Jazz Shaw:
The Duckathon continues through the weekend, showing no signs of slowing down. In the wake of A&E’s somewhat suicidal business decision (more on that below), another voice has weighed in on the situation. The Sheriff of Douglas County – home to the Duck Dynasty crew – is no longer interested in doing any business with the network.
The suspension of “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson by the A&E Network after making controversial remarks in GQ magazine regarding homosexuality has been called a business decision. But now Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller is making a business decision of his own.
Miller announced on his personal Facebook page Friday night that A&E would no longer be welcomed to film or produce any of its programs or series with the help of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office or its facilities…
“I know it will not matter to A&E, but it will make me feel better. A&E has produced more than a half dozen programs with the assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. They will not do any more with my assistance while I am sheriff. It is time for someone other than Hollywood and the news media to stand up for what is right!”
I’m not sure if it “won’t matter” to A&E that the Sheriff’s department will no longer cooperate with them. Assuming the show continues at all, reality series rely on that full range of “local flavor” to bring their stories to life. In the case of this show, just as with many other such series like Moonshiners, local law enforcement can be a part of that tapestry. It may not shut down production entirely, but it certainly doesn’t help. (And that’s not even going into questions about getting film permits or how much of a blind eye the law will turn to disruptions caused during filming, etc.)
From a broader perspective, a few offerings from Rick Moran at the American Thinker.
I don’t think we’ve seen this kind of backlash against the coercive imposition of public speech codes before. The opposition goes far beyond the evangelical community to become an issue with many other Christian churches.
Beyond the religious aspect, there is a cultural facet to the controversy. The GQ “profile” of Robertson was a hit piece – smarmy, snarky, and subtly dismissive. Many Americans are equally perturbed by the elitist and superior attitude found in the GQ article – holding Robertson out to be a typical ignorant red neck not worthy of being taken seriously by the smart folks in coastal America.
Hard to say what will become of this controversy. GLAAD is raising money hand over fist and is suffering no ill effects for its PC policing of speech. Perhaps the flap has awoken middle America and they will now begin to fight back against the stifling of free speech and freedom of religion that goes along with it.
On a more general note, I have to wonder what A&E is thinking about their decision at this point. They’ve surely noticed that their ratings – particularly for their last weekend marathon – have been down since this situation blew up. Curiously, I was seeing some of the most liberal people on Twitter – particularly ones who like to refer to Robertson as “hateful, homophobic, bigoted” etc. – crowing over the ratings drop. Seriously? They seem to think that a drop in viewers must reflect some sort of judgement by the audience rejecting Robertson’s opinions.
It kinda raises the question of why A&E, a privately run enterprise, was worthy of such government services to begin with. If they weren’t eligible, sounds like the sheriff overstepped his authority. And if they were eligible, sounds like the sheriff is now denying, for personal reasons, government services in which A&E are entitled to.
@Ronald J. Ward:
Oh, poor RJW, you just keep looking for crap on your shoes, don’t you?
The movie industry often films in small towns. When they do, they ask for the cooperation of the citizens, the county government (which would include the sheriff’s department) and other agencies. These agencies have the right to say “NO” if they choose. Generally, the agencies are not reimbursed for the services but the agencies figure it is a trade off due to the extra business the movie production brings (hotels, restaurants, cleaners, off duty LEOs for security, etc.)
Frankly, every time a movie is being filmed in my small town it is a pain in the tush. Hoards of rude Californians who think their feces doesn’t stink. Perhaps the Sheriff of that county decided the mind numbingly stupid bunch from A & E were no longer worth the trouble.
@retire05: Well to be honest Retire05, I have to admit an ignorance on movie productions and the precise protocol on government support or lack of. You present yourself as more educated in that area so perhaps you can enlighten us of what services the sheriff dept offered.
I’m not up on the state or local law’s of Miller’s jurisdiction and I don’t know the guidelines of his budget. He did refer to his decision on Facebook as “punishment” and that “they will not do any more with my assistance while I am sheriff”. His definition of “assistance” isn’t exactly clear. It simply raises the argument of identifying such “assistance” and how curtailing such services for “punishment” simply because the sheriff disagrees with A&E’s views might possibly violate the 1st Amendment.
Why Retire05, do you approach every discussion with anyone that doesn’t march lockstep to your every thought process with such a condescending and insulting nature? Are you not happy?
@Ronald J. Ward:
Having been part of the Film Commission in my small town, I can tell you that the movie production companies require a lot. Streets have to be block off for filming, which requires the LEO agency to put up blockades and block off multiple streets, as well as having officers to direct traffic. This can go on from early day to late at night.
Business are also affected when customers can’t get to them because the streets are blocked. Utility workers have to make power accessible to lights, etc, for the movie company, especially if they film at night. And while the film company may made financial arrangements for the use of electricity, usually the LEO agencies provide their services for free.
Actually, I’m quite happy. God has provided me with a good life, although there has been some hard spots. As to marching “lockstep”, that is not true. I am quite willing to listen to other points of view, but not from those whose agenda is to change this nation into some Marxist utopia, which seems to be (or at least appears to be) your goal.
I think you conveniently avoided my argument of
I’m glad to hear you’re happy as your tone somewhat questions that.
I don’t know where you gathered your “Marxist” opinion of me but there seems to be some concept that anyone that doesn’t kowtow to corporates every whim, continues to advocate even lower taxes than the NEGATIVE taxes that some are already enjoying, disavowing any and all regulations (which doesn’t make a great deal of sense as this would render them “lawless”) and genuflects to their push for social Darwinism and Plutocracy, must be a Marxist.
This binary thought process exhibited by many on the right is rather puzzling.