# 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:** 32
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/621 "2013-12-28T05:00:21Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Oh? You’re the one that brought up that homosexual acts must be sinful - I assume according to Phil Robertson’s definition AFAIU, by Old Testament’s definition, and not rescinded by Christians. If you know some Christian authority from Phil Robertson’s branch of Christianity that says that that part of Old Testament doesn’t apply, bring it. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/622 "2013-12-28T05:07:51Z")
This whole “outrage” about Phil Robertson’s statement from GLAAD and assorted lefties is quite obviously fake. It’s not like those who are “outraged” were not aware of these views of tens of millions of US Christians. Of course they were aware. And knowing which branch of Christianity Phil Robertson belongs to, it would be fairly obvious what his views on homosexual acts are. So - the “surprise” and “outrage” are clearly as fake as the reality shows themselves. But it’s kinda fun to see the GLAAD’s calculated “outrage” backfiring (in the sense that now “Duck Dynasty” will be, for a while, more popular than ever and the Robertson’s merchandise sales are hitting the roof). The Robertson family should send GLAAD a thank you note. A public one 🙂 ---
**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 28, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/623 "2013-12-28T05:16:58Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Unlikely. A&E looks bad here. Blatant hypocrisy, and now potential backlash from the other side of the controversy. The LGBT community should be pissed about the flip flop, and they spend money, too. With a little organization, they can make this sting if they choose to do it. I, for one, intend to not watch A&E much harder than I was not watching it before this happened. > [@Terr](#): > > This whole “outrage” about Phil Robertson’s statement from GLAAD and assorted lefties is quite obviously fake. It’s not like those who are “outraged” were not aware of these views of tens of millions of US Christians. Of course they were aware. And knowing which branch of Christianity Phil Robertson belongs to, it would be fairly obvious what his views on homosexual acts are. So - the “surprise” and “outrage” are clearly as fake as the reality shows themselves. Except no one ever expressed surprise over Robertson’s beliefs, and being aware that someone is probably an asshole ahead of time does not preclude one from being outraged when he later proves it. > [@](#): > > But it’s kinda fun to see the GLAAD’s calculated “outrage” backfiring (in the sense that now “Duck Dynasty” will be, for a while, more popular than ever and the Robertson’s merchandise sales are hitting the roof). The Robertson family should send GLAAD a thank you note. A public one 🙂 The point of the complaints wasn’t to affect the outcome of one particular show, it was to get the country talking about the appropriateness of homophobia in American society. I doubt anyone at GLAAD is shedding any tears over how this turned out. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/624 "2013-12-28T05:17:00Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > You, . . . and every asshole . . . . You have not made sufficient effort to distinguish between “assholes” and another poster. That is over the line and this is a Warning to refrain from doing it again. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/625 "2013-12-28T05:19:09Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I, for one, intend to not watch A&E much harder than I was not watching it before this happened. And here, in one sentence, is why the GLAAD’s and liberals’ pressure on A&E could never succeed. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/626 "2013-12-28T05:20:13Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I doubt anyone at GLAAD is shedding any tears over how this turned out. I am sure GLAAD intended to boost Robertsons’ company’s profits and “Duck Dynasty”'s viewership. ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/627 "2013-12-28T05:28:29Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I am sure GLAAD intended to boost Robertsons’ company’s profits and “Duck Dynasty”'s viewership. You know you don’t have to brag. We get it. Bigots win. We got it when Chik Fil A got a boost after they had a trail of money that ended in the blood of murdered homosexuals. Also, are you really suggesting that I should assume all christians are bigots, now? Should I assume all christians are bigots like the priest at my childhood church, who said it was OK to threaten people with violence if they were suspected to be gay, because you were really helping them? ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/628 "2013-12-28T05:34:38Z")
> [@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? Oakminster has previously come out to attack others who got upset at somebody calling others mentally ill, insane, animals, etc, just as some context. Dude takes _pleasure_ in seeing others hurt, as shown in this thread, but the second he gets a whiff of somebody not liking conservatives, welp, time to sound the oppression alarm. ---
**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, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/629 "2013-12-28T05:46:04Z")
> [@Karrius](#): > > Oakminster has previously come out to attack others who got upset at somebody calling others mentally ill, insane, animals, etc, just as some context. Don’t suppose you’ve got any cites to support those allegations? ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/630 "2013-12-28T05:48:21Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Don’t suppose you’ve got any cites to support those allegations? You asked me for cites in an attempt to claim I’m misrepresenting you, but don’t ask Terr for cites when he obviously misquotes people up thread? Conservative hypocrisy! ---
**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, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/631 "2013-12-28T05:50:07Z")
> [@Karrius](#): > > You asked me for cites in an attempt to claim I’m misrepresenting you, but don’t ask Terr for cites when he obviously misquotes people up thread? > > Conservative hypocrisy! So that would be a “no”, then. ---
**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 28, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/632 "2013-12-28T06:05:16Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > And here, in one sentence, is why the GLAAD’s and liberals’ pressure on A&E could never succeed. Yes, well, I _am_ King of the Homos, and my television watching habits are as unto edicts to my people. ---
**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, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/633 "2013-12-28T06:15:34Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Yes, well, I _am_ King of the Homos, and my television watching habits are as unto edicts to my people. \*Oh, but you can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you. \* 😃 ---
**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 28, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/634 "2013-12-28T06:16:39Z")
That wasn’t a sword… ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/635 "2013-12-28T08:22:19Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Buncha bullshit, aldi. > > Look, if by “tolerate” you mean" protect the legal right to express it," then yeah, liberals are the goddamned kings of protecting free speech. Always have been, always will be. > > But if by “tolerate” you mean “don’t criticize,” then that’s not something I’ve ever heard a liberal express. > > So let’s break it down: > > You, and the Klan, and Mr. Robertson, and the Revolutionary Maoist Youth League, and Carrot Top, and Rush Limbaugh, and every asshole with an opinion has a legal right to express that opinion. I will tolerate it to the extent that if the government tries to shut you up, I’ll try to stop them. > > But I’ll not waste any time tolerating any fool’s foolishness. And I’ll applaud other people that answer an asshole’s opinion with facts, incisive rebuttals, or even plain old mockery, and I’ll argue vociferously against “tolerating” it, if that means treating the asshole’s opinion as sacred and immune to criticism. > > Seriously, this is one of the dumbest arguments conservatives ever trot out, and that’s really saying something. Yes, it was far too broad a brush and does, ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/636 "2013-12-28T08:57:48Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Buncha bullshit, aldi. > > Look, if by “tolerate” you mean" protect the legal right to express it," then yeah, liberals are the goddamned kings of protecting free speech. Always have been, always will be. > > But if by “tolerate” you mean “don’t criticize,” then that’s not something I’ve ever heard a liberal express. > > So let’s break it down: > > You, and the Klan, and Mr. Robertson, and the Revolutionary Maoist Youth League, and Carrot Top, and Rush Limbaugh, and every asshole with an opinion has a legal right to express that opinion. I will tolerate it to the extent that if the government tries to shut you up, I’ll try to stop them. > > But I’ll not waste any time tolerating any fool’s foolishness. And I’ll applaud other people that answer an asshole’s opinion with facts, incisive rebuttals, or even plain old mockery, and I’ll argue vociferously against “tolerating” it, if that means treating the asshole’s opinion as sacred and immune to criticism. > > Seriously, this is one of the dumbest arguments conservatives ever trot out, and that’s really saying something. Yes, it was far too broad a brush and doesn’t hold up to the slightest of scrutinies. I should have made clear that I believe in this particular instance I found much of the liberal comment intolerant. Robertson has his beliefs which the millions who follow the show presumably share. I’ve never seen the show and do not hold such beliefs but I do think that pressuring A&E to fire him for expressing such beliefs _is_ intolerance and A&E should not have succumbed to it. As to the ACLU, its record puts conservatives and many liberals alike to shame and I am aptly chastened for neglecting that fact in my comment. (I should never post late at night). OK, that’s enough crow, it has a gruesome taste and the feathers stick in my teeth. Edit: I don’t know how the unfinished post above got sent but just ignore it. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/637 "2013-12-28T09:50:01Z")
I didn’t realize Voltaire wasn’t considered a liberal. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/638 "2013-12-28T09:54:15Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I didn’t realize Voltaire wasn’t considered a liberal. There will come a time when Ronald Reagan is no longer considered a conservative. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/639 "2013-12-28T09:58:40Z")
At least the Chick-fil-A protests made them stop giving millions of dollars to anti-gay political organizations. I don’t see what demonstrating against A&E or demanding this guy be fired is supposed to accomplish. Does A&E discriminate against gays? Do they give money to anti-gay organizations? ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/640 "2013-12-28T13:16:03Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Jesus. Oh good, +1 reason why he’s full of crap. > [@aldiboronti](#): > > Yes, it was far too broad a brush and doesn’t hold up to the slightest of scrutinies. I should have made clear that I believe in this particular instance I found much of the liberal comment intolerant. Robertson has his beliefs which the millions who follow the show presumably share. Yes. Intolerant, homophobic, hateful beliefs, and sharing them with others doesn’t make it right, or make it wrong to protest against it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747.md?page=33)