Based on the number of threads and messages that I’ve read denouncing the Tea Party folks as being dangerous, racist, etc., etc., I’d like to ask those doing the denouncing if it was proper for Lance Baxter, the voice of GEICO, to call up Freedom Works and ask them how many retarded people work for them, and what their plans were for when one of their members kills someone.
I don’t have a problem with what Baxter said. There’s a pretty wide difference between calling someone stupid, and calling someone a racial slur. Likewise, between insinuating that someone is dangerous, and making violent threats.
On the other hand, I don’t have a problem with Geico firing him, either. His job is to be the representative of the company. If he’s running around alienating potential customers, his employer is absolutely justified in showing him the door.
I’m familiar with Breitbart, of course, from his Pulitzer-Prize-winning work with James O’Keefe. Can’t say I’ve heard of “FreedomWorks,” let alone heard a compelling argument why I should give a shit about them being verbally abused by a talking gecko. Perhaps the OP could explain further how this “incident” palliates the racist and incendiary remarks of tea party faithful? Have any of them been fired for speaking their uh, minds?
Baxter was certainly allowed to call up Freedom Works and ask them what their plans were for when one of their members kills someone. It was a pretty stupid thing to do, but hey, people are stupid.
Geico was within their rights to fire him, as his behaviour brought bad press to their brand (even if he was not representing the company at the time). It’s their decision to make.
Freedom of speech does not really enter into it. He was free to make the comments to Freedom Works. They were free to repeat them to the public. Geico was free to ask Baxter to seek new employment.
Are you happy with this Clothahump? Or do you require us to condemn Baxter with the outrage of 10,000 suns?
Yep, Mr. Baxter was a terrible threat. The incendiary language of the Tea Baggers is just boys having fun. How could anyone think the violent rhetoric of the Tea Klux Klan will result in someone getting hurt? When it happens, it will become a fair question then?
Why did you put this in the Pit? Did you expect outrage? Seems like it played out rather uneventfully. Guy does something rather childish and tarnishes the image of his client. Guy gets fired. So what?
Sure, as a spokesvoice he ought to know to keep his nose out of nutty political kerfuffles. I’d expect some such clause was even in his contract. Still, assuming he’s not a retard, it was a pretty humorous way for him to bow out.
The guy did nothing wrong except be a jerk. If Geico feels that his conduct in his personal time has the chance to hurt the company’s bottom line, then more power to them.
No, it wasn’t ‘proper’ for him to call and be a jerk.
Not a lizard, luci, a gecko. Sheesh. It was the lizard that ate all his breath mints.
And no, I don’t have a problem with Geico firing the guy. Whatever else can be said about Teabaggers, they are potential consumers, and a corporation is not going to tolerate an employee deliberately alienating potential consumers.