# Ethical to screen out Trump supporters applying for a job? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 20, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467 "2020-12-20T17:48:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/261 "2021-01-05T23:37:37Z")
Unfortunately, the term Karen has been used to apply to ordinary suburban white women. And calling ANYONE out based on race or gender is unacceptable - call out the behavior, not the gender. ---
**Author:** ![songsearch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@songsearch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/songsearch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/262 "2021-01-06T19:24:50Z")
Right, let’s send minority voters to the unemployment line whenever their party’s candidate for president loses an election. Let 'em stew there for four years, and plot insurrections, they’ll have nothing else to do, and they’ll be hungry enough to start a revolution. Makes perfect sense. ---
**Author:** ![songsearch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@songsearch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/songsearch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/263 "2021-01-06T19:29:18Z")
Have Trump and his supports done anything unconstitutional? All this stuff has happened before, including objections to electoral votes, and was resolved reasonably peaceably. I’m sure the media is going nuts right now over Trump’s speech today, but did he break any laws? A few people here need to read the 1st Amendment and what it says. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/264 "2021-01-06T19:30:15Z")
> [@songsearch](#): > > Have Trump and his supports done anything unconstitutional? Storming the capitol… ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/265 "2021-01-06T19:30:43Z")
Right now they’ve stormed their way into the US Capital. You tell me. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/266 "2021-01-06T19:38:35Z")
> [@songsearch](#): > > A few people here need to read the 1st Amendment and what it says. You first. Where does the First Amendment say anything about private employers? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/267 "2021-01-06T22:26:00Z")
Anyone want to amend their answer? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/268 "2021-01-06T22:52:05Z")
I would. Now, I would not only not hire someone who actively supported Trump on social media. I would also fire anyone already working for me who did so. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/269 "2021-01-06T22:57:28Z")
Like I said, I don’t think trying to ride the tiger of Trumpublicanism is a viable long-term strategy for “pragmatic” Trump voters and other rational conservatives. But I am a bit startled at how quickly and dramatically the Trumpublicans have validated that prediction. I can only hope that some of the “pragmatic” Republican legislators being evacuated from the Capitol for their protection from the violence of their fellow Trump voters are now rethinking some of their choices. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/270 "2021-01-06T23:02:50Z")
Indeed, I read reports that the final straw that enraged a lot the the ones storming the Capitol was the spectacle of seeing Moscow Mitch telling the other senators that planned to vote to overturn an election that they were doing harm to the nation. A little too late for that Mitch, enjoy the Trumpsters undermining “your” party. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/271 "2021-01-07T09:58:39Z")
Just reposting this from earlier… > [@Gyrate](#): > > > [@octopus](#): > > > > That earnest and self-righteous demonization of the other is, in part, what leads to outcomes of the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. > > On the list of “things that lead to outcomes of the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century”, “attempting to overturn a democratically-elected government and install a right-wing autocrat” also ranks pretty high. > > I have no material issues with how people vote (in fact, I’m a great believer in free and fair elections, even if I don’t always like the outcome). But right now there are a lot of people - potentially millions - who would be fine with the election result being simply thrown out because they don’t like the result. Many of those are actively advocating the implementation of martial law. It’s not “demonizing” those people to condemn what they are doing and saying. > > > [@octopus](#): > > > > Yet, modern McCarthyites are embracing hatred, ostracism, and ultimately other more sinister acts against a loosely aligned and far less dangerous political movement while excusing political violence and intolerance amongst their own. It is truly a fascinating time to be alive to witness such irony. > > Yes. Yes it is. > > > [@octopus](#): > > > > Those who seek power under the pretext of engaging in a ‘moral’ crusade unsurprisingly don’t care about collateral damage. > > No. No they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/272 "2021-01-07T15:54:53Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > But I’m not employing criminals or people that worship them. This is basically it. No, I don’t know if any given Trump supporter sitting in front of me would storm the capital, encourage violence, threaten minorities, pay off a porn star, or bribe a government official for their own benefit. But I know they signed off on all of it and make excuses for it. It’s just not rational and it’s not adult, to say nothing of unprincipled. I can’t have someone who’s going to fuck up the TPS reports and explain themselves by saying “what about Bobby in accounting getting to work 10 minutes late last Thursday, huh? What about that?” No. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/273 "2021-01-07T20:03:53Z")
Back when I hired people, the people I hired had to show the highest level of critical and logical thinking, and also be able to find and absorb information from a wide range of sources. Anyone who swallows the CT bullshit a Trumpist does fails on all counts. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/274 "2021-01-07T23:03:58Z")
Worth noting that a few companies have already fired Trump supporters that had participated in yesterday’s Capitol attack. One dumbass actually wore his corporate lanyard to the event. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/275 "2021-01-07T23:05:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > One dumbass actually wore his corporate lanyard to the event. That guy would surely have been fired for sheer stupidity even if the company he worked for was run by rabid Trumplicans. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/276 "2021-01-07T23:20:16Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Worth noting that a few companies have already fired Trump supporters that had participated in yesterday’s Capitol attack. One dumbass actually wore his corporate lanyard to the event. That’s an easy call. But what if one of your employees posted Facebook messages supporting the rioters, or praising Trump for his response to yesterday’s events? Would you fire them? I would. ---
**Author:** ![songsearch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@songsearch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/songsearch)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/277 "2021-01-08T00:38:09Z")
I dunno. It’s technically a public building and they vandalized it. Is that unconstitutional? I’m sure it’s against a law or two, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything in the Constitution that addresses vandalism to public buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/278 "2021-01-08T14:48:45Z")
How cute that you consider a violent assault on our nation’s capital while Congress was in session “vandalism.” You probably categorized 9/11 as “reckless operation of an aircraft.” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/279 "2021-01-08T15:15:46Z")
I don’t think it’s unethical. After all, part of evaluating applicants is trying to get a handle on their “fit” and suitability for working in your organization. The classic phrase describing this is [“Hire for attitude, train for skill”](https://www.fastcompany.com/26996/hire-attitude-train-skill-2), and I’d argue that being an avowed Trump supporter is a pretty damned good indicator of their attitudes toward a great many things and if you don’t think that sort of attitude is what you want in your company/department/team, then you’re absolutely within your rights and ethics to say no to them as a result. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467/280 "2021-01-08T19:11:21Z")
> **[Tarnished by Trump: National security officials struggle to find new jobs](https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/08/post-trump-jobs-national-security-456180)** > > Conversations with seven former and current officials reveal that they have been tainted by their time working for Trump. > They have been snubbed by potential employers, told they would be a “liability” and in one instance were even compared to the “Hitler Youth.” > > This is the job market many experienced national security officials who work for President Donald Trump are facing just days before a new president takes office and they will be out of work. > > Across the administration, national security officials have been struggling to find new employment, and conversations with seven former and current officials reveal that they have been tainted by their time working for Trump. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-screen-out-trump-supporters-applying-for-a-job/928467.md?page=15)