And the Duckies are equally free to tell the network to F off. Which they should, some other network would scoop them up. They should also get it in their contract no censorship, and that they have every right to say anything, anywhere, anyway they want, as long as it is not in direct relationship to the show.

I agree with you, in that A&E are a whiny, crowd pleasing bunch of wimps.I saw his comments, and not one word was racist, homophobic, or any other brand name of silliness. He just stated his belief in what he sees. You cannot let a bunch of crowd pleasers tell you that your constitutional right to free speech is non-existent because you "offended" their tender sensibilities. One reason there is a so much animosity about gays is that they want to ram their agenda down everyones throat and force you to approve of them, even if you don't.

This is the sickest article yet, it basically is a roadmap from "damage control" experts on how Phil should come begging their forgivness for being so "mean". BullS*&%*. he did nothing wrong, said nothing wrong, other than he is very blunt and straightforward. The LGBT community, GLAAD and all the rest of their buddies need to grow up and get a spine and say" ok, that's your opinion, but we disagree" and leave it at that.

http://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/tv-news/how--d...

He's not homophobic...he doesn't have a fear of them...he just doesn't agree with them. If a gay person says something against heteros you'd be okay with them getting probation?
Do you hear your own argument?? You just said A&E is a private business and they can run it the way they want to....but in the case of the cake business..HECK no....the cake business MUST make a cake for whoever wants to pay for one. Make up your mind Maph, you can't have your cake and eat it too... A is A.

And that's as far as they should have gone. EXCEPT they HAD to tow the liberal politically correct party line.

It's not homophobia to quote a book that was also one of the foundational documents of our nation and culture.

There were no Racist comments made - that's one of the claims thrown out by the left to shut down conversation when they are losing a argument. It's also well below your abilities.

Then why not name names of who's official stance it really is. You'd be fine and dandy if NBC said it was their official stance that marriage is between one man and one woman and the opinions of Rosey O'Donnell or Ellen are not the opinions of NBC after they suspended them for speaking their opinion on marriage?

SO WHAT? Let the world know what Phil Robertson said...big whoopity doo. A&E has made a huge deal out of nothing for the sake of trying to appease some who's feeeeelings might be hurt. Grow up! Phil Robertson is A&E's cash cow and they just sent him to the slaughter house....for speaking his opinion. What a bunch of weeny whiny wind bag idiots.

"The views of Mr. Robertson are not necessarily the views of this network." A&E
End of story.

I smell a double standard in this statement as well. Would you say the same thing if a gay person was giving their opinion and they got suspended for it?

He didn't say what he said on A&E...he said it in a GQ interview. A&E doesn't own him anyway.
Maph, so if a network told a gay person they couldn't speak their opinion during an interview (OR on a reality show for pete's sake) you'd be okay with that? Seriously? I think you have a double standard. "You can be on our reality show....but...just...don't be you, okay?"

That works both ways, Maph. And NO one at A&E agrees with Phil? A&E cannot have an opinion, only individuals can. Unless they take a vote of every single employee and it's unanimous they can't say it's A&E's opinion. I'm willing to lay bets that Phil doesn't give a rats ass what anybody thinks of him (OR what ever 'consequences' people try to lay on him)...I don't think he's ever cared what anyone thought of him...that's actually what's interesting about him. He doesn't play by mob rule, or try to fit in, or care about being PC. PHIL IS REFRESHING!!! I hope he tells A&E to fuck themselves and another network picks up the show. Or not. Phil will be happy happy happy no matter what. :) (lol 'consequences', for speaking his opinion...prrrbblllrrrtf.)

He voiced his opinion, A&E voiced theirs. Stories over let's all go home.

Exactly. Everyone is now immune to the logic of if an individual says "X is bad" then the network must be saying too (being a false statement). Entertainment is so PC, that even movies stress how "sensitive" they are for almost any subject they are portraying.

Is a big, wet, ok, ok, must not irritate the natives...must not....

Now wait, it was A&E that said: "We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series Duck Dynasty. His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community.”
I don't give a rats A** about what he says, it is a free country and he has every right to say what he believes without a disclaimer. Of course it was his opinion, not A&E. I really dislike this whole "you must be connected by umbilical" thing they have going in the entertainment world. A&E has been milking them for 3-4 years now, and it started because they were such goofy back country goofballs (did you ever see the one where they were hunting the lizard in the warehouse?) that they were funny. Now they are rich, and A&E made a bundle off them. It's not the first time they have expressed their conservative opinions, they have reflected some of that in their show as well. All he did was state his opinion, and that should be that. I didn't see any ramming going on with this, in fact, had A&E left well enough alone, instead of doing a knee jerk "Keep the gays happy" response to a non-existent issue, it would never have come to light. Maybe gay people wouldn't have had a problem with it, maybe they would, but that would be between them and him, and A&E should keep out of it. Part of the risk with doing the reality type stuff, people talk, and they can't control them 24x7.