Those Duck Dynasty folks up in West Monroe are riding their gravy train for all it’s worth, scoring a $415,000 tax break every time one of their sappy episodes airs, lavishing the kiss of death (disguised as endorsements) on unsuspecting politicians hoping to capitalize off their name, bashing anyone who happens to think or act differently, licensing merchandise, and demanding exorbitant fees for personal appearances.
Take Vance McAllister, the notorious kissing congressman endorsed by the Duck Dynasty’s Robertson family in his initial run against State Sen. Neil Riser. He won that race but was out a year later, disgraced by that grainy video of him swapping chewing gum with a female staffer who happened not to be his wife.
Then there was the entire Robertson family making nice with Bobby Jindal during the latter’s disastrous term as part-time governor and presidential nominee wannabe.
More recently, Willie Robertson made that painful but hilarious video with U.S. Sen. Dave Vitter in which Robertson tried to convince us (a) that the two had been traipsing about in the woods together (Vitter was in a camo top but was also wearing pressed slacks and a dress belt—not really conducive to stalking wildlife but apparently suitable for a cheesy video) and (b) to be sure and vote for Vitter who Willie said had made mistakes “but who hasn’t?”
McAllister first lost his re-election bid for a full term in Congress last year and this year lost in his attempt to unseat State Sen. Mike Walsworth in the Oct. 24 primary election. Meanwhile, Jindal and Vitter last week tanked just days apart, underscoring the value of a Duck Dynasty endorsement.
By my count, that puts the Duck commanders at 0-3, which pretty much tracks Phil Robertson’s career as the Louisiana Tech quarterback back in the late ‘60s. I know. I was sports editor of the Ruston Daily Leader at the time and had the unenviable task of trying to write something positive about that Shreveport Thanksgiving Day game in 1966 when Phil completed more passes to Southern Mississippi defensive backs than to Tech receivers.
But now it’s been learned—if it wasn’t known already—that the Duck boys are mercenary money grubbers on top of everything else.
Recently, I accompanied my grandson to Louisiana Tech to tour the campus where he intends to enroll next year. We were paired with a couple from St. Charles Parish whose daughter also plans on joining the computer engineering program there. Her dad and I struck up a conversation during the tour and the talk soon turned to sports and politics as it generally does with men. An executive in the offshore oil industry, he made it clear he was a fan of neither Jindal nor Vitter.
When I mentioned the common affiliation the two had with the Robertsons, he grunted and related a story about how he was charged with obtaining a celebrity guest for the St. Charles Parish Catfish Festival a couple of years ago.
With the Robertsons riding the crest of their popularity, the choice was a natural one. He called them to obtain the particulars of booking one or more Robertson family members for the event.
“They wanted $100,000 as their fee, plus luxury hotel accommodations and luxury transportation to the Monroe airport and from Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans to the festival,” he said, adding, “We don’t even have a luxury hotel in St. Charles.”
I opined that the fee they were demanding told me one of two things: They are either full of themselves or they just didn’t want to participate.
“I think they were full of themselves,” he replied, “but if they didn’t want to do it, they sure got their way. I fell out with Phil Robertson right then and there.”
Apparently a tax break of up to $415,000 per show even as state colleges took repeated budget cuts just isn’t enough. http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-04/-duck-dynasty-keeps-tax-break-as-jindal-cuts-louisiana-colleges
Louisiana Voice 
Most disturbing is the fact that there are several million people about the country that still watch their buffoonery. Please tell me that they are all institutionalized and certainly don’t vote.
(sigh) I can remember when A&E stood for Arts & Entertainment for that network. Now, it’s really neither.
To be such simple folk, the Ducksters are awfully high maintenance.
Thanks to people who adore them, the duck boys are quacking all the way to the bank. The Big J is doing the same, though his quackery is of a different nature (he’s about as much of an outdoors-man as Vitter). Of course, it’s certainly not beyond the realm of possibility that we will soon see the wealthy bearded ones doing duck calls for donations to America Next providing some payback to The Big J for the state’s largess from which a small portion of their wealth derives…and the beat goes on.
All those college degrees (which might not set too well with some of the fans) among the Robertson clan and their staff paid off. Phil’s M.Ed, Wiliie’s and wife Korie’s business degrees, and sales manager Garrett Taylor’s MBA sure taught them how to turn a profit.
That’s not a problem – this is the U.S.A. where making a killing in business is a right and a religion. What I have a problem with is corporate welfare – the one-percenters who already have more money than, you know, lining their pockets further with taxpayers’ funds.
If anyone is foolish enough to pay zillions to hear these people speak and they use private funds, fine. Thankfully, the St. Charles Parish people had more sense than to spend “a king’s ransom” on people who should make public appearances at no cost to give back to those who have filled their bank accounts. Who do they think they are, a former US president or Oliver North?
Sounds to me a little like jealousy perhaps. You mean to tell me that you wouldn’t except a premium price for your writing? Same thing these guys are doing. It’s simple… If you don’t like it, don’t pay it… If you don’t like them don’t support them, but don’t bash them for being able to obtain personal
Appearance at a higher fee than what you seem appropriate. Personally, it’s none of your business!!
Jealousy? Hardly. I don’t like greed, whether it’s by Wall Street bankers or overpaid thugs and spouse abusers masquerading as pro athletes. We can, however, always refuse to watch pro sports. But we don’t have a choice when the state gives away $415,000 per show in tax breaks. That’s money that is taken away from education, health care, infrastructure, law enforcement, etc. And yes, I would certainly accept generous payment for my writing but if I were the recipient of such state largesse, I think I could cut back on my demands to the taxpayers who help support my lifestyle. You can defend it all you want, but it does not change the fact that the Robertsons owe their wealth in large part to Louisiana taxpayers who underwrite their show. This is pure greed and ingratitude.
The fact that an endorsement by the Duck Dynasty guys is the kiss of death — that’s a good sign. Their trend sounds downward.
Reblogged this on tmabaker.
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Why does America Next sound a lot like America First? communication ? ALL communication is based upon our personal attributes, fear, ignorance, and prejudices, but if we get too big for our britches, we get JIndalites, Vitterites, and duck dynasty??Who headed America First?? and when??/ Happy Holidays ron thompson
When are they gonna indict Bobby Jindal.He has done so much corrupt shit. He belongs in a prison cell.Our new Governor has new plans for duck ? I wanted to keep it clean