Tag: phil robertson

A&E Reverses decision, Phil Robertson will return to Duck Dynasty

Good to see that A&E has smartened up; after all, his hiatus was quite the stupid knee-jerk reaction.

The Story:

Phil Robertson, the patriarch of A&E’s Duck Dynasty clan who was suspended from his hit reality series on Dec. 18 following some incendiary comments about gay people, won’t be put on hiatus after all.

The network and the Robertson family announced Friday that Phil will still be part of the series — and since he didn’t miss any filming, his temporary suspension will have no effect on the upcoming fifth season.

An A&E statement to The Hollywood Reporter read:

As a global media content company, A+E Networks’ core values are centered around creativity, inclusion and mutual respect. We believe it is a privilege for our brands to be invited into people’s home and we operate with a strong sense of integrity and deep commitment to these principals.

That is why we reacted so quickly and strongly to a recent interview with Phil Robertson. While Phil’s comments made in the interview reflect his personal views based on his own beliefs, and his own personal journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the “coarse language” he used and the mis-interpretation of his core beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would “never incite or encourage hate.” We at A+E Networks expressed our disappointment with his statements in the article, and reiterate that they are not views we hold.

But Duck Dynasty is not a show about one man’s views. It resonates with a large audience because it is a show about family… a family that America has come to love. As you might have seen in many episodes, they come together to reflect and pray for unity, tolerance and forgiveness. These are three values that we at A+E Networks also feel strongly about.

So after discussions with the Robertson family, as well as consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filming Duck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family.

We will also use this moment to launch a national public service campaign (PSA) promoting unity, tolerance and acceptance among all people, a message that supports our core values as a company, and the values found in Duck Dynasty. These PSAs will air across our entire portfolio.

via A&E Welcomes Phil Robertson Back to ‘Duck Dynasty’.

By the way, I have watched the show over the holiday; and I must say, I am quite impressed. It strikes the same chords with me; as a very popular show in the 1980’s did with me, when I was a kid. Basically, the show is “The Dukes of Hazzard” meets duck hunting and Phil Robertson is basically a 21 century Uncle Jesse. Only difference is, uncle Jesse was a character played by an actor and Phil Robertson is a real person.

If I could change anything, I would change the goofy intro with the Bentley and the rings; I get the humor behind that, but someone who’s not really acquainted with that humor, would not get it. The intro from the first season was great.

Either way, I wish the Robertson family the best; and hey, if you all are looking for a blogger/hi-low driver/delivery driver —- look me up, I could use the job. All I’d need as an apartment to live in, and fly back home on the weekends. (I gotta come back and look after my folks on the weekends.) 😀 😉 🙂 I am the only child they have; and yes, I do look after my folks. 🙂

Related:

Update: As you can well imagine, this story has become quite the thread on Memeoradum: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Talking Points Memo, Mediaite, Twitchy, Scared Monkeys, his vorpal sword, The Daily Caller, The Gateway Pundit, Guardian, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, The Hinterland Gazette, Mashable, BREITBART.COM, Ricochet Conversations Feed, Crooked Timber, AMERICAblog News, Ed Driscoll, CNN, Capital New York, Taylor Marsh, The Raw Story, The Other McCain, American Thinker, NewsBusters, Outside the Beltway, Bookworm Room, KFOR-TV, Firedoglake, The Daily Caller, American Spectator, New York Times, Truthdig, NO QUARTER USA NET, Petition to A&E, Hot Air, CNN, americanthinker.com, Hot Air and Hullabaloo

Correcting Patrick J. Buchanan

I quote Patrick J. Buchanan here quite a bit. However, in his latest column, Pat misses the mark a bit.

Pat Writes:

Contrast if you will the sins for which Phil Robertson is being blacklisted with those of the Hollywood Ten.

He is a fundamentalist Christian professing his belief in what he holds to be Bible truths about sin, homosexuality, heaven and hell. For so doing, he is being censored by elites who wish to deny him access to the medium they largely control — television.

And what were the comparable sins of the Hollywood Ten?

via ‘Duck Dynasty’ and the New Blacklist – Patrick J. Buchanan – Official Website.

You see that part up there, that I underlined and turned red? That is where Mr. Buchanan is wrong. Phil Robinson is no more a Fundamentalist, that I am a Roman Catholic. One look at Mr. Roberson’s Church’s website will prove that. I don’t see any statement of faith, I do not see any King James Bible quotations, I do not see any conservatively dressed young man and women. All I see is a website full of, what David W. Cloud calls, “Rock and Roll Christianity.”  That last link in the previous sentence is a link to a man who is a Fundamentalist Christian! Phil Robertson is nothing more than someone who is a part of the compromising Evangelical apostate form of Christianity.

While Phil Robertson has some great values, of which I am in agreement with; I will not sit here and candy coat it and tell you something that is not true. I mean, the actual show, Duck Dynasty is a Evangelical Christian’s dream; and a Fundamentalist Christian’s nightmare! I mean you have an intro that features, ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man” for a intro video. You have the Robertson’s in a Bentley, and wearing rings and dressed like wealthy people. Is that not glamorizing materialistic things?

Not only that, but in one of the episodes, where Willie Robertson’s daughter was going to the prom, or something to that effect; Willie does not like the length of her dress. So, She tries a bunch of dresses, Willie likes none of them. Instead of standing his ground and not allowing her to dress like a slut. Willie Robertson caves to the wishes of his daughter and his wife! That does not sound very Fundamentalist Christian to me! Not only that, but in one episode, you had the Robertson brother wives, ordering a man around like he was some sort of a mindless stooge! Since when did women start usurping authority over a man? Does not the Bible say that they are not supposed to do this?

In closing: The Robertsons might have their Christianity basics down very well. However, they fall short of what we Fundamentalists and we old school Baptists consider to be Biblical Christianity.

Quote of the Day

To our modern moral and cultural elites, it is those who condemn the values of GLAAD who are the enemies of decency and progress who ought to be fired and blacklisted to prevent their poisonous views from being disseminated.

In the Hollywood of the late 1940s, Communism was persona non grata. In the 21st century, biblical Christianity is persona non grata.

No, this is not the America we grew up in. And it is becoming less so.

According to a CNN poll last week, while belief in God and the divinity of Christ is still shared by two-thirds of Americans, that share — older, more Republican, less educated — is falling.

Worldwide, too, Christianity at Christmas 2013 seems in a long retreat. Receding slowly in America, and moribund in Europe, Christianity is undergoing merciless persecutions in Africa and the Middle East — from Nigeria to the Central African Republic to Egypt, Syria and Iraq.

Compared to these folks suffering martyrdom for the faith, we have it easy here.

So, Sursum Corda. Lift up your hearts. And Merry Christmas.

Cracker Barrel changes it’s mind

Well, that was quick!

From Cracker Barrel’s facebook page:

Dear Cracker Barrel Customer:

When we made the decision to remove and evaluate certain Duck Dynasty items, we offended many of our loyal customers. Our intent was to avoid offending, but that’s just what we’ve done.

You told us we made a mistake. And, you weren’t shy about it. You wrote, you called and you took to social media to express your thoughts and feelings. You flat out told us we were wrong.

We listened.

Today, we are putting all our Duck Dynasty products back in our stores.

And, we apologize for offending you.

We respect all individuals right to express their beliefs. We certainly did not mean to have anyone think different.

We sincerely hope you will continue to be part of our Cracker Barrel family.

Glad to see that common sense kicked in and they changed course. 😀

 

Clearing the air on Phil Robertson and The First Amendment of the US Constitution

I am writing this, because of a comment that I received here on my blog.

I wrote the following:

There seems to be some confusion about the First Amendment of the the United States Constitution.

The first amendment DOES NOT guarantee you the right expouse your personal views on blacks and homosexuals on a privately owned television network.

The only thing that the US Constitution protects you from is the repression of free speech from the US GOVERNMENT. A&E network is not Government owned.

Phil Robertson does have the right to express his views, but, A&E is not obligated to allow those rights to be expressed on their network. Nor is Cracker Barrel obligated to carry Duck Dynasty or Duck Commander products. Both are private businesses.

Is what A&E is doing discrimination? Yes. Is it bias against Christians? Absolutely. But it is not a violation of the first amendment at all.

The only thing that A&E is guilty of, is caving to pressure from a gay special interest group.

That is all, nothing else.

I do hope that Phil Robertson and the family of Duck Commander finds a better network, that is friendly to the speech of Christianity. because it is quite obvious that A&E is not.

I just felt the need to clear that up.

In defense of Cracker Barrel

Hey everybody I thought I would mention this on here, as I did on Facebook and on Twitter.

For those who are upset about what Cracker Barrel is doing in relation to duck dynasty and Phil Robertson; here is why they are doing what they’re doing.

Back in the 1990’s Cracker Barrel had a big run in with gay advocacy groups over hiring practices.

Apparently what happened was that a manager or an employee who was found out to be a homosexual was fired from his job.

Needless to say there was considerable amount of outrage and lawsuits were filed.

So what is happening is this Cracker Barrel is trying to avoid any and all controversy related to the gay community.

Cracker Barrel lost a lot of business when that happened and thought they were going to have to close a bunch of stores up over it.

So they’re trying to play it safe. As someone who has run a business in my day and knows what it is to have bad things about them, I totally understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.

Just letting you all know.

Update: Rick’s Rants links in. Thank you!

Whiskey…..Tango….Foxtrot!?!?! – Ian Bayne compares Phil Roberson to Rosa Parks

As you all know, I support Phil Robertson, of Duck Dynasty. I happen to agree with what he said and happen to think that A&E’s reaction was extremely stupid; I also hope they go elsewhere. I also criticized those who attacked the family. But this right here, is where I holler “Whooooooooaaaaaaaaaa Nelly!” and hit the air brakes and bring the peterbilt to a full and complete stop.

Read this load of weapons grade stupidity from some meatball, who is running for State Senate in Illinois:

Today, Ian Bayne called Phil Robertson, star of the A&E series “Duck Dynasty,” the ‘Rosa Parks’ of our generation.

“In December 1955, Rosa Parks took a stand against an unjust societal persecution of black people, and in December 2013, Robertson took a stand against persecution of Christians,” said Bayne.

Parks, famous for refusing to give up her seat on a bus for a white person, as was the rule of her day, provided inspiration for a movement of equality of black people and white people in America.

“What Parks did was courageous,” said Bayne. “What Mr. Robertson did was courageous too.”

Bayne believes that the Duck Dynasty star knew that going on GQ would result in the current controversy going on surrounding his suspension, as well as his suspension.

Bayne added that this exposure of Robertson’s situation is an eye opener for many who may have been previously in disbelief that the bible is fast becoming considered “hate speech” by the media and society.

via Duck Dynasty Star is Rosa Parks of Our Generation.

The only part of that up there, that is even remotely true is the last paragraph. The rest of it is extremely stupid. As someone who grew up in the southwest part of Detroit and lived there for 19 years of my life and grew up around blacks, Latinos, and every other pea-picking minority under the sun; this is just plain ignorant. I mean, badly ignorant.

Anyone that compares a bearded, Christian Louisiana redneck to Rosa Parks; who, by the way, decided to stand up against the institutionalized racism of Montgomery, Alabama —- is an absolute tone-deaf, out of touch, mentally deficient, idiot who should not be allowed to drive a car, much less run for a seat in the Illinois Senate!

There is no comparison, it is wrong, it is stupid and it should not be done ever, at all. End of story, full stop, shut up and turn the bus around and pray to the Lord that nobody saw you naked. (So to speak…)

If anyone on the right is looking for a textbook example of why the “Liberal left” in this Country happens to think that people, like myself, who happen to disagree with the idea that big Government the best idea in the world, and happen to think that european socialism is about a city block away from Russian Communism —- are a bunch of crazy, nutty, loony people: Look no further that what I quoted above. I mean, where in the far reaches of this man’s gray matter did this man happen to think that this was a good idea?!?!?! What kind of dope is he smoking? How much does it cost, and does he know where I find some of it, can I put it in my Vapor thingamabob and puff on it?!?!

Whew. I know that was a mouthful; but it needed to be said and someone needs to tell the people on the right; of whom I am aligned with, not to do stuff like this, ever…. just…..no. 🙄

If you want it in a video, this was my reaction to the above quote:

Others: Politico, BuzzFeed, Liberaland, Little Green Footballs, The Raw Story, Lone Star Q, Daily Kos, The Hinterland Gazette, Wonkblog, PostPartisan, The Bafflerand ABC News

The Trotskyite Right shows its true colors

This is a classic example of what I am talking about, when it comes to the Trotskyite Right. Of The Robertson Family, the Trotskyite Commentary Magazine writes :

I don’t write this every day but sometimes it needs to be said. Liberals have a point. Not about ObamaCare or their plans to increase spending and taxes. But about Phil Robertson and the hypocrisy of some of his conservative supporters who are outraged about the fact that the Duck Dynasty star was suspended for uttering critical remarks about homosexuality as well as some bizarre comments about the Jim Crow era that for some reason got less attention than his conservative Christian take on gays and sex.

[…]

Robertson is entitled to his opinion about faith, sex, race, or anything else on his mind. But his right to free speech doesn’t entitle him to a job on an A&E show. If the network doesn’t wish to be associated with such views, they are free to tell him to take a hike. For the same reason MSNBC was within its rights to can actor Alec Baldwin when he used a homophobic slur and then lied about it. The same network was also right when it eased Martin Bashir, one of the network’s left-wing opinion slingers, out after he used despicable language about the same Sarah Palin. At that time conservatives (including me) wondered what was going when for weeks Bashir went unpunished for behaving in such an atrocious manner. Nobody on the right thought Bashir’s right of free speech was at stake. Instead, they correctly identified the issue as the hypocrisy of liberals who are quick to brand conservatives who speak out of turn as extremists and radicals who are primarily responsible for the lack of civility in politics today.

The right to free speech has nothing to do with having a gig on television. No one has a right to such a job and nothing prevents those who run these outfits from choosing who works for them. That applies to Bashir as well as to Robertson.

Not only this, I would not also expect a Jew to agree with any sort of Christian values at all. After all, it was the Jews who brought Christ to a rigged trial and turned him over to the Romans for crucifixion. The way I see it Jonathan S. Tobin is just carrying on the tradition of his forefathers; of denying that the Lord ever existed and trashing his followers, like me.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:18-19 KJV)

The Robertson Family releases statement on the suspension of Phil Robertson

In response to the suspension of Phil Robertson, the family at Duck Dynasty have released a statement:

We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support.  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.

via The Robertson Family Official Statement | Duck Commander.

Glenn Beck is already on it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzzAbHiZZyY

I wish them the best and I personally hope they move to the history channel! 😉