From WSB-TV.com :

Whoopi Goldberg started her stint on ABC’s “The View” Tuesday by coming to the defense of convicted felon Michael Vick (above).

Just 15 minutes into the show she brought up Vick’s conviction on dogfighting charges.

“You know from his background this is not an unusual thing for where he comes from,” said Goldberg.”There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of our country.”

Co-host Joy Behar seemed shocked at Goldberg’s statements. “How about dog torture and dog murdering,” Behar asked.

“Unfortunately it’s part of the thing,” Goldberg replied.”You’re a dog lover. For a lot of people dogs are sport,” she added.

Behar continued to shake her head in disgust. Goldberg said it seemed to her that it took a while for Vick to realize that the charges against him were serious.

“It seemed like a light went off in his head when he realized that this was something the entire country really didn’t appreciated, didn’t like,” Goldberg said, referring to Vick’s guilty plea.

Goldberg pointed out that Vick was raised in the South.

“This is part of his cultural upbringing,” said Goldberg.

Edge Of Sports’ Dave Zirin, while not making cultural excuses for Vick (” I am not sitting here in a Michael Vick jersey snacking on Labrador fajitas thinking that his 12 month plea bargain is the greatest injustice since Sacco and Vanzetti”) considers much of the Vick coverage to be “a frightening example of the worst kind of group-think: an unreflective mob-mentality run amok.”

I will not dwell on the various Internet postings that call for Vick to be lynched, beaten, or put in a phone booth with pit bulls. In less than five seconds of mouse-work, you too can buy a “Save a Pit Bull & Neuter Vick” T-shirt. They are easy enough to find since he Internet has always proven comfortable quarters for enterprising bottom feeding parasites.

He’s right, but the shirts are pretty ugly. I’d opt for one of these instead.