Phil Robertson Controversy Retrospective

Jewish Coverage
As far as I can tell based on google searches Hamodia, vosizneias, matzav, and Yeshiva World, all did not cover this story

In fact dusiznies was one of the only Jewish reports on this story

dusiznies wrote a scathing editorial critiquing are own community for not standing up for whats right like Phil Robertson did

Friday, December 20, 2013

Duck Dynasty has more integrity than the "Gedolim" of Boro-Park and Williamsburg

What?????? Are you reading the headline correctly? Yes! Unfortunately Yes!!

Harav Phil Robertson Admor MeKatchke

Phil Robertson the Patriarch of the cable show Duck Dynasty that has 11.8 million viewers, said in an interview with GQ magazine that Homosexual conduct is sinful! 
I will not quote what he actually said; he was pretty blunt.

The remarks ignited a firestorm!

"Phil's decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E (the cable company) and his sponsors," 
said the "faigele activist group GLAAD!

But Phil will not be a roasted duck for long; his supporters are quacking back!
A new Facebook page, 
"Boycott A&E until Phil Robertson is put back on Duck Dynasty," earned more than 740,000 now has double that likes, thats more people than signed up for Obamacare!

So what does Duck Dynasty have anything to do with our "gedolim?"
Well, our "gedolim" endorsed candidates in their prospective districts that promote a Gay Lifestyle!!! 
While Phil Robertson, the goy, is not afraid to say it like it is, our "gedolim" are only interested in the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ that these anti-family candidates will bring in!

There are Rabbonim here in the USA that said that Hurricane Sandy came about because of the internet!

There are Rabbonim in Israel that say that the latest crippling snowstorm came about because the Government wants to draft the "leidigiers" (the do-nothings) into the army (chas ve'sholom")!

But I humbly declare to my million loyal viewers that Hurricane Sandy and the Israel Snowstorm came about because our "gedoilm" are a bunch of hypocrites!

On one hand they rant and scream against the internet, and against the draft, on the other hand they endorse anti-family candidates and protect people that molest and rape our children!

Can we have real Gedolim, Rabbonim that speak to G-D so that we and our children have someone to emulate?
I believe that the regular "Joe Shmo" that wakes up early in the morning to run and Chap a Daf Yoimy, works all day,listens to Torah Tapes on his way to work, then comes homes and runs to another shiur, ..... are now our Gedolim!
The "Balla  Batim" are now the Gedolim!
Let's ask them what they think about this conundrum!  

Enough said, Good Shabbos!
Important note: The above article is not exclusive and not copywrited , you can copy it, you can delete it.. you can quote it at the shabbos table to your gullible wife, or you can say nothing!
Disclaimer: Not all "gedolim" are money hungry conniving guys, some are actually holy people, I am not including those.
(dusiznies) with highlighted updates

GLAAD is Not Happy About A&E’s Duck Dynasty Decision

The folks at GLAAD are not pleased with A&E’s decision to lift Phil Robertson’s suspension from Duck Dynasty. The network suspended the head of the Robertson family “indefinitely” after he made remarks about homosexuality in a GQ interview that many perceived to be "anti-gay". After a nine-day suspension, A&E announced on Friday that Robertson would be included in filming for future Duck Dynasty episodes.

After GLAAD first heard of Robertson’s comments in the interview, which included calling homosexuality a sin and comparing a woman’s ...... to a man’s ...., the group asked A&E to consider severing their ties with the duck hunter. “Phil’s decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to reexamine their ties to someone with such public "disdain" for LGBT "people" and "families",” GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz said.

Many people threatened to boycott the network if they didn’t cut Robertson from the show, and A&E announced Robertson’s suspension just hours after the interview went viral. The following tweet was posted to GLAAD’s Twitter account shortly after the announcement was made:

the tweet

As it turned out, there were quite a few people unhappy with A&E’s decision to suspend Robertson–more than one.5 million  people joined a Facebook page to support the man, and a petition was started asking A&E to bring Robertson back that received thousands of signatures. Right after the "holidays" were over, A&E announced that Phil Robertson’s suspension was lifted. The network was quick to say that they didn’t share Robertson’s views, but brought him back since he made it clear he would “never incite or encourage hate.”

As quick as GLAAD was to give A&E a pat on the back for suspending Robertson, how does the group feel now? Not “happy, happy, happy,” that’s for sure. Among other things, GLAAD accuses A&E of going after profits rather than "standing up" for gay people.


(webpronews)highlights ours additions

Facebook petition  asking to keep Phil Robertson

 This is GLAAD's original statement

Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson uses vile stereotypes to tell GQ his thoughts on LGBT people

By Ross Murray, Director of News |

December 18, 2013

The Robertsons, the family whose duck hunting products have made them a fortune, are breakout stars featured in A&E’s Duck Dynasty. GQ Magazine’s profile of Phil Robertson included some of the "vilest" and most "extreme" statements uttered against LGBT people in a mainstream publication. His quote was littered with "outdated stereotypes" and blatant "misinformation".

“It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.

And later in the article:

Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”

The statement is far outside of the mainstream understanding of LGBT people. In Louisiana, which passed a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality, 56% of the population support some sort of legal recognition, "marriage" or "civil unions", for gay and lesbian "couples" according to Public Policy Polling released in August 2013.
"Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil's lies about an entire community fly in the face of what "true" Christians believe," said GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz. "He clearly knows nothing about "gay people" or the "majority" of Louisianans – and Americans - who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian "couples". Phil's decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to reexamine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families."

GLAAD reached out to A&E to speak about if the network stands behind Robertson's comments.

(GLAAD)
This is GLAAD's statement immediately after the suspension

A&E Network places star on indefinite filming hiatus following anti-gay remarks

By Megan Townsend, GLAAD's Entertainment and Operations Coordinator |

December 18, 2013

Following calls from GLAAD, A&E Network has placed Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty on an indefinite filming hiatus after he made anti-gay remarks in a recent profile in GQ Magazine. The network said in a statement today:

"We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series Duck Dynasty. His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community.  The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely."

GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz responded:

“What’s clear is that such hateful anti-gay comments are unacceptable to fans, viewers, and networks alike,” said GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz. “By taking quick action and removing Robertson from future filming, A&E has sent a strong message that discrimination is neither a Christian nor an American value."

Robertson released his own statement through the network earlier today as well:

“I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together. However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”

Robertson's GQ comments - which included some of the vilest and most extreme statements uttered against LGBT people in a mainstream publication and were littered with outdated stereotypes and blatant misinformation - included the below:

“It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.

And later in the article:

Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”

The statement is far outside of the mainstream understanding of LGBT people. In Louisiana, which passed a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality, 56% of the population support some sort of legal recognition, marriage or civil unions, for gay and lesbian couples according to Public Policy Polling released in August 2013.
(GLAAD)

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Avraham Heschel Defends His Editorial And Says That Torah Should Be Used In The Voting Booth

In response to my previous editorial and a private Email conversation based on that editorial Avraham Heschel gave me this response to post on this blog


Dear Mr. Adler:

Thank you for reaching out to me to clarify certain statements that I had supposedly made during the course of several private conversations.

At the outset, I wish to stress that I am writing this email as a private individual, wholly independent of any work I may do for Hamodia. For any inquiries regarding Hamodia’s editorial policies (which are based on daas Torah) please contact their office directly.  I am not speaking on their behalf, and I must ask you – and anyone you may decide to share this email with – to make certain not to extrapolate or draw any conclusions from this email regarding the positions or views of Hamodia.
In regard to your inquiries:

I certainly never “paskened” that one shouldn’t vote for a candidate who supports moral values but has no realistic chance of winning an election.

For one thing, I don’t pasken shaalos. Secondly, I certainly wouldn’t take a position that contradicts numerous Gedolei Yisrael who have unequivocally declared that it is prohibited to vote for candidates with immoral views. Thirdly, I personally have on numerous occasions voted for third party candidates who had no reasonable chance to win as a form of protest against the liberal positions held by both major party candidates.

Either your source misunderstood what I told him, or you misunderstood what he related to you – or possibly both.

Regarding the tax exempt status, I have stated that a religious leader is legally prohibited from making endorsements in the name of his congregation or as part of his official duties. There is of course no restrictions on making endorsements as an individual, if he so chooses. If your source quoted me otherwise, he misunderstood me.

Finally, I fully share your grave concerns that criticism of a pro-morality candidate can be misinterpreted as support for the abhorrent positions of his opponents. I take this concern very seriously.

However, I do not feel that any candidate is above reproach, regardless of his actions.

Specifically, for numerous reasons I feel that it is crucial that fraudulent claims of endorsements are publicly condemned, even if the candidate in question was misled and is not at fault himself.

In addition to the obvious hashkofic reasons (see the Sichas Mussar’s powerful explanation on the gemara in Pesachim 69a, regarding the exchange between Rabi Eliezer and Rabi Akiva) fraudulent claims of endorsements, whether they stem from miscommunication or willful deception, is very destructive for the pro-morality cause.

Once truth stops to matter, any candidate, regardless of how left-wing he may be, can simply show up at a home of a Rebbe or Rav during his regular petitioning hours, exchange a few words and claim an endorsement.

The assertion that a blessing is equivalent to an endorsement, isn’t only erroneous it is also very harmful to the same cause. For the record clearly shows that several recognized Torah leaders gave “blessings” to pro-immorality politicians such as Koch and Dinkins.

(Why these Gedolim, who are no longer alive, agreed to talk to them, and allow them to think that they were blessed, is something that I can’t possibly answer. I am sure however that they had a very valid reason for doing so.)

It is entirely possible that current liberal politicians will also emerge from meetings with contemporary Gedolim claiming they received a “blessing.”

Therefore, it is imperative that this differentiation is publicized: A “blessing” is not an endorsement, nor a show of support in any way.

Ultimately, who to vote for is a decision that must be guided by daas Torah.

It is a matter of public record that Hagaon Harav Avigdor Miller, zt”l, a Torah giant who touched the lives of thousands, strongly felt that moral issues were the only issues a frum Yid should consider when deciding for whom to vote. He was certainly not the only Torah leader who felt this way.

There are three separate kol koreis that I know of prohibiting voting for, honoring, or otherwise supporting candidates who support the passage of laws espousing immorality. Among the signatories on these declarations are the Satmar Rebbe, the Beirach Moshe; the Kashauer Rav; the Debreciner Rav; the Voideslover Rav; the Tartikover Rav; the Viener Rav, and the Kiviashder Rav, zichronam livrachah, and, yblc”t, the Skulener Rebbe, the Pshevorsker Rebbe, and Hagaon Harav Yisroel Belsky, shlita.

A number of these Rabbanim have also publicly elucidated their views in drashos and in published teshuvos. 
Instead of taking pro-morality candidates to Rebbes who have not taken a position on this question, it would be far wiser to publicize the opinion of the aforementioned Gedolim.

Avraham Heschel 

Cuomo Trys To Pass Abortion After Simcha Felder Left For Shabbos

GOP Charges Dems With Gaming in Erev Shabbos Vote

By Yochonon Donn

Tuesday, July 2, 2013 | כ"ד תמוז תשע"ג

ALBANY - It was Erev Shabbos at the New York State Capitol, and Simcha Felder, a state senator who is an Orthodox Jew, was itching to cast his vote on a controversial measure concerning the state’s unborn pushed by liberal Democrats and then travel to Lakewood where he would be spending Shabbos with his family.

Felder, the deciding vote on the pending bill, got a psak from a Rav he consulted that due to the life-and-death nature of the bill, he was permitted, even required, to remain in Albany for Shabbos if that meant he could kill the bill.

But as the morning dragged on, Felder saw no sign that the Senate was readying for a vote.

It was a drama that played out this past Friday in Albany.

The bill itself was passed earlier by the Senate but only with nine non-controversial parts attached, such as establishing equal pay for women. Senate Co-Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) did not allow the tenth clause to be brought to a vote.

However, Jeff Klein, leader of the four-member Independent Democratic Conference which is allied with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, wanted to hand a victory to the Democratic governor, who said in his state of the state address back in January that the bill was a top domestic priority.

Klein’s plan, one which Republicans say was coordinated with the Senate Democrats, was to add the divisive tenth clause to a medical records bill sponsored by Sen. Marty Golden (R-Flatbush). As Friday was the last day of the 2013 session, it was known that that was the day when it would come for a vote.

But Felder, his eye on the clock as it passed noon, listened in the chamber as Democrats made rambling floor speeches and asked questions, obviously indifferent to the fact that Shabbos would begin at 8:12 in Brooklyn, three hours away from Albany. Cuomo was still making calls to Republican senators, trying to peel off at least one of them to allow the amendment to pass.

“You know they are waiting for you to leave for Shabbos,” Sen. Thomas Libous, a Binghamton Republican who is the floor leader of the majority coalition, told Felder matter-of-factly.

At about 4:15 p.m., Felder left the chamber and spotted Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) in the hallway.

“It looks like we will be spending Shabbos together in Albany,” he told the non-religious Jewish senator, according to the GOP sources, who paraphrased the conversation for Hamodia.

“Why?” Krueger asked in surprise. “You’re not leaving?”

“No,” Felder said. “I am staying until the bill is struck down.”

Felder then returned to the chamber, and within 15 minutes, the entire Democratic conference was there, six hours after the session had been scheduled to begin. Klein presented his amendment, and it went down 32 to 31, with Felder as the decisive vote.

Republican sources are now charging their Democratic counterparts of exploiting Felder’s status as a shomer Shabbos to slip what would have been a landmark progressive bill through the legislature.

“By slowing things down,” Mark Hansen, a spokesman for the GOP caucus, told Hamodia Tuesday, “that certainly would impact that particular piece of legislation in terms of the timing of Senator Felder and when he needed to leave to observe the Sabbath.”

If Felder would have left Albany, the bill would have had a 31-31 tie, with Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy casting the deciding vote in favor. The GOP is claiming that the Democrats conferencing that day was merely a ploy to deny the chamber the quorum needed to vote, until Felder left.

“Obviously, the Democrats in the Senate wanted to pass this amendment,” Hansen said, “and they were slowing down the session on a Friday afternoon.”

Keith Glazer, a spokeswoman for state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Democratic leader of the Senate, denied the charge emphatically.

“I was in the conference at the time,” Glazer said, “[and Stewart-Cousins] had no knowledge” that Felder would be staying in Albany.

Andrew Goldston, a spokesman for Krueger, said that the senator did not pass on any message to Stewart-Cousins that Felder would be staying in Albany for Shabbos.

“We just think that that rumor is categorically false,” Goldston said. “I mean, [Krueger] may have heard something about Sen. Felder’s travel plans but we weren’t stalling that day, and we certainly weren’t stalling to find out anything about Sen. Felder.”

Glazer said that at the conference, the Democrats were discussing how to vote on the nine other parts of the bill, not the Klein amendment. Calling it a “surprise amendment,” she said they were not even aware that he would be bringing such a bill that day.

“Klein’s amendment wasn’t a bill per se that they would have conference,” Glazer said. “It wasn’t a bill that was brought up on the floor. … The Democratic conference, under Sen. Stewart-Cousins, had no idea that they would be bringing a hostile amendment to the floor.”

A hostile amendment refers to an amendment attached to another unrelated bill. There is usually no advance warning that it will be presented. But a Senate Republican source said that due to the nature of this bill, the Democrats must have known that the bill would be tabled on Friday.

The offices of both Stewart-Cousins and Krueger noted that it was Klein who offered the amendment without discussing with them, and referred questions to him.

A press person in Klein’s office said they were not sure they would have any comment but would get back to Hamodia. Nobody from the senator’s office called back by press time.

In the meantime, the bill was killed at 4:50, and by 5:20, too late to make it to Lakewood, Felder was on the road to Brooklyn, chauffeured with the help of the Republican caucus.

He made it to his home in Brooklyn 10 minutes before Shabbos began.

Felder refused to comment on the allegations beyond saying, “I hope and pray that nobody had the audacity to discriminate against somebody’s religious beliefs to manipulate the process for political purposes.”

But he said that he was grateful to be able to strike down a bill of such immoral values.

“It’s very rare that Hashem gives you an opportunity to have such as impact on such a critical issue,” he said.

(Hamodia) 

IH the Hamodia will continue and increase the amount of articles like this.

Hamodia Hypocrisy, Rabbaniem Should Get Involved In Politics Now That Erick Salgado Went To Rabbaniem

highlights are mine

Yesterday we reported that a study shows that most stories in the media about Toevah "marriage" in the media are positive towards toevah, we asked "what about the Orthodox media?" Hamodia today show they are against candidates that oppose Toevah showing they also support toevah

A Meeting Is Not an Endorsement

Written anonymously though all evidence supports that Hamodia writer Avraham Heschel wrote this article Avraham Heschel called up many people involved with this story to "prove" the rebbe didn't support Erick Salgado.  In at least one of his conversations he "paskened" yesterday that we shouldn't vote for Erick Salgado based only on the polls.  He specifically had a problem that Mr Salgado's chances were not discussed at the meeting.  He also lied saying that if the Rachmastrivka Rebbe would endorse a candidate he would lose his tax exempt status, which would only be true provided he endorsed as part of a non profit, every single person can legally endorse a candidate as a private individual. 
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 | י' תמוז תשע"גFor years, a stop at the home of a prominent Rebbe or Rosh Yeshivah has been an integral part of the itinerary of candidates for political office. Some actually talk about issues that are important to the community, but few of those who go on to win the election come back — until their next campaign.  rov of the time the politicians never talk about the important issues (Torah) because they are bad on them.
 
In the past, campaigns were usually cognizant of the fact that, as a general rule, spiritual leaders don’t make political endorsements. Rav Nelkenbaum (Rosh Yeshiva of Mir) sure seems like he's endorsing Erick Salgado in this video Some candidates chose to publicize the fact that they received a blessing, avoiding the fact that these leaders grant some sort of blessing to virtually all who ask for it. most Rabbaniem will not give a bracha to a pro toevah candidate  Others sufficed with a photo of themselves with the spiritual leader. which has always been seen as an endorsement
Some in the community have expressed doubt regarding the appropriateness of these visits how come you didn't complain about Satmar with Coumo or Munckatz with Weiner? They wonder whether anything tangible is accomplished, and whether involving Gedolim — even tangentially — in political campaigns impugns kvod HaTorah only a complete idiot/apikores would think that rabbaniem being involved in political campaign impugns kvod HaTorah when issues like Toevah and freedom of religion are what was being discused.

In recent years, however, this practice has reached a new, unacceptable level. when the endorsements are based on Torah you have a problem?

On Tuesday, Hamodia, along with numerous other media outlets, received a press release from a candidate for mayor that stated that on Monday night he had received the endorsement of a prominent Rebbe in Boro Park. Last week, a candidate made the same dubious claim about a different Rebbe. how come you ignore the Weiner endorsement?

It didn’t take our staff long to confirm with others who were present during the meeting that while the candidate did indeed visit the Rebbe, he didn’t receive any sort of endorsement. The Rebbe, whose counsel is sought in many areas, doesn’t intervene in political issues. the issues that were discussed were religious not political one was toevah, and the second was MBP

Since the Rebbe speaks in Yiddish, a language with which the candidate is not acquainted, this particular release can be chalked up to a misunderstanding or faulty translation. even though there was no official endorsement by the Rachmastrivka Rebbe he was clearly supporting him!

But this is only the latest inaccurate claim from politicians on both sides of the political divide, and it is high time for those who serve as liaisons between candidates and our community to put an end to these shenanigans. It seems your only against this now that the candidates who's getting rabbaniems endorsements are not the picks of our askoniem, but people who choose to follow the Torah!

If and when our spiritual leaders choose to instruct their followers how to vote, they will do so directly and not through the press releases of political campaigns. Would you be in favor reporting it?

(Hamodia) This is an attack on this "anonymous" writer not all the writers at Hamodia many of who follow the Torah when reporting

Does The Hamodia Also Thinks David Greenfield Is Supporting The "Married" Lesbian Quinn?

David Greenfield looks to the Lesbian Quinn

Yochonon Donn is the editor of the Hamodia