MICHAEL MEDVED

The Difference Between Outrageous and Controversial

Dec 27, 2013, 12:29 PM | Updated: 12:33 pm

Russian television star Ivan Okhlobystin told a Siberian rally he would like to see all gay people “burned alive in ovens,” offering a useful contrast with the raging American controversy over
Duck Dynasty.

Media executives might reasonably distance themselves from the Russian actor’s cruel remarks, but
Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson never said anything comparable. His controversial
GQ interview merely suggested that most men instinctively prefer female body parts and paraphrased a New Testament passage including homosexuals in a long list of sinners.

A&E network may disagree with their top reality show star, but his opinions hardly count as so outrageous and disreputable that he must be taken off the air. No, the First Amendment doesn’t protect us from consequences of our own remarks, but the mischaracterization of Robertson’s comments as “vile” or “hate-filled” counts as media malpractice.

Michael Medved on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to michael medvedTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 12pm for The Michael Medved Show.

Michael Medved

Gaza attacks...

Michael Medved

Medved: The sad, ‘crazy’ tale of a Gaza water park, and Hamas’ war against fun

After barely three months of operation in 2010, the dream of a fanciful facility to attract tourists and delight locals lay in ruins.

6 months ago

2024 presidential debate...

Michael Medved

Medved: Will 2024 be the year of crucial political debates on TV?

It’s not difficult to imagine either Biden or Trump uttering some inaccurate or incoherent combinations of words that could undercut any momentum.

6 months ago

medved populism...

Michael Medved

Medved: GOP heading to irrelevance as party fails to embrace demographic changes

The spreading speculation about a new civil war isn't based on regionalism this time, but on distinctions in education and identity.

7 months ago

biden...

Michael Medved

Medved: How Biden learned money misdeeds can hurt most of all

The doomed example of "Tricky Dick" demonstrates the way that financial wrongdoing and personal enrichment can upset the public more than sex scandals.

7 months ago

Trump...

Michael Medved

Picking the right running mate could powerfully boost Trump’s prospects

It’s impossible to forecast who Donald Trump will pick as his running mate for the upcoming election of 2024, but it’s safe to say who he won’t select.

8 months ago

trump campaign...

Michael Medved

Medved: Can a new Trump victimhood campaign win back the White House?

Facing more than a half-dozen hostile legal proceedings before next year’s presidential election, can Donald Trump mount an effective campaign?

8 months ago

The Difference Between Outrageous and Controversial