Atlanta fire chief fired over pro-family book

Baptist Press ^ | January 07, 2015 | Staff

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Steve_Seattle:" The mayor is obviously too dumb to recognize the blatant contradiction in his statement,
i.e., the implication that traditional Christians are NOT welcome or valued,
and can be fired for their religious beliefs regardless of their job performance." (empahisis mine)

This incident smacks of religious prosecution against Christians.
Obviously the mayor doesn't understand the fraternity of firemen who count on their brother firemen to guard their back.
In Christianity , you can love the sinner , and despise the act of sin.
The mayor is guilty of religious discrminiation action on the remote possibility of a lawsuit , but has instead, exhibited by his own actions, his religious bias.
I judege a man by his actions ,.. not by their words , nor by their 'thoughts'.
Let the fraternity of firemen determine whether the chiefs words show a lack of faith/ confidence of those whose lives depend on him -,.. not some elected politician !

[apocalypto]

A. Sharpton and Eric Holder are bound to raise hell. NOT!

[Pluto is NOT a Planet]

Just wrong. I hope he sues ‘em.

[madprof98]

I don’t think the courts care about religious discrimination anymore, unless perhaps the victim is Wiccan or Islamic.

[Cen-Tejas]

open and shut UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

.......this is why I say that it is time to re-visit politicians and judges from having COMPLETE and TOTAL exemption from liability for their actions. The world has changed and it is time their asses are on the line also.

[Mariner]

"An obvious violation of the Chief’s First Amendment Right to free speech "

At that level and executive can fire a person for any reason they so choose...and they don't even have to tell anyone why, or what the real reason was.

[Steve_Seattle]

"In Christianity , you can love the sinner , and despise the act of sin."

I worked with a number of self-proclaimed homosexuals over the years, and never once let my opposition to homosexuality interfere with my on-the-job behavior towards them. In this case, the mayor has simply assumed - without warrant - that people who oppose homosexuality can't behave in the same manner that I did. He has fired the fire chief for hypothetical future instances of discrimination, and you simply can't do that.

[Graybeard58]

At that level and executive can fire a person for any reason they so choose...and they don’t even have to tell anyone why, or what the real reason was

.............................................................
Since the mayor did indeed tell him, he may have a problem. He could have just said, “Chief, you’re fired” and let it go at that.

[Graybeard58]

If I were an employer and I’m not, I wouldn’t hire a known homo to begin with. I just don’t like them. Why would I hire somebody I didn’t like.

[BradyLS]

The story states the mayor said that Cohcran didn't get the needed permission:

Mayor Kasim Reed said Jan. 6 that Cochran's failure to obtain proper city permission to publish the book and his refusal to remain silent about the matter during an investigation contributed to the firing.

Cochran said he got verbal permission from the city ethics officer and sent a "copy" to the mayor:

Cochran said he received verbal clearance to publish the book from the city's ethics officer and provided the mayor with a copy that Reed acknowledged receiving, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Though Cochran spoke to religious groups about his suspension, he said he obeyed the city's specific instruction not to speak with the media, according to the AJC.

I don't know how you send a "copy" of verbally-granted permission. I believe him. I think he's being rail-roaded for his beliefs. But whether he sought it and got it—or not—he still had to ask and, of course, he really shouldn't have to in a free country.

Anyway, I forgot my /sarc tag for my original drive-by snark!

[Steve_Seattle]

The article is actually kind of incoherent about whether the chief received permission to write the book - as you point out, how do you send a “copy” of a verbal authorization? But above and beyond that, did the city have any authority to demand “permission” to write the book in the first place? Does an employer have a right to exercise prior restraint over an employee’s constitutional rights?

[Steve_Seattle]

"At that level and executive can fire a person for any reason they so choose...and they don’t even have to tell anyone why, or what the real reason was."

I think state and federal civil rights law trumps local civil service regulations, and that religious discrimination is prohibited under both.

[Graybeard58]

“At that level and executive can fire a person for any reason they so choose...and they don’t even have to tell anyone why, or what the real reason was.”

The above is not mine, I was quoting another poster.

[Impy]

Worked for a city with a mayor named “Kasim”, he should have known he was risking his job.

[GOPsterinMA]

Kasim. Paris massacre. Gee, what’s the commonality?

Muslims HATE free speech.

[NFHale]

“..he should have known he was risking his job....”

True enough... but sometimes you just have to throw that big old AMERICAN Middle Finger up and tell them to go f*** themselves with their political correctness BS.

You can always find another job; recovering your dignity after groveling to the dirtbags is another story entirely.

Never back down.

[Impy]

Kasim Reed is not actually a Muslim.

Even Christian Blacks are using Middle Eastern names now.

[GOPsterinMA]

I see. Well, screw him anyway. Fascist swine.