In embrace of ‘Duck Dynasty’ star, 2016 hopefuls make bid for evangelicals

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-embrace-of-duck-dynasty-star-2016-hopefuls-make-bid-for-evangelicals/2013/12/19/f42e464a-68db-11e3-a0b9-249bbb34602c_story.html



Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), a likely White House contender whose state is home to the show about a family that runs a duck-hunting gear enterprise, called Robertson and his family “great citizens.”

“The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with,” Jindal said in a statement prominently displayed on his official Web site, adding: “I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), another probable 2016 candidate, chimed in on Facebook, writing: “If you believe in free speech or religious liberty, you should be deeply dismayed over the treatment of Phil Robertson.” And 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin wrote in a Facebook post that “those ‘intolerants’ hatin’ and taking on the Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing his personal opinion are taking on all of us.”

Their embrace of Robertson — who in an interview with GQ described “homosexual behavior” as sinful and compared it to bestiality and infidelity — underscored how gay rights remain a potent political issue for many religious voters on the right.

Dec 19, 2013
Gov. Jindal on Phil Robertson Suspension: I Remember When TV Networks Believed in 1st Amendment

BATON ROUGE – Governor Bobby Jindal issued a statement this morning following the news of Phil Robertson being suspended by A&E from the show Duck Dynasty.

Governor Jindal said, “Phil Robertson and his family are great citizens of the State of Louisiana. The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with. I don’t agree with quite a bit of stuff I read in magazine interviews or see on TV. In fact, come to think of it, I find a good bit of it offensive. But I also acknowledge that this is a free country and everyone is entitled to express their views. In fact, I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment. It is a messed up situation when Miley Cyrus gets a laugh, and Phil Robertson gets suspended "

http://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=4374

Sarah Palin's Impressively Incoherent 'Duck Dynasty' Comments

By Matt Taibbi
POSTED: December 19, 2:35 PM ET



http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/sarah-palins-impressively-incoherent-duck-dynasty-comments-20131219

Sarah Palin, ably staying in character in her new role as a professional media ambulance-chaser, was one of the first to rush to Robertson's defense. She posted a photo of herself with the Robertsons and tweeted the following:

Free speech is endangered species; those "intolerants" hatin' & taking on Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing personal opinion take on us all

Conservatives have always had trouble grasping the difference between public censorship and private enterprise. With a few exceptions, like whistleblower laws and National Labor Relations Board protections against being fired for off-site discussions about work conditions (exceptions that, in almost every case, conservatives bitterly opposed), there is no legal or constitutional right to free speech on private property.

You can be fired for calling your boss a dick, and you can just as easily be let go by a profit-seeking media company for imperiling its relationship with advertisers. And incidentally, this is the way true conservatives, and especially true hardcore speech advocates, have always wanted it.

Henry Rollins Does Not Enjoy the Music We Cover in Rolling Stone
Always outspoken icon praises Marnie Stern and Ty Segall, says he's never heard Daft Punk

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/henry-rollins-does-not-enjoy-the-music-we-cover-in-rolling-stone-20131219



Henry Rollins recently wrapped his first major film role, where he plays a cannibal trying to find his way. But he's been finding himself in many different mediums this year, hosting his radio show on KCRW and the History Channel's 10 Things You Don't Know About and releasing books. Rolling Stone spoke with the always outspoken and charismatic Rollins about 2013's biggest artists (which he mostly ignored).

You know what, you will take this any way you will. That to me is like Rolling Stone music. It's the shit that's in your magazine. And it's like, that world. . . I'm so glad that you all have found your people, but that world is so alienating to me. Anything that gets on the Grammys or the American Music Awards. . . like, was Miley Cyrus on the cover of your magazine? Yeah, see, I like real music. John Coltrane's my favorite musician, what am I doing reading Rolling Stone? You know what I mean?

You don't give a shit about her.

Well, I don't. She's part of that bigger world of music I was just talking about. All of it to me is like, long may it wave, I don't have anything against anyone doing their thing, but it's just not for me. And Robin Thicke, is that the guy? I have no idea what he sounds like. I've never heard Kelly Clarkson, I just, I live in a different musical world.

Fox News' Megyn Kelly was roundly trashed this week for insisting that both Santa and Jesus are white. On Friday, Kelly defended herself at length, saying that she had fallen victim to a bunch of "race-baiting" Fox News haters who couldn't take a joke.

She said that her telling "kids" that Santa "just is white" was a "tongue-in-cheek" attempt at humor, though many regarded it as a bizarre effort to negate the fact that Santa is not, in fact, "just" white, but is often depicted as one of a variety of different races.

But Kelly saw a broader theme: the danger of "the knee-jerk instinct by so many to race-bait and to assume the worst of people, especially the people employed by the very powerful Fox News Channel."

For good measure, though, she acknowledged that she was in the wrong when it came to Jesus's whiteness.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/14/megyn-kelly-defends-santa-comments_n_4443619.html

October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”