Can We Start Firing People for Being Conservative, Christian Republicans?

[n2doc]

You choose which political party you belong to; you don’t choose your sexuality. Sure, on the face of it, that’s one hell of an obvious statement to make. It being obvious doesn’t make it any more devastatingly true, and as we hear that Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-CA) is opposed to the Employment Nondiscrimination Act — or ENDA for short — that point comes even more sharply into focus.

The purpose of ENDA is to set a Federal mandate that no person can be fired simply on the basis of their orientation. ENDA, then, is basically an “anti-ewww” law; meaning that even if you’re one of the ever-shrinking minorities of people who just can’t fathom two dudes or two women having willing sexual intercourse with each other, you can’t fire anyone based on that lack of higher-level thinking you possess. It’s not a shock then that the conservative Republican Speaker is against ENDA, because why would a party that’s the most unpopular it’s ever been try and do anything about their reputation for being uncaring, unevolved sociopaths, right?

According to Boehner’s spokesman and former RNC chairman Michael Steele, the reason El Naranjo Baracho is opposed to ENDA is that he “believes this legislation will increase frivolous litigation and cost American jobs, especially small business jobs.” So to Speaker Boehner, a person being fired for simply being gay who then sues their employer over it is being “frivolous.” It makes you wonder if he thinks an African-American, Asian, or Hispanic person who was terminated from their job simply on the basis of the color of their skin would have a right to file a lawsuit, or if that too would be “frivolous” of them to do so, but then again he’s a modern day Republican so we kind of already know the answer to that one, don’t we?

Maybe, though, Boehner and company just need a taste of their own medicine. If the Speaker and his party think that an employer should be allowed to fire anyone at any time for anything, how about we remove all anti-discrimination laws?…and I mean all of them. You know that preachy douche in accounting that’s always complaining about how Obama is ruining our country? You can fire him now. Just fire him. Tell him you don’t think his morality jives with yours and therefore you are cutting off his livelihood.

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http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/can-we-start-firing-people-for-being-conservative-christian-republicans/

[dballance]

1. If you leave out the Xtian reference, Yes.

In all those "right to work" states you can generally fire people for any reason not expressly protected by law (gender, religion, race, etc.). I'm not aware of political affiliation being a protected class.

[Laelth]

6. Spot on. n/t

-Laelth

[surrealAmerican]

2. I'm sorry to say that they would probably be just fine with the idea ...

... of removing all anti-discrimination laws. If a few of the working people in their party suffer, they don't care. People who work for conservative-owned businesses would likewise be fired for voting for Democrats, or being the wrong color, or sexual orientation, or getting pregnant, or not going to church, or ...

[gopiscrap]

3. I'd love to, you know they don't give a shit when they fire folks for being

non Christian etc etc..but you would hear a huge howl and cry from those redneck fuckers if the situation was reversed. Of course you can't and shouldn't but it sure is tempting!

[Laelth]

4. Few people understand employment law.

All of the following is pertinent only to the state of Georgia (where I am licensed to practice law), but it ought to give you some understanding of how employment law works. Please do not take this post as legal advice. I am not your attorney. For specific legal questions, consult an attorney in your jurisdiction.

Can you fire someone for being a Republican? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being a Democrat? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being a conservative? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being a liberal? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being a Christian? No. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of religion.
Can you fire someone for being gay? Yes. No federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation although a bill addressing this question is currently before the Senate (or has been passed by the Senate--I am not sure which), but said bill will not pass in the House, and Federal law on this subject is clear, at the moment, that it is completely acceptable to hire or fire employees on the basis of sexual orientation.
Can you fire someone for being straight. Yes, for the reason listed above.
Can you fire someone for being a man? No. Title VII prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender.
Can you fire someone for being a woman? No, for the reason listed above.
Can you fire someone for being nice? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being ugly? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being a drug user? Yes.
Can you fire someone because they don't use drugs? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being white (i.e. Caucasian)? No. Title VII prohibits discrimination on the basis of race.
Can you fire someone for having blonde hair? Yes, so long as race is not the true, underlying factor in the employment decision.
Can you fire someone for being a very, very sweet person? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being short? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being tall? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being an Italian? No. Discrimination on the basis of national origin is prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Can you fire someone for being a really good worker? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being a really bad worker? Yes.
Can you fire someone for having a beautiful smile? Yes.
Can you fire someone for wearing blue jeans? Yes.
Can you fire someone for having a pierced nose? Yes.
Can you fire someone for crying on the job? Yes.
Can you fire someone for having a tan? No. Discrimination on the basis of "color" is prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
Can you fire someone for being a witch? Yes.
Can you fire someone for not being a witch? Yes.
Can you fire someone for having a big schlong? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being a bigot? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being completely tolerant? Yes.
Can you fire someone for owning a Toyota? Yes.
Can you fire someone for being a racist? Yes.
Can you fire someone for not being a racist? Yes.

Can you fire someone for anything that is not proscribed by Federal law? In many states, yes. In Georgia, at least, this is the case. Some states have expanded the protections available to workers, but in the "right to work" states, minimal Federal protection is all you get.

As you can see by the list above, Federal law prohibits "adverse employment action" only against those who belong to specified, protected classes. At the moment, Federal law says employers are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of age, national origin, sex, religion, color, and race (and this is different from color). That's about it. Otherwise, in the right to work states, employers are free to discriminate on the basis of any other criterion they choose.

Hope many find this useful.

-Laelth

[Bluenorthwest]

5. The OP asks a rhetorical question. This is because Republicans in the

House are refusing to vote on the ENDA, a law which will add protection in employment for LGBT people on a Federal level. This is a matter of justice not yet won, currently in process, big news in some quarters. The Senate passed it yesterday. Similar legislation has been blocked since first introduced in the 70's by Bela Abzug and Ed Koch when they were both in the House. 40 years this has gone undone due to fear based and ignorant people.

[Laelth]

7. Kick for my post on employment law.

I hope some people read it.

-Laelth

[lastlib]

8. Only if they're in public office!