GOP Congressional Candidate: Phil Robertson Just Like Rosa Parks

Facepalm

A Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois says that Duck Dynasty‘s Phil Robertson is another Rosa Parks:

AURORA, Ill., Dec. 22 (UPI) – A Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois compared “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson to civil rights leader Rosa Parks in a posting on his website.

Ian Bayne, one of four Republicans seeking the nomination to run against Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., said Robertson is standing up for the rights of Christians. The A&E network suspended Robertson from the reality TV show after he made controversial remarks about homosexuals in an interview with GQ magazine.

“In December 1955, Rosa Parks took a stand against an unjust societal persecution of black people, and in December 2013, Robertson took a stand against persecution of Christians,” Bayne said.

To which I must ask……… what persecution? In what sense are Christians in the United States suffering from persecution, especially considering that they live in a nation that guarantees religious liberty to a greater extent that pretty much any other nation on the planet, and that they are adherents of a faith that makes up at least three quarters of the population of the entire nation? If you want to point to a place where Christians are being persecuted, then look to the Coptic Christians in Egypt, as well as anyone who refuses to be part of the officially sanctioned church in China to pick just two examples.

The fact that Robertson is being criticized by others for expressing his opinion homosexuality in general and homosexuals as people doe not constitute persecution. It is, instead, part of the free and open exchange of ideas. As I’ve said many times in the past, there is no such thing as a right not to be criticized for something you say in public. To add to that, being criticized for expressing those opinions is not “religious persecution” just because you claim to base those opinions on your interpretation of religious writings.

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Mike says:

    Please tell me that this guy won’t get elected. Please tell me that Americans in Illinois are not that stupid.

  2. Mr. Replica says:

    In what sense are Christians in the United States suffering from persecution, especially considering that they live in a nation that guarantees religious liberty to a greater extent that pretty much any other nation on the planet, and that they are adherents of a faith that makes up at least three quarters of the population of the entire nation?

    Well, if you pay attention to the amount of Christmas/Christmas themed movies being played on television at the moment…the fact that people only have maybe a handful of channels to choose from(Hallmark, Lifetime, Ion, etc.) to meet their 24/7 Holiday Christmas programming needs. And not ALL 800+ channels currently available.
    I’d say Christians are right. They are being persecuted.

  3. HarvardLaw92 says:

    @Mike:

    The Illinois 11th leans D+7, so no, he probably won’t get elected even if he somehow manages to get the nomination.

  4. Well, as you all know, Rosa Parks was already a multi-millionaire when she refused to give up her seat. If only she had taken her limo that night instead, think how different things would have been.

  5. al-Ameda says:

    “In December 1955, Rosa Parks took a stand against an unjust societal persecution of black people, and in December 2013, Robertson took a stand against persecution of Christians,” Bayne said.

    Actually, this is just another example of a private corporation persecuting an employee and/or contractor for saying something that may have reflected poorly on the company. Frankly, a lot of what’s quoted from the Bible is inappropriate or appalling, but that’s another discussion.

    A company is image and bottom line conscious, so this comes as no surprise to most Americans – except for guys like Bayne and Robertson. Mr. Robertson, like millions of Americans, found out what it’s like to work in/for much of corporate America these days. Welcome to reality.

  6. gVOR08 says:

    Once again: Where do Republicans find these people? And why?

  7. ernieyeball says:

    @Mike: Please tell me that Americans in Illinois are not that stupid.

    I wish I could but since these fine folks are my neighbors and we all have to get along all I can do is submit this and let you decide!

    Meet Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) …we do not have to worry about climate change because God promised in the Bible not to destroy the world again after Noah’s flood.
    http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/u-s-congressman-god-promises-that-global-warming-wont-happen/

  8. Gustopher says:

    Didn’t the duck dude say that back people were happier under Jim Crow laws, in addition to his remarks about gays?

    I’m pretty sure Rosa Parks was not happy that day on the bus.

  9. Tillman says:

    So, this is what it looks like when a majority throws a tantrum at being fettered socially.

  10. jd says:

    @Steven L. Taylor: “Rosa Parks was already a multi-millionaire when she refused to give up her seat.”

    I don’t get it. Did someone actually claim that?

  11. @jd: I am pointing out the absurdity of the comparison under discussion.

  12. KM says:

    The stupidity – it burns us, Precious…..

    Well, at least it makes it harder for rational people to take this kind of malarkey seriously. This kind of fit reminds of this A Softer World comic. It explains so much about the current ducky outrage…..