Conservative selling right wing crap claims he is being kicked out of mall over his politics

[proud2BlibKansan]

The owner of a business that sells conservative bumper stickers and other merchandise at Concord Mills says he's being kicked out for political reasons.

“It's completely about politics,” said Loren Spivack, owner of the Free Market Warrior. “Half the stores in that mall sold pro-Obama merchandise for months. All I did was present an alternative opinion, and that's what became so controversial.”

Since opening his business in a kiosk last spring, Spivack has sold conservative-themed items. They include bumper stickers that say “Impeach Obama” and baby bibs that say “My parents chose life. Thanks Mom and Dad!”

Spivack said the mall is terminating his lease at the end of next week.

more . . . http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/847804.html

[texastoast]

1. If that is really the case

That would be wrong.

[bbinacan]

3. I agree.

Mel Simon is a big contributor to Obama and I understand his wife was on the inaugural committee. The prick should be able to keep his kiosk.

[CBGLuthier]

6. If I owned the mall, I would throw him out

Would that be wrong? Why?
It's my mall, not government property.

I assume this mall is not owned by the government. Do the owners not have the right to select their tenants?

[texastoast]

15. delete-dupe

[texastoast]

16. Sure, but this could be easily abused

To me, it's a form of prejudice. And it seems clique-y and intolerant. While I don't agree with what he is selling, I do believe he has a right to sell it along with the other viewpoint.

Now we can all boycott him, boycott the mall, etc., and that might come to some effect.

And other landlords are not allowed to discriminate for regular housing based on creed. On the other hand, my mall does not have a porn store, so there's another angle to the argument. So, well, I guess we can muse on this.

[CBGLuthier]

25. But why does the mall owner have no rights over their property?

Can you explain why the mall owner can not choose who to lease to? So long as it does not violate any current anti discrimination laws.

Are you sating a mall owner must allow anyone to sell anything?

Sure it could be abused. That is why we have civil courts.

[texastoast]

26. I would think the question is

whether the tenant has proof that he was discriminated against on the basis of creed or any of the several other bases. I doubt any jury would find for either a Democratic or Republican store any more than than they would for someone saying they've been discriminated against because they were a Longhorn or an Aggie.

I do believe in a retail situation a leaseholder can decide from a business standpoint to whom to lease, based on sundry factors. Grocery stores decide which products to put on the shelves and set the shelving fees for a product. A leaseholder, because it generally gets a percentage of sales, would tend to provide space to a vendor of a hot product.

The restaurant were our county party met was boycotted because the restaurant owner allowed us to watch the National Convention there in 2004. Wouldn't it be nice if we just got along and worked together? (Right, I'm so dreaming.) This silly knife cuts both ways.

[N7255Q]

21. So the mall down the road can throw out black store owners for no good reason?

wow

[CBGLuthier]

24. no, that would be discrimination based on race

which is illegal.

But choosing to not allow anyone to sell anything they want in MY mall is MY business. Speaking as a hypothetical mall owner.

Nice Try Slick.

[ProgressiveFool]

7. unfortunately, there is no way to come to an informed opinion based on the article

The mall wouldn't comment, so all one is left with is the repeated assertion of the Conservative dude's persecution.

[WeDidIt]

19. Political Affiliation is not a protected class

So the mall owner has every right to refuse to renew a lease for anybody over politics.

[Mythsaje]

2. Or maybe he's just an asshole...

Given his politics, it seems likely.

Just saying.

[bbinacan]

5. And if the

tables were turned?

[Mythsaje]

11. I'm talking about his disposition more than his politics

I see the politics as a symptom of his probable disposition...

Who wants to work around an asshole?

Of course, it's possible he isn't an asshole, but the odds are against it. If he isn't, THEN I'm just speculating and it doesn't matter.

[glowing]

4. Perhaps too many customers complained and said they were never shopping there again

and other lease persons said they would break their lease. This is called capitalism. if the man does not own his spot, then the mall does not have to lease the space.

[bbinacan]

8. According to the linked

article, there was a LTTE.

[SeattleGirl]

9. First thing I wondered was, has the man been paying his lease payments?

May not be the case, of course, but it did cross my mind.

More likely, though, as someone else suggested, a lot of people complained, and the mall owners decided to not renew the guy's lease.

[glowing]

10. That crossed my mind, not paying part.. but I'd like to think more complained

about his bigoted ware, than him being a low life and not paying his rent.. seriously, who was buying in a mall that was predominantly selling "Obama" merchandise.

[Enrique]

12. do private malls have the right to terminate vendors' leases?

what say you, owner of "Free Market Warrior"?

Maybe he should take it to court and have the government FORCE the private mall to rent to him against their will.

[joeybee12]

20. If he has signed a lease giving either party the right to terminate without cause...

...which is probably what any smart legal guy doing the mall's leases would have drafted...yeah, he's a goner.

[KamaAina]

13. Half the stores in that mall sold pro-Obama merchandise?

Gee, if I lived in NC, I'd do all my shopping there! If that were true, of course, which I doubt sincerely. :eyes:

[tabasco]

14. So what if he is?

Private property, pal.

Why do repukes hate property rights?

Do they want the big nanny government telling people what to do with their property?

[boobooday]

17. It's the free market

just like they kicked people out of malls for wearing antiwar t-shirts. Private property.

[joeybee12]

18. My guess? The guy is behind on rent and is trying to deflect blame...

...that said, the mall is a private business, they can do what they want.

[rwheeler31]

22. Has this guy paid his bills, is he harassing other tenants,

are customers complaining? Many questions, maybe he is just obnoxious.

[Confusious]

23. He was behind on the rent,

buggering little boys in the back room, toe-tapping in the mall bathroom, or some other reason other then what he says it is.

That always the way it works with these dweebs.

[annabanana]

27. 'twas not that long ago that people wearing anti-war gear were thrown

out of Malls.

I'm guessing what's good for the goose is good for the gander here. If private malls can be considered "the public square" then they can't do that... If they can't, then the owners are free to do what they like.