posted by Ryan Denson

In the middle of all this Phil Robertson controversy, I just have one quick question: Where were all these freedom of speech-loving Republicans when Martin Bashir was forced to resign from MSNBC? They certainly have jumped on the Constitutional bandwagon when it suits their political purpose.

So after Phil Robertson was suspended from the hit A&E show ‘Duck Dynasty’ after making obscene, offensive and tasteless comments about blacks and gays, Conservatives, and Sarah Palin interestingly enough, have taken mighty offense to the decision by the private company who employs Robertson to censure him after he was giving them negative publicity.

Many employers have guidelines for employees about behavior that might negatively impact the employer’s public image, especially for highly visible employees who are regularly in the public eye. That is why Martin Bashir had to leave MSNBC for saying someone should defecate in Palin’s mouth, and that is why Alec Baldwin had his upcoming show on MSNBC cancelled after he called a paparazzi “faggot,” among other things.

Conservatives championed for their removal, as so did the liberals. But oh no, because Phil Robertson claims to be a man of God, he gets a free pass to say anything he wants, such as comparing the yearning for ones private parts over another (I forgot which passage explicitly lists which genitalia is better, can someone direct me to it?)

Now, here’s a reminder, Republicans: the 1st Amendment really only applies to the government (Congress shall make no law.. abridging the freedom of speech) not having any right to limit or censure you for exercising your right to free speech, NOT private corporations. I would ask you conservatives to please make up your mind whether you want free enterprise, or government enterprise, because if you want free enterprise, then the fact of the matter is a company has a right to fire anyone who says offensive or tasteless language or comments that will reflect badly on their company. There is no way around it. A television network, or A&E in this case, is funded through their sponsors, and if those sponsors were unhappy (as they should have been) by something that they saw, they stood to potentially lose revenue, and they had the right to take action.

A&E made a business decision. It wasn’t a decision on words, religion, or rights. It was money.

Isn’t this what all these free enterprise conservatives usually fight for? …