ACME Whoopi! Free Speech
Read what Whoopi said at the Democratic fund-raiser
A grass-roots Unilever-Slim-Fast Boycott Petition
Some of the things said at the Democratic fund-raiser on July 8:
- Paul Newman "I am a traitor to my class. I think that tax cuts for worried, wealthy
thugs like me are borderline criminal. I live very high off the hog.," and the notion they
produce trickle-down benefits for the poor is "rubbish. I put my
tax cut in my sock and buried it away. In November, let's sock it to them."
"There is serious and dangerous stuff out there and something's gotta change."
- John Mellencamp sang "Let me tell you a story about the Texas Bandito: Texas Bandito,
how much money did you put in your pocket today? You better split from that Texas Bandito, he's
made this world unsafe today. Our thoughts are not free from the Texas Bandito, he's just another
cheap thug that sacrifices our young. . . You're going to get us killed with your little white lies."
- Sarah Jessica Parker said she wanted a president who would "look after all people and
not just privileged few." The Sex and the City star said, "This year, a vote for John
Kerry and John Edwards is a real patriot act."
- John Leguizamo a comedian and actor who is Puerto Rican, said he refuses to believe there
are any Hispanic Republicans, claiming that's "an oxymoron," because "Latins for Republicans - it's
like roaches for Raid." Leguizamo added that he made sure to get there early to clear security because
"I kind of look Arab — that's why I don't wear underwear anymore, just to make the searches go faster."
- Jessica Lange dismissed Bush as "our so-called president" and described the upcoming
election as a "question of conscience." "Are we going to continue to follow a self-serving regime
of deceit, hypocrisy and belligerence? Or are we, after four disastrous years, going to take a
step toward our true responsibility as leader of the free world?" Remarking that she usually
refrains from quoting bumper stickers, she thought, why not? "We're in a time when
our so-called president speaks in only bumper sticker slogans." The latest one she saw: "Defend
America. Defeat Bush." Afterward she said, "I'll do everything that I can possibly do, short of
selling my children," to defeat Bush.
- Chevy Chase came out with an empty handcuff link, asking if anyone had seen Ken Lay.
He drew laughs and cheers from the audience when he described politicians and their hobbies:
"Clinton [plays] sax, John plays the guitar, Bush, the lyre." "Bush thinks "DNA" means "Daddy knows
alright," "This guy's as bright as an egg timer" He said Edwards will make Vice President Dick
Cheney look "as bright as a bundt cake" when they debate next fall. He poked fun at the president's
pronunciation of "nuclear" and "terrorist" and said Mr. Bush had invaded Iraq "just so he could be
called a wartime president." And he reminded that "Bush did get a real fighter pilot's suit."
Afterwards, Chevy told reporters, "I don’t trust him, I don’t like him and I think he’s venal. I'm
frightened by Bush, if you want to know the truth."
- Meryl Streep attacked Bush's frequent references to his religious faith. "I wondered to
myself during "Shock and Awe," I wondered which of the megaton bombs Jesus, our president's
personal savior, would have personally dropped on the sleeping families in Baghdad. Does Jesus
understand collateral damage?"
- Mary J. Blige sang Marvin Gaye's Mercy, Mercy Me with its poignant chorus of
"Things ain't what they used to be."
- Wyclef Jean, whose tie bore a donkey in an Uncle Sam hat sang "Instead of spending billions
on the war, I can use that money so I can feed the poor. I know some soldiers that sleep but they can't
dream, wake up with dreams, sounds of M-16s."
- Whoopi Goldberg "And that's why I'm here tonight. Because I love bush. But someone's giving
bush a bad name. Someone has tarnished name of bush. Someone has waged war, someone has deliberately
misled the country, someone has attempted to amend the constitution, all in the name of bush. The bush
I know and cherish would never do such things. My bush is smarter than that. And if my bush is smarter
than that, you can understand just how dumb I think that other bush is. I will do whatever it takes to
restore bush to its rightful place and that ain't in the White House. Vote your heart and mind and keep
bush where it belongs."
Read the rest of what Whoopi said that night.
- George Bush, remarked a couple of weeks later, "My opponent has been spending some time
with his base, as well, at a recent gala with his Hollywood friends. Evidently, things got a little
out of hand. My name came up a few times. And now the senator refuses to release a tape of that whole
enchanted evening. Could be that his friends, whom he said conveyed the 'heart and soul of America,'
actually embarrassed themselves and the candidate. I have a different theory. You see, the tape shows
a meeting of all those unnamed foreign leaders that the senator says have endorsed him."
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Quotes from some of the emails I've received:
America's heart and soul is freedom of expression without fear of reprisal. [Whoopi G]
I would love to see something on your site mentioning what a hero Whoopi
Goldberg is to many true and honest Americans. [Michael M]
Please join with me to fight the censorship being confronted by Ms. Goldberg. [Rebecca P]
The war is much more obscene, than ANYTHING Whoopi could say. [Dorrit T]
Well, they tried to slap [Whoopi] down. But she always rises -- and what does she care? [Bette Midler, Reuters interview 10/8/04]
According to a new
Eyewitness News/ Survey USA poll, you don't agree with Slim-Fast's decision.
- 60 percent say Slim-Fast should not have dropped Whoopi Goldberg.
- 35 percent say Slim-Fast was right to drop her.
- 4 percent aren't sure.
The poll has a margin of error of 4.4%.
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I have sent a message to Slim-Fast stating I will no longer purchase their products
because of their reaction to Whoopi's personal views or comments. Way to go Whoopi! [Michael G]
I urge you to ask visitors to your site to also e-mail Slim Fast and to
immediately stop using their products. [Brent]
Man i don't know about you, but i really think it stinks that Whoopi was let go from Slim-Fast.
just for using her right of freedom of speech:( [Marybeth P]
I am now boycotting SLIM-FAST [a foreign company] and using Carb Solutions [owned by Rexall-Sundown].
They should hire Whoopi as their spokesperson. [William F]
I just want to tell Whoopi, thank you for speaking up against Bush. [Sandy]
I stand behind Whoopi. Slim fast is wrong and should be boycot.Thanks. [Tony F]
Just thought you might want to know how much you are admired for voicing your convictions in such an up front hilarious way. [Patti K]
People should be able to have an opinion about the president whether positive or negative without getting fired! Tell her I agree with what she said! [Lana L]
Hey, you should get a link up to the Contact Slim-fast page, and have
people write in their unhappiness that they would drop her as a
spokesperson for speaking her political mind. I already have. [Katie K]
What can we do to help Whoopi and stick it to Slim Fast!?! [Don B]
I was appalled that Slim Fast fired Whoopi Goldberg, so I went to their website today and made my statement in their comment section. [Denese B]
I hope that you will be putting together a protest regarding the
shameful behavior of Slim Fast in firing Whoopi as their spokesperson. [Holly C]
Our San Luis Obispo "talk show host" stuck up for you and asked why there is any difference between
what you said about Bush and Dennis Miller insinuating that Kerry and Edwards are gay. [Rachel H]
I have e-mailed Bush and told him how disgusted I am with the tactics of his buddies. [Sherry P]
Reading about your censorship actions against Ms. Goldberg as of now I will stop buying your products and will advice my friends to do so since I do not believe that my money should sponsor such intimidating corporations. [L F A]
Don't worry about being fired. All the best people get fired. What comes
around, goes around. Keep your integrity and be yourself. There is
really only one of you and we love you. [Frank H]
Why would you feel the need to terminate her contract based on comments made at a Democratic fund raiser? I, and my two daughters, will never purchase slim fast again. Our country's strength has always been our freedoms. It's disappointing to realize that you have bought into the republican attack? [Joyce G]
I just want to say that I am very pleased with Whoopi for speaking her mind. Way to go! I never liked Slime-fast anyway. [Lori C]
God bless you Whoopi. My slimfast went into the toilet. [Bob W]
I just informed "Slim Fast" that I drop them from my shopping list. PS That is the answer to their small brains. [Jose V]
I just sent an e-mail to them denouncing her firing and that I will encourage everyone I know to boycott their products. I thought we had free speech in this country, but I'm beginning to believe I was wrong. [Pat W]
I have been looking for an effective outlet for my rage over the way Whoopi has been treated this year. First NBC drops her hilarious TV show and now Unilever's action. [Janet F]
There can be no doubt that Slim-Fast knew that Goldberg was politically active and has never been known
to hold back in the exercise of her freedom of speech. Given that Goldberg’s performance has not been released
to the public. . . Slim-Fast is taking a knee-jerk reaction and bowing to (apparent) public pressure to dump her. [Jan Larson, American Daily]
She said exactly what she felt and I admire her for that. U go girl!!! [Rachel S]
You response only reinforces my decision to boycott your product. If
enough of us raise our voices, then perhaps Slim-fast might want to
reconsider its position. Please know that you have offended Americans who
do not believe in censorship. [Dottie A]
I am still upset and feel that Slim Fast should not have fired her!! [Ethel C]
[To Slim-Fast] Well you made the wrong decision and because of that my mind remains the same
about your right wing, pro-nazi regime products and I'll not use them and discourage others from doing so.
It's Whoopi's job as a comedian to say things that are sometimes shocking. I wish [Senators Kerry and
Edwards] could have backed her up. Dennis Miller can make gay jokes about Senators Kerry and Edwards at a
recent Bush rally in Wisconsin to a complete absence of media scrutiny. No one demanded a tape of that event
or alleged that his comments as a comedian might reflect poorly on Bush.
[Karen Taussig, Margaret Cho's manager]
Miss Whoopi stood up and made a statement...she after all is a comedian and an excellent one...
I wanted to say thank you, to her for standing up...I am the mother of an American Solider stationed
at this night in harms way....Tell her I said God Bless Her.... [an American mother]
I find it quite appalling that in this day and age an entertainer is still expected to be some
white washed form of themselves without any political or social perspectives. It is my full intention
to send an email to the company, and I thank you for the direct connection to do so! [Daniel M]
I am disappointed in your companies actions to drop Ms. Goldberg from your ads based on her political
views. That is un-american, since a persons job should never be threaten because of their political beliefs. [Paula T]
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