2. If Robertson is actually "fired" (or the show canceled), there may be some ground for suit regarding discrimination for religious reasons. A&E probably has a pretty strong case that Robertson's remarks harmed the network by attacking segments of its viewership — the courts tend to favor employers in such cases.
3. I find Robertson's opinions in the GQ interview (http://goo.gl/q5tHkV) objectionable, offensive, and doltish in several areas. Not content in simply condemning homosexuality based on Scripture, he plays at scratching his head over what turns gay men on and how illogical it is, especially since it's just a step from there to bestiality. He also goes on at length about how all the black farm workers he knew back in the olden days in the South were really happy and cheerful and sang in the fields, at least until all the civil rights and welfare stuff came along. Also, the reason Japan attacked Pearl Harbor is because "the Shintos" didn't worship Jesus. Etc.
4. As much as I object to his comments, I would probably not have suspended Robertson for them, given that they basically hired the guy and his family as speak-truth-to-power old-timey back-woods Christians and hunters and duck call crafters.
5. On the other hand, A&E's execs have a better sense than I (or anyone else) of the various costs and risks keeping Robertson around after his GQ interview, vs the costs and risks of doing something about it.
6. People who think A&E is a bunch of poopy-heads about this are certainly free to boycott A&E's programming, just as those who support A&E's actions are free to watch more A&E programming to drive its aggregate ratings up. Social opprobrium through boycott is a long-standing tradition, regardless of the political persuasion of the boycotters.
As for me, A&E has long since turned in to a trash network full of reality shows (including "Duck Dynasty") that I have absolutely no desire to go out of my way to watch; that has nothing to do with their stance on this issue one way or the other, just the type of shows they run.
‘Duck Dynasty’s’ Phil Robertson on Indefinite Hiatus Following Anti-Gay Remarks
A&E has placed Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson on indefinite hiatus following anti-gay remarks he made in a recent profile in GQ.
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2. Interestingly enough, if Robertson had instead declared that Obama is a Communist, he would have no protection whatsoever. Political views are NOT a protected category in employment, which a Socialist Workers Party member found out the hard way when Goodwill canned him.
4/5. My suspicion is that some programmer at A&E thought that this would be a cute, silly show that the hinterland would love and that the coasts would laugh at. They probably never even considered the possibility that someone would be offended by what happened on the show. (Which reminds me – has PETA weighed in on the show yet?)
6. But… The Walking Dead!
True enough, though I don't watch it.
And, on cue, a newsletter comes in from the AFA: "Declaring God's perspective on God's design for human intimacy has now become a career-ending offense in America. In the process, the precious constitutional rights of freedom of religion and speech are being trampled."
I haven't really gotten into it myself, but some are drawing parallels between Phil Robertson and Martin Bashir, who…um…"went on vacation" for a while before "resigning." Although I'm not sure which specific Bible verse on defecation was being quoted by Bashir…
I have family that's swearing to boycott A&E and I'm just like "how are 'Christians being Christians' the victim, here?"
Moreover, what does that say about their view of Christianity?