Paul Giorgio: I Don’t Give a Duck!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Paul Giorgio, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

I can't believe that I am writing about Phil Robertson the head of the family on Duck Dynasty, an A&E network show about a bunch of backwoods rednecks in rural Louisiana.

The difference with these rednecks is that they are college graduates and multi-millionaires. Their wealth came from their company Duck Commander, whose major product is a duck call. They have built on that and now have other product lines and hunting gear.

A couple of weeks ago Phil Robertson, the major character and family head gave an interview to GQ magazine in which he attacked Gays, made some insensitive racist remarks about Blacks, Muslims and even attacked the Japanese.

The A&E Network immediately suspended him from the show, which was no small act since Duck Dynasty is the highest rated cable show ever. Then again what is the competition, Honey Boo Boo, Toddlers & Tiaras and Amish Mafia. Have we sunken so low that this is what we are watching?

No less an expert on American culture than Sara Palin, the onetime mayor of Wasilla Alaska and the states half term Governor came to Robertson defense critiquing the network for the suspension. Palin who has never let consistency get in the way of publicity had a different view on network censorship several weeks ago when MSNBC fired Martin Bashar for making off color remarks about Palin.

The Cracker Barrel Restaurant chain entered the fray this past weekend when they pulled some Duck Dynasty products off their shelves. The right wingers immediately called for a boycott of the restaurant chain.

Isn’t this a free speech issue for Cracker Barrel? Or does the far right only believe that free speech exists for them?

And why does the right wing in this country constantly come to the defense of right wing nuts? I hope it is not because they share the same views.

Sara Palin and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal both claim this is a free speech issue.it is not.

It is interesting how Palin only believes in right wing free speech. She should also demand that Martin Bashar be returned to the airways so he can once again start making fun of her. But that would be asking too much.

Right wing or left wing bigotry or racism has no place in America.

Robertson can have his views but A&E does not have to give him money or create a celebrity cult in order for him to gain an audience for his backwoods and backwards view of America. If he wasn't the star of this ridiculous reality show, no one would pay any attention to this backwoods right winger.

In the spirit of research, I actually watched a couple of episodes this weekend. One of them had family members fishing for Catfish, then gutting them and trying to sell the fish on the side of the road. It ended with them throwing fish guts at each other.

In this season of giving maybe Robertson, Palin, Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh should all reflect on the message of Christmas, which they claim is under attack and the message of the Christ child.

I will quote Luke 2:14 from the King James Bible:

Glory to god in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

Paul Giorgio is a longtime Democratic Party Activist who has worked on numerous campaigns. He was a Lead Advance Person for President Clinton & Vice President Gore. He was Deputy Director of Special Events for President Clinton’s first Inauguration. He has been elected a delegate to numerous Democratic National Conventions and recently served as one of President Obama’s representatives on the Platform Committee. In 2013 he was chosen as a Presidential Elector. He is the President of Pagio, Inc., publishers of Pulse Magazine, Vitality Magazine and Worcester Medicine.

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