Funny how the same people who scream about Phil Robertson's "freedom of speech"

[Terra Alta]

After his racist, homophobic remarks -- were the ones vilifying the Dixie Chicks for their (true) comments about Dumbya and the Iraq War in 2003.

Why does Robertson get a pass from these people, and the Dixie Chicks do not? At least the Chicks' comments were about ONE person, and not entire groups of people. Gotta love the hycropisy on the right.

[Drale]

1. Because Phil's speakin "Gawds" word

and those "Dixie Whores" are American hating Witches who want to take our guns and give them to the gays and the poor!

[Kurovski]

4. What Phil does not know is...

that Jesus is awful mad at his pa.

Phil: outta the Gawd loop by some some 2,000 years.

[damnedifIknow]

2. Awesome point

I forgot about the Dixie Chicks.

[Gothmog]

3. The First Amendment only applies to State Actors

Unless there is a governmental entity involved in the censorship decision, the First Amendment does not apply. The First Amendment only applies to censorship done by a federal, state or local governmental entity and does not apply to private parties such TV networks. This is basic constitutional law.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. Duh.

It's because a Republican President can never be criticized for anything lest you be considered an un-American traitor, but fire away on blacks and gays, because otherwise you're just being PC and overly sensitive.

Don't you get it?

[shenmue]

6. And they also weren't too supportive of Martin Bashir

Funny that.

[get the red out]

7. Good point

Very good.

[erpowers]

8. They Agree With Him

They want him to get away with it because they agree with him. They only have a problem with people expressing their free speech rights when they disagree with those people.

[Demo_Chris]

9. Just curious, but WHO is screaming about this?

I went to a Conservative forum (Hannity) to read the comments, and didn't notice even one thread discussing it. Is Rush talking about this or something?

[QuestForSense]

16. Ted Cruz Defends 'Duck Dynasty' Star From 'Thought Police'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014677628

[Terra Alta]

18. Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal for starters

Also, I've seen at least 5 newly-created Facebook pages in support of this bigot, including one with over half a million likes.

I'm sure those over at Faux News are going apeshit about it, but I don't have the stomach to watch that channel.

[freshwest]

10. It's commerical faux news fodder. It's not free speech as intended, checking the government.

Mr. Duck may or may not like the government now made of people he doesn't respect, but the personal attacks on other citizens is not free speech as the Founders had in mind, IMO.

It's not freedom of speech to go after groups of people, it's third reich demagoguery, like this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017150109

It's setting Americans against each other, instead of promoting the UNITED states. The reason for that is to destroy the 'Union' that protects all of us, and we're working for it to live up to its ideals of equality. According to Bill Maher, it's the reason that the Democratic Party exists:

"Democrats in America were put on Earth to do one thing... drag the ignorant, hillbilly half of this country into the next century, which in their case, is the 19th"

The destruction of that Union will only result in theocratic kingdoms run by corporatists. And then the lynchings will start for real, where they are already doing it figuratively.

The conservatives already call for all kinds of people to be incarcerated not for having committed a crime, but being who they are. No wonder they claim they are being targeted to be sent to FEMA camps and other CT. It's the only vision for running things they have.

You're either as the old saying went, 'Free, white, male and 21,' giving the right to do any damn thing, or you are not entitled to any rights. That's what they are promoting with conservative entertainment shows like Mr. Duck, like Palin and her absurd Alaskan series, like so many others given air time as the majority. of national concerns go unreported, as if they don't exist. They have with millions to create an ugly alternative reality that has no rational reason to exist and is set on enslaving not only others, but eventually the people who believe in it.

What is truly amazing, is that, despite their filth being piped into millions of the nation's homes and the skulls there, the majority rejected their regressive vision in the ballot booth, just as Obama claimed they would, believing in Americans to do the right thing by each other. He was right, and we're going to treat the disorder that thinks dicriminating against others can ever be an American ideal.

[darkangel218]

11. Let me get this straight.

ONLY RACIST, HOMOPHOBIC PIECES OF SHIT, would stand by and defend this asshole!!!

There is no question about it!! No one in their right mind would make excuses for this shit!.

[FairWinds]

12. A-yep, the same people who whine about . .

"political correctness" are the same ones who throw a hissy fit
at speech they don't like . . .
I caught a whole raft of crap over this one . .
http://otherwords.org/redefining-heroism/

[Gothmog]

13. Here is a good explanation of the state actor requirement

Here is a brief explanation of this requirement from Cornell Law School http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/state_action_requirement

The state action requirement stems from the fact that the constitutional amendments which protect individual rights (especially the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment) are mostly phrased as prohibitions against government action. For example, the First Amendment states that “[c]ongress shall make no law” infringing upon the freedoms of speech and religion. Because of this requirement, it is impossible for private parties (citizens or corporations) to violate these amendments, and all lawsuits alleging constitutional violations of this type must show how the government (state or federal) was responsible for the violation of their rights. This is referred to as the state action requirement.

[Cha]

14. Good POint!

[phantom power]

15. Rights are for white male christian patriarchs

It's the common thread of conflict that runs through all American history: Is this country, and its rights, for everybody, or are they really just for white christian males?

[maindawg]

17. the duck show has jumped the shark anyway

I have watched every episode. They edit it very carefully and absolutely no racist or bigoted remarks are tolerated by the network. Its a clean family oriented show.Its quaint and its charming. The family are good people. Phil is an asshole and that comes across no matter how much they edit. Every family has a 'Phil'. Its a shame that he got loose in a GQ interview. The producers and the family should have blocked that because Phil was blindsided by a writer looking for a scoop. Now their show is cancelled, and it will cost them millions.
They were already wealthy before the show, all they really gained was fame.
But fame also costs you your freedom and fame exposes you. I am not sure they dont regret the entire affair.

[Terra Alta]

19. I've watched a few episodes.

I kind of liked it at first, then realized like all "reality" shows, it's scripted as hell. Yes, Phil can be an asshole but so can Si. The sons try to come across as "good ol' boys" but after watching a few episodes you realize the apples don't fall too far from the tree.

[TNLib]

20. Glad he got fired

There are entire Christian denominations that would disagree with his narrow interpretation of the bible.

He's offensive and dumb.

[Mr.Bill]

21. Funny how he would be against bestiality

when he's made his entire fortune selling a device that is supposed to make a duck think I want to fuck them.

[deurbano]

23. LOL!

[ybbor]

22. +1,000,000,000,...

Thank you! So well said!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

24. Another question: Where are the droves of WOMEN defending this guy?

[Quixote1818]

25. Besides, KKK & E would be glad to still hire him. There are jobs out there!

[Quixote1818]

26. If freedom of speech were at risk half the Republican Congress would be out of a job

for gay slurs and insensitive comments about blacks, Mexicans and civil rights.

[paleotn]

27. Excellent point....

....just another example of right wing hypocrisy. What I don't get is the hysterics focused on A&E. It's a private network. They can fire whomever they please, as long as said person isn't being fired for being a member of a federally protected class. Last I heard, assholes who spout bullshit are NOT a protected class, nor should they be and I don't blame A&E for not wanting that crapped connected with their brand. That's free market economics, righties! I thought they loved that stuff? That is until it bits them in the butt. If they want to spout bullshit with impunity, I suggest they buy their own network and spout away. That's what Rupert Murdoch did.