Whoopi Goldberg Defends Michael Vick

On her first day as the moderator of "The View" Whoopi Goldberg proved that she can be just as dumb as predecessor Rosie O'Donnell by going out of her way to defend Michael Vick and his dogfighting enterprise:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Outspoken comedian Whoopi Goldberg drew a scathing rebuke from animal rights activists on Tuesday for defending U.S. football star Michael Vick's role in dogfighting during her debut on ABC's talk show "The View."

"He's from the South, from the Deep South ... This is part of his cultural upbringing," Goldberg said of the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, whose recent fall from grace has been one of the most stunning in the history of U.S. sports.

Vick pleaded guilty last week to federal dogfighting charges, admitting he took part in an illegal, interstate enterprise known as Bad Newz Kennels and helped kill underperforming dogs.

The 27-year-old, who grew up in Virginia, faces up to five years in prison when sentenced in December. He has been suspended indefinitely by the National Football League.

"For a lot of people, dogs are sport," Goldberg said on the show. "Instead of just saying (Vick) is a beast and he's a monster, this is a kid who comes from a culture where this is not questioned."

Of course, an argument can easily be made that Rosie would've made more of an ass of herself than Goldberg handling this topic by taking it a step further by not only defending Vick, but somehow pinning all of Vick's legal problems on President Bush.