WaPo: In embrace of ‘Duck Dynasty’ star, 2016 hopefuls make bid for evangelicals

[spanone]

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), a likely White House contender whose state is home to the show about a family that runs a duck-hunting gear enterprise, called Robertson and his family “great citizens.”

“The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with,” Jindal said in a statement prominently displayed on his official Web site, adding: “I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), another probable 2016 candidate, chimed in on Facebook, writing: “If you believe in free speech or religious liberty, you should be deeply dismayed over the treatment of Phil Robertson.” And 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin wrote in a Facebook post that “those ‘intolerants’ hatin’ and taking on the Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing his personal opinion are taking on all of us.”

Their embrace of Robertson — who in an interview with GQ described “homosexual behavior” as sinful and compared it to bestiality and infidelity — underscored how gay rights remain a potent political issue for many religious voters on the right.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-embrace-of-duck-dynasty-star-2016-hopefuls-make-bid-for-evangelicals/2013/12/19/f42e464a-68db-11e3-a0b9-249bbb34602c_story.html?hpid=z1



here's a poll from my local gannett paper:

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[NYC_SKP]

1. Senator Cruz, please come to the white courtesy phone.

Paging Senator Cruz.

[spanone]

2. jindal & cruz are like flies to shit....

[exboyfil]

3. Funny how Jindal rose

to support Robertson. I wonder how he would have been treated in Northern Louisiana in the 1950s (the period of time that Robertson claims was Nirvana for black people). Actually I can think of some places in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Tennessee today where Jindal might not get the best reception if he showed up alone and especially at night.

[gollygee]

4. Yes, now supporting them will be an effective dog whistle

It's a great way to say who you are without stating it explicitly.

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Someone needs to educate Cruz and Jindal et al on the First Amendment

Mr Robertson has the right to express whatever opinion he wants; A&E, or any other television network, is under no compulsion to provide him with a forum to do so. His freedom to express his opinion is not curtailed; he can continue to compare gay marriage to bestiality all he wants to. He'll just have to do it somewhere else. (If he'd made those comments about interracial marriage, and not gay marriage, I have to wonder what people would be saying; probably not "he has a right to express his opinion".)

[NYC Liberal]

7. I don't know. I'll bet a not-insignificant number would be behind him on interracial marriage.

But yes, I'm sure they'd be smart enough to just not say anything about it publicly.

[NYC Liberal]

6. How many times has this same crowd called for people to be fired or suspended,

or called for boycotts, because someone criticized Christians or fundies (at least in their minds)?

The asshole can say whatever he wants. Free speech and all that. A&E is under no obligation to give him a platform, or to pay him. Aren't these the very same "free market uber alles" people? A&E is just doing what's best for its bottom line.

[spanone]

8. this is classic republican distortion....it has nothing to do with the 1st amendment

mr robertson said what he said and was free to do it.

he said it to the interviewer and it was printed.

his employer was then free to suspend mr robertson.

[NYC Liberal]

9. Take a guess at how many of them defended Alec Baldwin's "free speech rights".

I'll go with zero point zero.

(And for the record - he was wrong too, and also deserved to be suspended/fired.)

[spanone]

10. and i didn't see any democratic 'hopefuls' or any politicians defending baldwin or bashir

this is the way republicans roll....they jump on the shit train..

i agree that baldwin was wrong