Why Duck Dynasty's racism and bigotry matters

I post this because far too many people have responded to me with the idea that the opinions of a reality show are unimportant.  Of course that is true, and I have never suggested otherwise.  Their significance lies in who defends them and how.

Fred Clark does it better than me--noting that people like Franklin Graham believe that racism and homophobia are Christian values: "The problem with American Christianity, according to Franklin Graham, is that it’s not sufficiently homophobic, misogynist and racist."

Or maybe Graham doesn't actually believe that.  Maybe he just identifies with the Duck Dynasty people because they are in his tribe, and their enemies are his enemies.

Either way, that isn't good for our democracy, and it certainly is not good for evangelical Christianity.