An 0bama supporter (Temp) just asked me to put in a good word for them @ the office. What to do?

The Office | 8/18/10 | marty

[martin_fierro]

An Obama supporter who has a temp gig at my office has asked me to put in a good word for them (gender-neutral reference) toward a more permanent position.

What to do, what to do?

[Fred Hayek]

She knows my views are conservative/libertarian.

[Martin Tell]

This reminds me a a story from a few months ago. Guy wrote to the New York Times ethics column (yeah, I know that's an oxymoron) asking whether he was right to give an applicant to his law firm a bad rating since applicant listed the Federalist Society on his resume and hiring partner was a flaming lib.

Interestingly, the NYT said it would be wrong to slam the Federalist applicant, but most law student commenters thought the dude should be canned - right wingers have no rights.

As a lawyer I find that attitude disturbing. I certainly would not want those lib kids representing me or any (for profit) business clients.

Oh, and postscript: lib lawyer wrote back that he torpedoed conservative applicant. Proud to have done it.

[radpolis]

I believe at the work place one should be judged by merits alone.

That is the conservative way.

On the other hand, if this person thinks he or she is entitled to a job based on politics—class, race, gender, typical liberal self-entitlement mentality—then I wouldn’t recommend.

One thing I find disturbing about your post is this temp has made it known to people in the workplace their liberal politics.

What was the point of that? Was it at the workplace or in an off hours socializing forum?

[Wyatt's Torch]

They are obviously a moron. Does your company hire morons?

[FrankR]

One of the main problems with the typical obama supporter is they tend to want someone else to push them through life.

Having said that, if this person had done a satisfactory job, had good attendance, good attitude, is a self-starter, and is honest...AND...I was ASKED by someone, I would give an honest assessment.

Otherwise, like the rest of us have to do, they are on their own.

[wbill]

It’s interesting that she, as a temp, informed you that he/she is an Obama supporter.

I had the "pleasure" of dealing with a rabid democrat who we employed for a few weeks as a contractor. Got an earful the first week. Constant littany of BS.

There was an older, wiser contractor who worked onsite with this dim for the first week. A few times he noticeably winced when this fool opened his mouth. I think that he passed the word along...the 2nd and 3rd weeks were very.......quiet.

Personally, I didn't care, I just wanted to get the job done. Loudmouthed kid was just young. I think he assumed that since he knew everything that there was to know about the equipment we were installing (and he did, he was a whiz at it) ... that it translated into knowing everything about everything. Ditto my interest in having him teach me how the stuff worked.... felt the need to teach me about how politics worked, too.

I know the owner of the company pretty well. Will likely mention it the next time we go out for beers. "Don't can this kid, he's too good for that, but you might want to pull in the reins a little on him...."

[stuartcr]

But in this case, he already has a job.

[manic4organic]

I cut no slack whatsoever anymore to these idiots. Let them eat change.

[stuartcr]

Isn’t that a completely different scenario?

[Frantzie]

Thanks. Some people here are not crazy about me. I think people have no idea how bad things can and will probably get. Unless the GOP has a tidal wave win and impeaches him then it is over. All the TV networks will support him 100%. The public needs to cancel TV because they will destroy america.

The problem is idiots love their ball games even though the NFL, NBA, NCAA, MBL fawn and drool over Obama sprinkled in with the endless “dumb white guy” commercials. The propaganda on TV is never ending and pervasive.

It may be too late already.

[bigfootbob]

exactly

[libertyhoundusnr]

Beware the left wing kooks as they will spend most of the work day plotting a suit, complaint or whatever to better their position. We had a Clinton supporter at our office who filed 4 sexual harassment complaints in 2 years. The person weighed around 350 lbs. Should have had hull numbers tattoed on her.

Best to avoid. Refer them to a competitor.

[Silentgypsy]

“Uh, the judgment thing. And the taste thing. Do you want your reputation at the office to be affected by someone with this kind of judgment and/or taste? I wouldn’t turn them down, if I were you, I would just smile, nod, keep quiet and fail to take action.”
Because of past experiences at work, I’m with LL. I supported and mentored two people who subsequently back-stabbed me. Work can be vexatious enough without having noxious and subversive influences around.

[kromike]

Be straightforward & honest. If I were you, I'd simply say (as the good-word reference):

"__________ supports Obama."

Let the hiring mgr interpret that.

[trisham]

It sounds like the temp makes bad decisions.

[codercpc]

If they are a good worker, I would put in a good word for them, if not, I wouldn't.

Not everything in life revolves around politics. Turn it around, if you were the Temp hoping for a full time position, would you want your conservatism to get in the way?

[trisham]

Great post.

[wbill]

Beware the left wing kooks as they will spend most of the work day plotting a suit, complaint or whatever to better their position

Good point, the only problem employees that I've worked with have all been flaming libs.

My problem with the guy that I talked about in post #66 was that he saw everything through the prism of politics. As in: "Hmm, the drive failed. You know what else is a failure? George Bush's foreign policy".

And if that wasn't enough of a clunker, the next statement was always "....And let me tell you WHY!".

Kid was competent, but young and completely convinced of his own self-righteousness.

[mrsmith]

A two-fer:
Don’t, and tell them you did.

(Yes, I’ve been exposed to too much politics!)

[Responsibility2nd]

 
Actually Martin, you should mangle and mutilate their private parts.

 

Then come back and post one of your famous Mangled Genitals pings.

 

♀☹☠☣☢★☆MANGLED GENITALS PING☆★☢☣☠☹♂