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A&E calls off 'Duck Dynasty' suspension

Come on, it was a publicity stunt, we knew he would never be fired, he'll come back to even more viewers than before who want to see what obnoxious crap comes out of his mouth next. This was a set up from day one.

Wow, what a surprise he is back . . . not! As I said in a couple of the hundred threads on this subject . . . this was a preconceived action. Hmmmmm, just in time for Christmas we have a controversial article printed in GQ . . . I wonder how Duck Dynasty retailers did over the Holidays selling their product? And just like that . . . a few days after Christmas . . . he's back. I'm so shocked.

Had I been debating this issue over the last week and a half I would feel really manipulated. Phil is sitting back thinking what new way he can make his minion monkeys and those who don't think like him, dance again. His Masters in Education and the obvious required Sociology and Psychology classes seem to have paid off. For those who continue to believe this was real, pardon my interruption, please feel free to dance for Phil some more.
 
This went beyond reality television and hillbillies with beards. It boiled down to a speech issue. Because a person believe in the bible and in turn, homosexuality is a sin doesn't mean they cannot state such. A&E had every right to take action but that action had consequences which were unforeseen. Only the special interest groups were outraged - A&E folded on the issue because they are a business after all and killing a cash cow like DD is well... stupid. People have a right to their own opinion and expressing that opinion - like it or not. The moral of the story: Where business is concerned, political correctness from special interest groups do not trump free speech or running a profit media company.
It also went to a hypocrisy issue and there were examples of this on both sides. People rightfully pointed out that many that were upset by the suspension of Phil Robertson were clamoring for the head of an obscure unknown MSNBC onscreen personality for 'words'. People here were defending A&Es right to fire Phil Robertson because they disagreed with him and got their feelings hurt over what he said, yet when given the opportunity to defend your average citizen from firing a gay employee for similar acts...they suddenly ran silent.

Consistency is key. This freedom of speech thing cuts both ways. Sure...actions have consequence. A&E SHOULD have been allowed to suspend Phil Robertson...even fire him. The family would then have acted, there would have been massive revenue shifting, all consequence. But instead they 'suspended' him, ran a marathon that was more highly watched than the original broadcast, already had the first half of the season in the can, and his suspension was lifted before the next filming period begins...in March.
 
Come on, it was a publicity stunt, we knew he would never be fired, he'll come back to even more viewers than before who want to see what obnoxious crap comes out of his mouth next. This was a set up from day one.
I dont buy it. This was a pathetic overreaction by GLAAD and A&E, to be sure. But knowing how stupid they would both end up looking? If this was planned, they have some ****ty publicists.
 
How many here think Phil will repeat or say something similar?

And if so will there be consequences?
 
How many here think Phil will repeat or say something similar?

And if so will there be consequences?

He probably will, and there may be consequences - were I A&E and assuming this was not a PR stunt, I'd have the shows lawyers tightening up the contract language to specify actions that may not be so favorable to Phil in the future if he wants to continue on with the show. What that language is or what it entails may or may not be more stringent but what it will not do is prevent Phil from saying what he wants, it would only outline consequences and set clearer actions favorable to A&E.
 
He probably will, and there may be consequences - were I A&E and assuming this was not a PR stunt, I'd have the shows lawyers tightening up the contract language to specify actions that may not be so favorable to Phil in the future if he wants to continue on with the show. What that language is or what it entails may or may not be more stringent but what it will not do is prevent Phil from saying what he wants, it would only outline consequences and set clearer actions favorable to A&E.

I think what, if anything he says in the future will turn out different.

He's a member of the White's Ferry Road Church of Christ and this is supposedly another one of his religous based messages, which is more inline with New Testament teaching of love, forgiveness, compassion, non judgment, etc

'My message is to get human beings to love God, love their neighbor and for the life of me I just don't see the downside of human beings not being so mean to one another and actually care for one another and not steal from one another and not murder each other for their tennis shoes. That's the message I have. [...]

America and the world, we have a love problem. I'm trying to get people aware of that. A loving person is not going to pick up a spear or a knife because when the Ten Commandments were written it was before guns, and God was saying, 'Look, quit murdering each other.' Now I'm just trying to say, 'Folks, let's try to love one another no matter what the color of their skin.'


This is a photo of his pre-beard days, which leads me to believe that part of his hillbilly persona is for marketing...


420px-Phil_Robertson_La_Tech_1967.jpg
 
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How many here think Phil will repeat or say something similar?

And if so will there be consequences?
He never said it on the show. If he is asked it in an interview? Most assuredly he wil say it again. If he is asked to speak (and he is ALWAYS asked to speak) then if it is topical it will most assuredly come up again.

Now...heres the question...How many people will run around all butthurt looking for the next opportunity to have their feelings hurt by Phil Robertson and will meanwhile ignore the fact that the Pope...the guy CELEBRATED by GLAAD and the Advocate as their "Man of the Year"...said the EXACT SAME THING as Phil Robertson? How many will continue to ignore the fact that the vast majority of African American ministers not only AGREE with Phil Robertson but also strongly and openly condemned Obama's election year campaign cash driven 'evolution'?
 
I think what, if anything he says in the future will turn out different.

He's a member of the White's Ferry Road Church of Christ and this is supposedly another one of his religous based messages, which is more inline with New Testament teaching of love, forgiveness, compassion, non judgment, etc




This is a photo of his pre-beard days, which leads me to believe that part of his hillbilly persona is for marketing...


View attachment 67159033
You get that he said the exact same thing DURING the GQ interview...right?
 
He never said it on the show. If he is asked it in an interview? Most assuredly he wil say it again. If he is asked to speak (and he is ALWAYS asked to speak) then if it is topical it will most assuredly come up again.

Now...heres the question...How many people will run around all butthurt looking for the next opportunity to have their feelings hurt by Phil Robertson and will meanwhile ignore the fact that the Pope...the guy CELEBRATED by GLAAD and the Advocate as their "Man of the Year"...said the EXACT SAME THING as Phil Robertson? How many will continue to ignore the fact that the vast majority of African American ministers not only AGREE with Phil Robertson but also strongly and openly condemned Obama's election year campaign cash driven 'evolution'?

I doubt he'll state his opinion in such a controversial way again, though I could be wrong. And if he does I don't believe A&E would keep him this time or not punish him worse. Either that or it will be almost ignored because it's old news, unless he goes on another type of rant against some group.

I don't understand your question about Obama or how it's relevant? Are you saying something in reference to African Americans or the Pope?
 
You get that he said the exact same thing DURING the GQ interview...right?

Didn't he say "that I personally don't judge people who have different skin color and sexual orientation? And believe God loves them also?"
 
Didn't he say "that I personally don't judge people who have different skin color and sexual orientation? And believe God loves them also?"
“We’re Bible-thumpers who just happened to end up on television,” he tells me. “You put in your article that the Robertson family really believes strongly that if the human race loved each other and they loved God, we would just be better off. We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let’s get on with it, and everything will turn around.”
“We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus—whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out later, you see what I’m saying?”
 
I doubt he'll state his opinion in such a controversial way again, though I could be wrong. And if he does I don't believe A&E would keep him this time or not punish him worse. Either that or it will be almost ignored because it's old news, unless he goes on another type of rant against some group.

I don't understand your question about Obama or how it's relevant? Are you saying something in reference to African Americans or the Pope?
What is not to understand? The people that are butthurt over Phil Robertsons comments just selected the Pope as man of the year, even though hsi comments regarding homosexuality were clear...all they have to do is repent and turn back to God and he will forgive them all their sins. Obama stated his opposition to gay marriage was one based on his religious belief and morality. Didnt seem to bother people too much. The entirety of the African American ministers came out condemning Obama's cash train 'evolution'...nary a word from the gay community. Selective outrage is pretty pathetic and impotent. When your outrage is reserved SOLELY for a conservative white Evangelical...you have no cause.
 
“We’re Bible-thumpers who just happened to end up on television,” he tells me. “You put in your article that the Robertson family really believes strongly that if the human race loved each other and they loved God, we would just be better off. We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let’s get on with it, and everything will turn around.”
“We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus—whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out later, you see what I’m saying?”

That's pretty close "kill them all and let God sort em out."

He even admitted to being a reformed drunk and had a short affair with his Alma Mater captain of the football team? I mean those are both sins and the bible doesn't differentiate, which ones are worse, does it? Says if you sin or break a commandment you're a sinner or you've broken them all, right? I mean even "lust" or premarital sex is a sin, so the bible is a tough cookie to eat?
 
That's pretty close "kill them all and let God sort em out."

He even admitted to being a reformed drunk and had a short affair with his Alma Mater captain of the football team? I mean those are both sins and the bible doesn't differentiate, which ones are worse, does it? Says if you sin or break a commandment you're a sinner or you've broken them all, right? I mean even "lust" or premarital sex is a sin, so the bible is a tough cookie to eat?
:lamo Horse****. That's really pathetic if you actually believe that. How is 'love everyone and let God figure it out' in ANY way "kill em all!"? That's just old old laugh out loud funny right there. And yes...no doubt. He is quite open about his past. That's pretty much directly inline with what he preaches (and what Christ taught as well). Go forth...and sin no more.
 
Trust me, I share your disgust with reality television. However, as far as programming goes, what's put out there, DD are the good guys.

This is why I watch the BBC
 
I dont buy it. This was a pathetic overreaction by GLAAD and A&E, to be sure. But knowing how stupid they would both end up looking? If this was planned, they have some ****ty publicists.

They'll be laughing all the way to the bank with all the new ad revenue they get when he returns to the show, probably just in time for February sweeps.
 
This is a photo of his pre-beard days, which leads me to believe that part of his hillbilly persona is for marketing...


View attachment 67159033


He looks pretty young there.... "Sunday's best" certainly can't be that unheard of in his community. Granted my relatives would never have tolerated the long hair and ridiculously long beard (as it was a sign you were not masculine enough), and they're more the ranching type, but cowboys can clean up quite easily. I'm assuming the same can be said for a much older hillbilly who wore the above outfit.
 
:lamo Horse****. That's really pathetic if you actually believe that. How is 'love everyone and let God figure it out' in ANY way "kill em all!"? That's just old old laugh out loud funny right there. And yes...no doubt. He is quite open about his past. That's pretty much directly inline with what he preaches (and what Christ taught as well). Go forth...and sin no more.

At least I made you laugh.

I don't think A&E should've let him go for personal opinions, though they had a right. I didn't agree with the way Phil voiced his opinions but he had a right. The cultural divide and political war of values and ideology is more noticeable from the extremes. Christ seem to be more "live and let live" than an egotistical whacko.

He looks pretty young there.... "Sunday's best" certainly can't be that unheard of in his community. Granted my relatives would never have tolerated the long hair and ridiculously long beard (as it was a sign you were not masculine enough), and they're more the ranching type, but cowboys can clean up quite easily. I'm assuming the same can be said for a much older hillbilly who wore the above outfit.

Back in the 70's some country friends of mine called me a girl, when I grew my hair collar length. They would've called Phil and clan all kinds of stuff....lol
 
At least I made you laugh.

I don't think A&E should've let him go for personal opinions, though they had a right. I didn't agree with the way Phil voiced his opinions but he had a right. The cultural divide and political war of values and ideology is more noticeable from the extremes. Christ seem to be more "live and let live" than an egotistical whacko.



Back in the 70's some country friends of mine called me a girl, when I grew my hair collar length. They would've called Phil and clan all kinds of stuff....lol
That's just silly. You will never find an example where Christ did NOT preach adherence to morality or simply excused it and justified it. His apostles were sent forth to preach the word as well. You can choose to selectively take from it what you will, but that doesnt make it what you want it to be.

The best example of Christs teaching on sin comes from his dealing with the crowd and the prostitute. SURELY...do not judge...thats not your place and we all fall short. But the sin? Well...the sin was still the sin. He didnt say, let this poor woman alone to continue to be a prostitute. Go forth...and sin no more.
 
An ignorant hillbilly that started a million dollar business. hmmm somehow they don't seem to line up together. Out of all of them i don't think phil has a college education but the rest do. that still didn't stop him from creating a million dollar business that has since grown.

yet you have enough brain cells to make ignorant comments like the one above interesting.
Phil has 2 degrees...but more importantly...what really pisses them off is that the redneck hillbilly is saying the same thing the current occupant of the White House has said about homosexuality. They are just too spineless to attack the guys they vote for.
 
This whole thing has become as rediculously [sic] stupid and pointless as the Chick Fil A thing.

“Rediculously [sic] stupid and pointless” meaning that it has once again been made clear that mainstream America does not agree with the petty immoral position that you keep trying to put forth as being somehow “mainstream”.
 
Is that only when it matches your beliefs or opinions? If a gay person goes on a Christian network and offends Christian employees by drawing parallels between Christianity and terrorism/murder, will you be equally as appalled if they try to "silence" them?

I wasn't aware A&E was a gay network.

And please, turn that Self Righteous Bus over to the side of the Pretentious Turnpike would ya?

If this had been a man advocating for gay rights or abortion or whatever else the Left deem appropriate and he got fired as a result there'd have been a war cry like the world had never heard, class action lawsuits filed the very same day, rainbow warriors marching on every city in the country, so let's stop with the BS double standard spiel, alright? You'd lose that argument every time.

but to answer your question, yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and when asked what they view, based on their personal beliefs, they've every right to say what's on their mind without repercussion.

The issue here is that those on the wrong have a very selective, one-sided view of free speech, and assume that those of us on the right have a corresponding one-sided view.

Those on the wrong are quite happy with censoring expression of beliefs that they find disagreeable to them, and find it difficult to believe and understand that the view of free speech that the rest of us have whereby allowing the expression of beliefs that we do not find agreeable is really the whole point of it.
 
That's just silly. You will never find an example where Christ did NOT preach adherence to morality or simply excused it and justified it. His apostles were sent forth to preach the word as well. You can choose to selectively take from it what you will, but that doesnt [sic] make it what you want it to be.

The best example of Christs teaching on sin comes from his dealing with the crowd and the prostitute. SURELY...do not judge...thats [sic] not your place and we all fall short. But the sin? Well...the sin was still the sin. He didnt [sic] say, let this poor woman alone to continue to be a prostitute. Go forth...and sin no more.

Not a prostitute. A woman caught in the act of committing adultery. A woman who was married to one man, and caught having sex with another.

There are some often-missed subtleties to this story.

It takes two to commit adultery, and yet only the women was being brought forth for judgement. There has to have been a man involved in the act, who was equally guilty, and subject to the same penalty.

I've given to understand that the actual words Jesus used to refer to “he who is without sin” referred to the same sin. In other words, he was speaking to a gang of adulterers; probably including the very man who commuted adultery with this woman, perhaps specifically for the purpose of entrapping her so that she could be brought forth and used to entrap Jesus. I don't know that I can support this, but I almost have a sense that her “adultery” might really have been a rape.

It's recorded that while this conversation was going on, Jesus was writing with his finger in the dirt on the ground. It is not recorded what he was writing, but surely the men gathered there was what he was writing, and it surely indicated that Jesus knew exactly what they were up to, what they had done and intended to do to this woman, and for what purpose.
 
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