Was the attack on Duck Dynasty's Mr. Robertson an attack on free speech and religious expression?

Free speech means he has the right to think and say whatever he wants, not that people (who he represents as a company) are going to continue to pay him to say those things.

Consider the gay guy that got fired from a catholic school for his public s.s.-marriage. I think, we need to know our audiences and accept that sometimes saying what you think is right WILL get you fired. Sometimes its worth it, and sometimes its not.

He can express himself religiously when the cameras arent running on him. We have to remember that consequences are a big part of Christianity too.

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Re: your addtional details "Robertson gave a candid response to an interview question. The minority group, GLAAD, then openly attacked his opinion".

--- If that was the context in which it happened then no, I dont think its right at all. You ask a question painting someone into a corner you canNOT say "lie or be fired".

Yes. A&E's action is an attack on Mr. Robertson's free speech and religious freedom. However, A&E is an employer in the private sector. They are not government agents, bound by the First Amendment, which is a restriction on government action against free speech.

Here's a likely scenario for what happens next. A&E refuses to do the right thing by apologizing and reinstating Phil Robertson in the show. The Duck Dynasty family, who share Robertson's beliefs, refuse to make future episodes without him. They then negotiate a contract with another network, taking the show to greener pastures where free speech continues to prevail. A&E loses their cash cow because of their anti-Christian bigotry.

Cheers,

Bruce

Do you even know what free speech means?

You can read what he said right here: http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/...

How was he not allowed to freely speak and express his religious views?

Actions have consequences. So his speech got him in trouble with A&E, likely because he and A&E had a contract which stated that he wouldn't do interviews like this one. He's not going to jail or facing a fine or anything, but if you break a contract, then you will face some consequences (in this case a hiatus that I seriously doubt he cares anything about).

The Robertsons make a lot of money doing Duck Dynasty (something like $200,000 per episode) and so it's certainly well within A&E's right to try and protect that brand (granted, I think they are making matters worse for themselves because most viewers of Duck Dynasty don't really care about what Phil said in the GQ interview and probably largely agree with him).

Edit:

So are you saying that GLAAD doesn't have the right to free speech to criticize what he said?

Is he in jail? Was he fined or deported? no. When it comes down to it, he has freedom of speech, like everyone else, and really hasn't suffered for it.

On the other hand, other people also have freedom of speech. Saying someone's speech is offensive isn't an attack. No one has deprived him of what he has to say.

However, he has a contract with A&E, and there's a good chance that contract says something about saying offensive things, moral turpitude, etc. Maybe he violated his contract, maybe he didn't. Without seeing the contract it's impossible to know. Either way, it appears A&E has the right to suspend his contract, and chose to do so, again, they are exorcising free speech.

Freedom of speech doesn't come with freedom from responsibility. I'm just not sure why anyone is surprised. He's a redneck from the south. Such opinions are not uncommon. So a redneck has an unenlightened opinion of gays and a patriarchal opinion of blacks. No surprise there.

Excuse me? It was Robertson, a member of the Christian majority, who was defining "sin". The minority objected to his bigoted views, and he was suspended.

As to free speech and religious expression rights ... what rights? Those rights are part of the US Constitution, which is essentially a contract between the people and those they elected to govern them. A&E is not the US Government. Whatever contract Robertson has with them is what matters, and he apparently violated that contract.

Yes, I believe he was in his rights to express his true opinion. And that also is blibical, as well.

God's inspired word condems homosexual behavior. We can see what Jesus said, "...a man should be the husband of one WIFE."

And it along with other things is condemned in 1 Corthians, as well.

Today on the news he said, they are pulling out of the program--good for them!

i have believed that we should all be treated with respect in unity in the name of Jesus Christ. if we drew a line, and said all christians stand on the left side and all atheists and devil worshiper stand on the right side. every christian church would stand on the left side. i think thats how all of us should veiw each other.

i found this great lesson about faith and unity and respect in an LDS priesthood manual. it concerns our duties towards each other and our faith for each other in respect to tolerance and agreement.

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents...

We respect our Father’s other children of all sects, parties, and denominations, and have no desire except to see them receive the added light and knowledge that has come to us by revelation, and to become with us inheritors of the great blessings of the restoration of the gospel.

But we have the plan of salvation; we administer the gospel; and the gospel is the sole hope of the world, the one way that will bring peace on earth and right the wrongs that exist in all nations."

Mr Robertson expressed his views ... and so did the bosses of the A&E channel.

A tit for a tat; you reap what you sow.

It isn't a big deal. Mr Robertson said he thinks certain people should be treated as second class citizens, and whoever is in charge of A&E said he doesn't think Mr Robertson should be on the show he's paying him to be on.

it was freedom of speech, he was asked a question and answered it to his opinion and beliefs. everyone else gets to show the world sex and homosexuality and someone says something, who by the way is on a christian tv show, why should he be penalized for answering the question? gays are all out proud of who they are and throw it in everyones face so why are they all sensitive when christians state what they believe? gays always want attention

"soft to the Touch" is correct. A&E is entitled to require that those in their employ not damage their brand by making insenstive remarks in public. I defend their right to make those decisions.

Free speech and religious expression refers to government interference in your rights. A&E is not the government, nor are they discriminating against Mr. Robertson based on religion, because they are not suspending him for his beliefs, but for expressing those beliefs during an interview designed to promote their show.