Duck Dynasty Star Suspended Over Anti-Gay Remarks

Duck Daddy, or who-the-hell ever. Image from source, HuffPo

Let's get this out of the way: while the Duck Dynasty patriarch uttered offensive, outdated comments, I was not--as a gay man--offended. Mostly because I don't give two shits what this man or his family think about anything. That said, A&E (a channel that used to mean "arts and entertainment," which this program doesn't really seem to fit) has every right to suspend or fire the guy for damaging their brand and public image.  I've been reading commentary on the story excerpted below, and want to smack about half of the commenters. They have a very juvenile understanding of the first amendment, thinking that "free speech" means speech unencumbered by consequence.

On a side note, I'm actually more offended that a partially staged "reality show" with such a thin premise can be so popular. I will admit that having no interest in the subject matter (and honestly can't imagine why anyone would be), I have never partaken in watching the program. I probably never will. But basing a show around duck call makers sounds almost as thin a premise as throwing a bunch of confrontational bitches in front of the camera and calling it "Real Housewives." Finding out that they're overflowing with religiosity in addition to camouflage makes me even less interested, regardless of the homophobia.

[Excerpt]
 
'Duck Dynasty' Star Phil Robertson Suspended Over Anti-Gay Remarks

A&E has suspended "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson following anti-gay comments he made in a recent GQ profile, according to a report by Entertainment Weekly.

In an interview with GQ's Drew Magary, the head of the family in the wildly popular A&E series expressed his view that homosexuality was immoral, likening it to bestiality. Some of the remarks were made using off-color language. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

 

On a side note, this is what the Duck Dynasty folks looked like a dozen years or so ago. Could their image be as phony as "Larry the Cable Guy?" And could the hotness quotient have anything at all to do with Dad's homophobia? Interesting questions I'm just throwing out there.

Image from Life & Style

 

 

Notable Quotable: Randi Rhodes on Ed Schultz's Suspension

Fun fact: I actually 'shopped this picture myself, and
Randi now has it on her website, which is cool!

"Ed Schultz has been suspended for a week from MSNBC for calling Laura Ingraham a slut. Really, Ed? There are so many more accurate things you could call Laura Ingraham. Ed apologized for the comments. He said calling Laura Ingraham a slut was 'vile and inappropriate.' It would have been better (and probably more accurate) if he had just called Laura Ingraham 'vile and inappropriate' in the first place."

Source: Randi Rhodes

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Called Tina Fey a Slut!

Okay, okay. Technically, Andrea Mitchell called Liz Lemon a slut on 30 Rock on Thursday night's rerun. But, if the word is so offensive, how was that allowed? She's an employee of MSNBC, right? As is Ed Schultz, who was suspended for a week for calling Laura Ingraham a slut. Does Liz Lemon being a fictional character make it okay?  Because, I assure you "Laura Ingraham" on the radio is a fictional creation too. No way anybody's like that in real life. I hope.

[Excerpt]


WATCH: Andrea Mitchell Calls Liz Lemon “Slut” During 30 Rock Cameo

. . . But the funniest bit came when he threw to NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell, who walked on camera just in time to call Lemon “slut. . .”
 


Read more at: Mediaite

Big Ed Schultz Suspended by MSNBC for Calling Laura Ingraham a "Slut"

Big Ed Out. Photo from source, Raw Story

Really? Okay, where is the line? You can call the President (deep breath): Marxist, Maoist, statist, communist, socialist, racist, Islamic, pro-terrorist and anti-American, and still keep your job on cable "news." You can say awful things about the first lady, Hillary Clinton, Madeline Albright (yeah, I remember), Janet Reno, and on and on.
I'll concede that "slut" is probably automatically out-of-bounds (though Dan Aykroyd used it on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update referring to Jane Curtin in 1978). But if he'd said bimbo, would he have gotten away with it? I suspect so. Harpie? Shrew? Harlot? Skank? Where is the line?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that Keith Olbermann is having a good belly laugh over this. Not only is he familiar with getting suspended by MSNBC, he used to date Laura Ingraham.

[Excerpt]

MSNBC host Ed Schultz apologizes for ‘right-wing slut’ remark

The liberal host of MSNBC’s The Ed Show and The Ed Schultz Show radio program was suspended without pay for one week by MSNBC because of sexist comments he made about a conservative radio host.



“President Obama is going to be visiting Joplin, Missouri on Sunday but you know what they’re talking about, like this right-wing slut, what’s her name?” Schultz asked on his radio program. “Laura Ingraham? Yeah, she’s a talk slut. . .”

Read more at: Raw Story

MSNBC Suspends Joe Scarborough for Political Donations

Image from source, Politico

So, is this going to be a biweekly thing? It's nice that MSNBC is being consistent, at least. And if they didn't suspend Joe Scarborough, I'm sure that Keith Olbermann and his fans would be mightily pissed. Still, this will gain them few new viewers, and the people that loathe MSNBC will continue to do so. 

[Excerpt]

Joe Scarborough suspended from MSNBC for campaign donations



MSNBC said Friday that it is suspending “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough for two days after he acknowledged giving eight previously unknown $500 contributions to friends and family members running for state and local offices during his tenure at the network, a violation of parent NBC’s ban on political contributions by employees without specific permission from the network president. . .


Read more at: Politico

Keith Olbermann Returns to Countdown

I wasn't sure what to expect with Keith Olbermann's return to Countdown on Tuesday night. Olbermann is a big favorite around here and in other liberal sources of course, but he's also known to get mightily fired up. Sometimes he goes a little too far. So I was a little worried he'd issue something of a very "Special Comment," and get himself fired or something.  Thankfully, he handled the issue of his suspension, reinstatement and all the media chatter about it, with good humor, a little humility and just enough of his superego to be entertaining.  The rest of the show was business as usual, only with the continued suspension of Worst Persons in the World.  Good job, Keith, and welcome back!

Keith Olbermann to Return to Countdown on Tuesday

Image from the Washington Note

Not much news to report on this one, other than the press release below. Given the amount of press (and Twittering) Olbermann's suspension garnered, I have to say that I'm surprised it is going to be over so quickly. I wonder if the online petition (which last I looked had 200,000+ 300,000+ signatures) had something to do with it?

STATEMENT REGARDING KEITH OLBERMANN - SUNDAY, NOV. 7



From Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC:


After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night's program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy. We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night.

Source: NBC Universal

Rachel Maddow on Keith Olbermann's Suspension; and False Equivalence

I know I just posted a Rachel Maddow Show clip a few posts ago, but given that the story of Keith Olbermann's suspension from MSNBC for campaign contributions is both a Google News top story and a trending topic on Twitter (odd, given that "nobody watches" MSNBC according to conservatives), I thought it was apt. Plus, it's good. Rachel goes to bat for Keith while acknowledging that he broke the rules. And she does so while painting a clear difference between the way MSNBC and FOX "News" operate.

Keith Olbermann Suspended by MSNBC

Image from source, TV Newser

Whoa. In what has been a decision that is elating right-wing world, MSNBC has suspended Countdown with Keith Olbermann's host for making unapproved political contributions. What's coming out fast and furious now, is that other hosts of MSNBC and other networks have done the same thing.  What will they do if it comes to light that Ed Schultz, Rachel Maddow and/or Lawrence O'Donnell have done the same thing? Will they suspend them all, or give Olbermann a pass?

For what it's worth, I think that MSNBC is well within their rights to act in the manner in which they did, provided it is fair treatment across the board. If it turns out that this rule has not been enforced for other hosts, they won't have much of a leg to stand on. Meanwhile, they've got the infamously tempestuous Olbermann---frequently their highest rated host--to deal with. Will he come back? Will he walk? And what of The Rachel Maddow Show, and The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell?  Those two shows are basically spin offs of Countdown, and share a good deal of their viewership (and are not coincidentally the other two highest-rated shows on the channel). MSNBC has to worry about not only pissing off Olbermann, but his friends and viewers as well.

And before the FOX fans chime in, remember that it is immaterial whether or not Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck and the rest have or have not committed the same offense. They've provided free advertising for any number of conservative candidates, rendering actual monetary donations irrelevant.

[Excerpt]

Keith Olbermann Suspended from MSNBC Indefinitely after Contributing to Democratic Candidates

MSNBC has suspended host Keith Olbermann indefinitely and without pay, after Politico revealed the primetime host contributed to the campaigns of of three congressional candidates, a practice which violates an NBC News policy. . .

Read more at: TV Newser

John McCain Un-suspends Non-suspended Campaign

As The Other Half said to me this morning, "John McCain fumbled the 'Hail Mary' Pass?" It certainly does look that way, doesn't it? I'm quite sure that after eight years of rationalizing, making excuses and cognitive dissonance, the right-wing has some kind of spin for this that doesn't equal epic fail, but I'm not sure it's going to play.

So, tonight's debate should be interesting. If my suspicions are correct, McCain pulled this whole stunt after performing poorly in pre-debate practice sessions. So with all the other stuff going on between then and now, he must really be having to cram now. Maybe he thrives on pressure? Maybe expectations will be low, and he will easily meet them, I don't know. But, unless Barack Obama really steps in it tonight, I think he's got a good chance of doing well.

[Excerpt]

The Debate Is On; McCain Will Attend

Republican John McCain agreed to attend the first presidential debate Friday night even though Congress doesn't have a bailout deal, reversing an earlier decision to delay the forum until Washington had addressed the financial crisis. . .

Read more at: AOL News

More on Air America's Suspension of Randi Rhodes

Photo from source, Raw Story

I ran the video earlier (available here) of Air America Radio's Randi Rhodes giving a speech/stand-up performance in San Francisco recently. Randi has since been suspended. She used some inflammatory language about Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro, and it was probably ill-advised. Even though it was in the context of a comedy performance, she was there as "Air America Radio's Randi Rhodes. So, her employers--who already have a difficult job--probably had to do something.

While I very much enjoy Sam Seder as a fill-in host, I'll miss Randi if she's gone very long. And if she should get terminated, or get so pissed about the situation that she quits, I'll really be bummed. Air America Radio would be wise to tread very carefully here. If Rachel Maddow's star continues to rise (she's hosting Countdown with Keith Olbermann tomorrow), it isn't inconceivable that AAR could lose her. Losing their two biggest stars would be almost impossible to come back from.

[Excerpt]

Air America's Randi Rhodes said suspended for calling Clinton, Ferraro 'whores'

Air America has allegedly suspended talk radio host Randi Rhodes after she made scathing statements off-air about Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and former Democratic vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro.

What a whore Geraldine Ferraro is! She's such a f***ing whore!" Rhodes remarked. "Hillary is a big f***ing whore, too" to a mixed audience reaction. "You know why she's a big f***ing whore? Because her deal is always, 'Read the fine print, ***hole!'"

Read more at: Raw Story

Air America Radio's Randi Rhodes Suspended

She used some salty language about Hillary Clinton, apparently. I'll have more on this later. For now, here's the video (probably Not Safe for Work). . .