He who asks a question is a fool for a minute; he who does not remains a fool forever.
Chinese Proverb
Earlier One-Off Post: Bad Elephant of the Year 2013
Westjet and Make-a-Wish Make a Young Girl's Hawaiian Wish Come True
I recently embedded a couple of unique Westjet Christmas videos... A young leukemia patient wanted to swim with dolphins.
Facebook Corner
(Tom Woods). I think there's more to the Duck Dynasty issue than "A&E has the right to suspend Phil Robertson." I've just blogged about it on my site. But without cheating and looking at my answer, what do you all think?
Political correctness run amok. I think there are double standards, it was hypocritical and set a bad precedent for appeasing intolerant special interests. A&E knew about Robertson's born-again beliefs when they hired him. He made statements to a magazine which reflected his position and not those of A&E; as far as I know, it did not impact the execution of his contractual responsibilities on the series. I think A&E, even it is exercising some at will clause in his contract over expressing the "wrong" controversial opinion on his time, could have a chilling effect on performers expressing their constitutional rights. A&E would be on higher moral ground showing tolerance of different opinions, maybe even using the controversy as a teaching moment by having a dialogue among the principals.
(The Libertarian Republic). Was #DuckDynasty Star Phil Robertson A Victim of #FreeSpeech? (Podcast) | The #Freedom Report http://bit.ly/1cePj4R
I think people in this thread are trivializing the issue (nobody raised the issue of a contract). Was he a victim of free speech. YES--because Robertson's opinion was specifically referenced by the network and his critics: "“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,” A&E parent A+E Networks said in a statement obtained by E! News."
This is different than asking whether A&E has a legal right to suspend Robertson, edit him out of shows,etc. But given the fact that A&E admits Robertson's comments weren't part of the show. Apparently this is A&E's don't ask, don't tell politically incorrect views off the job...
Anyone who understands freedom gets why it's OK for A&E to fire #philrobertson. Anyone who understands free markets gets why it isn't smart
I can't believe anyone who is a libertarian would say something so obviously WRONG. It depends on the terms of the CONTRACT between A&E and the Robertson clan. Keep in mind A&E knew Robertson's conservative religious views when they hired him. It may well be A&E does have a contractual right to do so if it is an at will relationship, but I don't really see expressing a difference of opinion on one's own time violating, say, a morals clause.
I'd have to say no. He was not arrested for stating his opinion, he was "indefinitely suspended." A&E has every right, as an employer, to fire whomever they choose, for whatever reason they choose. I like Duck Dynasty. I do not agree with his opinion but I'm an atheist. Of course he doesn't agree with homosexuality, he's a devout Christian.
It depends on the terms of the contract. For example, an employer has the right to recognize a union, in which case firing at will is sharply limited. I noticed that you did not discuss that the Robertson clan may also have the right to exercise at will and say shop their show to another network.
Political Humor
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| Via Illinois Policy Institute |
Musical Interlude: My iPod Shuffle Holiday Series
Bing Crosby & Carol Richards, "Silver Bells"
