this blog. To the women of wowowow: I want to tell you and all the other wonderful people on this website about many of the other blogs available. 1. Saudi women struggle to break free from abusive husbands. 7 comments. 2. Africa needs empowered women. 3 comments. 3. U.S. may have tortured a Pakistani woman. She is missing, but accused of killing U.S. personnel. 1 comment. 4. Letterman confronts Couric about John McCain 6 comments. 5. Couric on Letterman discussing Palin. 37 comments. 6. Palin turkey murder interview. 86 comments. If you really want to change the world, you have to become involved. Women in Saudi Arabia need your help in understanding that the beating of women cannot be tolerated. In Africa where children die by the thousands, women are raped by the thousands, they need strong women to start the necessary changes they need. You have the opportunity to involve yourselves in dialouge that would acheive that. Instead, you cannot stop talking about Sarah Palin. Palin was the mayor of a small town, then voted in as Governer of a State, then thrust into the national spotlight as a VP running mate. Couric could’ve asked her anything, but she obsessed about newspapers and magazines. I know women hate other women, but one thing you’ll never get from Palin is bullshit. If Palin believed, by lying about her view regarding abortion would win her an election, she would’nt do it. You don’t have to agree with her views, but they’re the truth. I’ve never heard a good reason why any of you dislike Palin. Its always the same, shes uneducted, and of course the Couric interview. No one on here knows Obama anymore than Palin, but you have treated her as if she were dirt. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. I’m sure most of you have already purchased your turkey for Thanksgiving. I’m not sure what type of bird you bought, but turkeys that take their own lives seem to be very popular. Of course turkeys that commit suicide are more expensive. The ones that jump off tall buildings are the cheapest as they’re more messy. The most expensive turkeys, are the ones that hang themselves. When serving a turkey that took its own life to your relatives for Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll at least have that peace of mind knowing it wasn’t M U R D E R E D !!!!!!!

By Frank Marks on 11/29/2008 8:54 pm