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Whoopi Goldberg

Debate about racism, Obamas gets heated on 'The View'

Arienne Thompson
USA TODAY
Whoopi Goldberg, left, Nicolle Wallace, Rosie Perez and Rosie O'Donnell proved a short-lived quartet on 'The View' as O'Donnell is departing for the second time.

Mornings on ABC's The View often take a turn for the argumentative with co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O'Donnell, Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace offering their diverse opinions on hot topics of the day.

And when the subject of racism came up during Thursday morning's show, things got heated.

Goldberg said the Obamas' recent revelation of their experiences with racism didn't strike her as particularly bothersome.

Earlier this week, President Obama revealed to People magazine that he and lots of other professional black men like him have been mistaken for valets at fancy restaurants where they are, in fact, waiting for their own cars. The first lady said a fellow shopper at Target assumed she worked there and asked for help, too.

Goldberg chalks experiences like theirs up to ignorance rather than racism. But Perez was unconvinced.

"You don't think it's racist if someone turns to the leader of the free world and says, 'Here can you park my car'?" Perez asked.

Goldberg replied that real racism is being threatened with harm, not being followed in a store or being mistaken for the help.

"Racism is when someone comes up and says, 'I hope you die,'" she explained.

Perez countered with an incident at a swanky hotel in San Antonio where she and her sister were enjoying a VIP lounge, when someone came up and asked the sister to clean the table, thinking she was a maid.

Goldberg brushed that off too, asking, "Is it ridiculousness or is is racist? I just see it as stupid."

O'Donnell then chimed in with her opinion that racism is part of American culture, despite having a two-term black president. "I have a black kid I raise, Whoopi. ... You don't have to be black to know what racism is."

Goldberg ended the contentious segment with, "I don't agree, I'm sorry ... and keep your tweets to yourself!"

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