Here's our governor with more mutterings that seemingly pass out of his lips before filtering through his Rhodes Scholar brain.Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) rushed to the defense of "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson after he was suspended from the reality show by A&E Wednesday for a series of remarks he made about gays and non-Christians in an interview with GQ Magazine.
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“Phil Robertson and his family are great citizens of the State of Louisiana. The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with...."
Please forgive me for never having heard of "Duck Dynasty" and not knowing who the hell Phil Robertson was before the brouhaha. When I say I seldom watch TV, I speak truth. Plus, few people exist who know less about pop culture and celebs than I do, but anyway here's our guv for ya.
Jindal appears to be reinforcing his anti-gay creds, because he plans to run for president and hopes for Tea Party support. It seems to me that Jindal will say almost anything if it will gain him political advantage, but he may truly believe the words he spoke in defense of Robertson. If the governor was smart, he'd know he has no chance of becoming president or vice-president, but he chooses to live in fantasy land.
Oh! The intolerance! They way they've dragged poor Phil Robertson to death behind a truck! The way they beat him to death and hung him on a fence post! The way they burned crosses in his yard! The way they . . . oh, wait. . . they didn't do any of that?
ReplyDeleteIt was just a rich redneck who lost his ego-stroking tv show?
Never mind.
Mark, your comments puts things in perspective. Also, I'm reminded what happened to the Dixie Chicks when one member of the group spoke against the Iraq war. Cancelled concerts, boycotts of their latest album... Take the consequences of your racist and homophobic comments like a man, Phil.
DeleteBefore this brouhaha, I'd seen those (dumb@ss!) Duck Dynasty Chia Pets in stores [And, if you can believe it, Rachel Maddow had a bit about DD a few weeks ago, in connection to a GOP primary. The Phil Robertson-endorsed candidate won. "Duck Dynasty is a HUGE phenomenon!" she chortled (as someone also on cable, she was admittedly jealous of DD's ratings)]
ReplyDeleteShows how out of the loop I am, JCF. If I came across their show by accident on TV, I quickly moved on without even noting the name of the show.
DeleteFred Clark over at Slactivist has a couple of posts on the Duck Dynasty flap. First he notes that, while one Christian organization canceled a speech by son Willie Robertson last month because the Robertson family had made a deal with a winery to promote "Duck Commander" wine, there was no evangelical outcry whatsoever, certainly as contrasted with this month's A&E suspension. Next, he notes that white evangelicals are similarly overlooking the blatant racism in Phil Robertson's GQ interview (which the Jindal article similarly glosses over):
ReplyDelete"I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field …. They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, “I tell you what: These doggone white people” — not a word! … Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues."
I must commend to you the two links contained in the Slacktivist quote of this interview excerpt.
On the other side, however, no one should respect A&E after they canceled the Nero Wolfe series.
Just sayin'.
Still waiting for Jindal to defend Robertson's racist comments.
ReplyDeleteRmj, I'm guessing Jindal won't get around to that, but not because he expects to get the votes of African-Americans in his next run for higher office.
DeleteI don't agree with what Mr. Robertson said, and I do agree that people have to face the consequences of their speech. However, having been on the losing side of gay bashing and violence, I have to say that I prefer to know where I stand with people. If someone hates me for my sexuality I'd rather know that up front than having them hide their feelings behind some politically correct facade. It is much safer for me that way.
ReplyDelete8thday, you have a point. There's something to be said for honesty, rather than homophobic jokes and snide remarks intended to pass for polite conversation.
DeleteCourtesy of Joe.My.God, there is an insightful commentary on the essential falsity behind the television series (including striking before-and-after family portraits) as well as to Phil Robertson's lack of fidelity to biblical strictures. There is also an impassioned defense of Southerners against unwonted stereotypes. The speaker's language, however, is not safe for work, and Mimi must be forewarned.
ReplyDeleteThe reality shows are like TV wrestling. How can anyone believe the shows portray anything close to reality?
DeleteRemember when a member of the Dixie Chicks band criticized Bush and the Iraq war? Concerts were cancelled; groups called for boycotts of their albums and destroyed them in public displays, but the band members were not crybabies, but rather took their licks like adults and went on with their lives and making music. Nor did they gather in well-promoted "prayer meetings" to decide what to do next.
The group doubled down, recorded the song "Not Ready to Make Nice", and won a Grammy for the album. The Dixie Chicks went on to become the top-selling all-female band in the US. That's the way to do it, fellas. Stand up like the macho men you wish you were.