{ Andrew Shirvell } Mich. assistant AG's anti-gay blog free speech?

AP via SFGate ^ | 10/1/10 | KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

Lansing, Mich. (AP) -- An assistant attorney general is using his personal blog to target the openly gay leader of the University of Michigan's student assembly, calling him a racist with a "radical homosexual agenda." The lawyer claims that when he's not at work, he has the right to say whatever he wants.

But the vociferous criticism has raised questions of just how far a civil servant can go, and whether Andrew Shirvell's online attacks — which include putting a swastika over a gay pride flag in a photo of 21-year-old Chris Armstrong — should affect his job.

[muawiyah]

All off-duty, from home ~ whatever he wants to do.

Frankly while I was still employed I never once posted anything critical about anyone I worked with even from my own home computer over my own ISP.

That was my choice. This guy looks at it differently.

More than likely it has something to do with gay hissy fits over shared lovers or something. Not really anything any of us should get into.

[freedomwarrior998]

He doesn’t lose his right to free speech, simply because the target is a filthy sodomite, or because of his particular job.

[nysuperdoodle]

The radical homosexual agenda’s coziness with fascism and Nazism is pretty well documented. If you don’t believe that, read The Pink Swastika. It’s available to read online for free somewhere.

[tlb]

The ACLU agrees that it’s free speech. But I don’t think we yet know all the information between these two people. The guy comes off as a nutcase and stalker. I expect before this is done he will require psychiatric care.

Published reports say the blog also claimed Armstrong is “Satan’s representative on the student assembly” and a “privileged pervert.”

Armstrong is seeking a personal protection order against Shirvell, who has picketed locations frequented by Armstrong, including his residence and Ann Arbor bars. A hearing is scheduled Monday, Cox said.

Also Thursday, Diane Brown, a spokeswoman for campus police, confirmed Shirvell is subject to an ongoing investigation of “harassing or stalking” and banned from campus. Shirvell was read a trespass warning on Sept. 14 that bars him from setting foot on campus.

[DJ MacWoW]

Some more info. It looks like Shirvell is on a one man crusade against radical homosexuals. He is, of course, being labeled a bigot. Whether he's a nut or not I don't know. But I do know that Chris Armstrong is a self-professed sexual deviant.

I requested Post 6 be removed as I had an incorrect name in the post.

Andrew Shirvell wages war against gay student

As reported by CNN, Blog posts by Andrew Shirvell accuse Chris Armstrong of “engaging in ‘flagrant sexual promiscuity’ with another male member of the student government; sexually seducing and influencing ‘a previously conservative [male] student’ ... hosting a gay orgy in his dorm room in October 2009 and trying to recruit incoming first-year students ‘to join the homosexual ‘lifestyle.’”

Yep. That's what homosexuals do. Recruit.

Latest News Update About Andrew Shirvell

“I’m a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights,” Shirvell told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “I have no problem with the fact that Chris is a homosexual. I have a problem with the fact that he’s advancing a radical homosexual agenda.”

Of course Shirvell is a Christian fanatic.

[SunkenCiv]

An assistant attorney general is using his personal blog to target the openly gay leader of the University of Michigan's student assembly, calling him a racist with a "radical homosexual agenda." The lawyer claims that when he's not at work, he has the right to say whatever he wants.

In addition, he's talking about the student's politics. If it's a matter of dumping someone because of the ACT of speaking his mind (an obvious violation of the First Amendment), then unless the U of M student political leader is expelled, then the suppression/firing of the ass't AG is also a violation of the Equal Protection clause. Thanks SmithL.

[aSeattleConservative]

The radical homosexual agenda’s coziness with fascism and Nazism is pretty well documented. If you don’t believe that, read The Pink Swastika. It’s available to read online for free somewhere.

I just so happen to have the website here:
Link to Pink Swastika

[grellis]

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

[TomasUSMC]

Fire for Effect

[Hot Tabasco]

Frankly, Mike Cox is stuck in the middle of this. On one hand, he can ignore it and stay out of it but on the other hand he has an employee that is bringing embarrassment to the state AG's office.

Cox isn't a favorite amongst Republicans in this state and this incident isn't going to help him any........there's still a lot of unanswered questions on how he handled the Kilpatrick - Tamara Greene case.

I guess if I were Mike Cox I'd warn the guy to knock it off and if he continues, I'd fire him............

[MaggieCarta]

Frankly, Mike Cox is stuck in the middle of this...

Yep.

My only consolation for Snyder's winning the primary is that Cox is not the GOP candidate.

I guess if I were Mike Cox I'd warn the guy to knock it off and if he continues, I'd fire him............

Someone, (besides yours truly) should have told the Asst. AG a long time ago about the difference between things you think and things that you say out loud. (Of, course, I often don't take my own good advice)

Personally, I think he's just doing this to push the limits of employment law.

But, for goodness sakes, if you have a high profile position, like Asst AG, think up a clever screen name for yourself. Sorry, AG office, the name "MaggieCarta" is already taken.

Thanks, grellis!

[DeaconBenjamin]

Anti-gay blogger takes leave of absence

(CNN) -- Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell -- who for nearly six months has blogged about an openly gay college student -- has taken a voluntary leave of absence, the state's attorney general's office confirmed to CNN Friday.

The office does not know the length of Shirvell's leave, but says that it will hold a disciplinary hearing upon his return.

Earlier in the week, Attorney General Mike Cox defended his assistant's constitutional right to wage the internet campaign against Chris Armstrong, even though he said he considers Shirvell a "bully."

"Here in America, we have this thing called the First Amendment, which allows people to express what they think and engage in political and social speech," Cox told Anderson Cooper on CNN's "AC 360" on Wednesday night. "He's clearly a bully … but is that protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution? Yes."

"Mr. Shirvell is sort of a frontline grunt assistant prosecutor in my office," Cox said. "He does satisfactory work and off-hours, he's free to engage under both our civil service rules, Michigan Supreme Court rulings and the United States Supreme Court rule."

But Gov. Jennifer Granholm disagreed. Late Thursday she tweeted, "If I was still attorney general and Andrew Shirvell worked for me, he would have already been fired."

For nearly six months, Shirvell has blogged about Armstrong, an openly gay student assembly president at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Shirvell has been banned from the Ann Arbor campus, said university spokeswoman Kelly Cunningham. The ban was in the form of a "trespass warning" issued by the university on Sept. 14.

Shirvell launched his blog in late April using the online moniker "Concerned Michigan Alumnus."

"Welcome to 'Chris Armstrong Watch,' " Shirvell wrote in his inaugural blog post. "This is a site for concerned University of Michigan alumni, students and others who oppose the recent election of Chris Armstrong -- a RADICAL HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVIST, RACIST, ELITIST, & LIAR -- as the new head of student government."

Among other things, Shirvell has published blog posts that accuse Armstrong of going back on a campaign promise he made to minority students; engaging in "flagrant sexual promiscuity" with another male member of the student government; sexually seducing and influencing "a previously conservative (male) student" so much so that the student, according to Shirvell, "morphed into a proponent of the radical homosexual agenda;" hosting a gay orgy in his dorm room in Oct. 2009; and trying to recruit incoming first-year students "to join the homosexual 'lifestyle.' "

In a written statement from his office on Tuesday, Cox distanced his office from Shirvell's comments.

"Mr. Shirvell's personal opinions are his and his alone, and do not reflect the views of the Michigan Department of Attorney General," Cox said in the statement. "But his immaturity and lack of judgment outside the office are clear."

Shirvell said he works on the blog during his off-hours.

On "AC 360" on Tuesday, Shirvell made no apologies for his blog postings, which include a picture of Armstrong with "Resign" written over his face. The same picture also had a swastika superimposed over a gay pride flag, with an arrow pointing toward Armstrong.

Shirvell acknowledged protesting outside of Armstrong's house and calling him "Satan's representative on the student assembly."

"I'm a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights," Shirvell told Cooper. "I have no problem with the fact that Chris is a homosexual. I have a problem with the fact that he's advancing a radical homosexual agenda."

Armstrong has supported gender-neutral housing at the university for transgender students who haven't had sexual reassignment surgery.

Armstrong told CNN he has hired an attorney and is pursuing legal action against Shirvell.