Upon accepting the second-ever Andrew Breitbart Defender of the First Amendment Award at CPAC Friday, A&E reality star Phil Robertson showcased precisely why he was chosen as its recipient.
“All of us ought to be able to speak freely where we don’t have to be awarded for it, right?” he began.
He then offered some advice to the numerous public figures with presidential aspirations present for the annual event.
“For you potential candidates,” he said, “to keep you out of trouble and to keep the scandals down, let me give you a little word of advice. Carry two things with you wherever you go in case one of you gets to be the president of the United States. Make sure you carry your Bible and your woman.”
Robertson made no mistake that he is not included in the field of potential candidates.
“The good news,” he said, “is I’m not running for anything; and as far as I know, I’m not running from anything.”
Further separating himself from the political class, he shared three words he said the audience is unlikely to hear from any politician.
“I love you,” he said. “You ever heard that? Think about it. When is the last time you heard a politician say ‘I love you.’ If they keep this up and they don’t start telling us at least every once in a while that they love us, I’m going to begin to conclude maybe they don’t.”
Building on the simple phrase, Robertson asserted that his love for others is not contingent on how they feel about him.
He then shifted toward a discussion of his own personal values.
“I’m a God-loving, Bible-believing, gun-toting capitalist,” he said to cheers from the audience.