‘Duck Dynasty’ star Phil Robertson suspended by A&E
“Duck Dynasty” dad Phil Robertson has been suspended indefinitely by the A&E Network following his recent comments on homosexuality, the network announced Wednesday night.
“We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series ‘Duck Dynasty’,” the network said in a statement. SOURCE
Wouldn’t it be an amazing thing if the suspension of Phil Robertson launched a new and invigorated Conservative and Evangelical movement in America?
It could happen. Here is an excerpt of Phil’s statement.
“I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together.
“However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”
I’m not an overly religious person. I don’t preach the Gospel and I rarely attend church services, but I have strong feelings and beliefs, a spiritual feeling, and I know the difference between right and wrong.
As I said, I don’t *preach*, I live MY life and I try very hard to not involve myself in the personal or private lives of others. I don’t care what YOUR beliefs or preferences are; I don’t care what you do in YOUR own bedroom, who you do it with or how you do it, THAT is your business.
When you take it *public* and try to force YOUR beliefs and sexual preferences off on me then it becomes MY business.
When you tell me that it’s OK to have television shows to celebrate the homosexual lifestyle but I, or a man like Phil Robertson can’t express our disgust FOR said programs, THAT is wrong.
I don’t sugar-coat ANYTHING. I shoot straight from the hip and I call it exactly as I see it. GAY is a word I do NOT use to describe homosexuals. The word GAY has been bastardized by the Liberal Left in an effort to legitimize acts of homosexuality and to make those that are homosexuals sound *normal*.
Homosexuality is NOT normal.
Many are trying to say that Phil has been denied his First Amendment rights by A&E.
I disagree with that and here’s why; it is their network and THEY retain the right of FREE SPEECH and have total control over the programing of that network. A&E is entitled to suspend and/or fire anyone on their network for any reason they deem necessary, that is their right. If YOU are contracted TO A&E and you make a public statement that A&E determines to be against THEIR beliefs or detrimental to their policy, they have a right to respond by suspending and/or firing you.
We have a right to not watch A&E. That is OUR right.
I see many that are calling for a total boycott of A&E network in protest to Phil’s suspension. It’s going to be really difficult for me to boycott A&E, you see, I find the programming on A&E to be the next thing to GARBAGE; I don’t watch any programs on A&E other than Duck Dynasty. As far as a boycott and its being effective, I really don’t see any good in that.
What I see as being effective would be for the entire Robertson clan to leave A&E and take their popular program to another network. This could be an interesting proposition. Glenn Beck Makes a Very Exciting Offer to the Cast of ‘Duck Dynasty’.
Here are a few thoughts that friends and family have shared on Facebook. The first is from my Son.
Trey Witzell
My personal belief is that whether a person is gay, bi, straight, or whatever, everyone will answer for the things they do, unless, of course, you don’t believe in God. Then I guess you’ll become one with the earth or slip into another dimension or whatever you believe. That being said, I think (which I am entitled to do) that this world needs more people like Phil Robertson. People that truly speak what they feel and believe; not what this twisted society tells them they need to believe.
I don’t think Phil woke up and decided to be a gay basher the day that interview was given. I think Phil was asked a question and answered the question as truthfully and whole-heartedly as he could.
If A&E decides to pull the plug on Phil or DD, I’m sure they’ll all be fine.
This is a friend and fellow gun blog buddy.
Tex Reynolds
I just sent the following email to A&E.
There is a reason Duck Dynasty is popular, because it reflects the values of many Americans. Censoring Phil is hypocritical. You don’t censor your other stars when they promote non-traditional values. You capitulate to a minority who don’t even watch Duck Dynasty. You succumb to the political (in)correctness and include perversion into your programming in an attempt to desensitize Americans to a morally wrong lifestyle. Has your network learned nothing from the propaganda networks of MSNBC and CNN. Give the people what they want not what you think they should have. Please either return Phil to the show or release the show to another network that actually appreciates good television.
And this is from one of our local *good guys* and all around enjoyable persons.
David Waters
I’ve read the Phil Robertson interview and I have noticed a disturbing trend. I’ve always said life is a pendulum, when my generation was younger…children were seen and not heard. If you stepped out if line you were smacked. Nowadays, let’s face it… More kids could be smacked but aren’t. Ideals change in society.
Robertson expressed an opinion and is being ostracized and financially punished for it. Is this the new tyranny??? Do we have to watch our words and live in constant fear?? What a boring life that would be.
A&E is obviously afraid of a financial backlash…however, people watch Duck Dynasty for entertainment and the kooky things they say. Dare I say many agree with Phil? My cable has 140 channels and 139 don’t carry Duck Dynasty…you could change it, just saying…I think A&E will regret this action. In trying to appease GLAAD, PETA and the other groups opposed to Duck Dynasty, they will lose the brand and the money that accompanies it. On a more philosophical point…if you outlaw someone’s opinion, the next one will be yours. Don’t give in to the “word terrorists.” Be true to yourself and let others do the same…soapbox dismount.
Would A&E go out of business if they lost Duck Dynasty? I don’t know, maybe, maybe not, but I DO know this; they would take a tremendous HIT in their *financials*.
There is a great number of decent, hardworking Americans that have an *attitude* now, and as I said in the opening of this piece; “Wouldn’t it be an amazing thing if the suspension of Phil Robertson launched a new and invigorated Conservative and Evangelical movement in America?”
It’s not that what he said wasn’t offensive. The uproar is over being persecuted for exercising his 1A right to Freedom of Speech. In fact, anyone that says what Phil said wasn’t offensive could be seen as ignorant. It just seems that the standards aren’t the same. Kanye West stated that his performances equate to being a soldier or a police officer, and everybody’s like, “Oh, that’s just Kanye” and it’s over. Maybe Phil was just being Phil? An educated Redneck with his own moral structure?
I was just discussing this with a colleague. 2 points to make.
First, the 1st amendment protects free speech; it does not protect us from getting our feelings hurt. (Tough luck, GLAAD)
Second, unless A&E included language in his contract that prohibits him from interviews without their permission, they have violated his 1st amendment rights.
All that to say, I’m interested to see if the rest of the crew at Duck Commander decides their loyalty to dad is stronger than their desire to make a TV show. If so, Fox oughta be knockin’ on their door with an offer to start a new Duck Dynasty series.
Never seen a single episode of DD. But my days of watching other crap on A&E is over. Because, I like Phil, prefer a vagina to a man’s anus!!!
Merry CHRISTmas everybody-the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ THE Son of God! Not kwanze or some other stupid, made-up day! (Thank you Fred for allowing me to say un-PC things like “Merry CHRISTmas!”)
Fred, I am glad you wrote this comment because I found myself too angry to put anything on paper. Homosexuals represent just over 3% of the population but they seem to have a megaphone to abuse anyone who finds their lifestyle an offense. I hope Duck Dynasty (which I have never seen) goes to another channel. A pox on A&E,
Fred,
If your readers would like to contact A&E to express their first amendment right, I’ve included the necessary information below. As for me, I ‘penned’ this this morning:
“Dear Ms. Raven,
I am glad you made clear your stance on LGBT issues and your disdain for the norm. Supporting deviant behavior defines you and your network as an enemy to humanity and civilization in general.
Be sure to tell your sponsors that those of us who recognize the value of morality, and found a bit of entertainment in Duck Dynasty will no longer be occupying your airwaves; abandoning you because of your corrupt ideology.
I’m sure you’ll continue to prosper; (for a season, anyway). But it will be without 7.8 million viewers.
Regards,
…”
A&E contact info
Ms. Abbe Raven, CEO
A&E Television Networks
235 East 45th St.
New York, NY 10017
ABBE RAVEN (CEO)
[email protected]
WHITNEY GOIT (SR. EVP)
[email protected]
ROBERT DEBITETTO (EVP)
[email protected]
COLLEEN CONWAY
(Director of Non-Fiction Programming)
[email protected]
GENERAL EMAIL: [email protected]
ABBE RAVEN (CEO) LINE: (212) 210-9007
GENERAL TELEPHONE: (212) 210-1400
Posted this on facebook a while ago:
Okay folks time to get real: If you are claiming 1st amendment defense for Phil Robertson you’re wrong. The first amendment give you the right to speak freely, it doesn’t give you the right to avoid consequences. You have the right not to be imprisoned for your speech. You don’t have freedom from society. A&E is a business. They made a decision to discriminate against Christians and Heterosexual Males. This is a business decision. In a decision like this, business makes a calculated effort that the action will result in less hardship for themselves. They guessed wrong and its up to WE the PEOPLE to make them pay for it. Avoid A&E, Don’t buy anything DUCK DYNASTY, that profit gets split with A&E, buy DUCK COMMANDER That’s the Robertson’s company. NO A&E.
Sums up First Amendment to a *T*..
Best explanation: My Blog equates to MY 1A rights, everyone else is a guest and makes comments as I see fit… If they want to have unfettered speech they need to open their own blog and make ME a guest…
Same thing with A&E, Phil is/was under contract, if he violated that contract it is A&E’s right to suspend him.. A lot of folks just don’t understand the 1A..
I tell people that their Constitutional Rights end at my property line. The Bill of Rights is what protects us from our own government. It doesn’t give me the right to do or say as I please in someone elses home, property, or business.
I really believe that Phil doesn’t give a ‘quack’ what A&E thinks or does….Yep, we have freedom of speech here in the US, so long as you don’t say the wrong thing.
Well Robert, I’ll disagree a bit. Here’s why:
Because A&E isn’t actually exercising a recognized universal right. It is exercising a fictional special privilege. The right to fire a person for violating pro-homosexual speech codes is not matched by the freedom on the other side.
Already the Senate has voted for a bill that allows any homosexual who gets fired to sue for “discrimination.” Powerful Republicans are campaigning for a regime that grants these and other special privileges to homosexuals—privileges that are not only not granted to others, including Christians, but are designed to be used against Christians.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303309504579184013939286576
Remember a while back the cake maker that refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple?
“Phillips made national news in 2012 when he refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, claiming it violated his Christian beliefs. The couple sued him, and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint on their behalf.
“Last week, administrative law judge Robert Spencer made a ruling on the case. He said Phillips would have to sell gay couples wedding cakes or risk facing penalties and fines.”
http://godfatherpolitics.com/13625/people-fight-back-judge-rules-cake-chef-jack-phillips/#fxkfZ6ao7p5Rg2dp.99
A/E is continuing the bias at the expense of dissenters. Chances are, there isn’t anything anyone can do to make them change course… except of course, as you suggested, boycot the crap out of ‘em.
Too bad for the retailers that have already bought hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Duck Dynasty merchandise (Bass Pro Shop).I bet A/E won’t refund their $$
I submit we don’t know the full story. Much depends on what is IN the contract that Phil would have had to SIGN knowingly. He’s not stupid; I’m sure he vetted the contract through his attorney because all of those boys are NOT poor. They know how to handle money by now.
That said, wouldn’t it be something if they hopped over — not just Phil, but all of them — to ANOTHER cable network with their show — and took ALL THEIR RATINGS with them?
For those unaware, Duck Dynasty is the HIGHEST rated show in ALL of cable.
And trust me, Duck Dynasty is making BIG bucks for A&E.
BZ
BINGO!!
… and we wonder why the country is in the mess it’s in???
JDL
I’m waiting to see how the rest of the family reacts to this. Is blood thicker than money?
Looks like the rest of the family is sticking by Phil…as they should.
http://www.eonline.com/news/492746/phil-robertson-s-entire-family-stands-by-him-implies-duck-dynasty-can-t-continue
Good! I was hoping they would…
My wife is a city girl, born and raised, for the most part in Patterson, N.J.. She loves DD and is a faithful viewer, me not so much, but I do enjoy watching it with her once in a while. Since we now live in Florida, and enjoy the outdoors together, she has shed her city ways and has a connection with DD she may not have experienced had we not met. Both of us are not happy with A&E’s decision and will not be watching the DD marathon tonight. Facebook has a poll on like/not like the suspension and when I voted “like”, there were over 800k and climbing “likes”. Also, the fact that he was interviewed for a magazine, not on the show itself, misleads the public about the show’s content.
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It’s a sad day in America when a person can’t express their opinion about anything whether it be homos ore any one else,this gay crap is being pushed down our throats by every major network in America. I thank the reason for that is the fact that most of them a homos too. They know its wrong and nomatter what they do they cant make it right.
Thank you Texas Fred! A Merry Christmas to you and all yours!!!!
And a Merry Christmas to all on Texas Fred’s!!!!!
Note to all those watching: I oppose the sick perverted homosexual agenda and know them (LGBT/GLAAD) to be degenerate, depraved, and thoroughly morally bankrupt and corrupt .
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
“As we see what’s happening today in this country, perhaps some of us could get disillusioned. I think the most ominous words I’ve ever heard were in the last two State of the Union addresses when (Obama) said, ‘If Congress does not act, I will act unilaterally.’ Not much different than that old, bearded (Collectivist/Marxist/Socialist/Communist) that I left behind in Cuba, governing by decree, by executive order, just like a dictator, like Fidel Castro.”
Cruz also addressed religious liberty, saying “socialism requires that government becomes your god.”
“They have to destroy all loyalties except loyalty to the government,” Cruz continued. “That’s what is behind homosexual marriage. It’s really more about destruction of the traditional marriage … because you need to destroy also loyalty to the family.”
..”I’ll tell you that one thing that they cannot take is our Honor! That they cannot take. And I challenge you today, together with me, to make a commitment to pledge mutually to each other ‘our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor’ to restore this country to that shining city on a hill that Ronald Reagan talked about. If all of us do that, we are going to take this country back.”
“Disobedience to tyrants is Obedience to God.” -Benjamin Franklin.