Posted on 06/16/2006 10:26:15 PM PDT by Leatherneck_MT
WASHINGTON // Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. fired one of his appointees to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority yesterday after the board member asserted on a local cable talk show that homosexuals lived a life of "sexual deviancy."
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
Im not saying that I agree with the firing because I admit that I would not have fired Mr Smith.
However, in earlichs defense...
This was not the fight that he wanted to be involved in at this time. By firing Mr Smith he squelched the issue. Now the governor can tackle the bigger issues without this thing clouding the waters.
So I think that earlich was probably well served by his advisors to just dump the guy. After all, he served on the board as an appointee and can be removed for any reason. And it's easy to say that in this politically charged atmosphere you do have to watch what you say in public. Remember that maryland is a distinctly BLUE state and earlich is a GOP governor.
Except if you are a democrat and then you can say whatever you want and have your job and assets protected by the media and the 1st amendment. Because everyone knows that the GOP is the only accountable party.
this guy should sue the pockets off the Governor and the state of MD
Try freedom of speech
Sound familiar?
I'm a PROUD homophobe .
The 1st Ammendment allows people to say (almost) anything without government restriction or punishment for that speech, but it does not protect people from other consequences of that speech. If Ehrlich had the right to hire and fire Smith at his discression, and Smith said something Ehrlich disapproved of, there is nothing in the 1st Ammendment preventing him from firing Smith as a result of that speech.
What would you be saying if Smith had said that called fundamentalists "crazy" or "evil"? Would his firing be justified then?
Make that 1st "Amendment"; my spelling is terrible.
Unlike you I will defend the right of any man or woman to say what they like.
I will and have, defended that decision with my blood, sweat and tears.
THAT is what the 1st Amendment is about.
I don't think it's good that Smith was fired either, but I won't go around falsely claiming the First Amendment protects him.
You depend on the SCOTUS to define the Constitution?
Can you not read for yourself?
The SCOTUS has been a travesty. Do you think that a municipality that wants your land has the absolute right to move in and take it over so they can increase their tax base by giving it to a land developer too?
The SCOTUS is wrong on this issue. I don't need some gaggle of maggot lawyers to tell me that.
The man was wrongfully terminated because he said something when he was off duy. He was not acting in an official capacity. If his first amendment rights are not protected, then neither are yours and mine and if we don't start pushing back on this issue and condemning these asshats who do this and running them out of office, then we will in fact lose our rights and our country in very short order.
Ehrlich is my enemy.
He made himself so by this act. I swore to uphold and defend that constitution against all enemies foreign AND domestic.
He is a domestic one.
It is true that the first amendment does not protect speech other than political speech, and only against retaliation from government. Having said this, it still demonstrates that the mainstream cultural arbiters have their noses firmly entranched in the fannies of the homo lobby.
Can you tell me where that protects an employee from being fired for something he says? All it does is prevent government restriction of speech. It would take a very activist court to find the former protection in the First Amendment.
Government employment.
Can you please tell me why a government employee can be fired for expressing a personal belief in his off duty hours?
Law, chapter and verse please.
The law apparently allows Governor Ehrlich to hire and fire political appointees (such as Smith) at his discretion.
and if you or I had done this, we would be hauled before a labor board and sued out of business.
Now if I private organization can't do this, pray tell how can a government, even a governor do this?
He wasn't a normal government employee, but an appointee who works at the pleasure of the governor. If Smith went on the air in his off duty hours and said that he was voting for the Democratic candidate in November, do you think he should be able to keep his political appointee job?
In most states, employers are free to fire employees for any reason, except those restricted by law (such as race, religion, or ethnicity).
Oh please, Have you not noticed that only the Marxist Liberal can say what they want without repercussions, and when they come they scream First Amendment protection? Ward Churchill, the Dixie Chicks, Gay activist, are never punished for what they say, no matter how gross or disgusting. The left is using our laws against us, and then cry protection when in trouble.
Sticking your tounge up someguys rear.
"In most states, employers are free to fire employees for any reason, except those restricted by law (such as race, religion, or ethnicity)."
Religion
You just validated my point.
Now, explain what power is given to any governor that is more powerful than the rights of a Citizen's right to free speech.
Great, so if a kindergarten teacher starts talking about gay sex in front on his class, you're going to say he's protected from being fired by the 1st Amendment too.
Your job is not protected by the Constitution if your boss doesn't like what you say. That's the free market and that's the law, with very specific exceptions for things like whistleblowing and sexual harassment retaliation.
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