Conservatives Rush To Defend Gay-Bashing 'Duck Dynasty' Star

[DonViejo]

CAITLIN MACNEAL – DECEMBER 19, 2013, 3:26 PM EST

After 'Duck Dynasty' patriarch Phil Robertson was suspended from his popular reality television show for making controversial anti-gay comments in an interview with GQ magazine, conservatives jumped to his defense.

Lousiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) in a Thursday statement called Robertson's suspension a "messed up situation."

Both former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also weighed in on Facebook by defending Robertson's right to free speech.

“Free speech is an endangered species. Those ‘intolerants’ hatin’ and taking on the Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing his personal opinion are taking on all of us," said Palin.


:::snip:::

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/conservatives-defend-anti-gay-comments-by-duck-dynasty-star

[liberalmuse]

1. Now if Palin had rushed to Bashir's defense...

when he was fired over her definition of "free speech", she may have had at least an ounce of credibility. That was such a perfect opportunity for her, and she blew it.

[SummerSnow]

3. She only defends the free speech of conservatives.

[Gothmog]

2. The First Amendment only applies to State Actors

Unless a governmental entity is doing the censorship, the First Amendment does not apply. Here the TV network is free to take whatever steps they want and there is no violation of the First Amendment. This is basic constitutional law. Here is a brief explanation of this requirement from Cornell Law School http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/state_action_requirement

The state action requirement stems from the fact that the constitutional amendments which protect individual rights (especially the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment) are mostly phrased as prohibitions against government action. For example, the First Amendment states that “[c]ongress shall make no law” infringing upon the freedoms of speech and religion. Because of this requirement, it is impossible for private parties (citizens or corporations) to violate these amendments, and all lawsuits alleging constitutional violations of this type must show how the government (state or federal) was responsible for the violation of their rights. This is referred to as the state action requirement.

[Arneoker]

4. Are you telling me that the First Amendment doesn't guarantee me my own reality show on AMC?

[Cosmocat]

5. Good to see them wash the Dixie Chick blood off their hands

nm

[Initech]

6. The talking points have been fed to the parrots.