I ratted out a rightie at the hospital this morning.

[Critters2]

A parishioner was having surgery this morning (in fact, I've come home for lunch, but going back to the hospital, to be there when he comes out of surgery), so I went over and parked in the clergy parking area. Clergy parking is far enough from the hospital that they have a shuttle car come around to pick people up, driven by volunteers. The shuttle pulled up behind my car just as I was getting out, so I hopped in. The driver says, "I like your 'I love my beagle' sticker."

Me: Thank you.
Him: I don't like the other sticker, though.
Me: What?
Him: I don't like your other sticker.
Me: The Obama one?
Him: Yep. I don't like him, I don't trust him.
Me: Because he's black? (Yep, I went there. It's time to confront these racists).
Him: Did I say that?
Me: What other reason would you have to not trust the president of the United States?
Him: I don't know where he's from.
Me: He's from Hawaii originally. More recently from Chicago. Now you know.
Him: I don't like where he was educated.
Me: He has degrees from Columbia and Harvard. Where are your degrees from?

Then we got to the hospital, I wished him a good day, and headed inside. Before going to the surgical area, I stopped at the Human Resources office, and told the woman at the desk that I had a complaint about the shuttle driver. A supervisor was standing nearby, and took me aside to ask what my complaint was. I told her that the shuttle driver was badmouthing the POTUS, and that didn't seem appropriate to me. She asked me which parking lot I had come from, and I told her I was in clergy parking. She replied "I know who it was. I'll have a talk with him." Then she gave me a free lunch pass.

I've had my fill with these people. No more Rev. Nice Guy from me! I challenge them and confront them when necessary.

And it got me a free lunch, which I've saved for a day when I don't feel the need to run home and let the beagle out.

[villager]

1. So there *is* such a thing as a free lunch!

Wow.

Unless we count what you had to endure, first, to get it... hmmm... ;-)

[Critters2]

6. Apparently, it's a Socialist hospital. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

59. +1

[Wounded Bear]

252. Not free at all....earned through patriotic act. nt

[ShortnFiery]

2. Beautiful!

You're an American Patriot. :patriot: :thumbsup:

[Critters2]

4. Just doin' my little part. nt

[roguevalley]

42. you are my hero. and you like hounds. so do I

check my sig line. :)

[AlbertCat]

345. I applaud you. Good job.

But I must point out, coming from the clergy parking lot gives you an advantage. Many people defer to religious authorities automatically. Had you come from the "atheist parking lot" I wonder if anyone would have listened to your complaint. Maybe... but I have my doubts. (Of course there is no "atheist parking lot"... but it is my personal experience that if it is known I'm an atheist, I get treated differently. I'm sure if I had come from just the visitor's parking lot, the scene would have played out the same as it did.)

Again...good work. Also, because you were calm, cool and collected...that religious authority may have nudged the driver to consider what you said too. Let's hope so.

[Horse with no Name]

3. If the admins there are like the admins at my hospital

That man got a raise before noon.:(

[Critters2]

5. The HR woman did seem unhappy about it.

Come to think of it, I don't really know the politics of hospital administration here, though I know the docs who own the main outpatient clinic would've given him a raise.

[Horse with no Name]

8. She is paid to soothe ruffled feathers

She wouldn't have revealed her ideology to you.
However, if she KNEW who it was immediately, then this has happened before. Obviously there was nothing done to the man nor does he feel his job threatened because he wasn't fearful of losing his job by engaging with you.

[Critters2]

14. True enough. nt

[Arkansas Granny]

340. OP states that shuttle is driven by volunteers. HR may not have much influence on him.

[704wipes]

417. They probably have other vols who would like to drive the shuttle

Set him next to a copier somewhere making copies...

[Ilsa]

282. I suspect she is concerned that it reflects badly on her, the hospital, etc

when someone like the driver disses any president.

Thanks for reporting him, though. It's time for these people to get a taste of their own vile medicine.

[madmax]

7. This is for you

:hug:

I'm glad you went right to the heart of the matter. Race.

[Aragorn]

113. you mean

prejudice. There is only one race.

[madmax]

132. Touche. n/t

[DainBramaged]

9. There are times when I think Jesus meant turn the other cheek

after their best shot and then knock them on their ass.

You done good.


you should have asked him when he came to Jesus, that would have REALLY contradicted his hate.

[NoSheep]

10. Good job. I hope others will do the same.

[Critters2]

11. I think that's the key. Don't be cowed by them. Remind them that they are in the minority,

and he's the President of the United States!

[Creena]

12. And a mighty cute beagle it is!

I like both of your stickers, so there!

We need more people calling out this cretins. Good job! :fistbump:

[Critters2]

16. Thank you! nt

[Unrepentant Fenian]

17. Good job! Thanks for taking a stand!

[Romulox]

13. It's kindergarten all over again. nt

[LAGC]

106. LOL

"I'm telling the teacher on you!"

[SammyWinstonJack]

277. +1

:spray:

[Dogtown]

15. Well done, Critters2

:patriot:

[lpbk2713]

18. Outstanding.

They will continue to parrot these bogus RW Media TP's as long as they think they will get away with it.

The best way to stop them is to tell someone who they will listen to, as you did. :thumbsup: :hi: :thumbsup:

[AspenRose]

19. Him: "Did I say that?"

He didn't have to.

"I don't know where he's from." :wtf: (Great, a birther.)

And I'm SURE he'd have problems with ANY white person running the country who graduated from COLUMBIA and HARVARD LAW...riiiight... :eyes:

You did good :hug:

[Critters2]

20. Thank you! nt

[Warpy]

21. Excellent. Silence = approval.

We can't be silent when confronted by these people. All it takes is one polite sentence. We don't have to argue or match their volume. All we have to do is tell them they're wrong and leave it at that.

We just can't let them go on thinking everybody approves of them. If we don't speak up, they assume that we do.

[XanaDUer]

248. What Warpy said.

Excellent summation. I notice most RWers just assume that, if you are white, or whatever, you agree with them.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Critters2]

24. The hospital claims to be non-profit. So, no one on its staff is supposed to be

engaging in partisan politics during business hours. Not to mention that it was unprofessional. And there was nothing cowardly about anything I did. He took a risk that I would find his behavior inappropriate. He made that choice.

You're just jealous cuz I got free lunch pass.

[salguine]

181. You're bending over backwards to string together some kind of

patchwork of rationales to justify messing with this guy over a trivial matter—maybe even getting him disciplined, over voicing an opinion—and then crowing about getting a free lunch pass!?

What is wrong with you? And you say you're clergy? Where do you preach, Our Lady of the Perpetual Smug Asshole?

[NavyDavy]

355. if you don't like what the op did why comment just leave the

discussion........he did the right thing.....I would have gone back after eating my free lunch and made sure something was done...

[NavyDavy]

356. if you don't like what the op did why comment just leave the

discussion........he did the right thing.....I would have gone back after eating my free lunch and made sure something was done...

[apocalypsehow]

384. Good points, but I have a feeling this tale is a Walter Mitty special, anyway. n/t.

[eppur_se_muova]

220. "you're just jealous ..."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Well played!

[AspenRose]

26. Then she's in good company

since someone's complained about this guy before.

You should take your own advice about civil, lively debate and vindictiveness to heart

[Moochy]

28. I think the poster has a hobby...

posting on DU, and making your knickers twisted up enough to make you post ad hominems. Woosh!

[Rabrrrrrr]

30. Oh, please. What a fucking stinking ludicrous load of projectivist bullshit.

:eyes:

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LanternWaste]

34. I imagine...

"It's one thing to engage in a lively debate with people you disagree with. It's something else to be a cowardly, sniveling rat..."

I imagine calling someone a "cowardly, sniveling rat", or saying they need a life, or therapy would be just as bad if not more so. And, as it doesn't really fall into the category of "lively debate", it seems to be little more than another spurious case of six of one, half a dozen of the other.

But then again, I imagine very few of us recognize the beams in our own eyes, and find it more validating to focus on the motes in the eyes of everyone else...

[TlalocW]

23. This Fall on NBC...

Narrator: He's a man of the cloth that doesn't play by the rules.

Cut scene:
Shot of the back of Reverend Critters2 at a desk, saying, "No more Reverend Nice Guy from me!"

Narrator: He's been pushed too far, and now it's time to push back.

Cut scene:
Shuttle Driver: "I don't like your sticker!"
Close-up of Reverend Critters2 face as he slowly turns around, squinting with a snarl on his lips.

Narrator: This Fall... THE REVEREND!

Cut scene:
Reverend Critters2: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of DEATH!" Round-house kick
Fade to black.

I think I've got a winner here.

TlalocW

[Critters2]

27. !

:rofl:

[Kadie]

38. That's great.

I'd watch!

:rofl:

[JVS]

62. Reminds me of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpX3XdU-V9o

[TlalocW]

74. That was part of my inspiration, yes

:)

TlalocW

[The Animator]

278. Or maybe this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgZEuucpVdQ

[Hawkeye-X]

161. I'm sure they'll work in the holy water to make it useful for SOMETHING.

I mean, how do you make two molecules of hydrogen and one molecule of oxygen holy?

[Parker CA]

25. Nice! Straight to the root of the issue...scary black man. These people are disgusting. Well done.

[deaniac21]

29. Another xian following the great x.

[Patchuli]

226. You know, pagans can be assholes too

in case you've never noticed.

[deaniac21]

264. But they aren't being hypocrites.

[Patchuli]

280. Neither are ALL Christians

Maybe you should work on that group-labeling judgmental thing...

[deaniac21]

406. I was only talking about the op.

[Patchuli]

415. It was offensive to hear Jesus referred to as 'x'

and your post sounded like just another slam on believers. That's gotten really old.

[deaniac21]

418. If it's good enough for Malcolm...

[Patchuli]

419. It was offensive. Period. nt

[HughMoran]

31. Great example for the rest of us

I'm tired of this shit as well. No more Mr. Nice Person!

[laughingliberal]

33. Yay for you

I don't agree with the earlier poster that the hospital already knew about the problem and the man still has a job so they must not take it seriously. Most hospitals have a progressive discipline procedure. It is quite possible he has been warned and is on notice of further discipline if caught doing it again.

[Horse with no Name]

35. Most hospitals have a progressive discipline problem

if it occurs outside of what they believe.
If it occurs inside of what they believe, it is a wink-wink-nudge-nudge.
At my facility, this man would have received a raise.
I would have been fired if I violated our "no tolerance policy regarding politics" had I berated Bush.
I've worked for hospitals for the last 25 or so years.
I KNOW precisely how it works.

[laughingliberal]

37. I, too, have worked for many years in hospitals but even the worst of them

do not want to hear complaints from patients, families, and the general public. And I don't know of any that would be happy about hearing from a clergy member. Not saying it's caused they're principled but it is a PR thing.

[Horse with no Name]

39. Then you have worked for enlightened profiteers

I work for a Nashville corp.
Obama/liberalism/Democrats/Insurance Reform is the enemy of these people. They don't hide it.

[laughingliberal]

89. Ah, Bill Frist territory

I worked for a while for his father's company. Not nice people.

[XanaDUer]

249. Mine, too.

Frankly, once I book from this job, I will never work for a hospital again. It's been a real eye opener for me.

I am sure you have some stories about bias, if you told them, others here would think you were exaggerating. How 'bout this gem during the election -

masters'-degreed nurse was the one person in her dept FOR Obama/Biden. She got talked to about wearing her support on her uniform. Fine. Problem? The other nurses/workers who wore their McCain/Palin support on said clothing/scrubs were not talked to.

Totally true. Liberal nurse now gone. She was no longer in direct clinical contact with patients but in a support department.

Don't blame her for leaving.

[Seen the light]

36. So, a guy compliments you, you badger him and call him a racist for no reason

...and then you tried to screw with his livelihood.

My, my. A true progressive hero you are.

To clarify before someone says anything: It actually DOES appear that the guy turned out to be a racist, but that was purely coincidental. If someone doesn't like an Obama bumper sticker and says they don't trust him, that should give you zero indication that person has any racist motivation in their thinking. Just because you happened to be correct, doesn't change that fact.

[truebrit71]

41. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight 'cos this douchenozzle really didn't like Obama because he didn't know..

...where he was from...

That right there is your very first clue that he is a racist..

Nice attack on the OP though...:eyes:

[FLDCVADem]

43. So that I know all of the rules...

...anyone that doesn't automatically assume every opponent of President Obama is a racist is in fact a "good German".

Incredible.

[truebrit71]

47. Wow..way to totally miss that point..

..

Incredible..

[FLDCVADem]

49. I didn't miss anything

Before you edited your post, you called Seen the Light a "good German" for not agreeing with the methods of the OP.

[truebrit71]

52. Wrong! Thanks for proving my point that you COMPLETELY missed what I was saying.,.

:rofl:

[FLDCVADem]

55. Nope, not wrong

You described as "good Germans" those that wouldn't have done what the OP did. Then you edited your post to take out the "good German" reference. Why was that?

[truebrit71]

60. Because I KNEW that there would be those out there that TOTALLY missed the point..

...as you continue to very ably demonstrate...

[truebrit71]

58. The "good German" sits there and just let's things happen...

..and then berates those that stand up to the ill-informed racist fucks that live amongst us...

[FLDCVADem]

64. Then I was correct in what I said

Anyone that doesn't automatically assume racism when another dislikes President Obama is a "good German" in your book.

You're so proud of the statement, I don't understand why you took it out.

[truebrit71]

65. WRONG!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

But do keep trying, it's most amusing...

[LanternWaste]

79. Seems more like an inference on your part...

Seems more like an inference on your part, rather than an implication on the part of the other poster...

However, I imagine we all infer and interpret that statements of others to one degree or another in such a way as to either better validate our sense of self, or our ideas.

[FLDCVADem]

83. No, he was very clear

in his reference, and then edited it out for whatever reason.

[LanternWaste]

84. I'm referring to "getting the point"

I'm referring to "getting the point".

[truebrit71]

85. Nope. But thanks for putting words in my mouth..

:eyes:

And as I have previously stated, YOU misunderstood my point, you have continued to demonstrate that in every single other post you have made about it since, and now you assume you can speak for me, or my intentions, or my thoughts?

I think not.

[FLDCVADem]

86. There was nothing to misunderstand

You equated anyone that didn't agree with the OP's methods to "good Germans". Your words, not mine.

You said them, you should now own up to them.

[truebrit71]

88. Sorry but that is NOT what I said...

..and I most certainly did NOT make the sweeping generalizations that you claim I did.

My words?

Not hardly..

[truebrit71]

92. Dupe

.

[truebrit71]

93. Oh, BTW...

...can you point out just where the fuck I said ANY of that horseshit...

[FLDCVADem]

102. No I can't

Because you edited the post it was in and took out the "good Germans" reference.

[truebrit71]

112. Because there were going to be plenty of numpties missing the point...

...as it stands, you are the only one...

I did NOT say that EVERYONE that opposed Obama had to be assumed to be a racist, neither did I say that if you DIDN'T think that way you were being an idiot...but you mis-read what I wrote, and continue to belabour it..

Me? I am done with it...

You are obviously more concerned with the rights of the racist (as apparently was the poster I originally replied to) than the person that refused to be a good German...

[FLDCVADem]

115. True, you didn't say idiot

You said good German.

Your words, own them.

[FLDCVADem]

118. Let me quote you before you edit this out too

"You are obviously more concerned with the rights of the racist (as apparently was the poster I originally replied to) than the person that refused to be a good German..."

And there you go again - anyone that doesn't jump to the conclusion that anyone anti-Obama is a racist is indeed a "good German".

[truebrit71]

121. Where is the generalization "anyone"...

..YOU are the one making the generalization... I note SPECIFICALLY who the good german is, and YOU decide that what i really mean is that this applies to ANYONE, and not, as it was written, to one specific person...

Your interpretation of my words is your own.

YOU f*cking own them, m'kay?

I'm done with you.

[FLDCVADem]

125. I think it's pretty funny that you can't even remember

what you posted.

Maybe you shouldn't have taken it out.

[truebrit71]

126. I am quoting your post of 10 minutes ago...i find it amusing that you cannot remember posting that..

...From YOUR post

...."And there you go again - anyone that doesn't jump to the conclusion that anyone anti-Obama is a racist is indeed a "good German". "

Please note that YOU made the sweeping generalization "Anyone"...I did not...

[hfojvt]

232. Why shouldn't there be an anyone though?

Person A does Action B and that means Person A is NOT being a 'good German'. How does it not follow then that any Person C who does NOT do Action B IS being a 'good German'?

The other question though is whether 'Action B' is "assuming anyone who mistrusts Obama is a racist" or whether it is "having determined to your satisfaction that the mistruster is, in fact, a racist, to rat him out to authorities."

However, it seems to me that when a person has a bias, that it becomes very easy for them to 'prove' that their bias is correct. Thus, if I start out feeling fairly confident that "A person who does not trust Obama is a racist" that I will decide "I was right" on fairly flimsy evidence.

[Seen the light]

91. You're missing my point

If the OP is describing exactly what happened, then the guy had said nothing that showed he was racist at all until AFTER the accusation had been made. The first person to say anything truly inappropriate was the OP and not the hick that responded.

[deaniac21]

129. You don't get the point. We should be scouring the country for

racist shuttle drivers. They do not have a right to earn that 6.50 an hour!

[Critters2]

187. He wasn't earning anything, and his job was to drive people to the hospital,

and nothing else.

[deaniac21]

265. Damn, those racist volunteers! Death to the lot!

[NavyDavy]

357. most pumas do

[pipi_k]

45. Here's something I'd like to see...

A black man saying he doesn't like Obama. There must be some out there. Then I'd like to see people like the OP accuse that black man who doesn't like Obama of being a "racist".

Seems like that type is everywhere...waiting to pounce on people who don't like Obama purely for his politics just so they can accuse them of being racists.


This is just as ridiculous as when, during the primaries, women who didn't like Hillary were being accused of being sexist. WTF...does it get any stupider than that?

But anyway, yeah, I agree with you.

Someone compliments a guy, is mostly pleasant in discourse and tone, and he gets verbally badgered and then reported for his troubles. Appalling, to say the least.

[FLDCVADem]

46. Uh-oh

Looks like you're a good German too. ;)

[truebrit71]

48. Or just totally clueless...

...:eyes:

[FLDCVADem]

50. Why did you edit your post

to remove the "good German" reference?

[truebrit71]

53. So that it wouldn't confuse people...

..apparently i was too late..

[FLDCVADem]

56. Nice try n/t

[truebrit71]

71. Not really...it confused the hell out of you...

...

[FLDCVADem]

75. Nope

Not at all.

[truebrit71]

77. Other than the fact that you are still arguing about an edited post...

...how are you not confused?

[pipi_k]

57. Definitely....

Heil Weinerschnitzel!!!

:7

[ieoeja]

131. Blacks absolutely *can* be prejudiced against Blacks.

My ex-wife's grandmother did not want her grand-daughter bringing home anybody who was too dark-skinned (fyi: I am White, so grandma was thrilled when I came along). Grandma exhibited a good deal of self-hatred.

Whites were not the only ones being taught that Blacks were inferior. Just as daughters often grow up believing they are inferior to boys, a lot of African-Americans grew up believing in their inferiority.

"Black Pride" was/is an attempt to reverse this sad tale.

Of course, that is largely generational. I do still run into it among really young Black kids from time to time, but they always get over it. Nowadays there is the similar, but different, problem of "can't get ahead".

Different cause: "they won't let me" instead of "I am inferior".
Same result: "so why bother trying".

I know a guy who carried that 'tude into his middle ages before his parents died (he lived at home) forcing him into the workplace where he was shocked to discover that he COULD and DID get ahead. In his defense, his belief otherwise may have been true when he was a younger man. There was a lot of fading of discrimination during the intervening decades.

[pipi_k]

135. that's true, but

let me just say that I wouldn't want to be the white person sticking my nose into that fight.

If anyone who doesn't share my ethnic heritage were to come up to me and berate me for being prejudiced against some people of my own ethnic heritage, I seriously would have to tell that person to fuck off and mind his own business.

[billh58]

225. The only problem with

your analogies, are that there ARE racists and sexists in this country numbering in the millions. Not everyone who criticizes a politician has those motives, but in the two cases you cited (Obama and Hillary) there are many who do. Racism and sexism have been at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement for decades, and are now joined by the LGBT movement. The fight is far from over.

One of the standard "apologist" arguments is that many African-Americans voted for Obama because he is black, and many women voted for Hillary because she is a woman. These are true statements, but there were also many neoconservative white people (and many of those who crossed Party lines) who voted for McCain/Palin because they are white (and for no other reason), and many neoconservative and religious-right men (and a few women) who voted against Hillary because she is a woman.

Ignoring a fact does not make it go away, nor any less factual.

[Cha]

51. Why are you twisting this all around?

Way to stick up for brainwashed population.

[FLDCVADem]

61. What exactly is being twisted around?

With no basis whatsoever, the OP accused the guy of being a racist. After further discussion, turns out he may have been, but the original accusation was based on nothing other than the guy not trusting Obama.

I've seen people on this very website say that they don't trust Obama - are they racists too?

[truebrit71]

63. Have ANY of those saying they distrust Pres. Obama said "they don't know where he's from?"..

..how about none.

The ONLY people that buy into that birther crap are racists, and is the most obvious indicator.

[FLDCVADem]

67. Re-read the OP

He accused him of being a racist before he said "because of where he's from".

Next.


*edited to change "She" to "He" in the first sentence.

[bigmonkey]

123. No accusation. He asked him if it was because Obama is black.

The implied question is "Are you a racist?" This question is not allowed, it hurts the feelings of the innocent?

[FLDCVADem]

259. Of course it was an accusation

Based on (at that point) nothing more than the fact that the driver said he didn't trust Obama.

[darkstar3]

358. It's called "dog-whistle politics"

When Bill Clinton lied to the American people about doing something completely legal with a consenting adult, did anyone you know spout the "I don't trust him" meme?

No. Everyone I knew, at least, was spouting the "He's a liar, IMPEACH HIM," or the "So he lied about a BJ, big deal, he still balanced the budget."

The bottom line here is that Clinton had a reason for people not to trust him, but that wasn't how they said it.

'W' was the same way. He lied about every fucking thing he could, and no one here on this board would have trusted him as far as they could throw him, but did anyone here simply say "I just don't trust him?"

No. They said "He's a fucking liar and we need to get him out of office."

"I just don't trust him" is a verbatim Fox News talking point. It's also a "dog-whistle" to people with like-minded prejudices that gives them the green light to start spouting hateful bullshit. It's a way to say "I don't like him 'cause he's black" without actually having to come out and say it.

The OP called it like he saw it, and he saw it just fine.

[Cha]

66. So you're sticking for the brainwashed too..

whatever.

[FLDCVADem]

69. I'm saying that just because

someone doesn't trust Obama doesn't mean that person is a racist.

[Critters2]

134. I made no accusation. I asked a question.

How sad that you can't tell the difference.

[FLDCVADem]

256. How sad that you insist on being so disinguous

"Me: Because he's black? (Yep, I went there. It's time to confront these racists)."

No accustation my ass.

[Critters2]

192. I just asked if the reason he doesn't like the POTUS is that he's black.

Not an accusation, except to those who already feel guilty.

[57_TomCat]

401. Not an accusation...

well let us call it a loaded question then.

[pipi_k]

68. Twisting it around? hmmm...

See this is funny. No, I mean really funny...

Because if you were to spend any time on the "other side" you'd see that they all think WE are "brainwashed" as well.

In fact, but for the Grace of Some Unknown Deity and a bit of luck, you could have been one of "them" yourself.

I which case you'd be running around calling all of US "brainwashed". Because, you know, no matter what side you're on, your side is always the one that's right. The side with the key to the truth.


So I would like to know what law forbids people from speaking ill of our President. Did you or anyone you know do the same thing during the Bush years? Either you did, and you're no better than the shuttle driver, or you didn't...in which case you must have been happy with everything Dubya did and said.

I don't agree with the shuttle driver's politics, but he was exercising something we all have the right to...free speech.

And he may end up being rebuked or fired for it by some fool who can't just live and let live.

sorry...I don't tolerate stupidity, especially from people who call themselves "liberals" or "Democrats".

[FLDCVADem]

70. I'm in awe

Great post!

[Cha]

82. Oh yeah, the driver of the Church Shuttle can keep up his spittle

about not liking the President and someone who takes exception can fucking report it.

Oh and who says he's going to lose his job? hmmm? That's what bush+cheney assholes do.

[Rebubula]

90. LOL WUT?

The OP preemptively called this man a racist (so what if he\she was right? - how about I call the guy with the do-rag at the corner a drug dealer?) and then complained.

What do you think was the expected outcome of complaining that a worker was being racist - - A promotion? Don't be obtuse, the OP was looking to fuck with his livelihood in some form or another.

[Cha]

95. I don't give a shit...the fucker

started it and if the OP guessed right that he's a racist then so be it.

It's his right to report that they have driver spouting crap about the Pres.

It's real touching for all of you to be sticking up for the birthers..maybe ya'll should get in touch with the driver and lend him a hand if you think he's going to lose his job.

[im okay youre iffy]

287. You. just. don't. fucking. get. it.

The person said he didn't like her other bumper sticker. Despite our leaning further and further into fascism, we still have the right to express ourselves. The fact that he was on the job when he said it is the only wrinkle, but DEAL WITH IT! When you put a bumper sticker with your opinion on it, expect to get reactions. Some may not follow in line with your thinking but pull up your big girl panties and DEAL WITH IT!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

97. Because saying "I think the shuttle driver is a Republican"

....would have less impact.

The OP handled it right. They didn't say the guy was a racist, just that he was bashing the POTUS. That was inappropriate. When you are doing a job, keep your politics in your car.

[pipi_k]

101. Oh, the irony...

"when you're doing your job, keep your politics in your car (i.e. to yourself)"



But I'll bet if the guy had said he LOVED Obama, that would have been OK.

This isn't about keeping one's politics to oneself on the job. Or maybe I'm wrong? Do you report people who discuss politics on their job even if they say they LOVE Obama?

Either we report everyone for discussing politics on the job...even if they're Democrats....or we're being fucking hypocrites...only reporting the people we disagree with.

Which one is it?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

110. The guy shouldn't have said anything. Period.

I wouldn't provoke a customer with a "W" sticker without cause. The guy wanted to get his shot in, now he owns it.

[pipi_k]

183. Well he did say something. And it would have been just as easy

for the OP to say "I'm sorry you don't like my other sticker" and then turn around and leave.

Takes two to tango.

But that's not my point. My point was in asking the OP whether he would have reported someone who said he LIKED the Obama sticker and then went on to list all of Obama's virtues.

I'm thinking he would NOT have reported such a person.


so the shuttle driver may have "baited" the OP...who knows. But if the OP ended up taking the bait, he's just as much to blame as the shuttle driver was. Don't be putting it all on the shuttle driver unless he held a gun to the OP's head and forced him to get involved in that conversation.

[FLDCVADem]

103. But he didn't bash the POTUS

He said he didn't trust him - how is that bashing him?

[Critters2]

139. He was a volunteer. nt

[T Wolf]

262. Anything that can be done to get assholes like that racist fired is good. Letting them

continue to pollute society is self-destructive.

Removing them by any means necessary is a public service.

[pipi_k]

99. Since when did reporting someone for his political views become OK

in this country?

Honestly, this just keeps getting more and more absurd...


OK I'll tell ya what...if I were this shuttle driver's boss during, say, the Bush years and someone came in to report that the shuttle driver dissed Bush, I would probably have to laugh in the person's face, even as much as I despise(d) Bush.

But that's just me. Because I know fools are everywhere. and anyone who felt he had to report someone because of his political views has got to be a fool.


Who knows what this shuttle driver's boss would/will do.

He may just laugh and say nothing. He may rebuke the guy. Or he could fire him.

You just NEVER know. And people who run around playing with the livelihood of others like that without knowing what the results/consequences will be, are...pardon my French...assholes.

[truebrit71]

107. Did you miss the last eight years, or did we all just collectively dream the same horrible nightmare

..where people lost their jobs because of their political views...:shrug:

It happened ALL THE TIME during the * administration's tenure..

[pipi_k]

137. so now it's time for a little payback, is that it?

Act just like "them"?

lovely

[truebrit71]

159. You can appease the bullies if you like, I prefer to smack them in the mouth...

...i am beyond tired with this "we have to be better than them" mantra..we already are, but you don't bring a knife to a gunfight...It is time that they understood what playing by their rules feels like...

You have seen the results of trying to be the grown-ups and be bi-partisan...exactly zero progress...therefore no more Mr Nice Guy, and time to put those majorities to use...Elections have consequences...time the Democrats figured that out...

[pipi_k]

164. uh, oh...

"appeasing the bullies"

wow. That sounds a whole lot like the constant shit we heard after 9/11 from the RW crazies...

"appeasing the terrorists"

:scared:


In any case, this guy wasn't a "bully".

He was engaged in conversation and gave his opinion. You going to tell us now that giving our opinions is "bullying"?

Did the shuttle driver hold a gun to the OP's head and force him to listen? Did he threaten his family or his property or his safety? Did he swear or jump up and down and act like a crazy person?

BULLY?


Honestly, sometimes this place is almost as entertaining as watching monkeys trying to screw a football...

:rofl:

[Critters2]

195. Insofar as the hospital offers one shuttle that I needed to ride in,

and the driver of said shuttle felt the need to opine, uninvited, about my bumper sticker and the president, I was pretty much forced to listen. One should able to get a ride to the hospital entrance without listening to the opinions of a birther...or anyone else.

[57_TomCat]

273. If you are willing to post...

a bumper sticker, in public, on your car, then you have just "opined uninvited" to the world following you. Having a shuttle driver who "continues" the conversation YOU started with said bumper sticker is NOT uninvited. You took it further and in my opinion gave the Democrats as a party a black eye for being petty. Seems hard to me to argue against pettiness when it seems to be so pronounced in my own party. :(

You would have the high road IF you had dispensed with the public political sticker and been forced to suffer the uninvited political discourse of said driver.

Be careful what you ask for, bumper stickers "INVITE" discourse.

[NavyDavy]

367. I don't feel like the Dem party got a black eye, I think it shows

that not all Dems are cowards and won't stand up for what they believe...

[57_TomCat]

370. There is line between standing up...

and defending your position vs. acting elitist, demeaning and vindictive.

critters 2 could have easily done the right thing by supporting her position and enjoyed the debate she initiated with her public display of support for Obama. Instead she was petty and vindictive and worse exemplified several of the traits we strive to eliminate in our civilized society. That type of action will leave a mark on the party as a whole. It might not mean much in the overall scheme of things but it still is not a good thing.

[pipi_k]

304. Oh I'm so sorry...I didn't realize he held a GUN to your head and forced you to listen

Are you an adult? You have a mouth? An IQ over 100? Raised by human parents?

Then you're perfectly capable of saying to someone, "I'd prefer not to discuss it, if you don't mind".

That's what people with a bit of class do.

People with class don't participate in a conversation and then complain about it later.

You don't want to be bothered by people while you're on shuttle buses or standing in lines or whatever and you don't have the gumption to tell them to leave you alone? Get yourself a goddamned iPod and turn it up full blast, for pete's sake.

[NavyDavy]

363. if you don't like the discussion leave along with freedom of speech

you have the freedom to leave this discussion.....

[IdaBriggs]

116. Free speech ends when you are getting paid. nt

[pipi_k]

141. And it also applies to political opinions spoken by people with whom we AGREE

The double standards here stink

Do you honestly believe the OP would have reported the shuttle driver if he had said something good about Obama, or otherwise identified himself as a Democrat?

Please.

As I said someplace else here, this isn't about whether or not freedom of speech is, or should be allowed on the job. It's about the OP being pissed off over a Republican dissing Obama and he (the OP), deciding with scant evidence, that the man was a "racist".

If the man had been a Democrat, all would have been peachy.


That's all it is.

A big lying double standard, and everything else is bullshit.

[IdaBriggs]

343. I believe that when you OFFEND people with your political speech

while on company time, whether as a "paid" or "non-paid" person, then your supervisor needs to hear about it.

The driver gambled that he wasn't being offensive. He was wrong. He got reported.

I stopped hiring a plumber because he offended me with his political speech. Had he been mouthing his opinions while not charging me an hourly rate, I probably would have ended the conversation and avoided his (unpleasant) company. As it was, I paid his bill, and NEVER CALLED HIM BACK.

People who are in a position to require a shuttle service can't stop the driver, demand to get out and take the next bus (if one is available). If he doesn't OFFEND someone (because they share his views), he's safe. Otherwise, he should stick to non-confrontational comments.

And this applies to Religion as well as Politics.

(Picture this, if you will: He's an adherent of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and goes off on a diatribe about the stupidity of Zombie Jesus. Should this offensive behavior be reported? DUH!)

[pipi_k]

364. I don't believe that's the rule

if a company or institution has a rule, about not engaging in political speech while on the job.

It's ALL political speech.

If you're working at a place and you have a Republican boss and you are caught at the water cooler discussing politics with others and he only reprimands YOU and not the Republicans, is that fair?

Really...tell us all how happy you would be that your boss stuck to his guns and stifled your (offensive to him) political views while allowing the others (non offensive to him) to get away with it.

[IdaBriggs]

425. Its *supposed* to be "all" but reality is usually only the "offensive"

stuff (to the boss, or whatever) ever gets addressed. Start a topic on it, and you will be regaled with tales of how folks can listen to Limpballs, etc while folks are simply ignored when they protest.

Either way, the moral of this story is still the same: at work, with politics (and religion) the best rule is SHUT UP ALREADY. :)

[bigjohn16]

221. So since he was a volunteer you think what the OP did was wrong. Right? nt

[IdaBriggs]

346. Nope. He was representing an organization Other Than Himself.

Paid or unpaid, he doesn't get to OFFEND PEOPLE while representing Someone Else.

He is more than welcome to make comments like he did when he isn't "at work." "At work" people depend on him to provide a service and don't need to listen to political, religious or other offensive commentary, especially while already undergoing the stress of a hospital visit (in this particular case).

He gambled he wasn't being offensive. He was wrong. :shrug:

[bigjohn16]

382. Yep he thought he was talking to a human being and he was wrong.

He was talking to a petulant "Man of God".

[IdaBriggs]

424. Ah, so now you have to insult someone by "dehumanizing them"

so you can -- what? Seriously? Get into a pissing match on the internet with a total stranger over someone getting reported for being offensive in political speech with a clergyman at a hospital doing his duty???

Seriously, there is something wrong with you. Either way, I am grateful I don't have to deal with you anymore. :) Bye-bye! :)

[bigjohn16]

427. All I'm doing is responding to a thread the OP started.

One more thing the OP was the one who identified himself as a rat so the dehumanizing was done in the first post.

[Rebubula]

73. Well put

Some people are looking for racists where there are none. The same assholes that howled about Whitewater, Vince Foster and Lewinsky when President Clinton was in office are the same ones that are opposed to President Obama.

Folks...if you put a bumper sticker on your car and then have discussions about them with people that disagree - THEN preemptively call them a racist, you do NOT Have a right to fuck with their livelihood. You are just being a dick at that point. Unless the driver started going off about ########s or something patently offensive - their opinion is just that...an opinion.

[FLDCVADem]

78. I totally agree

I completely understand that freedom of speech doesn't apply to the workaday world, and I'm fine with that. And if the employee had started to spontaneously rant in racist terms about the President, then yeah, I would have complained too.

But I can't imagine accusing a guy of being a racist and then complaining to his employer when he tries to defend himself.

[pipi_k]

81. Your last sentence...

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me that it's exactly what happened.

Accuse a guy of being a racist before he even SAYS anything racist, then complain to his employer.

The classic "Do you still beat your wife?" trap.

And trap it was...definitely....

utterly shameful.

[pipi_k]

80. I would like to understand why people do that

Why do they look for "racists" and "bigots" and "sexists" and other "ists" everywhere, and in everything.

sometimes I wonder if it's just a way of not having to deal with similar things in themselves, you know? Like striking first will keep the focus off of themselves and keep them from having to face things in themselves they would rather not have to deal with.

Projection, I think they call it.

It would almost be funny if it weren't so sad and pathetic...

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

94. DU has had a problem since the last primary

You had Obama supporters accusing Hillary supporters of being racist, and Hillary backers accusing Obama people of being sexist. Therefore, in the mind of someone reading the story, they could infer that it's possible the shuttle driver thinks Hillary or other Democrats are "okay", but Obama is not.

I think that's bullshit, and I'd bet dollars to donuts the shuttle driver would bash Hillary (She killed Vince Foster!), Bill (He has sex with an intern!), John Kerry(He sold out his fellow soldiers!), or Al Gore(Anyone who believes that much in global warming is crazy!) just as fast.

I would have called the shuttle driver a Bush loving, corporate ass-sucking fascist. But that's me.

[fascisthunter]

87. boy does your bullshit drip all over the place

next time, bring a mop or shovel.

[Critters2]

136. Didn't screw with his livelihood. Your reading comprehension skills being what they are,

I need to point out that, as I said in the OP, the man is a volunteer. But even if he were employed there, it's a non-profit hospital, so it's a violation of IRS regs for him to be engaging in partisan politics on the hospital grounds. If he were employed, he'd be screwing with his own livelihood.

[TankLV]

157. and you don't know how to fucking READ, do you!

I'll throw a dime at you - get a fucking clue...

[TorchTheWitch]

169. he shouldn't have commented on the sticker in the first place

Saying he didn't like her bumper sticker is just as bad as if he said he didn't like her dress or her car or the fact that she's clergy or anything else derogatory about her personally. He's a representative of the business (hospital) and it's bad business to make negative personal comments to anyone with whom the hospital does business. This isn't about politics, it's about a representative of the hospital making a personal negative and even confrontational comment about someone with whom the hospital does business.

He absolutely did deserve to have his bad behavior reported, and if he loses his job because of it then it's his own fault. Just because he's a volunteer and not getting a paycheck from the hospital, he is still a representative of the hospital and required to confirm to certain rules of etticate whether he likes it or not. Once he opened the door by making the disparaging comment, he deserved to be called on it politely or otherwise and have his bad behavior reported.

[57_TomCat]

275. I disagree...

putting the sticker on the car in the first place is an invite to praise or criticism. The driver, as a volunteer, simply commented on a point the pastor made first by extolling his choice to the world by way of said bumper.

As for the dress or car...those points were not discussed. If the were discussed then they might be germane to the conversation. Even so politeness or impoliteness about such matters is quite different than political speech.

[noiretextatique]

175. coincidental

:rofl: you people are too much. rw idiots are screaming their racist views at the top of their lungs, and some of you are still not getting it. the "opposition" is racist to the core.

[Critters2]

185. Didn't badger him. Didn't screw with his livelihood. nt

[rd_kent]

229. PUH-LEASE!

When someone opens up the subject with "I dont like him. I dont trust him", I think its perfectly fair to retort with "why, because he is black?"

[57_TomCat]

276. You must be a racist then to...

open up immediately with a racially charged retort. I would rather ask "why?" That way you might get some insight into the gentleman's reasons and have a discussion to argue your reasons why you SUPPORT the president in his job. Instead you would simply start off with animosity and go south from there. Sad.

[rd_kent]

350. No, I think you are the racist.

Quit hiding under your sheet.

[57_TomCat]

359. Why do you think this?

Why not explain your point like I did rather than simply sounding like a spoiled child?

[alcibiades_mystery]

258. I agree with you...this is some cowardly brownshirted shit

[Maru Kitteh]

40. Where are *your* degrees from? - I must remember that one!

Good job, and thanks!

[Owl]

96. Yea, I loved that one too!

[MaxPlancker]

120. "Where are your degrees from"?

I have been looked down upon by those with higher/more degrees. It is not pleasant. I make it a point not to behave that way myself. Everyone should be treated as a peer, unless you want to be elitist.

[Maru Kitteh]

207. The shuttle driver is the one who chose to open that can of worms by disparaging Obama's education.

[Anakin Skywalker]

233. What Ever Happened to the Golden Rule?

The one about keeping politics and religion PRIVATE when meeting strangers? I agree with you. This guy opened the can of worms. Then Critters2 opened a can of whoop-ass! :D

[FLDCVADem]

242. After he had already been called a racist by the OP

Can't open something when it's already open.

[Maru Kitteh]

295. After the shuttle driver opened with a slam on the OP's bumper sticker

and it turns out, the OP was right. That must bug the shit out of you.

The shuttle driver is the one who chose to open his yap and insult his customer's personal choices in bumper stickers. When you are stupid enough to insult your customers and their personal belongings you deserve whatever you get.

Fuck him.

[FLDCVADem]

308. I worry about people that become so incensed

over someone saying he doesn't like a bumper sticker.

The good reverend wouldn't last 2 minutes in our school carpool line.

[Maru Kitteh]

319. Changing the subject doesn't make you any less wrong. The driver insulted his customer.

He got what he asked for.

[FLDCVADem]

324. It' s an insult to say

"I don't like your bumper sticker"?

Now I've heard it all.

[Maru Kitteh]

335. It's patently stupid to insult your customer's personal choices. I don't like your shirt.

I don't like your hair. I don't like your car. I don't like your shoes.

That'd be a hell of a nice conversation opener, no?

Do you need a flow chart? A clue? What?

[Heathen57]

374. Yes it is an insult

By commenting negatively about the sticker, he was looking for a fight. When you are doing customer service you NEVER insult or fight with the customer. The driver had to be smug in the idea that he was right or he wouldn't have brought it up in the first place.

And since he started it, why shouldn't the OP defend her position? Or do you think we should just crawl away like we've all done in the past.

[Cha]

44. "I don't know where he's from." =

"I listen to stupid people on hateradio and can't think for myself."

Thank you so much for having an Obama sticker and sticking up for it with such panache, Critters~:patriot:

[gmoney]

54. I wouldn't park in that lot for a while :/

I'd pay a few bucks to park in the civilian lot for a few days, or at least by a security camera, just in case he decides to key your car or take other retribution. :/

[pipi_k]

72. At first I thought the same thing, but then I decided

that I would give more credit for being a civilized adult to the shuttle driver than to the OP.

[Obamanaut]

76. I really like the response re education. That alone gets a rec. nt

[petronius]

98. IMO, the conversation was completely appropriate but complaining was out of line

It sounds like you participated fully in the discussion (won it, in fact), so I really don't see what the guy did that was out of line...

[Critters2]

138. He engaged in partisan politics while volunteering for a tax exempt non-profit

institution. Having worked for non-profits my whole life, I know that this is inappropriate. It puts the hospital's non-profit status at risk. He needs to understand this, too.

[pipi_k]

143. For the fourth? fifth? time...

Because I've said it above at least that many times and nobody seems to want to address the hypocrisy....

If the man had identified himself as a Democrat and got all ecstatic about your bumper sticker and took up a half hour of your time discussing how Obama walks on water, would you have reported him?

Or would you have listened raptly, then very kindly informed the man that he was endangering the institution's non-profit status without reporting him?

[Thickasabrick]

153. You make excellent points here and ones that I would have missed

had you not spoken up. Thanks for your contribution to this thread.

[Critters2]

186. There's no way to know, since that isn't what happened.

What would've been nice would be to catch a ride from the parking lot without listening to any political views...which is what's supposed to happen.

[57_TomCat]

279. Then I recommend you no longer park there with a...

political bumper sticker proclaiming your support for a contentious president. Maybe then no one would be "invited" to comment on said sticker.

If you feel your PUBLIC support by said sticker is an important part of your daily life, then play fair with the comments you INVITE by displaying it. You lost a good chance to make us look better than simply looking like a petty jerks.

[Critters2]

310. A contentious president?

:rofl:

[57_TomCat]

333. In case you have not noticed...

there seems to be a rather major divide in how the two major parties refer to each of their chosen candidates. I for one do not like Obama but the candidate I supported lost out to Obama in the primaries. I had to choose the lesser of two evils in my mind. As a result I believe there is quite a bit of contention in the party with this president.

Wearing a political statement on my car's butt would simply announce that fact to the world and leave me open for comments from the other side. I prefer the secret ballot and tend to keep my political views to myself to avoid instigating such arguments. You seem to enjoy starting the arguments and then throw some gasoline on the fire once you lit the match.

That is not even starting to look in the direction of your professed clergy position and how wrong your actions seem to be in my experience with clergy.

[Critters2]

362. I haven't noticed. I'm a Democrat. I voted for someone else

in the primary, too. But once that candidate lost, which turns out to have been the best thing, I supported my party's candidate wholeheartedly. The primaries are over. Time to move on, and support our president.

[57_TomCat]

368. I do support Obama.

I give him the benefit of the doubt. I will argue in his favor BUT I do not have to like some of his political views. I also will NOT attempt to be petty when others that disagree with me want to debate the issues.

Obama is contentious, both within and without the party.

YOU invited political discourse with your public display of an Obama bumper sticker.

You acted petty in your treatment of the shuttle driver who RESPONDED TO YOUR bumper sticker, per your own words posted earlier,

AND you cast a dark cloud on your calling, as well as the party, by those petty actions.

You did NOT show the compassion and love needed to guide this fellow to our side or a happy medium.

You did act in a vindictive way.

I will pray for you.

[Critters2]

387. Don't bother. nt

[57_TomCat]

398. I think now that it is more important...

than ever. I truly hope you find your way out of your situation.

[57_TomCat]

399. Sorry...double post

A little self edit. :)

[pipi_k]

314. OK. You're dancing around the issue now.

What did or didn't happen wasn't my question

I asked if you WOULD report someone who agreed with your political views. You don't want to answer my question directly, so my only choice is to presume that you would NOT report a Democrat.

Clergy person, huh?

right.

Every so often I get a little soft and start to think maybe I'm being hard on "The Faithful". Thanks for reminding me why religion/the "religious" disgust me.

[Heathen57]

372. I would have, in a heartbeat

It is obvious that many of you have never worked at either a non-profit or a customer service organization.

You NEVER discuss any topic that could be taken badly by the customer. You especially never would disparage the customer's politics, religion, or any other topic that could upset the customer.

the man was out of line to disparage her Obama sticker. He could have commented on the first and left it which would have been fine. It would have been the same if it happened to be a "W" or McCain sticker.

Do any of you believe in the following the rules and laws of the place you are working for? My daughter has put in over 500 hours volunteering at the secular hospital in our town. They have rules that are spelled out clearly when they come to orientation, and then again every so often. The second most important rule is not to discuss controversial subjects even if you agree with the client. The first is you never discuss a patients personal business with anyone, including medical information.

This guy broke the rules. The OP reported it as she should have and as I would have as well. He must have been looking for a confrontation or more likely some wimpy Dem who wouldn't back up their views which sounds like several on this thread. He got what he deserved.

[pipi_k]

381. Apparently, the guy was a volunteer...

which I realize shouldn't matter one way or another, but here's the rub.

It's not like there are tons of volunteers being turned away at the doors. People are looking for real, paying, jobs...not something that isn't going to pay the bills.

When you get someone who's giving of their time and energy and not getting paid for his efforts, I think it's incredibly disgraceful to report the man just because he expressed a contrary political opinion.

Instead of getting a "thank you", what does the shuttle driver get?

Quite possibly a reprimand.

The man wasn't standing on a soapbox outside the hospital entrance, FGS.

[Heathen57]

396. Don't you believe in following the rules?

A lot of places have very stupid rules, but the ones about not talking potentially volatile subjects is generally universal and has a very good reason. Even being a volunteer, you are representing the company. They are responsible for what you say.

It this had been a 75 yr old lady who was very timid and he had started in with "I don't like your Obama sticker" it would have been very intimidating to her. She would have been scared to death. Should he be allowed to harass every Obama supporter who comes in, just because he is a volunteer?

As I said in another post, our daughter volunteers at the local hospital. She has had to report and see volunteers let go because of their lack of work, skipping out on their shift, and talking about patient conditions and personal info. Why? Because 1) it is against the rules set down in the contract, and 2) the violations easily could lead to lawsuits against the hospital.

The OP actually did the hospital a favor by letting them know of a possible lawsuit in the making. And there are always volunteers willing to help out if the place has a good outreach with the community.

[pipi_k]

400. I believe in following the rules, but not being an asshole about it

We don't even know, for starters, if this shuttle bus company HAS such a rule.

If it doesn't, then the "Rev", in making a complaint, probably ended up looking like an imbecile.

If it does, then I can only say God help anybody who brings a lawsuit against someone else for discussing politics. You think a judge, faced with overcrowded dockets and courtroom, would look favorably upon a person whose only "damage" was that he or she had to listen to a five minute political conversation? It's really too bad people can't be prosecuted for using the courts for such foolishness.

Good lord, are people so tight-assed that they can't decide for themselves, rules or not, what's truly dangerous and what's not?

sigh...

[Critters2]

402. Not a shuttle bus. A car. He and I were the only ones in it.

And it did occur to me that this could be intimidating for others. And probably has been.

Again, why the obsession?

[pipi_k]

423. OMG!!! A car!!!!!

I'll bet the guy locked all the doors with his secret driver's side locking button, and then he pushed another button and all the windows were blacked out so nobody could see in or out.

Then he must have driven around the parking lot like a madman...50...60 MPH, narrowly missing pedestrians, light poles, and mothers with baby carriages!!!

Oh you poor thing...it must have been horrible....HORRIBLE!!!

Did you get treatment in the hospital? Maybe a bit of trauma counseling would be a good idea, huh?

:scared:



So tell me, dear...what's your criteria for judging that someone is "obsessed"? Is it 10 posts in the same thread? Five? Twenty? If someone comes in here and sticks up for your actions more times than I've posted, are they "obsessed" too?

I really have to laugh, though. You say I'm obsessed, you say you're going to ignore me, but here you are interacting with me anyway. I would say it's you who are obsessed with trying to justify something that can't be justified.

[petronius]

148. I would be very surprised if a casual parking lot conversation about the president,

positive or negative, rises to the level of partisan political activity. You may be right, but I'd certainly like to see some citations to case law, federal/state statute, or legal analysis to back that up...

[Luminous Animal]

196. He did not put the hospital at risk.

Merely discussing politics and politicians does not put non-profits at risk. Engaging in partisan activity (i.e., campaigning or using the pulpit as a platform to advocate for one candidate or another) during an election cycle can bring up risk. And, most large non-profits will educate their employees to refrain from partisan speech at all times to avoid any gray areas. The hospital should have clear written guidelines.

I don't agree that you were right to rat him out (by the way, ratting out is usually perceived as despicable behavior) and I believe that your impulse to do so was motivated by your own partisan politics. Like another DUer or two, I don't believe you would have ratted him out if he had expressed support for Obama.

[FLDCVADem]

245. And you engaged in partisan politics

while on an assignment for your church, a non-profit I assume.

[flyarm]

283. +1, +1, +1,+1,+1 !!!!!!!!!!! eom

[Dorian Gray]

247. Honestly

it wouldn't put their non-profit status at risk. He's a volunteer. I believe he's entitled to his (extraordinarily limited and ignorant) point of view, and his (extraordinarily limited and ignorant) point of view doesn't represent the non-profit in any way.

There is no way the IRS, if a complaint was lodged to them about this man's POV, would repeal the non-profit status of this hospital.

[Dorian Gray]

296. I know I responded to this before

but I have to add... he voiced an opinion on your bumper sticker. You work for a non-profit. (I assume that the church you are a pastor of has non-profit status.)

How would you consider your bumper sticker expressing enthusiasm for Obama to be different than this man's verbal barrage against Obama? And, you, as Pastor, are more of a representative of your non-profit than this volunteer shuttle driver is of the hospital he works.

I personally don't consider your bumper sticker to be problematic...

The argument that his tirade could threaten the hospital's non-profit status is disingenuous. You didn't like his tirade (neither do I), but I think that debate with him (or a shutting down of the debate with an "I'm sorry you feel that way," response) would be much more appropriate than running to the offices and complaining about him.

[salguine]

100. Just curious...What would you have done if this had happened

last year, and the shuttle driver had "badmouthed", in your words, George W Bush? Would you have complained then that the shuttle driver had badmouthed the President of the United States?

Is this really about someone badmouthing the president, or about someone voicing opinions that you disagree with?

As much as I despise right-wingers and their bullshit, I'm also alarmed at these threads that pop up from time to time on DU wherein the poster recounts some kind of incident in which they complained to the supervisor of a doctor's office employee, or a hotel staffer, or a mechanic, or whatever because the individual expressed a dislike of President Obama, or any kind of pro-Republican sentiment. Those posts usually seem really smug and self-congratulatory. They often seem hopeful that their complaint will result in some kind of disciplinary action being taken against the employee.

Maybe it's just me, but I have a real problem with people being penalized, or being "reported", for expressing disagreement or dislike of President Obama. When Dubya was in office, we all made scathing comments about him and everyone around him, day in and day out, and whenever people told us we should shut up, we were incensed, and rightly so, that anyone would even dare to try to stifle our free expression of our opinions.

I can see what a brain-dead idiot the "Get A Brain Morans" guy is, but it would never cross my mind to take away his sign or tell him to shut up, because he has a right to say whatever he wants.

Do you even know what happened to the shuttle driver? Do you know whether he got a talking to, or even fired? Do you care? What if he WAS fired? Just hypothetically? Would you feel regret, or would you feel good about yourself?

Just wondering.

[pipi_k]

144. Thank you! And you know what really makes me want to vomit?

The same people in here cheering on the OP for his actions, if two years ago they themselves had been the ones reported to their bosses for speaking ill of Dubya to a random person, they would be the first ones in here whining about how some Freeper Bastard had infringed on their free speech rights and how they're all no-good assholes who deserve to be drawn and quartered before having their guts pulled out and barbequed in front of their families.

[Critters2]

200. I never engaged in such behavior. So, no way to know how people

would react if I did. People have to right to have any bumpersticker they want, without my opining about it to them.

[pipi_k]

318. Well, dear, this may come as a big surprise to you, but

the world is full of different kinds of people.

some will opine, some won't.


Rational adults without malice in their hearts will let the opinions fall where they may and not avenge themselves by fucking with a man's job, even if it is a volunteer job.

But keep thinking up those justifications...it's getting entertaining...


:+

[Critters2]

199. I never criticised a total stranger's signs of support for Bush

to that person's face. I would consider such behavior completely inappropriate. No matter who the president is. I would never challenge a total stranger's politics in such a setting. I expect the same courtesy of others.

[Anakin Skywalker]

234. YES! THE GOLDEN RULE!

Right on, holmes!

[salguine]

246. Is that a joke? How is that marginally different than what you did? Are you not only

a jerk, but stupid, too?

[pipi_k]

329. Being an adult means...

You're not always going to get what you "expect from others". Even my 8 year old granddaughter knows that.

It also means that, as an adult, you have the choice of telling someone his talk is inappropriate. Had you done that, I'd be in full support. But you took his invitation to the discussion, called him a racist without CONCRETE PROOF, then reported him.

Not cool. Not adult.

[hamsterjill]

104. +1

"I've had my fill with these people. No more Rev. Nice Guy from me! I challenge them and confront them when necessary."


Love it!!! And it's what we ALL need to be doing.

I heard a commentator on CNN last night calling the birthers and the deathers "lunatics" and I wanted to sing for joy. It's time to call them what they really are, and in my humble opinion, "lunatics" just about covers it.

[KittyWampus]

105. Sorry Critters, but it sounds to me like you egged the driver on. You entered into the discussion

without objection.

Now, if you'd asked the driver to keep their opinions to themselves and the driver had continued a political conversation you didn't WANT to have I'd think complaining to HR would be in order.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

108. Bullshit

He opened the door by even mentioning it. People just *have* to go there sometimes.

[KittyWampus]

114. Yeah, and if you DO decide to "go there" then don't run off to HR and whine about it.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

117. "I don't like your other sticker"

THAT's going there.

[FLDCVADem]

119. And of course the normal reaction should be

an accusation of racism, as the OP did?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

124. That's exactly the reason you should avoid politics at work

You never know what is going to be thrown back at you when you open that door.

[Anakin Skywalker]

236. BINGO!

You got it!

[truebrit71]

122. BINGO!!

...

[pipi_k]

146. Yeah, because, you know, it's just so hard to be an adult and walk away...

sigh...

:eyes:

[57_TomCat]

290. More bullshit...

critters opened the door by having the public bumper sticker inviting public comment.

[Heathen57]

376. What should her response have been?

"I'm so sorry you don't like my other sticker. When I get through here, I be sure to immediately take it off and replace it with the right one of your choice"?

It is only the Rethugs that are allowed to show support for their side. Critter probably uses her own car to get where she needs to on her job. That is using a private vehicle for her work. If the church supplied a car then it would have to be devoid of stickers.

Do you even know what the rules are for working at a non-profit? How about a for-profit that is customer service related? You never, ever, discuss contentious subjects. You are on the companies time, you represent them. When you mouth an opinion, it becomes the opinion of the company and you will lose customers because of it. If you are a non-profit, you could lose that status.

[57_TomCat]

380. As I mentioned in several other posts in this thread...

"I'm so sorry you don't like my other sticker. When I get through here, I be sure to immediately take it off and replace it with the right one of your choice"?

critter2 could easily have supported her position by engaging the driver in a civil conversation explaining why she believed the president was the best choice. She started it with the sticker and should be willing to defend her position.

It is only the Rethugs that are allowed to show support for their side. Critter probably uses her own car to get where she needs to on her job. That is using a private vehicle for her work. If the church supplied a car then it would have to be devoid of stickers.

Defending your position does NOT mean sinking to their level. Or she could have politely ignored the comment and discussed the beagles. I would have probably gone the beagle route since I have two. :) Instead she started an attack by hitting the driver with a loaded question. The conversation went down hill from there and to add insult to injury she vindictively pursued a complaint against the driver. To top it off she displayed her hubris to us all with her OP. She exhibited several very ugly traits that we in civilized society try to suppress and expect our clergy to be held to a higher standard.

Do you even know what the rules are for working at a non-profit? How about a for-profit that is customer service related? You never, ever, discuss contentious subjects. You are on the companies time, you represent them. When you mouth an opinion, it becomes the opinion of the company and you will lose customers because of it. If you are a non-profit, you could lose that status.

Well yea I do know what the rules are and they do not extend to such personal conversations. In addition we are discussing how the driver responded to a posted sticker and the sticker "postee" got a hair up her butt because it did not agree with her worldview. The fact that the driver was ignorant of good manners does not justify critter2's response. In addition the driver was a volunteer with limited liability exposure for the hospital. Even though I would be willing to stipulate the driver was wrong if acting for the facility it again does NOT justify critter2's action. I could make a good case that the driver was acting as an individual and again critter2's response was over the top. It takes two to fight and critter2 could have easily danced around this one. Instead she made a poor decision.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

411. The problem is, he's not the public

He's doing a job, representing a company.

[57_TomCat]

420. I agree in principle BUT...

as a volunteer he has an argument that he is not an employee AND in general practice the courts have often held volunteers to a lower standard. In addition this type of interaction would be argued as incidental conversation, not partisan politicking.

[FLDCVADem]

111. Bingo

I agree 100%.

**edited to clarify that I agree with Kitty Wampus

[KittyWampus]

127. I think we would all agree on this thread the driver should have just STFU to begin with

What ever happened to just the generic "hi, how are you?"

[FLDCVADem]

130. Oh, absolutely n/t

[57_TomCat]

294. No I do not agree that we should...

have gone that route. The initial salvo came from the public bumper sticker. It ANNOUNCES a political opinion and INVITES comment.

I think we would all agree on this thread the driver should have just STFU to begin with What ever happened to just the generic "hi, how are you?"

[Gman2]

109. Fire and Brimstone, not just for commies no more.

[liberalhistorian]

128. I agree with challenge and confront, but there's a fine line

between that and shoving your own beliefs down someone's throat. And I'm also not too comfortable with complaining about him to HR-remember, it wasn't that long ago that we were rightfully complaining about people getting in trouble at work, school, etc., if they spoke out against Bush. Whether we like someone's opinions or not, in this country, they have the right to them and to express them, just like we did when Bush was president. Now, if they're inciting violence or hatred, that's a different story, then call them out AND report them. But he wasn't doing either in this instance, he was simply expressing himself. Turn the story around and see how you'd feel if someone complained that you were "talking bad" about Bush, as happened to many people during his unfortunately, horrible presidency. We had the right to do that then and they have the right to do that now. They shouldn't be getting in trouble at work for it and it also only makes us look like fascists when we do that ourselves.

[maryf]

133. Hear, hear!!

Thank you for saying this! We have to continually put ourselves in other's shoes. I'm very concerned about people turning against one another. Discussion, education are two of the answers.

[Critters2]

140. We don't and didn't have that right when working for a tax exempt entity,

which this hospital is.

[FLDCVADem]

142. So saying that he doesn't trust him

is badmouthing him?

My God, how sensitive we've all become.

[pipi_k]

145. Just in case you didn't see my other post asking this question...

If the shuttle driver had been a Democrat you'd have reported him as well?

Or would you have nicely informed him (without reporting him) that he doesn't have the right to endanger tax exempt status with political discourse even though you agreed with him?

[flyarm]

293. but he was volunteering..you were discussing it too ..so you did equally as bad!

and it seems you damn well know what the rules are ..and you broke them knowing what the rules are..or what you think they are..and I assume..you are getting paid as a clergy????? This was a volunteer..as in good person volunteers to work at a hospital to help those in need in his community!

So who is the hypocrite here??????????

Oh and since you are clergy , I also assume your church is tax expempt???????? And you Participated in this conversation..you committed a double wammy!

[DrZeeLit]

147. Thank you. I understand. Since this election cycle, I've decided to correct the lies.

I'm always nice and level-voiced, and kind and concerned.
But I'm not letting the ill-informed continue in my presence.

You did a service for that hospital and your community!

[BrklynLiberal]

149. Good for youi! You showed more backbone than many of the Congressional Dems!!

[lunatica]

150. You may not be able to change their minds but

You can make them go back in the closet, or under a rock or wherever racists and bigots go. If people want to be racist so be it. But please take it out of our faces and keep it to yourselves. Whatever your reasons are you are wrong. There is no debate about it. None.

[hfojvt]

151. Yes, how dare somebody bad-mouth the POTUS?

Report him to the House Unamerican Activities Committee.

[vadawg]

162. lol is this really what we are to become, everyone reporting each other for saying something

about a politician that we dont agree with, i cant believe the original poster is so ecstatic about reporting someone for having a different opinion than they do, and this BS about it being a charity thing is obvious. Do you really want to have people going around reporting each other for bad mouthing the president, this kinda thing will spiral and eventually come back the other way...

[hfojvt]

168. again, we would have loved to see this in September 2001

and we would have railed at intolerant and unAmerican Freepers who cannot stand somebody who does not worship the glorius POTUS.

[Critters2]

190. The hospital can choose whether to do anything or not.

But they have a right to know.

[hfojvt]

231. a right to know what?

that somebody was "badmouthing the POTUS, and that didn't seem appropriate to me"

Seriously, you do not see how that sounds? That if somebody had written this in September 2001 how we would not have seen that as a sign of total fascism. Proof that the other side is thin skinned and intolerant of any criticism (or mistrust) of their dear leader?

The only thing he volunteered was that "he did not trust Obama" and for the rest he responded to your questions/accusations. Too bad for him that he thought he could trust you, because you smiled and gave a friendly salutation and then ran to 'tattle' behind his back.

I am not seeing a "do unto others ..." here. Would you really like for somebody to do that to you? The crowd cheering you on here is part of the "do unto them as you would do unto a vermin". To me, that is not even the way a decent person should act, to say nothing of a follower of Jesus. Is this where we are? Have we no decency? At long last, have we no decency?

[SammyWinstonJack]

284. +1

:applause:

[flyarm]

297. and your church has the right to know you did the same thing!

I suppose your church is Tax exempt right?????????

You did nothing to shut down the conversation..and your church which you were representing going to the hospital..is tax exempt.

[malaise]

152. Bravo Rev

Time for Dems to wake up and respond. :yourock:

[BobRossi]

154. Good job.

Pay the free lunch forward.
Certainly you will have no trouble finding some poor hungry soul.

[MrScorpio]

155. Kick ass

I love it

[bigjohn16]

156. So the guy sees your bumper sticker

tries to have a conversation with you about it, you call him a racist, and then you narc on him, did I get that right? If you don't want people to engage you in political discussions about it maybe you should remove the sticker from your vehicle.

I'm trying to think of something funny or sarcastic to say but I can't. It was just a really low class thing you did. Have a nice day Rev.

Edit:

Here are the two things you know about this person. He doesn't like the President and he volunteers at a hospital in his free time. Maybe he's not a lost cause and you shouldn't be so sensitive.

[Critters2]

184. And he felt the need to opine about politics in an inappropriate setting. nt

[bigjohn16]

194. Maybe you should keep a list with you that lets people know when it's ok to talk to you.

You can hand them out so people can avoid getting reported by you.

He knew two things about you. That you liked the President and beagles. He chose one to have a conversation with you about and your response was to freak out and run and tell the teacher. Is that what you do when someone comes and talks to you about something you don't agree with at your church. Do you insult them and then report them?

At least I was able to work some sarcasm in.

Again. Have a nice day Rev.

[Critters2]

197. If someone behaved inappropriately at my church, we have processes to deal with that.

I assume the same is true at the hospital.

[bigjohn16]

198. Wow. Yikes.

Reason #976 why I'm an Atheist. And is not agreeing with you politically enough to get "the process"?

Have a nice day.

[Critters2]

209. My congregation has diverse views, and it's appropriate to engage

in such conversation there. There are other behaviors which are inappropriate at the church, just as there are inappropriate behaviors in any setting. When there are inappropriate behaviors at the church, we have processes to deal with them. Criticising a person's political views when your only task is to offer a ride to the hospital entrance is inappropriate behavior in that setting. I trust the hospital has a fair and proven process to deal with this...and maybe they'll decide they're fine with it. But that's for them to decide.

[bigjohn16]

215. I didn't see in there where he insulted your beliefs.

If he would have say called you a "racist" then I may have agreed with you. You judged him a racist and now you're going to be judged. You're a sad little person who shouldn't be the spiritual guide to anyone. You're the exact opposite of the type of person that should be out there for President Obama because your scared of the other side and whenever they engage you your response is to lash out like a wounded animal. I'd hate to see the vitriol that spews from you when it not just someone making idle conversation.

Now that's and insult.

Have a nice day.

[flyarm]

306. and what is appropriate of a clergy coming on a message board

bragging about squealing on a volunteer?????????

What kind of caring and forgiving church do you belong to????? Remind me not to go anywhere near your church ..because I believe you were out of line and inappropriate to come onto DU and post this..and to have gone above the mans head to squeal on him...besides being immature!

I never assume anyone should agree with me over anything..but when i think I am right , I try to be kind and educate them why I believe the way I do..sometimes that sways them sometimes not..but I believe in free will and free thinking..

You sir would not last as my clergy for one minute..I believe it is you that is prejudiced, and you need some mirror time to reflect.

[tammywammy]

312. But he got a free lunch!

:eyes:

[TankLV]

158. Good for you - he WAS a fucking RACIST - you PROVED it!!!

And WILLFULLY ignorant, too...

Keep up the Good Work!!!

[lynne]

160. Did he know you were clergy? Do you wear a pin or any indication on your vehicle?

You state you park in the clergy portion of the lot so the guy must have known you were clergy. Many times people will open up to clergy when they won't to strangers. They feel their conversation with clergy is protected even if its not in a confessional setting.

It's guaranteed that he won't be in your pews anytime soon. Too bad, as you had a chance to make a real difference in his thinking. Instead you alienated him by messing with his livelihood in a time of recession and few jobs.

WWJD? Not that.

[Mugu]

166. WWJD indeed. n/t

[Anakin Skywalker]

237. No Worries. That Loser Was a "Volunteer" (Secretly a RW Recruiter?)

Gee, since he is in a hospital setting I wonder what his take on Health Care Reform is? :sarcasm:

[Anakin Skywalker]

238. Serves This RWer Right for Trusting a Clergy!

Bwah hah hah! Neener neener neener! :evilgrin:

[sailor65]

267. Very nicely said n/t

[Piewhacket]

163. As my grandpappy, Rev. Piewhacket , used to say to his many grandkids ...

you gotta always try to find (seek out) the good in people...

yet he never got around to explaining the part that some people
are a lot harder to find the good in than others.

I guess he figured we'd learn that part for ourselves.

[and-justice-for-all]

165. A good verbal kick in the balls is eactly what they need..

I do not take their shit either.

[Mugu]

167. If you really feel good about what you did.

You might want to take some time off from the political websites.

[FLDCVADem]

170. And the pulpit n/t

[lynne]

174. AMEN !!!! n/t

[G_j]

173. he needs at a least warning,

hopefully he didn't get fired, but learned an important lesson. for what he did was entirely inappropriate.

[bigjohn16]

179. Volunteer at a hospital? nt

[G_j]

301. where does it say that? nt

[bigjohn16]

307. Where in the OP?

"Clergy parking is far enough from the hospital that they have a shuttle car come around to pick people up, driven by volunteers"

[G_j]

yep

missed that,
still, what they did was simply inappropriate.

[bigjohn16]

328. Then the OP should have made their feelings known to the driver.

Instead he ran to HR and "ratted" on the person, who at the very least we know volunteers in his free time at a hospital. The OP was mean, vindictive, and doesn't deserve the praise they're getting in this thread

[G_j]

337. I didn't get that at all

expressing a legitimate concern, is not mean or vindictive, IMO.

[bigjohn16]

338. Fair enough.

I just hope I don't run into the OP in public. I wouldn't know if it was safe to talk to them without putting myself at risk of being reported.

[G_j]

342. I don't talk politics to the people I serve at my job (in the health field)

that's a pretty good rule of thumb.

[bigjohn16]

348. I work to much for that rule to apply.

If I can't do it while I'm working then I'll either have to do it while I'm sleeping or driving and that's not much fun.

[Heathen57]

377. Wonder how many accounts you

have lost by talking politics at work? I doubt you work in customer service, because the companies I have worked for would have fired you on the spot if they heard you talking politics or any other controversial subject with a customer.

The driver was wrong on all accounts. Should you refuse service, or berate someone for having a McCain sticker on their car? The customer's politics are off limits. Even if they were to start the conversation, you are to politely decline in talking about it.

[bigjohn16]

383. None. I hope that clarifies things for you.

When I talk to clients I do so from a point where I know that the other person is a human being and a friend. I don't see in the OP where he refused service or berated him. All he did was make an observation and try to start a conversation. The good Reverend then called him a racist and ran and told mommy that the other boy was mean to him. He's a real class act.

I know two things about the driver he doesn't like the President and he volunteers his time at a hospital. I think I may be able to be friends with that person some day.

I know a few things about the Rev. He loves the President and if you catch him on a bad day he'll stab you in the back without thinking twice. I know I don't want to take a chance with a unstable personality like that.

[Heathen57]

397. Do you discuss being an Atheist

with a client who is a fundamentalist Christian? If you know they have the Christian fish on their car, do you tell them right away you dislike Christianity and think Christians are stupid?

I don't care how well you think you know your clients, it is just professional ethics not to bring up certain subjects and politics falls into that area. And while you know your clients, this driver knew nothing about the Reverend. That would be like walking up to a person in a parking lot and starting an argument with them because they have an Obama sticker on their car. Worse really, since he was representing the hospital and by proxy saying that the hospital is prejudiced against Democrats.

[bigjohn16]

405. I live in Nashville and work with churches all the time.

I've had spirited debates with Christian clients about religion and politics and they almost all end the same way, with a steak and a beer. Most people aren't frightened with having discussions with people that don't agree with them. The Rev responded to the situation like a angry child lashing out at the scary man. Like I said before when I meet a new client I treat them like a friend I've known my whole life. I haven't had one run and tell on me yet.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

171. So you trusted Bush?

[Critters2]

201. No. But I never complained about it to those who did.

They have a right to their opinion without hearing my opinion.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

202. So accusing him of racism was not you expressing your opinion?

[Critters2]

204. I asked a question. I know people who don't like the president because

of his race. I asked if that was this man's reason for his feelings. Not unreasonable.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

208. Interesting way to phrase the question.

[Luminous Animal]

341. It is a totally unreasonable question.

You start with the assumption that every person who does not support Obama is a racist simply because you know of some people; and your first "political" response to the driver was to accuse him of being a one.

[WhiteTara]

172. Good! n/t

[noiretextatique]

176. good for you

perhaps he will keep his stupid mouth shut in the future.

[Island Blue]

177. Self delete

[nolabear]

178. Let 'em Run, Rev, Let 'em Run!

Obscure Flip Wilson reference, but srsly, you're my hero.

[proud2BlibKansan]

180. Good for you!

I am sick to death of these people and their hateful ignorance.

[blue sky at night]

182. nice job....

I admire the clergy for their self-control....me I have a sign in my car; on one side it says: "are you stupid?" on the other side it says "you are asshole!" Again, way to go Padre!

[msatty99]

188. Count me in as being against you Rev. NO RATTING!

You have not answered the question of whether you would have given the same treatment to someone
who praised Obama.

Ratting people out....that's against the code.

[pipi_k]

191. No kidding...there are probably shuttle drivers who verbally abuse their passengers

or drink on the job (over in a secluded corner of the parking lot maybe) or do a few dozen other things that deserve ratting.

But wait!!!!

This fool rats on someone because he "doesn't trust" Obama.

oy vey...

[barbtries]

189. good on you!

"did i say that?" no denial. yep, it's racism rearing its ugly head. and no one can ever say why.

[Bette Noir]

193. Let the beagle out, please!

[tomm2thumbs]

203. yipee, that's a great story - thanks for sharing

[Name removed]

205. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Critters2]

206. He's a volunteer. He's there completely at the pleasure of the hospital

and I have the right to a peaceful ride to the hospital. His behavior was inappropriate in the setting.

[msatty99]

211. Just one question

would you have reported him if he'd praised Obama? Yes or No?

[pipi_k]

216. Actually that question has been asked a number of times and has gotten no reply yet

so really, if I were you I wouldn't hold my breath.

Seems to me we already know what the answer is anyway.

The conversation would only have been "appropriate" if it concerned Obama walking on water and raising the dead.

[ieoeja]

321. Because it is a stupid question.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I would like to complain about the bus driver *not* being offensive to your customers."

[pipi_k]

334. If you read upthread, you'll understand that

the question has to do with the fact that the OP claims this shuttle driver should not have been opining about politics because of the non-profit status of the institution.

It's not about reporting a Democrat for NOT being offensive.

It's about reporting someone for opining on politics no matter which party that person belongs to.

If it's verboten to discuss politics in that situation, then that should also apply to Democrats as well as Republicans.

THAT is what the question was. Exposing double standards. Report the Republican for endangering the non profit status of the institution, but sit and listen and chat happily if it's a Democrat. Oh my. Endangering the non profit status just suddenly gets all forgotten then...

:eyes:

[ieoeja]

323. Because it is a stupid question.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I would like to complain about the bus driver *not* being offensive to your customers."

[webrockk]

212. "I'm sorry you feel that way, sir"

would have been an appropriate response. You have absolutely no right to complain about teabaggers, birthers, town hallers, deathers, etc., as you are exactly the same...but a bit more personally vicious.

[webrockk]

219. Completely at the pleasure

of the hospital? You've "ratted out" a person that VOLUNTEERS their time to assist other's because the very important Critters2 can't be bothered with the opposing views of the proletariat. You need some help, sister.

[XanaDUer]

244. Many hospital volunteers get one free meal on their "volunteer" day

and some have told me that do it for the meal. In fact, due to budget cuts, my facility now allows them only up to $5 of food per meal. That pissed them off. I am in a super-red state, and our volunteers are all a bunch of RW nasty old creeps.

Oh, many of them look like doddery old grandpas, etc., but you should hear them when they sit at the volunteers-only lunch table and their voices carry about what they think of our President. They are all lily white, too, btw.

Look- his job, probably as a volunteer, is to shuttle people back and forth from the parking lot to the hospital, not comment on clothing, make-up hairstyles, bumper stickers, skin color or anything else he does not "like". Volunteer (for food) or not, he needs to do his job and shut his mouth about anything but the weather, or some innocuous topic.

[OnyxCollie]

217. Tombstone or Digiorno?

Enjoy your stay, tool.

[webrockk]

254. are you suggesting

one that doesn't agree with critters2's hypocritical, and bitter personal vitriol might be in jeopardy of being ousted from this forum? ...That one cannot feel comfortable expressing an opinion without fear of retribution from the "compassionate" left. As an independent, I'm going to let you in on a little secret....as evidenced by the many protest, partisan squabbles in the media, online forum dialogue, and now, simple discourse between two strangers that results in the "ratting out" of someone because of a political comment, it appears both parties have been hijacked by the margins of their membership. In my opinion, this division is by design, it's sole purpose to fracture and weaken us, leaving us ripe for accepting anything that the oligarchs suggest might repair the divisivness. We're being played, and a frightening number of people have turned against each other, when the enemy is our corrupt government and corporate enslavers...

[OnyxCollie]

266. I'm suggesting

that, considering the language you use and open desire to see DUer's pets killed, you are a tool and not long for this message board.

As for the volunteer, he is representing the hospital. If the hospital wants to be known to its customers/patients that it does not like Obama or believe he is a citizen, the hospital's PR department should issue a press release. (Which would be unlikely, as diverting from a neutral position could drive away current and potential customers.)

So, Mr Volunteer should shut the fuck up, do his job, and post his opinions on Free Republic when he gets home.

[FreedomRain]

210. Well Critters, I think you didn't expect this shitstorm :O

It's hard to keep the level head when the boots just been lifted off your neck. You're not a dick for reporting this guy, it's natural, it's what "fed up" means. And it is a direct result of all the nonsense lately. It is a shame though, that you may have had a golden opportunity to stimulate the guy's thinking, if not outright "convert" him. Your words were sound, and witty. So yeah, don't let them get away with it, but by all means use your persuasive powers for Good!!

[TCJ70]

213. You have choices in every situation.

In this one, you could have easily blown off the guy with a "I'm sorry you feel that way." and most likely went about your business. Instead you choose to engage in a discussion with this person which leads to you reporting him to human resources.

Since you seem incapable of hypothetical thought, I'll refrain from asking you such questions as, "What if this happened a year ago and somebody said something bad about Bush? Would you have reported them for badmouthing the president?"

I will ask though...did you report DU to homeland security for the things that were posted here about the previous POTUS during his presidency?

[SlingBlade]

214. Congrats on the catch Critters2

Warms me li'l heart to see the beagle triumph for a change :)

[gopiscrap]

218. Excellent

What denomination are you with? I spent a year working in the Chicago area with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America...loved that year and loved Chicago!!!!

[hulka38]

222. Good on ya Rev.

[Ajaye]

223. What the driver said was inappropriate

Sorry, but it was simply inappropriate and unprofessional for the driver to say anything negative. Period. And OP was well within her rights to bring it to the attention of his supervisors.

I DO NOT want to be confronted by people working for any public institution about my political bumper stickers. I don't need to know that any public official or quasi public official doesn't like the person I voted for and support. Why are you taking the side of the stupid ass who started up this thing? Yeah, the OP got into it with him, but the point is, I should not have to defend my political beliefs to a hospital shuttle driver. I don't care that he doesn't like Obama. It's confrontational to say that to a customer or patron or whatever. And I don't get why anyone would defend it.

I don't see what is wrong about reporting this so that the behavior can be corrected. I don't think the OP was trying to get him fired, but he needs to know that it is offensive to make political statements that some people might vehemently disagree with WHILE HE IS PERFORMING HIS JOB. Off the job, no problem.
And BTW, it is a completely false equivalent to say well, if he said he liked Obama you wouldn't complain. Damned straight. Because if someone says something in agreement with your beliefs, it is not CONFRONTATIONAL, and it is NOT OFFENSIVE.

When I encounter something that I think is inappropriate and that I think should be corrected, I will speak with a supervisor. Why should we be subjected to this kind of crap? Sometimes the supervisor will agree, sometimes the supervisor will back up the employee and explain the reason why the employee did whatever he or she did. It is not beyond the pale to complain about an employee.

[TCJ70]

224. "I don't like that bumper sticker"...

...is confrontational, yet the response "Because he's black?" isn't? You have a very, VERY broad definition of confrontation.

[SammyWinstonJack]

288. +1

:thumbsup:

[ieoeja]

331. Who said Critters response was not also confrontational?

Once the driver insulted Obama, Critters had every right to fight back. When the driver came out confrontational, Critters was perfectly justified in being confrontational in return.

[TCJ70]

379. No one said it wasn't, you're right.

But to engage in this type of discussion (which is really more of an interrogation), where the driver expresses an opinion and Critters asks questions to draw out information (continuing the interrogation), then to complain to HR about what was said is really manipulative and mean-spirited.

Also, if critters were really concerned about the hospitals tax-exempt status, why continue the discussion putting it in further danger? Was critters ok with people reporting democrats at work when they made off-hand comments about the previous President? The situations are remarkably similar.

[pipi_k]

300. I don't think you got the point

which was that the OP said it was inappropriate for the shuttle driver to be expressing political opinions while on the job for a non profit institution.

to me, the phrase "political opinions" means ALL political opinions...not just the ones that are objectionable.

People shouldn't run around being dickheads making justifications for the things they do. Don't be hypocritical. Don't use double standards.

If political discourse on the job is verboten, then it's verboten no matter which party the person belongs to.

It seems like each time someone comes up with a pretty good reason why reporting this shouldn't have happened, the OP comes up with yet another excuse as to why it was done.

Sounds disturbingly similar to the excuses BushCo made each time they ran out of reasons for starting the war in Iraq. The reasons always changed. When reasons change like that, it's a pretty good bet that the action itself was unjustified.

[57_TomCat]

309. If you are going to post your political preference...

on your vehicle or in your yard or a tattoo on your bare arm (I think the tattoo on the butt however is "covered" :) ) then you and you alone are STARTING a political conversation with anyone that would want to participate. To be petty about a reply you do not like after egging on the conversation is contemptible.

[Joanne98]

227. YAY

[Autonomy]

228. I agree with those who think this seems petty

usually someone acting in a professional (i.e. on the job) capacity should not discuss politics with customers/clients, this driver didn't really DO anything other than express his opinion about a third party. It seems petty and vindictive to turn him in for that...

but this guy is a volunteer? Driving you from the parking lot to the hospital for no pay and you go gestapo on his ass for merely for having an uneducated opinion? Why are people applauding this shit?

[fasttense]

250. I'm a volunteer at many schools in my county.

This is a very Republicon area. I make a point of saying nothing about politics. I've never had anyone at the schools talk politics to me either. If I think someone is headed in that direction, I ask that they keep their opinions to themselves (I've done this twice in 5 years). But, if I brought up my opinions, I would expect I would get complaints from teachers, staff and parents.

Expressing my political opinion when it is not necessary, would very likely reduce the number of jobs I'm asked to take.

I will not allow the Republicons to spout their crap at me, and I give them the same courtesy. But if someone volunteers their opinions and wont shut up. I would complain about them too and probably refuse the job the next time.

I think you did the right thing.

[shawn703]

269. It would be better if he was a paid worker and fired for this

Sometimes "tough love" is what is needed to educate the ignorant. If they believe there shouldn't be any safety nets; if they believe people should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps when they're down on their luck; if they think going without health insurance isn't a big deal; then why not live as the unfortunate in this country live, and I'll listen to the tune they're singing in a year or two.

[Dems2002]

230. Sorry, this doesn't sit right with me

I will complain if a business is showing Fox News on the tv. And if this had been a teacher in my child's classroom, I would have complained as well. BUT, I dislike the idea of threatening someone's job because they're an ignorant republican.

You're correct, the individual should NOT have said what he said. But you handled it appropriately. I would rather have said to him at the end, "Listen, I'm a Democrat and not an asshole Republican so I'm not going to report our conversation to your boss. However, the next guy might not be so kind, so I'd watch the political discussion while on the clock."

Best,

Dems

[Anakin Skywalker]

235. Morons are to be insulted.

You did good. And in a peaceful, non-violent way too! True liberal style! If the situation had been reversed, a RWer would have physically assaulted someone for dissing some RW hero of his. 'Cause that's how they roll! :rofl:

[JackInGreen]

239. Hey Rev,

I'll try and keep this clean.
The haters in here can go jump in a lake.
The Right Wing gives no quarter and wants to see US out of our jobs, our of our homes, even out of our lives for holding a conflicting opinion we may or may not keep to ourselves. Yet they can share theirs while operating in an official capacity and we're supposed to grin and bare it.
Bullshit. (sorry, but bullshit is bullshit, and calling it anything else legitimizes it.)
Good on you Rev.
Don't let em move or breath for an instant, show the spine that the rest of us seem to lack.

[Enthusiast]

240. They are everywhere

and they can't keep their stupid to themselves.

[JeanGrey]

241. I think it is time to realize that not all people who don't agree

with Obama are racists.

[XanaDUer]

243. I'm shocked at how rw many hospital workers and volunteers are

Good for you.

[pokercat999]

251. Lovely story, the con artist rats out the RW idiot. You are

more alike than different. Saving that free lunch, guess you couldn't find someone in need to give it to, and you looked so hard.

[skypilot]

371. Ouch!!

*

[joshcryer]

422. Pretty much.

[Hubert Flottz]

253. Amen!

Somebody!

[customerserviceguy]

255. This illustrates one thing

The RW is willing to talk openly about it's distrust of President Obama, even if it means using BS talking points from radio and TV. They were pretty shy about that right after Inauguration Day, when there were a lot more Obama bumper stickers around than I see today.

How many people have we spontaneously started discussions of health care with? Its the side that talks up its ideas that often prevails.

[brewens]

257. We have a right-wing idiot that won't keep her mouth shut

at the blood center where I work. I usually don't work at the center, I drive the bus and register donors on the mobile blood drives. Every couple of weeks I donate platelets at the center though. That takes almost two hours hooked up to an apheresis machine. We can watch tv while we're donating and a couple of times I've had MSNBC on while she was working drawing donors. Whenever Obama is mentioned she bitches about him and right in front of other donors that she doesn't really know. I've switched channels to get her to stop. She'll just flat out say she hates him. She's competent at her job but is otherwise a moron. Obviously gets her information from Beck or other wing-nut sources.
Another guy that works there and donates platelets has agreed to sort of set her up. We will both from now on make sure MSNBC is on the whole time we are donating. That way she is sure to piss someone of a draw a complaint or get herself in trouble with her supervisor.

[earthlite]

260. I'll be sure to stay out of your confessional.

I thought religious people were supposed to be above this sort of spiteful behavior.

[DissedByBush]

261. You're pretty quick on pulling the race card there

What do you automatically assume when an African-American says he doesn't like President Obama? Do you automatically pull the Uncle Tom card? Is it possible for someone to disagree with you without you putting a vile label on that person?

You outed an ignorant drone, no evidence for anything more.

My grandmother is not right wing and she is definitely not racist. She doesn't trust Obama either. But for her it's what she gets from him when hearing him speak. I don't see it, but she says he's too contrived and polished, like listening to a time share salesman. On the other hand she was a teacher's union negotiator before her retirement so she must know something about how to read people.

Me, I only go on record. I don't trust my people-reading skills that much.

[unpossibles]

263. I love your answers

I had a similar answer for a waitress in Cincinnati during the election night. She said something about not knowing where he's from, and I said, "Hawaii" and then she kept skirting around how he doesn't "look or sound Hawaiian."

The racism is so fucking transparent. And anyone who's dealt with these people knows it.

[Deep13]

268. good for you

:thumbsup:

[sailor65]

270. So you parked in clergy parking......

and therefore were acting in official capacity as clergy. Which means you had no business whatsoever doing what you did. I wonder if your church has tax-exempt status?

-1 for being no better than a RW preacher.

[FLDCVADem]

271. I asked the same question up-thread

No response that I've seen.

[sailor65]

285. Yes, you sure did....

I had to go looking pretty hard, I didn't see it my first time through! Sorry to be redundant, but you were right.

[flyarm]

317. me too! and no answer!

seems someone is dishing out Hypocrisy church wafers around here!!

[TheCML]

281. I agree with this.

I know too many people on both sides who became clergy to push an agenda. A church and a minister should be somewhere and someone you can go to away from this. Even as someone who could be described as "liberal" if I had a priest who was that forthcoming with their own political ideology I would be weary of them and probably find another church.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

272. Call the effer's out!

When I was canvassing for Obama I ran in to quite a few people who would attempt to reiterate the rw talking points.
Without exception they ended up looking uncomfortable because they could hear how lame they sounded. I would counter gently and though I doubt I got a vote out of them i do believe they realized that their points were not well taken.

[tammywammy]

274. WWJD? Turn the other cheek, educated them away from ignorance...nah, rat them out to HR. n/t

[im okay youre iffy]

286. I wasn't planning to register right now, but my stomach is turning!

HOW DARE YOU! The guy merely said he didn't like your Obama sticker. You allowed the conversation to go further. You could have simply said: "Well, it's a free country and you're entitled." Instead, you did the most vile thing, which was to bring race into it! I have an inkling that you may be Black or, if White, grew up with racism and are overly vigilant about "confronting" it. You ASSumed something of which there was no evidence whatsoever, other than dislike of someone whom you admire.

The real kicker is to go complain about this person. That veered into disgusting territory for me. You fucked with someone's livelihood in this economy! For shame to ever do it unless it's a true necessity to report someone! You are the kind of person who made my working retail hellacious at times. I'd get a summons to the office and my manager would tell me the latest customer who complained about me (usually for following store policy).:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[SammyWinstonJack]

289. +1

:thumbsup:

[Critters2]

291. Didn't fuck with his livelihood.

And your customers had the right to complain. If you were following store policy, that would have been explained when the complaint was registered, and you would not have heard about the complaint.

It is not hospital policy for volunteers to offer their political views to people who obviously disagree.

I am not apologizing for this. I have to listen to RW crap all the time. I accept that those views are there, and do my best to avoid them. I had the right, however, to a quiet, peaceful, apolitical ride to the entrance of a non-profit hospital, without having to hear more of this nonsense. If he didn't violate hospital policy, then nothing will come of it. If he did, the hospital has a right to know.

There's an appropriate time and place for political speech. This was not it.

[TheCML]

302. Interesting

Because at every church I have attended, it has been policy to not engage in partisan politics while representing the church. You could have easily turned the other cheek and smiled and let it go. Instead you instigated it. I know plenty of conservatives who as misguided as they are, are not racist, and for you to immediately assume that is the reason is a form of prejudice in itself.


That being said, you were the clergyman, you are suppose to represent Christ, you got caught up in a worldly argument and were somehow proud of yourself, I see many things wrong there.

[Critters2]

305. Great. In future, when I'm confronted with an obnoxious

RWer, I'll contact you for advice.

Thanks for sharing! :hi:

[TheCML]

322. You dont have to ask for my advice.

You should ask for the advice of your boss, Christ. Perhaps you would be more comfortable leading a liberal discussion group or club, maybe a grassroots action club, or something of the sort, because again unfortunately your actions are more worldly than anything Biblical. There is no difference between you and the average republican evangelical, you both try to fit God in your left right political spectrum, and it doesnt work like that.

[Critters2]

313. I'll ask for your advice next time.

Thanks for sharing.

[FLDCVADem]

316. Is it your church's policy

to make accusations of racism in order to incite a person to make statements that you can then use against them in a complaint? If not, why did you do so while in your official capacity as pastor?

[57_TomCat]

320. You started it with...

the bumper sticker. :(

[flyarm]

325. no you fucked with his being a kind person in his community by volunteering to help those

who needed help!

so aren't you the sweet clergy man!..not.

You sir are the dispicable one to me..if you really are clergy and you were going to the hospital for your clergy job..you were the one who crossed the line!

You could have easily said , I don't discuss politics while on duty..

most of us have had to do that while at work!

and You sir work for a tax exempt church , I assume??????????

Instead of Politely saying something to shut down the converstation..you baited.

Glad i don't see you as clergy..I feel you should have a warning sign hung on you..

"squealer at large"

One thing i always taught my children..no one like a squealer! or a snake dressed in clergy attire.

[Maru Kitteh]

351. "No one likes a squealer" is a terrible thing to teach your kids.

It teaches them to put up with illegal and offensive behavior.

Just a few of the great squealers of history:

Daniel Ellsberg
Erin Brockovich
Mark Felt
Jeffrey Wigand
Jennifer Long
Joseph Darby
Richard Clarke
Crystal Lee Sutton

Yeah, you wouldn't want your kids to end up like that.

[flyarm]

416. YEAH AND KIDS GET THE SHIT KICKED OUT OF THEM WHEN THEY SQUEAL.. so your point

is..go get the shit kicked out of you????????what??

adults can handle themselves ..kids can't always.

Guess you never lived in a city eh???????

[Maru Kitteh]

299. I doubt this shuttle driver was "following store policy" when he chose to flap his yap w.dissaproval

about HIS COSTOMER'S BUMPER STICKER. Maybe that's WHY you got so many complaints. Maybe you insulted your customers about their personal belongings or their person - not knowing when to keep your own yap shut.

The stupid assed shuttle driver had no right insulting his customer's personal bumper-sticker choices. Get it? He could have talked about a football game or the weather or traffic or whatever. You don't insult your customers.

[flyarm]

330. what if he said he didn't like the clergy mans football team???????

that could be insulting as well ..now couldn't it be..and would that be construed as racist????????

[Maru Kitteh]

339. Nice try but no sale. You can talk about football too w/o insulting someone's team. You don't

insult customers and their personal choices. Period. Dipshit got what he asked for.

How about these for nice conversation starters?

I don't like your little girl's dress. I don't like your shirt. I don't like your wife's coat. I don't like your car. I don't like your hair.

[NavyDavy]

366. yeah you weren't going to register until you saw this post....you know

what lurkers do that the faux news watchers, freepers and the rightwingers.......and thats what HR is for.....sorry.....but its ok for all the rwers to turn people in for just wearing President Obama pins,shirts, etc

[tammywammy]

369. So it was okay when the RWs did it when someone wore an Obama button?

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[Kaleva]

292. I give this an unrec.

I think you did more harm then good when you went to the driver's supervisor to complain. He may have not liked Obama before but I suspect after the talking to he got from his boss, he's probably quite hostile now.

You wished him a good day then lodged a complaint against him. Then you talk about the free lunch you got.

You may feel happy about what you did but I feel nothing but contempt for you.

[Critters2]

298. I'm not really concerned about what you think.

Attacking me on the internet doesn't make you any more ethical than you think I am.

I live in red country, and am tired of putting up with it. There are appropriate places for political speech. Driving the shuttle for a non-profit hospital is not one of them. He knew my view of Obama from the very fact that I had a bumper sticker. He knew I'd be unhappy with his opining, but felt the need to do so anyway.

If the hospital felt he did nothing wrong, as you do, then nothing will come of the complaint. If he did violate hospital policy, his supervisor has the right to know.

That you feel contempt for me really doesn't matter to me. But thanks for sharing.

[tammywammy]

303. But YOU didn't stop the political speech either

Weren't you working in your capacity as clergy at the time? Why didn't you stop it, since in the same respect it would violate your non-profit status?

[FLDCVADem]

327. Oh but that's different...

...not sure how, but I'm sure it is...

Goose, meet gander.

[pipi_k]

354. come on, now, you know it is!!!

That evil shuttle bus driver wrestles innocent bystanders to the ground, ties them up, and throws them into his bus. He then holds a gun to their heads while he threatens their lives and forces (FORCES!!!) those poor people to listen to his partisan politics.

Resisters are taken around back to the laundry area and waterboarded with the rinse water from a thousand filthy bed sheets, then they are tied to a gurney and forced to eat amputated body parts while being shown graphic photos of aborted fetuses that they can't avoid watching because their eyelids are taped open.

That shuttle bus driver is just pure evil, and he deserved to be reported. God only knows how many other innocent people he might have tried to brainwash!!!

:scared:

[Kaleva]

311. Just enjoy your free lunch Reverend.

And we'll just agree not to care or think highly of each other.

[Critters2]

315. I'm cool with that. Having your approval is not one of my life goals.

So, it's all good.

[demwing]

326. Good for you rev - ask the tough questions

if its not about prejudice, then its not about prejudice.

There are some here, however, that might want to gut check their criticism to see if they have a religious prejudice coloring their comments.

[Luminous Animal]

336. Sure ask a "tough" question...

engage in a political discussion, then skedaddle of to the authorities to file a complaint. The question was not tough, it was a knee-jerk assumption based on zero evidence.

[GoneOffShore]

332. You did good.

And the concern trolls on this thread, not so much.

I always wonder why apologists get so heated up about employing confrontational tactics. Be nice and play along has become a bullshit mantra used by the right to defeat progressives time and again.

[Critters2]

390. Thank you. It's interesting at the number of people who say I should have just let it go.

But are completely incapable of doing the same.

[XanaDUer]

395. 100% correct.

In fact, on one board I participated on, the conservatives were always throwing out the line, "I thought liberals were supposed to always be TOLERANT of others' opinions...blah, blah, blah..."

If I follow the OP, he or she was not necessarily confrontational, either. Frankly, when people are rolling into a hospital, be they a priest, pastor, rabbi, family member, or whoever, they are there under stressful and sad or worrisom circumstances (the only exception I can think of is having a baby-at least you get to bring a nice little package home) and do not need to hear anything like this from Mr. I-Volunteer-To-Drive-The-Shuttle, opinions on personal matters from the gift-shop volunteers, the lady who delivers the flowers, etc.

I mean, the one thing I find amazing about RWers is they *always* think everyone is entitled to their ignorant opinions on things. And that you agree. So, the driver opened himself up to this.

[Kajsa]

344. I am so proud of you, Critters2!

In a nutshell, you nailed it,

"(Yep, I went there. It's time to confront these racists)."

Well done, and I am inspired to follow in your footsteps.

:yourock:

:) :pals:

[Luminous Animal]

349. What evidence did Critters have that the man is a racist?

[Maru Kitteh]

352. Ignorant asshats often are. The fact that he was stupid enough to insult his customer is

a great first clue.

I don't like your hat. I don't like your shirt. I don't like your hair. I don't like your bumper sticker.

The driver opened with an insult. Why anyone is surprised he got one in return is amazing.

[Kajsa]

365. His opening,

"Him: Yep. I don't like him, I don't trust him.
Me: Because he's black? (Yep, I went there. It's time to confront these racists).
Him: Did I say that?
Me: What other reason would you have to not trust the president of the United States?
Him: I don't know where he's from.
Me: He's from Hawaii originally. More recently from Chicago. Now you know.
Him: I don't like where he was educated."

" don't know where he's from"
" don't like where he was educated" ?!?

WTH?

So many of us have been trying to make sense of this RW garbage since President Obama took
office.The attacks are idiotic, grounded in nonsense and paranoid stupidity.
The reaction to this president is so vicious, so hateful that only one very sad conclusion could
be reached to explain it- Racism.

Believe me, it saddens many of us to see the same garbage we were fighting forty years ago
rear its ugly head and reemerge, stronger than ever.

Only now, it's thinly disguised, as the naked truth is much too ugly for the media to expose.

[FLDCVADem]

373. You do realize

That the racism accusation was made before the answers about country, education, etc., right?

In other words, anyone that doesn't trust President Obama is a racist.

What a bunch of bullshit.

[Kajsa]

378. You do realize that Critters

ASKED,

" because he's black?"

You may interpret that as an accusation, but I don't.
I see as a very direct question, that backed him into a
corner where it became overly APPARENT that Critters
was 100% correct.

He had no answers, only the evasive, idiotic bullshit these
people retort with.

"where he came from"
" where he got his education"

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FRIGGING KIDDING ME!

He had NOTHING!

Did ANYONE EVER OBJECT TO A WHITE PRESIDENT ADDRESSING OUR NATION'S STUDENTS?

ENOUGH!

btw,

Here's a link to an editorial from a local paper, here.

http://tinyurl.com/m2sn66

The writer does NOT like President Obama and is a Repub. to the core.
His "logic" is laughable at times.
However, he is not a racist, his "reasoning" is extremely flawed but based on his view
of " inexperience".
There's a big difference.

[FLDCVADem]

404. Did ANYONE EVER OBJECT TO A WHITE PRESIDENT ADDRESSING OUR NATION'S STUDENTS?

Yes, people objected in 1991 when GHW Bush addressed the students. Not just objected, but actually launched a Congressional investigation.

[Kajsa]

407. Please elaborate as I do not recall

that uproar at all.

What was the objection?

[tammywammy]

412. Yes, there was a Congressional investigation after GHWB spoke to students

http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m9d8-1991-Bush-speech-to-schools-spurred-congressional-investigation

[Kajsa]

413. Very interesting.

I watch the news everyday, and don't even remember this.

When I Goggled the subject, only this article came up.

I remember 'The Examiner' well. It was an ultra-right wing newspaper that
is no longer in print.( hasn't been for a long time).It was LA's version of the
"Orange County Register'.

The reaction to this speech was after the fact, right?

[tammywammy]

414. I don't remember it from that time either

I was talking with a friend saying how crazy this outrage over Obama speaking is and said I didn't remember this when Bush spoke when I was a kid (I was only 11). He's s tad older and remembered the investigation and told me. From the article I read, yeah it was after the fact that people got up in arms.

[Kajsa]

426. I was 40 at the time

and still don't remember it.

That is very interesting.

[Kajsa]

409. I notice you are all over this thread

defending the guy.

Interesting.

[L0oniX]

347. Keep hammering them with the racist tag ...damned racist asscarrots!

[newtothegame]

353. Maybe he doesn't trust him because this dousche is a conservative and President Obama is a liberal..

I know that's a CRAAAAAAAAAAAAZY idea, but just MAYBE.

[pipi_k]

360. Or maybe...just maybe...

he doesn't trust ANY politician.

I don't.

Even if I voted for the person.

I know of very few people on this earth who deserve total, unquestioned trust...least of all politicians.

[FLDCVADem]

361. I agree n/t

[Critters2]

389. Why are you obsessed with this?

It's clear there's more going on here than just my OP. Figure out what it is, and deal with it. In the meantime, I'll be ignoring you.

[pipi_k]

403. Ah, I'm obsessed now...

Have you said the same thing to people who agree with you? Of course not!

It's only people who disagree who have to figure out what their problem is...


It's OK if you want to ignore me. It's probably easier to do that than have to face questions whose answers can't be justified in the Real World.

:+

[TuxedoKat]

375. Good for you.

The guy didn't have any business criticizing your bumper sticker unless he had something positive to say.
As it was, his comment was confrontational and provocative. If you had brought up politics asking his
opinion re something, that would be another thing, but since you didn't, he was out of bounds, IMO.

[Taitertots]

385. That makes you sound like a terrible person

Don't like someone's ideology so you tattle to their boss trying to get them fired for not liking Obama.

You are now officially worse than the BUSH supporters.

[Critters2]

388. He wasn't fired.

Don't be so melodramatic in your support of Republicans.

[Taitertots]

393. So why are you trying to get the driver in trouble?

What is wrong with you that you harass someone after a peaceful discussion on a bus?

[Critters2]

394. You are assuming facts not in evidence.

And I'm ignoring you.

[bigjohn16]

408. Ignoring someone you don't agree with. There's a concept.

You sure you don't want to rat on him?

[david13]

386. Well said.

[superduperfarleft]

391. Either this story is bullshit or you're an asshole. n/t

[cleveramerican]

392. Good for you.

The last thing you need is to hear nonsense from a fool in a hospital parking lot.


I'm not sure I'd have done it, but I like your spirit.

[Joanne98]

410. I THINK YOU'RE A HERO!

Ya did the right thing Critters2.

:)

[MidwestRick]

421. Is this really the state of the country now?

When someone disagrees with your political views that we run off and try to get them in trouble? I certainly hope not. This is something I could see happening from the right, but not the left.