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Phil Robertson: Why Louisiana governor rides to Duck Dynasty defense

Phil Robertson was 'indefinitely' suspended from 'Duck Dynasty.' Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal weighs in on this "messed up situation." Could this be the opening the Phil Robertson to make a career change?

  • By Staff

In Louisiana, apparently there's no political capital lost in defending Phil Robertson, patriarch of 'Duck Dynasty.'

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal issued a statement today after Phil Robertson was suspended by A&E from the show 'Duck Dynasty.' The suspension was prompted by Robertson's comments in a GQ magazine interview where he compared homosexuality to bestiality. At one point, Robertson paraphrased a passage from Corinthians:

"Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers -- they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right."

Then, A&E issued a statement announcing Robertson's haitus:

"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 said in a statement. "His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely."

Duck Dynasty is filmed in Louisiana and one of the most popular shows on cable TV.

Governor Jindal decided someone in Louisiana should be sticking up for Robertson's free speech rights.

“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."

As reported earlier, the Robertsons have made no secret of their Christian faith on their hugely popular series, typically ending episodes by sitting around the dinner table saying grace.

Phil Robertson has said that A&E hit downplays his family's religious faith – but the intensity of his beliefs comes through in a recently released videotaped speech in Pennsylvania condemning abortion.

In the speech, he talks about presidents he says relied on the Bible, then turns to abortion. "Listen, from the time you started inside your mother's womb, Thomas Jefferson had it right, you have the God-given right to live, for crying out loud. You're this long!" he said, holding out his finger. "You're a week old inside your mother. They suck you out of there when you're about like that."

At one point last summer, rumors circulated that Louisiana Republicans might recruit Robertson to run for Congress.

"Yeah, I mean, I'd consider everything," Robertson told US Weekly. "But you know, at this point in my life, I'm really busy. Maybe we can help the country in some way, get these guys to be more efficient and all that. I don't know. I don't think now is the right time but who knows about one day?"

Maybe A&E has now given Robertson more time to consider a political career.

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