Sign in to wowOwow

Enter the email address that you used when registering at wowOwow.
The password field is case sensitive. Click here if you have forgotten your password.

Please register for wowOwow

Newsletter subscriptions
Sign up to receive wowOwow's weekly newsletter and get our best picks delivered right to your inbox. Our newsletter content is hand-picked by the wowOwow editorial team and provides the top features, news, and commentary from our site. Subscribing to our newsletter is free and safe. We will never share your email or other information with a third-party without your direct consent.
By registering, you indicate that you have read and agree
with our privacy policy and terms of service.

Whoopi Goldberg | 08/28/2008 5:00 pm

Whoopi Goldberg on Barack Obama's Nomination

Whoopi Goldberg
Tonight, of course, is Barack Obama accepting his place in history as the first African American nominee. I think it’s very interesting that the other side has sort of been saying, "Oh, he’s such a rock star." Of course, he’s in a giant stadium with pillars that look like they come directly out of antebellum — the antebellum south you look at where he’s going to be talking. In a funny way it looks like the opening of "Gone With the Wind," but the Republicans sort of equate this with a rock star’s status. This is a status that they actually applied to Ronald Regan. Remember, he’s the great orator. He could mesmerize crowds and of course we’ve placed this directly in our own hands, in our own laps, because we don’t want a president who doesn’t have that feel. Because we want people to come out of the woodwork wherever our president goes, and here’s what he has to say. We want him to be good-looking. We want him to be articulate.

They were all over Obama today because, if he’s not on the teleprompter, he’s not as smooth. Well, my gosh, if I’m not up on a teleprompter on "The View" I’m not as smooth. No one is as smooth as they are with a teleprompter, so let’s hope John McCain adapts to that teleprompter, because he could use some help. It’s a shame no one ever said to George W., "Hey, man. Try a teleprompter or something."

I’m listening to all of this and I’ve seen some of the attack ads that are coming out and I am wondering if the Democratic attack ads are going to be the same as the Republican attack ads, showing  the various other people who ran for president, talking about the person who gets the nomination, which we’re assuming is going to be John McCain on the Republican side. Can you imagine — all the talking heads like Rudy Giuliani talking about John McCain, how he’s not a real republican, and all these other guys who were running around, talking about how John is not a real Republican? And he doesn’t hold the Republican values? This is going to be a riot.

It’s a kissy-face-fest whenever you do the conventions so, of course, the Clintons have gotten on board and they took care of business last night. I thought Bill was extraordinary and Hillary was extraordinary. I have to say, I tip my hat to Hillary Clinton because one of the things that didn’t happen during the campaigns –because no one really stopped and said out loud, "Is this a little femophobic?" (That’s what I call it when people go after you because of your gender.) They couldn’t go after Barack for his color because, my goodness, that would have totally rocked the boat, so everybody felt free to go after Hillary for her gender and no one really talked about it. They talked about it a little at the end of her campaign but not a whole lot, but I think she pulled it together and it will be interesting to see if people can tell the truth — why they’re afraid of Barack Obama.

Are they afraid because they think, "Oh, my goodness. I’ve seen black men in rap videos and how do I know he’s not going to turn into that?" I know that sounds silly but I’ve heard stranger things. I’ve heard John McCain say he’s not like us. Well, I don’t know how he’s different except that he’s black. And of course some of his ideas were the same as Barack’s ideas, but John has changed his mind on things like choice. At one point he thought it was a woman’s right to choose what she was going to do. He personally didn’t feel that it was a decision that he should be making. He thought a woman should have the right to choose. Of course, now he’s changed all of that. He once thought that illegal immigrants should be dealt with with dignity and clarity and figure out a way to make it work for everybody, but no more. He’s taken up that other banner. I guess he’s going to start building a up a new wall. It will be interesting to see how tonight goes and what the future brings.

179 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Sharon Belko
Michelle - Loved your comments and your sentiments about W echo mine exactly!! And let’s fact it - after 8 years of ruining this country - he STILL doesn’t have any experience!! Oback and anyone he brings on board will do a better job with one hand tied behind their backs - and after the mess W has left them - that’s about how I’m sure they will feel!
By Sharon Belko on 08/28/2008 5:36 pm
DeBúrca obj
Michelle, I have a list of TWENTY-SEVEN McCain flip flops! I won’t take up space with them here now, but if you ever want to see them, just ask!
By DeBúrca obj on 08/28/2008 5:43 pm
Dona Howlett
Michelle, Glad to have you onboard.
By Dona Howlett on 08/28/2008 5:58 pm
Sandbee (FB) 54
Michelle, I think from the Gustav site that you are another Houstonian, glad to meet you. My husband and I were talking last night, wish there were a way to turn Texas blue. Bush did nothing for the state and we would have been lucky if he had done nothing for the country. To put McSame in there would be so sad.
By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 08/28/2008 6:11 pm
Dona Howlett
Sandbee 54 You are so RIGHT………….. “We would have been lucky if he had done NOTHING for the country.”
By Dona Howlett on 08/28/2008 11:22 pm
rocky rocky
Finally, Whoopi Goldberg! I enjoy your observations so much. So glad you’ve joined us. Did you see the newest John McCain ad (via Huffington Post), which congratulates Sen Obama on his talk tonight before he has even spoken! SO PATRONIZING and that smirk! Galls me.
By rocky rocky on 08/28/2008 4:31 pm
DeBúrca obj
I didn’t see McCain’s ad, but I heard it on the radio. It sounded very gracious to me.
By DeBúrca obj on 08/28/2008 5:38 pm
rocky rocky
To each his/her own.
By rocky rocky on 08/28/2008 5:51 pm
DeBúrca obj
Maybe if I saw the ad it would leave a different impression. I was just being honest about how it sounded on the radio.
By DeBúrca obj on 08/28/2008 6:13 pm
rocky rocky
Honesty is good. No need to explain. I agree with almost everything you say, DeBurca, and hope you will have access to wowOwow when you move to Ireland.
By rocky rocky on 08/28/2008 6:22 pm
Mugsy Peabody
Check out some of Whoopi’s other posts — she’s done some extraordinary work on this website.
By Mugsy Peabody on 08/29/2008 3:32 am
kim speight
Thanks Whoopi, you’re spot on. I watched a program on the 60’s last night (after the DNC!) and was amazed at a sense of Deja vu. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy that era… people were ready for a change and I believe we are now. My husband is a McCain supporter and contests that the American’s will vote white… I disagree, America is ready for a CHANGE black white purple doesn’t matter!!
By kim speight on 08/28/2008 4:36 pm
M L Staats
Kim wrote: My husband is a McCain supporter and contests that the American’s will vote white… All due respect to your husband, Kim, because I don’t know him, but that comment just gives me the willies. Ewww Rather than “vote white” I think we should vote for brains, a level head and a desire to change things.
By M L Staats on 08/28/2008 4:45 pm
Mugsy Peabody
Well, if America votes “white,” half of ‘em will vote for Obama!
By Mugsy Peabody on 08/28/2008 5:34 pm
Linda LL
Yes, Yes, Mugsy. Finally somebody besides me remembers that Obama has a “white” mother. I personally find it a bit racist to say he will be our first African American president. Think historically. Remember when only an ounce of “black” blood meant one was Black and therefore less of a person? We must recognize the experience of MIXED and it is a different experience from either black or white..my best friend’s daughter is mixed, so I know this. And most of all, especially in this culturally diverse nation, we must embrace all colors and combinations there of. So no matter the gender or color of a candidate, you better believe I will pull that straight-Democratic lever (metaphorically speaking of course) come November. Gotta ditch the Bush-bunch!!
By Linda LL on 08/29/2008 5:11 pm