Posted on 12/20/2013 4:10:03 AM PST by harpu
You heard Phil Robertson has been “fired” from A&E’s Duck Dynasty for speaking out graphically against homosexuality. By now every conservative spokesperson in the world has commented on it. So far, the only one I have seen blame Philis Al Mohler. Geesh.
I don’t blame Phil. Let me first say, that in regard to what he said against homosexuality, I stand with Phil, totally. In fact, I would go further.
Let’s remember one thing: Phil and all the Duck Dynasty crew have a contract of some sorts with A&E. I would like to see it, but I assume it deals with certain issues like this. I would like to see how.
Nevertheless, I knew A&E would respond, but I was actually surprised just how quickly and definitively it did.
Everyone should have seen this coming for a long time. We all knew A&E was in a pickle. Here is a group of hard-core conservatives who in many ways embody the American conservative in raw form: God, family, country, guns, business, fun. Anything that outright glorifies these values, and yet is produced by Hollywood, is a values clash just waiting to explode. And that explosion would reveal where each side really stands.
And now it has exploded. What we have learned is A&E clearly sides with the liberal mainstream, and that it is more afraid of backlash from the liberal public, and the sodomite community, than it is from mainstream conservative America’s potential boycott.
Indeed, the LGBT community is unified, vocal, and has a tremendous PR arm—far disproportionate to its actual numbers. The mainstream conservative world of consumers is not unified as a front. They must vote, en masse, with their consumption, or lack thereof, for them to have any adverse effect on A&E. Advertising agencies will give A&E the same treatment they did FOX over to Glenn Beck. The mainstream conservative users would have to boycott A&E as a large enough block to send anything like as significant a threat. Boycotts have been called for, but unless they are effectively unified enough, and disciplined enough to stick with it, they will not have anywhere near the same effect. I suspect that many conservatives, unfortunately, will continue to watch anyway. It’s the nature of the beast called the mainstream. There are few real convictions, and even fewer people who will act upon those convictions—even so much as to stop watching their favorite TV show. They all still send their kids to public schools, after all.
In short, A&E has chosen to lose some viewers, and thus some ratings, as opposed to a widespread threat from advertisers. It’s a calculated decision. And it will work, unless. . . .
Unless, Duck Dynasty ceased to exist altogether, outside of A&E’s control. And this threat can be made real, and it will be effective. Here’s how:
What we have not learned from this yet is just how seriously the rest of the Duck Dynasty clan will stand with Phil. So here’s my proposal for the best reaction that could be made against A&E.
They are all stuck in a contract to finish the show. If they back out, they would probably incur financial penalty. They could probably afford it, but this is not the best course.
Instead, every member and friend of the Duck Dynasty family ought to come out publicly in support of Phil’s comments, and make their own comments of the same nature, opposing homosexuality as unnatural and unbiblical, as sin, as perversion, and unhealthy, and even deadly. Pull out all the stops and say what you really believe. Every single member. Publish it everywhere.
This will put the ball right back in the court of A&E. They fired Phil for these comments, but plan to continue with the show, raking in the revenue anyway. A united family stand would force A&E to fire the whole cast, and then lose their revenue entirely. It would leave the company with no way to profit from Duck Dynasty as long as it maintained its anti-Christian, pro-homosexual stance.
Don’t let the liberal advertisers, the LGBT front groups, and the spineless liberal executives at A&E win, while continuing to profit from DD. Force A&E to choose: either Phil comes back, or we all go for good. This can be done, and it should be.
Willie, Jase, Si, Jep, Martin, Godwin, Mountain Man, Miss Kay, Korie, Missy, Jessica? Let’s hear it.
As for the rest of us, if we’re truly serious about boycotting pro-homosexual powers, then that kind of rules out all TV and film, doesn’t it? How serious are you.
A&E made a conscious business decision and will have to suffer any consequences to their bottom line.
A&E’s phone # 212-210-1400
‘Duck Dynasty’ new season will feature suspended patriarch
“When “Duck Dynasty” returns for its new season on Jan. 15, “Duck Commander” Phil Robertson will be a part of it, an A&E network spokesman told TODAY on Thursday. Most of the 10-episode season was filmed before the network suspended the Robertson family patriarch for anti-gay remarks he made during a GQ magazine interview and the stories would not work without him, the spokesman said.
The hit show starring the wealthy Louisiana family is not currently in production. But on Wednesday, A&E announced it was “indefinitely” placing Roberts on hiatus from filming and he will not be part of the show when production resumes sometime next year.”
Cancel.
Your.
Cable.
Service.
Duck Dynasty has shown that we need a conservative entertainment network folks, it makes money, LOTS of money.
This is a very good idea...the whole family needs to just make pro-family, pro-Christian comments...and challenge AnE to fire them all.
Conservatives would do better on boycotts if we did not have all the Business Socialists/Fiscal Conservatives (sarc) tag a longs who whine “boycotts don’t work” when folks want to boycott. Nothing is more Free Market than a group of folks boycotting a business without government involvement.
The Family should speak out in support of Phil. There has been a few who have suggested the same. It would put A&E in a pickle, for sure! Come on guys, just do it! (Oops! Wrong company!)
Call your satellite provider and remove a&e from your viewer guide. You pay for it in your package deal, but their ratings can be reduced.
Then clip off the advertisers.
Will we move in a block, or not.
Simple message: No Phil Robertson, no A & E.
I have sent my Email of complaint to A&E.
feedbackaetv@aenetworks.com
I would like to see the Robertsons remind everyone that A&E needs them and they don’t need A&E.
Great idea. I’d love to hear individual interviews by all of them anyway. Hope they do this...would be fun to watch A&E have to react and fire all if them burning the contract.
The Robertson family issued a statement Thursday night on the website duckcommander.com.
“We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support,” the statement reads. “The family has spent much time in prayer since learning of A&E’s decision. We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word. While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Phil would never incite or encourage hate.We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right.We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty. Again, thank you for your continued support of our family.”
I agree completely.
This is a cause. We are right.
While we’re at it, liberals run television.
Conservatives stand up already.
We need to take over some real networks. For real.
This will cost Landrieu her seat. NO way can she "duck" the issue. Maness and Cassidy are already planning photo-ops and ways to support the Robertsons. This is Louisiana....
Rick Santelli gave an impassioned “speech” on the floor of the NYSE which put a face on a growing movement...the Tea Party. It would be sweet if Phil Robertson inadvertently kicks off a concerted effort to call for the end of “bundled” cable packages.
no
I wonder what would happen if each family member appropriately communicated publicly his/her views, as individuals, regarding their core religious beliefs about homosexuality and Biblical teachings? Make some popcorn after that one, sit back and watch the fray! What would A&E do then?
A couple years ago the programming geniuses at WMAL decided to send Chris Plante home and substitute his forenoon show with a simulcast of Morning Joe. After sending a note to the station using their website I moved down the radio dial. Several months later Chris was back. I don’t recall an organized boycott of any sort. It was just a few thousand individual decisions made in harmony.
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