# A&E suspends Phil Robertson over anti-gay remarks **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 19, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747 "2013-12-19T18:37:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 30
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/581 "2013-12-27T22:40:26Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Want to provide a cite for where I’ve done that? I didn’t say you have done it. I’m asking you if it’s okay to do it. Is it okay to say hurtful and offensive things about gay people? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/582 "2013-12-27T22:41:54Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I didn’t say you have done it. I’m asking you if it’s okay to do it. > > Is it okay to say hurtful and offensive things about gay people? People have every right to express those opinions. And their employers have every right to fire their asses for it when it affects the business. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/583 "2013-12-27T22:42:57Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > People have every right to express those opinions. And their employers have every right to fire their asses for it when it affects the business. That’s not the question. Is it okay? Not do they have the right to, but is it okay? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/584 "2013-12-27T22:46:43Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > That’s not the question. Is it okay? Not do they have the right to, but is it okay? I’ve answered the question, and now I’m done talking to you about this matter. I am not, however, done laughing at A&E. “Oooohhhh…we are so offended, we’ve suspended this horrible man indefinitely…uh…well…since that might cost us money, we’re proud to welcome the “horrible man” back to our network.” **HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!** ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/585 "2013-12-27T22:50:24Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’ve answered the question, and now I’m done talking to you about this matter. I’ve seen you rail in ATMB about how people talk about conservatives, so I know you know the difference between what’s legal and what’s okay. What I don’t know is why you are choosing to view them as the same thing for this question. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/586 "2013-12-27T22:52:53Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > My point is that if one believes that a person is a bigot because he ascribes to a religion which holds the position that homosexual acts are sinful, yet that person would continue to be a member of that religion even if it changed its stance on the acts being sinful, then one cannot fairly say that a person is a homophobe or a bigot due to their adherence to their particular religion. The religion is an excuse, not a reason. There are a million other things that are sins in christianity and those who practice them are not persecuted and targeted like gays are. Once christians start treating divorced heterosexuals or couples cohabiting without marriage like they do gays they can start claiming “but my religion told me its bad”. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/587 "2013-12-27T22:53:00Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > **HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA** > > Awesome. Liberal outrage bows to the bottom line. Love it. > :D:cool:😃 I’ve never thought of you as the sort of person to cheer ignorant bigotry. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/588 "2013-12-27T23:02:14Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’ve never thought of you as the sort of person to cheer ignorant bigotry. I’m not doing that at all. I’ve said repeatedly that I disagree with Phil Robertson’s comments. I’m laughing at liberal hypocrisy. If A&E really was as outraged as they claimed to be, they should have left Phil suspended/fired. That’s what I’d do if I had an employee that I felt damaged my business or offended my principles. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/589 "2013-12-27T23:05:01Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m not doing that at all. I’ve said repeatedly that I disagree with Phil Robertson’s comments. I’m laughing at liberal hypocrisy. If A&E really was as outraged as they claimed to be, they should have left Phil suspended/fired. That’s what I’d do if I had an employee that I felt damaged my business or offended my principles. Why is that “liberal hypocrisy” rather than just hypocrisy? I’m guessing the execs who made the decision aren’t that “liberal.” Some at A&E were probably offended, others not so much. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/590 "2013-12-27T23:08:42Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m not doing that at all. I’ve said repeatedly that I disagree with Phil Robertson’s comments. I’m laughing at liberal hypocrisy. If A&E really was as outraged as they claimed to be, they should have left Phil suspended/fired. That’s what I’d do if I had an employee that I felt damaged my business or offended my principles. So the “liberal outrage” you’re so deliriously happy about is what? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/591 "2013-12-27T23:10:21Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m not doing that at all. I’ve said repeatedly that I disagree with Phil Robertson’s comments. I’m laughing at liberal hypocrisy. If A&E really was as outraged as they claimed to be, they should have left Phil suspended/fired. That’s what I’d do if I had an employee that I felt damaged my business or offended my principles. A & E is not a person, its a channel. It doesn’t have feelings, it doesn’t get sad or angry or outraged, it is not liberal or conservative. It is a financial entity that made a financial decision the reversed it when it didn’t turn out as expected. You acting like A & E is not only a person but some liberal caricature of a PC freak is childishly laughable. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/592 "2013-12-27T23:14:29Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > A & E is not a person, its a channel. It doesn’t have feelings, it doesn’t get sad or angry or outraged, it is not liberal or conservative. It is a financial entity that made a financial decision the reversed it when it didn’t turn out as expected. You acting like A & E is not only a person but some liberal caricature of a PC freak is childishly laughable. The weird part is saying (paraphrased) “I don’t support what he said and I’m not opposed to firing people for making me look bad, but tee hee liberals tee hee.” What does liberalism have to do with any of it? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/593 "2013-12-27T23:34:36Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m not doing that at all. I’ve said repeatedly that I disagree with Phil Robertson’s comments. I’m laughing at liberal hypocrisy. I’m not clear on how you separate the two. The “liberal hypocrisy” here _is_ that they let an ignorant bigot back on the air. I’m not sure how you can be so delighted by one without being delighted by the other. They’re the same thing. Or, more broadly, I don’t understand why you would laugh at the violation of a principle, unless it was a principle to which you were opposed to from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/594 "2013-12-28T00:15:20Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Or, more broadly, I don’t understand why you would laugh at the violation of a principle, unless it was a principle to which you were opposed to from the beginning. I never believed it was a matter of principle in the first place, despite what A&E said. They claim to be huge supporters of the LGBT community…yet they flip-flop as soon as it looks like that might cost them some money. If it makes you feel any better, I also laughed at Cracker Barrel for doing the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/595 "2013-12-28T00:17:23Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > … and just as I predicted, A&E caves and crawls back. > > [A&E Welcomes Phil Robertson Back to ‘Duck Dynasty’](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/a-e-welcomes-phil-robertson-667647) Funny how you ran away from this thread just in time to avoid responding to a number of posts. Care to reply to mine? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/596 "2013-12-28T01:12:24Z")
As usual, the politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with. Then they become extremely intolerant. Life goes on. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/597 "2013-12-28T01:15:15Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > As usual, the politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with. Then they become extremely intolerant. Life goes on. Ah, the beloved “You’re bigoted against bigots!” ploy. It never gets old. (It started out that way.) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/598 "2013-12-28T01:24:01Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > As usual, the politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with. Then they become extremely intolerant. Life goes on. If you’re talking to me, I just want consistency. Like the “'Merica and Freedom!!!” crowd that got the Dixie Chicks thrown off country radio (yeah, I’m talking to _you_ Toby Keith you hypocritical fuck) and is now all up in arms because someone dared ‘suspend’ a bigot and idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/599 "2013-12-28T01:27:20Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > As usual, the politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with. Then they become extremely intolerant. Life goes on. Who the **fuck** said we should be tolerant of all viewpoints? Seriously, who in history said that? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/600 "2013-12-28T01:56:25Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Who the **fuck** said we should be tolerant of all viewpoints? Seriously, who in history said that? Jesus. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747.md?page=31)