Posted on 12/21/2013 9:45:41 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
A&Es Woes Over Phil Robertson Firing Intensify with Duck Dynasty Family
By firing the star of the reality show Duck Dynasty, the A&E Network is walking a very fine line between fans and demands from gay rights groups such as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
Interestingly, the lines arent drawn squarely between conservatives on one side and gay rights activists on the other.
Noted writer and lesbian Camille Paglia has expressed outrage over the denunciation of Phil Robertson and affirmed his right to express his religious views on homosexuality. Paglia claims the moral right to speak on the matter given that she was openly gay when doing so brought a person adverse consequences. She said that Robertson has a right to express his religious views even if they are against homosexuality.
I speak with authority here, because I was openly gay before the Stonewall rebellion, when it cost you something to be so. And I personally feel as a libertarian that people have the right to free thought and free speech, Paglia, a professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, said on Laura Ingrahams radio show Thursday.
In a democratic country, people have the right to be homophobic as well as they have the right to support homosexuality as I one hundred percent do. If people are basing their views against gays on the Bible, again they have a right of religious freedom there, she added.
She went on to say that he did so via a magazine interview and to punish him for that is Stalinist.
To express yourself in a magazine in an interview this is the level of punitive PC, utterly fascist, utterly Stalinist, OK, that my liberal colleagues in the Democratic Party and on college campuses have supported and promoted over the last several decades, Paglia said. This is the whole legacy of free speech 1960s that have been lost by my own party.
Now, the Robertson family has made a carefully veiled threat that they are not going to move on without their patriarch. They announced yesterday that they are speaking with A&E about the shows future. A&E grossed $885 million this past year and a large portion of that comes from advertising revenue from Duck Dynasty.
Duck Dyansty Family Defends Patriarch Phil
Amidst the furor over Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertsons remarks to GQ, his family has issued a statement defending him. While the statement characterized some of his statements a coarse, they stated they reflected his deeply held religious beliefs coming from the Bible.
According to eonline.com, the family stated that 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. The statement clearly leaves the future of the hugely popular show in jeopardy, since it could not go on without them.
Robertsons comments which state that homosexuality was a sinful behavior and that sex between men was illogical, led to Robertsons suspension from the show. The remarks have ignited a firestorm of argument both for and against Robertson. Both Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin have come to Robertsons defense, while GLAAD and the NAACP have declared their support for Robertsons suspension. So far Phil Robertson himself has not made any statement regarding his suspension from the show.
On The Web:
Palin and Beck add fire to blazing row over Phil Robertson and Duck Dynasty http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/dec/20/palin-beck-phil-robertson-duck-dynasty
Paglia: Duck Dynasty uproar utterly fascist, utterly Stalinist http://dailycaller.com/2013/12/19/paglia-duck-dynasty-uproar-utterly-fascist-utterly-stalinist/
Phil Robertsons Entire Family Stands by Him, Implies Duck Dynasty Cant Continue Unless He Returns http://www.eonline.com/news/492746/phil-robertson-s-entire-family-stands-by-him-implies-duck-dynasty-can-t-continue
Well, she’s still a leftist after all albeit a less-Stalinistic-than-usual one.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looking at your post, one must assume you smoke weed. I'm convinced that weed smoking directly leads people to be posting stupid comments with strong inclinations to make stuff up. The best argument there is to totally avoid smoking weed (and then posting made up stuff).
I don't have time to watch TV..
Free speech is what it says it is but it doesn't guarantee anybody a job.
There is no conflict with the constitution because the Feds are not involved.
But getting back to my original point..who are you people that have the time or inclination to be informed on this...
My world doesn't give me the time luxury.
I’ve never seen the show. I’m not a follower of any show at present except some news shows. That said, until this suspension happened, followed by the tsunami of reaction, I had no idea the show was so hugely popular. The appearance from a few photos I’ve seen, is that this family is loved and cherished and listened to in the same way that The Waltons was loved back in the 1980s. Am I close here? I recall the dinner table scenes with all the family preparing to break bread and share what they have al worked for, another very significant American value. I think either Fox or Glen Beck will take them in after 2014. I read today that A&E wants to have Phil and the Family all stay with them, maybe shoot a 5th season. He should leave, now that he knows how shallow and weak their ‘love’ can be.
Hmmm....it could be a well placed distraction.
It Appears your World does not give you the Time to Understand the Constitution as Well. There does not NEED to be a Conflict with the Federal Government for a Company to be held Liable for Wrongful Termination of Employment over a Freedom of Speech Issue.
Do we really want to delve into a quasi-socialistic pit here.
Sometimes it’s good to just go on to the next thing. It’s not as if the Robertsons are going to care about a little less gravy in their gravy train, not when they care about God more and are looking positively to a world beyond this mortal coil and to which their mammon can’t go.
Trying to bribe or threaten a resolute Christian will back fire on whoever did it. Badly. God is very jealous about what is under the Blood.
Duck Dynasty is about a real family and Phil whom made the comments is the dad of his grown and families of their own four sons. Phil was a star college quarterback and holds a masters degree in education IIRC.
Willie his son next to the youngest is the CEO of Duck Commander a real company. His net worth last I read was $25M. He bought the company from his dad who founded the company making duck calls for which he holds U.S. Patents for. Willie and his wife brought the company into multimillion dollar a year business status. Willie is a college grad I think. I think he is also a minister.
Phil's oldest son Al is an ordained minister in The Church of Christ. Jase second oldest son is the designer of new duck calls. Si another one on the show about 65 maybe is Phil's younger brother and he too works for the company. Si I think is worth $5M now.
The show focuses first on Willie who narrates a lot of it acting bent out of shape over his brother and and his uncle Si's antics and misadventures. That is the TV show part. Usually at the end there is a moral summary as to the events and while at the table Phil says Grace to close the show.
In real life Phil, all four sons including the youngest Jeb, and Uncle Si as well as others on the show make personal appearances in venues such as churches, church gatherings, youth programs, etc witnessing about their faith and beliefs. That can be seen on Youtube. That may shed a little more light on why the left is after them.
Phil does have a wild past one he has repented for and found salvation and forgiveness from. He went from being a teacher to bar owner to down right scoundrel and he openly admits as much. He treated his wife and kids bad but his wife Kay stood by him praying for him until he finally changed. It is a real story.
Should we back off? No and here’s why. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2031059/posts It must be fought and ignoring it will not make it go away. It’s much deeper than Phil Robertson’s comments. Fight it now or have nothing soon left of our nation to fight for.
I say be judicious about where to fight.
I say go ahead, let A&E cut its nose off to spite its face! This won’t bring down Duck Commander. It will only bring down what was a farce anyhow. A&E will be left with an orphan, albatross brand (the Duck Dynasty drek).
But maybe this could be the start of... hmm... something I wrote about wishfully about 4 years ago, a Redneck Revolution?
https://soundcloud.com/daniel-levy-6/redneck-revolution-demo
Here they are with that prominent democRAT, Sarah Palin. /s
Doesn't any Feeeper find it odd that a certain senior reporter/host/interviewer working for ABC was denied an interview because Phil decided to go hunting and two days afterward this story broke?
Wrongful termination of employment over a Freedom of Speech Issue?
Is there some such provision in Phil Robertson's employment contract?
If not, then what book of collectivist dogma does that ridiculous notion come from?
There's no such thing as "wrongful termination of employment" unless such termination is in breach of a contract which was signed by both parties.
In the absence of such an employment contract, the ownership of a company has an essentially absolute right to terminate any employee for any reason, or for no reason. There is not some unalienable right to keeping a job when an employee is no longer wanted by a company's ownership.
Camille Paglia is trying to position herself “above the fray” much the same as Obama.
But it matters not because the gloves are coming off.
You should see the commentary of conservatives in Utah who are in shock that one judge can in a few days bring about a caravan of same-sex marriages where just a few days before conservatives were comfortable in thinking “Not in Our State”.
I wonder how Texans would react.
So let the parent corps suffer too. About time.
Correction: It is the most important political battle facing our nation and if not soon addressed the deadliest in our nations history.
Right about everything but that The Church of Christ is a denomination.
The Church is the blood bought institution Our Lord died for. If a Church does not wear His name or practice His commandments it is a denomination. I am thankful to be a member of The Church of Christ!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.