Robertson stuck his foot in it.īy the way, Robertson's anti-gay bigotry has caught so much attention that his comments on race have been ignored. Employers can fire employees for no reason, for cause, for anything that is not prohibited discrimination under the law. We live in a country of at-will employment laws. Here's a more conservative view of the Bible's statements on homosexuality still only seven references and nothing even remotely echoing Robertson's alleged Bible quoting tirade. I have a Bible quote for Robertson, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matthew 7:1 (KJV)
Robertson did not quote the Bible, he interpreted the Bible according to his understanding and beliefs. Just making up crap and attributing it to the Bible doesn't make it about Christianity. There are only seven references in the Bible that appear to be about homosexuality and Robertson quoted none of them. After all, the man was quoting the Bible and he has a right to do so.Įxcept, Robertson isn't quoting the Bible. Of course, there are those who declare suspending Robertson is another prong in the liberal anti-Christian movement. The big exception is that an employer can't fire someone for discriminatory reasons if it can be shown that the individual belongs to a protected class as defined by law and the rational for the dismissal is directly linked to the person's status as a member of a protected class. The A&E network isn't the government nor an agency of the government, and like any employer, unless there is an employment contract to the contrary, can suspend or fire an employee at will.
The government didn't do anything to Robertson his employer did.Ĭongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. However, it doesn't protect us from all the consequences of making ignorant and bigoted commentary. The first amendment protects us from laws being made that restrict freedom of the press, of religion, and of speech.
The 1st amendment prohibits the government from restricting speech (note, even that prohibition isn't absolute, there are types of speech that can be regulated by the government). Conservatives and some Christian groups are crying foul and insisting that Robertson's first amendment rights have been violated.įreedom of speech and the first amendment have nothing to do with Robertson's suspension. The A&E network has responded to Robertson's declarations by suspending him from his television show on that network, Duck Dynasty.