In the Name of ‘Free Speech,’ Conservatives Get a Guy Fired for Being Rude Outside of Work

Politics • Views: 29,391

So a guy upset about the Battle of Chik-Fil-A recorded a video of himself going through the drive-through line to get a free cup of water and express his displeasure about the company’s policies:

Yes, the guy was rude. And it was wrong of him to take out his anger on an employee who had nothing to do with the company’s policy. On the other hand, his rudeness didn’t really exceed what is seen in fast food restaurants every day, other than having a political angle, and it was mostly directed at the company, rather than the employee (although he did say, “I don’t know how you can live with yourself working here…you’re better than this.”).

Anyway, that didn’t stop the Angry Right from posting the guy’s personal info all over the internet:

Yesterday, the company where the guy worked, Vante, released a statement saying that he had been let go. The Angry Right, of course, cheered.

Dana Loesch, who less than a month ago tried to get a conservative Missouri prosecutor disbarred for disagreeing with her on Twitter, wrote the following:

While part of me wants to fist pump and revel in this schadenfreude, another part of me hesitates to celebrate. Sure, Smith is a doucher of epic proportions, but this was an individual on his own time acting like a doucher, not while representing the company. Companies don’t own their employees’ thoughts and opinions off the clock, unless, of course, that is your previously agreed upon arrangement.
The firing of Smith doesn’t change Smith’s personality or epic rudeness. It won’t prevent him from blasting another female employee at a business whose CEO disagrees with his political views. As far as feeling celebratory, I think I’m in the clear, as conservatives didn’t call for Smith’s head like we see on the left with groups like Color of Change. No one pressured Vante. Vante, a private company, made this decision themselves and, as a private entity, have every right to do so. I support this right. The community didn’t make the decision to fire Smith – they did. This is the difference between the true belief in free speech as demonstrated by conservatives and the beliefs of progressives.

I’m amazed Loesch seems to feel at least a little bit of remorse about getting a guy fired, but the italicized portions of the text are absolutely ridiculous. After going out of their way to post the guy’s personal information all over the web, and having people explicitly tell others to call the company and complain, they’re now trying to pretend that the company “made the decision themselves” and that conservative pressure had nothing to do with it? In fact, on breitbart.com, you can see commenters who left the company’s contact info on the page:


Of course companies always make their own decisions, but making decisions after being pressured is exactly the same as the campaigns Loesch calls fascist if they’re done by liberals.

The guy was rude. But certainly not any more rude than the way many tea partiers behaved in 2009. And there’s no way the guy would be fired for that level of rudeness in his personal life if the issue hadn’t been a political hot potato. While cheering for the “free speech” of Chik-Fil-A’s funding of anti-gay causes, the Right has managed to get a guy fired for having views they don’t like. And they’re proud of that.

Also see
UPDATE at 8/3/12 11:55:40 am

The fired CFO now says his family is being threatened after his home address was made public by enraged right wingers: Interview With Adam Smith: Fired CFO Says He’s Received Threats and Wasn’t Give Chance to Explain Himself.

We had an exclusive conversation with Smith where he shared his side of the story. Here’s a taste of what he said (we’ll be releasing more later):

  • He has lost his job as Chief Financial Officer at Vante. (Smith claims that he was not given a chance to really explain himself before being terminated)
  • His family has been threatened with violence and death. (At one point, his email account was getting 3 messages a minute, mostly vulgar and threatening)
  • Because his home address was made public, he cannot live in his house. (And Mr. Smith is a married father of four – two of his children are adopted, special needs kids.)
  • Smith said that his original intent was to follow guidelines laid out in an online video, which included quoting a scripture.

Jump to bottom

93 comments
1 Destro  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 8:08:35am

America treats employees like crap. That's what happens when employees don't have either unions or a constitutionally sanctioned intermediary to protect their rights from employer abuses.

2 wrenchwench  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 9:43:02am

I read about the guy resigning yesterday. They called it a 'mutual decision'. No indication of being targeted by twitterati.

[...]

Roger Vogel, Chairman, President and CEO of Vante, said the decision for Smith to step down was mutual. Vogel said he was “shocked” by the video, which he first discovered when people emailed him a link.

“We obviously found it very disturbing,” Vogel said. “We respect everybody’s ability to share their opinions in the public square and we have a very diverse workforce with a diverse set of opinions. We expect employees to behave in a professional manner that’s commensurate with their positions, and discuss their opinions in a civil fashion. ... We thought what he did was inappropriate.”

Vogel said the company has no stance on the gay marriage issue but has always hade a “good relationship” with Chick-fil-A. He said the company will consider contacting the employee Smith ambushed in an attempt to mend fences.

[...]

3 erik_t  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 9:54:14am
The doucher who bullied a female #Chickfila employee may be regretting it

Irony density: black hole.

4 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 9:55:46am

It is alright to do such things if one is a Republican.

That is all.

5 Kragar  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 9:56:08am

The guy was a dick, but getting him fired for what he said is exactly what the Chick-Fil-A Wingnuts say they're fighting against.

I guess that only applies if you hate homosexuals.

6 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 9:57:21am

Sorry to go OT so fast. My wife is out shopping with the kids and just texted me about this.

Walmart Evacuated as Police Investigate Suspicious Package

The Walmart in Albemarle County on Route 29 is at the center of a police investigation right now. The store is evacuated and police have cordoned off the area.

According to Sergeant Byers with the Albemarle County Police Department, there was a man in Walmart carrying suspicious packages.

Early reports indicate a man wearing a gas mask and carrying packages was seen in Walmart. Staff called police at 11:07 a.m. and they evacuated the store.

Police arrived within minutes. The man has been detained by police.

There is an K9 explosives unit on the scene. Virginia State Police have arrived on the scene. The contents of the packages are still unknown.

As of 12:45 p.m. the store is still evacuated.

7 Obdicut  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 9:57:35am

I'd fire him for taking out shit on a low-level employee who's just trying to get by, myself.

But yeah, that's a rich seam of irony on behalf of the 'right'.

8 Shropshire_Slasher  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 9:57:38am

Congrats STLActivist!

9 Kragar  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 9:59:16am

Make a speech at public venue saying an entire segment should be deprived of their rights while you channel millions into organizations to deprive them of their rights, then play the victim when people have the audacity to point it out = Free Speech.

Act like a dick at the drive thru = IMMOLATE HIM! BURN THE HERETIC!

10 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 9:59:27am

America - don't step out of line if you want to keep a toehold on your middle-class existence.

11 makeitstop  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:04:20am

Does CNN approve of one of their on-air talent using the term 'doucher' online?

If I was in upper management at CNN, I'd be plenty embarrassed.

12 funky chicken  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:09:44am

re: #10 iossarian

America - don't step out of line if you want to keep a toehold on your middle-class existence.

Don't post video of yourself acting like an asshole on the internet. A lot of otherwise intelligent young people don't seem to understand this rule.

13 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:11:38am

re: #11 makeitstop

given half the shit Loesch tweets and writes it seems CNN should pull a Vante. Just sayin...

14 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:12:35am

re: #12 funky chicken

Don't post video of yourself acting like an asshole on the internet. A lot of otherwise intelligent young people don't seem to understand this rule.

That's my point really. Conform - or else.

15 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:12:50am

re: #6 NJDhockeyfan

Sorry to go OT so fast. My wife is out shopping with the kids and just texted me about this.

Walmart Evacuated as Police Investigate Suspicious Package

That must be one damn suspicious package. I don't think I could get my nearest Wal-Mart to even come and look at one.

16 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:13:23am

re: #15 SanFranciscoZionist

That must be one damn suspicious package. I don't think I could get my nearest Wal-Mart to even come and look at one.

Someone saw a stack of union leaflets poking out of the top of the bag.

17 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:14:42am

BTW, don't know if this has been up, but this is apparently the Chick-Fil-A franchisee requirements.

18 makeitstop  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:15:32am

re: #15 SanFranciscoZionist

That must be one damn suspicious package. I don't think I could get my nearest Wal-Mart to even come and look at one.

I'd wager the gas mask upped the urgency factor a bit.

19 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:15:54am

re: #17 SanFranciscoZionist

yeah, they strike me as a Chik'n cult.

20 Sheila Broflovski  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:15:58am

re: #17 SanFranciscoZionist

BTW, don't know if this has been up, but this is apparently the Chick-Fil-A franchisee requirements.

Well, there goes some Jewish wingnuts' dreams of a kosher Chick Fil A.

21 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:17:16am

re: #18 makeitstop

I'd wager the gas mask upped the urgency factor a bit.

Probably, although at my nearest Wal-Mart...

Hope they get this under control quickly. Sounds like they're doing it right.

22 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:17:46am

re: #15 SanFranciscoZionist

That must be one damn suspicious package. I don't think I could get my nearest Wal-Mart to even come and look at one.

Here's more about what's going on down the street...

A man wearing a helmet and gas mask was seen acting suspiciously in the Albemarle County Walmart Friday, prompting an evacuation and police investigation.

Albemarle police say the man was carrying packages, some of which he left in different parts of the store just north of Charlottesville on U.S 29.

...Eyewitness Joshua Vaugh said the man's face was completely covered, and he seemed to be carrying on a rapid conversation with someone through his helmet. Vaughn said the man was also walking as if he were wearing something heavy, and he was wearing a "huge backpack."

"When I saw him in the gun section, that's when I decided I was going to stay away from thsi guy," Vaughn said. "He looked very strange."

Vaughn said it wasn't blatantly clear that the man had violent intentions, but he immediately thought of the July 20 movie theater shooting in Colorado.

"That's instantly what came to my mind," Vaughn said. "Aurora."

23 S'latch  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:18:11am

The only reason a person would work at the drive-through window of a place like Chik-fil-A is because they are desperate for a means to support themselves. I find the rude man's confrontation of such a person, essentially abusing her in her position, to be inexcusable. I am having a very difficult time finding any reason to feel sorry for the rude man losing his job. Whether or not those who may have caused it acted improperly, he absolutely deserved to be fired. I would fire such a person if I were shown such misguided, rude, and abusive activities as these. I feel very sorry for that poor lady in the drive-through window. What a horrible way to have to earn a living and to be treated.

24 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:19:24am

re: #23 Lawrence Schmerel

What a horrible way to have to earn a living and to be treated.

I couldn't agree more. Low-wage employment in the US is abominable.

25 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:19:55am

re: #17 SanFranciscoZionist

BTW, don't know if this has been up, but this is apparently the Chick-Fil-A franchisee requirements.

Interesting. The main company can terminate a franchise for doing something sinful or harmful to their family. Like advocate for SSM? It seems to me that's a rather smoking gun that the founders statements are binding on all the franchises.

26 Mocking Jay  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:22:03am

re: #17 SanFranciscoZionist

BTW, don't know if this has been up, but this is apparently the Chick-Fil-A franchisee requirements.

Is that even legal?

27 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:22:58am

re: #26 Mocking Jay

Is that even legal?

I guess it's an example of why conservatives are dead-set against including sexuality on the list of legal non-discrimination categories.

28 Mocking Jay  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:23:40am

re: #27 iossarian

I guess it's an example of why conservatives are dead-set against including sexuality on the list of legal non-discrimination categories.

Forget about the sexuality part, as bad as it is, but to religiously discriminate?

29 makeitstop  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:23:43am

re: #19 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

yeah, they strike me as a Chik'n cult.

Really. I'd opt for the Wendy's franchise instead.

30 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:24:17am

re: #25 William Barnett-Lewis

we'll see, soon enough I'm sure. On wednesday there was an article featuring a franchisee that supported SSM and said so for the article. Let's see if his license gets revoked.

31 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:24:18am

re: #23 Lawrence Schmerel

The only reason a person would work at the drive-through window of a place like Chik-fil-A is because they are desperate for a means to support themselves. I find the rude man's confrontation of such a person, essentially abusing her in her position, to be inexcusable. I am having a very difficult time finding any reason to feel sorry for the rude man losing his job. Whether or not those who may have caused it acted improperly, he absolutely deserved to be fired. I would fire such a person if I were shown such misguided, rude, and abusive activities as these. I feel very sorry for that poor lady in the drive-through window. What a horrible way to have to earn a living and to be treated.

This. I don't know if I would have gone to firing, but this is childish, asinine behavior toward a woman who undoubtedly needs that job.

I think the disregard for working people that we often attribute to the powerful or the "1%" is actually very deeply ingrained in America among people who simply have a little more. I've met too many people who would shrug over this and say the drive-through lady should 'get another job', because they could, and they wouldn't lose much by doing so. It's no way to make change.

32 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:26:00am

re: #25 William Barnett-Lewis

Interesting. The main company can terminate a franchise for doing something sinful or harmful to their family. Like advocate for SSM? It seems to me that's a rather smoking gun that the founders statements are binding on all the franchises.

That's the thing. What does 'sinful or harmful' mean? Does an agreed-upon divorce fall into that category? It's all very vague, obviously, but it raises a lot of red flags for me, especially the part about prayer meetings, and being urged to go to Christian relationship-building retreats by the company.

33 Sheila Broflovski  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:26:03am

re: #29 makeitstop

Really. I'd opt for the Wendy's franchise instead.

I'd opt for my own franchise. I can make fried chicken that's better than any fast-food franchise, and I don't even fry it!

Of course if I had to make it in large commercial volume, it wouldn't be fun any more.

34 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:26:18am

re: #26 Mocking Jay

Is that even legal?

So far, so good, at any rate.

35 Mocking Jay  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:27:06am

re: #34 SanFranciscoZionist

So far, so good, at any rate.

Yeah, I guess. Sales are down? Time for a prayer circle!

36 Killgore Trout  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:28:44am

re: #23 Lawrence Schmerel

The only reason a person would work at the drive-through window of a place like Chik-fil-A is because they are desperate for a means to support themselves. I find the rude man's confrontation of such a person, essentially abusing her in her position, to be inexcusable. I am having a very difficult time finding any reason to feel sorry for the rude man losing his job. Whether or not those who may have caused it acted improperly, he absolutely deserved to be fired. I would fire such a person if I were shown such misguided, rude, and abusive activities as these. I feel very sorry for that poor lady in the drive-through window. What a horrible way to have to earn a living and to be treated.

That's my take as well. It does look really bad to see a wealthy righteous douchebag berating a minimum wage employee over something she has no control over. She handled herself with grace and remained polite. Not sure if it's bad enough to get the guy fired unless it violated something in his contract. He's rich and since he works in banking I'm sure he'll find another high paying job.

37 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:28:56am

IMO the guy was a douche, big time. You can't hold a single employee responsible for how the CEO of the company behaves. However I don't believe he should have been fired from his job as this was not something done to one of his employees/co-workers.

It's pretty clear that they let him go due to the pressure exerted by the wingnuts who used found the information and proceeded to contact his employer and rant and rave. This is what happens when wingers attack. We saw Sandra Fluke getting death threats and her personal info dug into and then there was Graeme Frost and people actually spying through his windows.

It's as scary as it is disgusting.

38 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:29:54am

re: #28 Mocking Jay

Forget about the sexuality part, as bad as it is, but to religiously discriminate?

I think that their argument would be that they're not religiously discriminating. You could be a Hindu, you just have to agree that you subscribe to Christian values, participate in group Christian prayers during training and management meetings, and adhere to the company's close scrutiny of your family life.

I've done this myself for jobs*, but that was working in a Catholic school, not selling chicken. Actual religious organizations have leeway on this kind of thing. I would not have thought that commercial institutions did, so much, but I don't think the law is entirely hard and fast on all these points.

*Except for the family life part.

39 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:31:31am

I was recently at a post-work dinner with a guy (from a different department) who acted like a complete dick to the restaurant staff, and was moreover supported in his dickishness by several other people in our group.

I don't think the guy should be fired or even disciplined. It made me think less of him but it really has very little to do with his ability to do his job. It was even obvious that we were part of an organization because some of us were wearing name tags and we talked about it with the staff.

This whole "fire him for being a dick" (which he was) mood is just another facet of America's obsession with giving employers absolute power over their employees, which ironically leads to exactly the "think of the poor CFA worker" arguments we're seeing here.

40 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:32:02am

re: #38 SanFranciscoZionist

The rules for Franchisees are different than the rules for employment. AFAIK a franchisee is entering into a contract under terms laid out by the franchiser. More here.

Of course, one other thing I would not be happy about is having to split the profits with the parent company 50-50.

41 simoom  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:32:45am

Another entry in real headlines vs Fox headlines:

ABC / Yahoo: Obama Campaign Sues to Extend Ohio Early Voting

President Obama's re-election campaign has filed suit in federal court to block a Republican-sponsored Ohio law that mandates an end to early, in-person voting a full three days before Election Day this fall.

...

"The last three days of Early Vote are especially important to ensuring a free and fair election," Obama's Ohio campaign said in a statement. "We are moving forward in the fight to reinstate the last 3 days of Early Voting and ensure that all Ohio voters can make their voices heard this November."

CNN: Obama campaign sues over Ohio’s cutoff date for early voting

The provision allowing the end of the three-day window first passed under an omnibus election reform law in 2011. Voters grew upset with other provisions in that law, so the legislature drafted a new bill to repeal that law in May before voters could vote on the measure in a scheduled referendum this November.

However, the new law passed in May retained the three-day window ban, prompting complaints from Democrats.

...

Opponents, [Secretary of State Jon Husted] said, don’t want an “accountability system,” one that “requires some level of personal responsibility to take initiative to get to the polls” or request an absentee ballot.

vs.

Fox Nation: Report: Obama Campaign Sues To Restrict Military Voting

Brietart.com: Obama Campaign Sues to Restrict Military Voting

Apparently you can restrict Military voting, not by effecting their voting options one iota, but by restoring the last 3 days of early voting to non-military voters (military voters never lost those 3 days). ///

h/t Balloon Juice

42 Obdicut  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:33:20am

re: #31 SanFranciscoZionist

This. I don't know if I would have gone to firing, but this is childish, asinine behavior toward a woman who undoubtedly needs that job.

I think the disregard for working people that we often attribute to the powerful or the "1%" is actually very deeply ingrained in America among people who simply have a little more. I've met too many people who would shrug over this and say the drive-through lady should 'get another job', because they could, and they wouldn't lose much by doing so. It's no way to make change.

I think you're absolutely right. As an ex-bartender, ex-waiter, it's amazing how important it is to some people to give shit to other people on the job. It's weirdly buying into the stupid capitalist perspective, too-- it's identifying the worker with the job, saying that's what they are, those opinions are theirs.

Especially in an age where it's trivial to find the email addresses of corporate officers, yelling at the peons is ridiculous.

43 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:33:22am

re: #37 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

IMO the guy was a douche, big time. You can't hold a single employee responsible for how the CEO of the company behaves. However I don't believe he should have been fired from his job as this was not something done to one of his employees/co-workers.

It's pretty clear that they let him go due to the pressure exerted by the wingnuts who used found the information and proceeded to contact his employer and rant and rave. This is what happens when wingers attack. We saw Sandra Fluke getting death threats and her personal info dug into and then there was Graeme Frost and people actually spying through his windows.

It's as scary as it is disgusting.

I don't agree with that. If I did the same thing I'm sure I would be standing at the unemployment like pretty quick. He should have left the the video camera off. Nobody would have known.

44 blueraven  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:35:45am

What a dick...hard to garner any sympathy for him.
If he is like this on a regular basis, that might have contributed to his firing.

45 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:36:23am

re: #21 SanFranciscoZionist

Probably, although at my nearest Wal-Mart...

Last time I was in a Wal-Mart, I would have worn a complete HAZMAT suit to mitigate the experience of waiting in line near a person whose most recent shower was probably during the Carter administration.

46 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:36:47am

re: #43 NJDhockeyfan

So wingnuts calling the corporate offices and using the contact form to pressure the company or complain about him had absolutely nothing to do with it? Yeah he should have left the camera off, but bottom line unless he was taping himself committing a crime then there are few grounds on which he could be fired and nothing he did was while "on the job".

The argument could be made that he was an "at-will" employee but somehow I don't see that being the case as he was the CFO.

47 Charles Johnson  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:38:19am

Yeah, it's hard to feel sympathy for this jerk, but when wingnuts start targeting private citizens for hit jobs like this it's a really, really bad precedent.

I'm sure there are a LOT of people who act like dicks when they're not at their jobs -- should they all be fired for it? Of course not. This guy was targeted because the right wingers are all puffed up with homophobia and looking for a victim.

48 makeitstop  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:39:03am

re: #43 NJDhockeyfan

I don't agree with that. If I did the same thing I'm sure I would be standing at the unemployment like pretty quick. He should have left the the video camera off. Nobody would have known.

Except for the fact that the guy's boss got a link to the video via email - he didn't go looking and find it himself.

I agree that the guy was a dick, and question the judgement of posting the video. But what happened after the fact did not occur in a vacuum - wingers targeted the guy, and they get to claim the scalp. Still sucks.

49 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:40:11am

re: #45 Temporarily Embarrassed Millionaire

Last time I was in a Wal-Mart, I would have worn a complete HAZMAT suit to mitigate the experience of waiting in line near a person whose most recent shower was probably during the Carter administration.

My nearest Wal-Mart reminds me of the old Soviet Union, except with more bright, colorful stuff. The shelves are picked bare, stuff that's dropped on the floor is all over the place, the lines are endless, the employees look like they're losing it...

I did not find it an appealing place to shop, and I didn't see prices that made me think it was worth it. Target has good bargains, a nicely kept up floor, and their employees don't look like they're about to die on you.

Now, the Wal-Marts I saw in Arkansas and Louisiana when I was visiting relatives looked fine. We may just have a sucky Wal-Mart. But it's a really pitiful-looking excuse for a store.

50 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:40:45am

re: #48 makeitstop

Except for the fact that the guy's boss got a link to the video via email - he didn't go looking and find it himself.

I agree that the guy was a dick, and question the judgement of posting the video. But what happened after the fact did not occur in a vacuum - wingers targeted the guy, and they get to claim the scalp. Still sucks.

If someone else had happened to tape him the outcome would have been the same. So, quite possibly a stupid thing to do, but hardly the sole cause of his firing.

51 Mocking Jay  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:40:46am

If you want to harass a young woman and get away with it, just call a law student a slut who can't keep her legs shut. According to precedent you get to keep your job...

52 Obdicut  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:40:47am

re: #46 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

Well, it looks like he didn't get fired, it was a 'mutual' thing, which may mean they bought out his contract. I would be surprised if a senior level executive simply folded his tents and walked away.

53 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:41:01am

re: #49 SanFranciscoZionist

The bomb squad has just arrived.

54 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:42:41am

re: #49 SanFranciscoZionist

Target has good bargains, a nicely kept up floor, and their employees don't look like they're about to die on you.

Unfortunately they also give a bunch of money to Bachmann and other assorted right-wing craziness. I agree, though, it's a nice store.

55 Obdicut  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:43:05am

It's 2012 and some people are still obsessed with the gays and what they're up to.

It's getting tiresome. And freaky. I really expected gay rights to improve in just a gradual slope, with things getting better smoothly over time. I didn't expect this hyper-reaction god-hates-fags shit. Of course, I didn't expect the resurgence of blatant racism, either.

56 makeitstop  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:43:35am

re: #54 iossarian

Unfortunately they also give a bunch of money to Bachmann and other assorted right-wing craziness. I agree, though, it's a nice store.

I thought Target was the good one and Wal-Mart was the evil one.

I gotta catch up.

57 Mocking Jay  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:44:06am

re: #55 Obdicut

It's 2012 and some people are still obsessed with the gays and what they're up to.

It's getting tiresome. And freaky. I really expected gay rights to improve in just a gradual slope, with things getting better smoothly over time. I didn't expect this hyper-reaction god-hates-fags shit. Of course, I didn't expect the resurgence of blatant racism, either.

If it's any consolation, you're still probably better at predicting the future than Dick Morris.

58 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:45:36am

re: #54 iossarian

Unfortunately they also give a bunch of money to Bachmann and other assorted right-wing craziness. I agree, though, it's a nice store.

I've heard Costco has good employment practices. What's their corporate giving record like, anyone know?

59 Interesting Times  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:45:42am

re: #55 Obdicut

It's getting tiresome. And freaky. I really expected gay rights to improve in just a gradual slope, with things getting better smoothly over time. I didn't expect this hyper-reaction god-hates-fags shit. Of course, I didn't expect the resurgence of blatant racism, either.

60 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:45:52am

re: #53 NJDhockeyfan

The bomb squad has just arrived.

Keep us posted.

61 Kragar  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:47:33am

Barber: Chick-fil-A Will be Blessed by God

On today's edition of Liberty Counsel's "Faith and Freedom" radio program, Mat Staver and Matt Barber were discussing the controversy surrounding Chick-fil-A, which prompted Barber to declare that companies only come out in support of marriage equality because they have been "browbeaten" into it by gay activists.

In fact, Barber said, companies should just "be in the business of making widgets" and not take sides on controversial political or cultural issues because doing only risks alienating potential customers ... except for Chick-fil-A, which deserves accolades for standing up in opposition to gay marriage and for which the company will be blessed by God:

62 iossarian  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:48:12am

re: #58 SanFranciscoZionist

I've heard Costco has good employment practices. What's their corporate giving record like, anyone know?

A Costco recently opened near here, I may have to check it out. This has some further info, not sure how recent it is (link says 2005):

[Link: www.americanrightsatwork.org...]

63 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:48:52am

re: #60 SanFranciscoZionist

Keep us posted.

PetSmart in Hollymead closed briefly after an unconfirmed report that the gas mask-wearing man who entered Wal-Mart stopped there first.

This is getting interesting.

64 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:50:55am

re: #63 NJDhockeyfan

wonder if the person was trying to get featured on people of Wal Mart

//

65 makeitstop  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:51:08am

re: #63 NJDhockeyfan

PetSmart in Hollymead closed briefly after an unconfirmed report that the gas mask-wearing man who entered Wal-Mart stopped there first.

This is getting interesting.

there's a flaming poo bomb joke in there somewhere.

66 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:51:39am

re: #56 makeitstop

I thought Target was the good one and Wal-Mart was the evil one.

I gotta catch up.

Wal-Mart doesn't just give to dubious causes; Wal-Mart has a business model that blurs the line between capitalism and a serious mental illness. (According to published sources, they won't buy chairs for their own offices, or pay for phone calls to their suppliers.)

Target has come under attack for some of their donations, but I've never read anything to suggest they were nearly as batshit as Wal-Mart.

67 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:53:00am

re: #63 NJDhockeyfan

PetSmart in Hollymead closed briefly after an unconfirmed report that the gas mask-wearing man who entered Wal-Mart stopped there first.

This is getting interesting.

PetSmart? OK, now I want this guy caught.

68 erik_t  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:54:20am

Like many monstrous corporations, Target sticks money in both back pockets. They've made some contributions that are pretty foul, and they've made some contributions that are pretty excellent.

Costco, as far as I know, just kicks ass on all levels.

69 bluecheese  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:56:39am

That was painful to watch.

The young lady should have been able to tell that douche bag to fuck off and get lost, instead of all that bullshite "we will get you anything you want" malarkey.

Christ.

Dude was settin off my gaydar too, despite his claims to the contrary.

70 Mocking Jay  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:57:09am

re: #66 SanFranciscoZionist

Wal-Mart doesn't just give to dubious causes; Wal-Mart has a business model that blurs the line between capitalism and a serious mental illness. (According to published sources, they won't buy chairs for their own offices, or pay for phone calls to their suppliers.)

Target has come under attack for some of their donations, but I've never read anything to suggest they were nearly as batshit as Wal-Mart.

I... what? Do they all stand?

71 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 10:58:23am

re: #69 bluecheese

That was painful to watch.

The young lady should have been able to tell that douche bag to fuck off and get lost, instead of all that bullshite "we will get you anything you want" malarkey.

Note to self: if I ever run a fast-food place, make it clear to all employees that there is a point at which you simply close the window.

72 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:01:11am

re: #70 Mocking Jay

I... what? Do they all stand?

No, they use free samples sent by would-be suppliers, IIUC. All mismatched, of course, but free to them.

It's like if someone's grandmother who survived the Depression and washes all the tinfoil for reuse ran a corporation, which I think is not so far from the truth, given that Sam Walton was born in 1918. I could excuse that as a charming example of American thrift, except that their employment practices are similarly penny-pinching, which is less cute.

73 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:01:50am
There is an K9 explosives unit on the scene. Virginia State Police have arrived on the scene. The contents of the packages are still unknown.

Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is on scene. A bomb robot has been sent into the store.

As of 1:50 p.m. Walmart is still evacuated. Police ask that you stay away from Walmart while the investigation is underway.

PetSmart in Hollymead Town Center was briefly evacuated as well this morning. Early reports indicate staff saw a suspect - matching the description of a suspect in the Walmart evacuation - in the store earlier Friday.

PetSmart staff evacuated the store as a precaution. Police brought in K9 units and searched the store, nothing suspicious was found. The store reopened around 1:20 p.m.

74 danarchy  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:05:25am

re: #47 Charles Johnson

Yeah, it's hard to feel sympathy for this jerk, but when wingnuts start targeting private citizens for hit jobs like this it's a really, really bad precedent.

I'm sure there are a LOT of people who act like dicks when they're not at their jobs -- should they all be fired for it? Of course not. This guy was targeted because the right wingers are all puffed up with homophobia and looking for a victim.

In general I am not a fan of people getting fired for things they do outside of work, but I think there is a difference if you are an officer of the company. Wingnuts aside, when your CFO publishes a video of himself being a total douche for the entire world to see I can't blame the company for cutting him loose.

75 makeitstop  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:06:08am

re: #41 simoom

Another entry in real headlines vs Fox headlines:

ABC / Yahoo: Obama Campaign Sues to Extend Ohio Early Voting

CNN: Obama campaign sues over Ohio’s cutoff date for early voting

vs.

Fox Nation: Report: Obama Campaign Sues To Restrict Military Voting

Brietart.com: Obama Campaign Sues to Restrict Military Voting

Apparently you can restrict Military voting, not by effecting their voting options one iota, but by restoring the last 3 days of early voting to non-military voters (military voters never lost those 3 days). ///

h/t Balloon Juice

Someone on Facebook just posted the Breitbart link. I countered with the Yahoo! link and asked how giving everyone the same early voting rights as the military was 'restricting the military vote.'

No response yet.

76 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:07:43am

I gotta go to work. I'll try to log-in with my iPhone if something big happens.

Cheers!

77 wrenchwench  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:08:44am

re: #75 makeitstop

Someone on Facebook just posted the Breitbart link. I countered with the Yahoo! link and asked how giving everyone the same early voting rights as the military was 'restricting the military vote.'

No response yet.

Also Paged here last night.

78 Killgore Trout  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:11:18am

re: #74 danarchy

In general I am not a fan of people getting fired for things they do outside of work, but I think there is a difference if you are an officer of the company. Wingnuts aside, when your CFO publishes a video of himself being a total douche for the entire world to see I can't blame the company for cutting him loose.

I think his position within the company was a factor. Here's their statement...
Vante of Tucson, AZ Regrets Actions of Former CFO

The actions of Mr. Smith do not reflect our corporate values in any manner. Vante is an equal opportunity company with a diverse workforce, which holds diverse opinions. We respect the right of our employees and all Americans to hold and express their personal opinions, however, we also expect our company officers to behave in a manner commensurate with their position and in a respectful fashion that conveys these values of civility with others.

We hope that the general population does not hold Mr. Smith's actions against Vante and its employees.

I think the last sentence is important too. They don't want opposing activists harassing their employees based on what this douche believes.

79 dragonfire1981  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:18:13am

It's a mistake to assume the guy working the counter or drive through at a fast food restaurant is there because that's all he is qualified for.

Due to the economy, I lost the job I had back in October 2010. Finding something else, especially when I didn't want seasonal work, was difficult. I ended up working at Subway for minimum wage for a few months.

I am college educated and hold two degrees.

Do I regret working fast food? No.

Do I wish I would have never had to do it? Yes.

It wasn't easy, but with my wife's income we were able to make it work and in the summer of last year I found a good full time gig with benefits at which I am still employed now.

Part of the reason a lot of companies treat their employees the way they do is because the way the job market is, labor (ESPECIALLY low wage labor) is completely expendable. If they fire you, there's 10 people waiting to take your place.

As a result they push their existing staff as hard as they can, demanding insane levels of company loyalty and productivity, all the while hanging our jobs over our heads if we can't make it. A company my friend works at gives two weeks paid vacation each year, BUT you are viewed as "lazy" by management if you actually DO take the full two weeks. According to him, for most people, a week is about the standard. Ten days is pushing it and anything more than that is pink slip territory. This is an at-will state, so the company can easily fire people if needed.

And that's another problem. "At-will" employment further puts all the power on the company's side. Sure, they technically CAN'T fire people for certain things, but they can make up bullshit unrelated reasons and fire them for those (for example, if you want to fire a woman who recently got pregnant, you can do so and claim it is for "performance related issues").

In fact, in most at will states, the company does not even have to give ANY REASON AT ALL for terminating a worker (though most do, even if said reason is BS).

80 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:22:15am
UPDATE 2:20 p.m. : Virginia State Police are on the scene X-raying a package reportedly left behind by a man who is currently in custody.

Sections of the Walmart have been divided and the scene is still closed to the public.

Police are saying the man is "not a suspect."

The Pet Smart near Hollymead was also evacuated earlier today when employees reported seeing someone matching the man's description.

81 allegro  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:34:04am

re: #73 NJDhockeyfan

PetSmart staff evacuated the store as a precaution. Police brought in K9 units and searched the store, nothing suspicious was found.

Bet that was one of their more pleasant search missions. Hope they gave them some tasty treats as a reward. :)

82 Eventual Carrion  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:35:04am

WTF? After all this bitching about 'free speech' these knuckledraggers pull shit like this. What a pathetic bunch. Are they on this planet just to waste skin, oxygen, and valuable resources.

83 STLActivist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:36:28am

The guy comes across as a huge jerk. A terrible, horrible, no-good jerk. And he deserves to be criticized and mocked (although I'd be willing to bet that if this happened in a restaurant most people would probably stay quiet). However, it's a far cry from that to say that there's nothing wrong with people who disagree with him publicly posting the contact info of his employers and pestering them into firing the guy.

I saw a lot of rude behavior from tea partiers during the fight over health care reform. But no one I know would even dream of taking their names, hunting down their employers, and then trying to get them fired. It crosses an important line between someone's personal and professional life. If a precedent like this is established, then imagine how easy it would be to take comments, tweets, whatever from the internet out-of-context and using them to get people you disagree with fired. Actually, you don't have to imagine it, because it's a tactic the Right is using more and more frequently.

84 Eventual Carrion  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 11:57:01am

re: #26 Mocking Jay

Is that even legal?

They are a corporation, pretty much anything is legal. And even if it isn't, money can make it go away. You, as an individual, better toe the line or you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

85 S'latch  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 12:20:33pm

re: #83 STLActivist

I agree with you to an extent, but I do not agree that there’s "no way the guy would be fired for that level of rudeness in his personal life if the issue hadn’t been a political hot potato."

This rude person was apparently in the level of management, not a low-level employee. As an executive of the company, I would not be able to have such a person in a management-level position representing my company. I would not consider the politics. I would consider that continuing to employ such a person in a management-level position poses serious liability issues based on his exhibition of extremely poor judgment and very poor personal skills.

The same can be said of the nutters who are hounding this man an his family. If I discovered that I was employing a person engaged in that reprehensible behavior, I would fire them as well.

86 CuriousLurker  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 12:27:53pm

This might not be popular, but I'm having a hard time summoning any pity for the guy. He's obviously politically aware and was internet savvy enough to upload his video, so I'm not sure why he thought the wingnuts wouldn't go after him in the worst way if they got wind of it.

They've gone after numerous women & children who weren't even being nasty to someone the way this guy was. These sorts of wingnut attacks are nothing new, nor is the fact that they are the worst sort of hypocrites when it comes to screeching about freedom of...anything...speech, religion, you name it.

Does that excuse them for going after him? No, but his foolish arrogance in posting the video publicly when he was easily identifiable and bullying of that poor girl working the window made it possible. He contributed greatly to his own downfall.

87 CuriousLurker  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 12:29:16pm

re: #85 Lawrence Schmerel

[...] The same can be said of the nutters who are hounding this man an his family. If I discovered that I was employing a person engaged in that reprehensible behavior, I would fire them as well.

Seconded.

88 Big Steve  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 12:42:29pm

re: #36 Killgore Trout

I know I am late to this thread and it is probably dead but.....I have had to fire many people over the years. A good employee who makes a single bad decision is rarely if ever fired for the one event unless it is criminal. Trust me this guy is probably just as much a sanctimonious douche at work too and this was more than likely just the last straw.

89 stonesean  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 2:39:54pm

This guy shot himself in the foot.

His firing is directly connected to his decision to post this video on You Tube.

Plain and simple.

This is not a guy simply being a rude jerk. This is a guy being a rude jerk, then sharing with twisted pride his ability to bully an innocent person in the name of sanctimony.

A self inflicted wound.

He accomplished two things:

1. Getting himself fired

2. Convincing a Chik-fil-A employee that the people who are taking issue with their company really are a bunch of maniacs.

Attention, jerk: You aren't helping!

Zero sympathy for this dude.

Zero.

90 Ming  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 3:30:40pm

I'm in favor of same-sex marriage, so I disagree with Chik-fil-A's president. I'm also appalled at the right wingers who are harassing Smith and his family.

But I must say, Smith's harassing a Chik-fil-A employee is absolutely inexcusable. No matter what my political opinions, I feel absolutely no sympathy for Smith. If his company didn't want to be associated with such a guy, I can sympathize with his company. If people are angry with him, I agree with them; I'm angry at him as well.

Two wrongs don't make a right. If someone fights right-wing bullying with bullying of their own, then they've already lost. That's not the way to go.

91 Patricia Kayden  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 4:23:13pm

re: #23 Lawrence Schmerel

I agree with you. Why didn't he protest in a more reasonable manner? Perhaps stand in front of a Chick-fil-A with a sign. Send a letter to CFA HQ protesting Mr. Cathy's stance. Why attack a low level employee?

But I don't agree wtih him getting fired for stupidity. Don't why he thought it was a good idea to video himself berating a CFA minimum wage earner.

92 Ming  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 7:12:59pm

It's very, very important to me that I work with nice people. I'm very lucky to be with a company that's a fine collection of people. This isn't the only thing that matters to people about their jobs, of course, but for me, it's an important thing. I absolutely would not want to work with anyone who, even outside of work, was so rude to someone who worked in a drive-through window.

It goes without saying that I'm also appalled by the right-wing rejoicing over Smith's firing. With many on the right-wing, there is so much hatred that is so very close to the surface. It doesn't take much to get these people going.

But decades before George W. Bush stole the 2000 election, and religion became fused with the Republican Party, I always knew how much I hated people who were rude to waitresses, or bus drivers, or people who worked in fast-food drive-throughs.

93 Special Forces Grunt  Sun, Aug 5, 2012 8:38:32am

I look at the jerk from a different point of view. I suspect that he treats his subordinates as badly as he treated that wait person.


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT
LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal
Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
Once Praised, the Settlement to Help Sickened BP Oil Spill Workers Leaves Most With Nearly Nothing When a deadly explosion destroyed BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, 134 million gallons of crude erupted into the sea over the next three months — and tens of thousands of ordinary people were hired ...
Cheechako
Yesterday
Views: 68 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 0
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
4 days ago
Views: 167 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1