Comments on: When your face is on pajamas, your opinion ceases to be yours – Duck Dynasty, commercialism and free speech

By: Keith McDuffee

Keith McDuffee — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 01:15:23 +0000

If his personal Twitter said anything at all about the show, then yeah. I think they’re able to separate themselves from it if he does. The point is, it’s pretty much impossible.

By: Ivey West

Ivey West — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 03:14:28 +0000

I hear what you’re saying, but in his situation, any time he speaks publicly he is probably perceived as being on the job. If he’d posted the same thing to his personal twitter, and had it received the same level of notoriety, don’t you think A&E would have reacted the same way?

By: Stuart

Stuart — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 02:30:51 +0000

I’d bet a large sum of money that the offensive comment above is fake. A little (lot) too over-the-top. My guess is that it’s someone pretending to be a right-winger and trying to make his/her point by showing how disgusting he/she could make the comment.

If I were an editor, I’d delete it, because I think thoughtful discussions come from people being honest, not from trying to make another group look bad.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 00:12:21 +0000

Still, the point I’m trying to make is that these same people standing behind Robertson are the same ones who go ballistic anytime anyone says something negative about them. It’s a hypocritical double standard from the right wing who believe they can say and do what they want and the rest of us have to fall in line and not dare disagree or disparage them, or face the consequences if we do. It’s only free speech to them when it comes from their mouths. The rest of us have to shut up.

By: Keith McDuffee

Keith McDuffee — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 00:08:32 +0000

The point is that Robertson was on GQ representing the show, so he was “on the job” at the time. If he was there purely and simply talking about something else and not involving the show’s name at all, A&E probably wouldn’t do a thing. When you’re on the job, you are under the job’s rules. If I say sexist or ANY offensive things at my job, I’m fucking fired — simple as that.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 00:00:29 +0000

As an editor with CliqueClack, I thought about deleting the comment above, but I decided it was best to leave it so as not to encroach on someone’s right to free speech, and it gives me a chance to point out what this whole issue is truly about. Robertson and the lovely individual above have every right to believe and say what they want. No one has taken that right away from Robertson either (in fact, A&E announced previously shot episodes with Phil will air as scheduled). What this matter is truly about is how hateful words can have major consequences. A single individual who says something hateful or misguided doesn’t amount to much but with people like Robertson, the commenter, Sarah Palin, half of the people in Congress, everyone on Fox News, Pat Robertson, and “religious” (using the term losely) organizations like The American Family Association, the Catholic church, the Mormons, et al saying the same things over and over again can and has lead people, mostly teens, to take their own lives because they keep hearing over and over again how sick and twisted they are simply because of who they love. LGBT youth are the most vulnerable to this kind of language, and whether it comes from plain ignorance or was instilled in you from someone else (parent, religious leader), it’s wrong, sick and twisted to have that kind of hatred towards people. People are not born with that kind of hatred. It’s learned. People don’t just wake up one day and decide to be gay, nor do they wake up one day and decide to be straight. So the next time you want to say something hateful in public, stop for a second and think about the consequences your words can have. You never realize how much blood you could have on your hands simply because of your misguided, ignorant words.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 23:56:48 +0000

I agree with the article regarding his face and the brand. I also agree with your assertion that those same people complaining lack consistency in their principles. However, it’s not a perfect parallel. Phil is not a broadcast journalist. Some might say differences in responsibilities might exist due to the differing nature of the work although they are both generally “on TV.” Personally, I don’t care for either and don’t think either needs to be kicked off tv. So far, everyone has been well within their rights to say and do as they please and that’s perfectly fine with me whatever they choose.

By: fuckyoubutttpirates

fuckyoubutttpirates — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 20:07:36 +0000

Phil Robertson is right.Most ffaagggots are pedafiles and rapeist and just sickos.I guess these sick sexual degenerates cant handle the truth that theyre sick vile unaccepted freaks.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 17:14:05 +0000

What you forgot to mention is that the very same people who are championing Mr. Robertson’s right to free speech are pretty much the same exact ones who protested when Martin Bashir exercised his right to free speech when pointing out Sarah Palin’s lack of intelligence. It’s funny how the right wingers wrap themselves in the Constitution (without having actually read it) when one of their own is under attack, but will gladly put a match to it when it serves their own purpose.

With a third season all but completely filmed, I’m sure A&E will bring the show back once the furor has died down. But you can bet the cast will have very little, and much more supervised interaction with the press. Now they just have to hope no more of those racist videos pops up. However, if the show does come back, then MSNBC should bring Bashir back as well.