Some politicians really ought to talk less

Brace yourselves.

You may need to sit down before reading this.

Ready?

A politician in the US said something stupid and bigoted.

After assuring ThinkProgress that he “respects everyone” and “loves people,” Pittenger said he believes companies should have the right to fire or refuse to hire someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“You need to respect the autonomy of somebody running their business,” he said. “It’s like smoking bans. Do you ban smoking or do people have the right to private property? I think people have the right to private property. In public spaces, absolutely, we can have smoking bans. But we don’t want to micromanage people’s lives and businesses. If you have a business, do you want the government to come in and tell you you need to hire somebody? Why should government be there to impose on the freedoms we enjoy?”

 

Wait.

Hold on.

STOP.

HALT I say!

(source)

There’s just a few problems with this Congresscritters’ comments.

  1. This is how he “respects everyone”?  By claiming that some people don’t have the right to be protected from being fired for their sexuality or gender identity?  Last I checked, neither of those characteristics tend to affect the ability of an individual to do their job (just like ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, age, or race).  Respect: I don’t think you quite understand what this word means.
  2. Pittenger says he “loves people”.  Let me guess, LGBT individuals don’t qualify as people to him.  If they did, maybe he’d realize how discriminated and oppressed we’ve been in society and we need to be treated as a protected class so that we aren’t unfairly fired, or turned down for jobs.  Hmmm, maybe this is an example of that Christian “love” I’ve heard so much about.
  3. The imposition of smoking bans is not the same thing as the imposition of non-discrimination practices.  You’re seriously arguing that the government shouldn’t be able to tell you who you can or can’t hire and fire.  So I guess you want to repeal all advances in civil rights.  You want to businesses to be able to hire or fire someone based on their gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, RELIGION, and more? Oh, wait.  You were just talking sexuality and gender identity.  Silly me.  Didn’t realize you were doing some of that special pleading I’ve heard of.

I was recently informed that there are some people who take umbrage to being called douchebags.  I must fess up. I have called people douchebags.  I only use the term for those who deserve it.  But in deference to the individual that has stated they don’t like the word, I shall not use it to describe Pittenger. Nay, he shall not be called a douchebag.

He’s more of a doucheCANNON.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Some politicians really ought to talk less
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