Should ESPN Fire Jamele Hill?

[Jagger69]

by definition, a private company cannot take away your first amendment rights. the first amendment covers the federal government limiting or prohibiting speech. that doesn't cover a private entity.

Private companies can fire you for not liking what you say, but again ...

what does this have to do with the First Amendment?


what clever catch are you about to spring upon us?

They can indeed fire you for what you say, but not just anything. If I state that, oh let's just say that FDR was a terrific president and I get fired for it, I think I might have a legal gripe. By the same token if I tell the boss that I'd like to fuck his daughter, I think that would possibly constitute grounds for dismissal. Company handbooks or manuals usually have some sort of verbiage about such things. I'm not a legal expert so I don't know exactly where the lines are drawn but clearly they are there.

It doesn't have anything to do with the first amendment as far as I can discern. I do think that ESPN has been inconsistent in how they have handled these cases throughout the years (Schilling and Williams and now Hill). All three were handled differently. That's why I made the initial statement that she should be fired....because Williams was for a very similar offense. And no catch. I'm just trying to stimulate some debate, that's all. It an interesting issue.

Out of the blue here but....does anyone else here agree with Hill's belief that Trump is a white supremacist?

 

[zeeblofowl_1969]

no they should not

 

[bodie54]

Out of the blue here but....does anyone else here agree with Hill's belief that Trump is a white supremacist?

No I don't agree that Trump himself is, although obviously they make up a part of his base.

And if I were the president of ESPN I probably would can Hill.

 

[Johan]

So....private companies can take away your first amendment rights then? I thought Hill was free to speak her mind. Which way is it?

I mentioned the First Amendment because Sarah Huckabee-Sanders said Hill's tweet were "something that I think is a fireable offense by ESPN". Which, coming from the White House Press Secretary, is basically saying the President wants her to be fired.
The decision wether or not Jemele Hill should be fired belongs to ESPN, not to the White House because 1) ESPN doesn't take is a private company and doesn' orders from the White House 2) Jemele is protected from any government interference from the government by the Firs Amendment.

But the First Amendment applies to the government, not to private companies. That's why Chick Fil-A can give money to christian organisations.? So if they think her tweets have hurt the company, ESPN is free to fire Jemele Hill

Jemele Hill is free to speak her mind, the government can't punish her of have her fired for whatever she would say. But as a ESPN employee, she must comply with her employer's policy and if she deoesn't the company that employs her is free to terminate her contract.

 

[Johan]

Out of the blue here but....does anyone else here agree with Hill's belief that Trump is a white supremacist?

A month ago I would have sais "No Way !".
As of today I would answer that I'm not so sure he isn't a white supremacist. But I'm 100% sure he is a racist, Central Park Five proves it : https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/20...tral-park-five-are-guilty-despite-dna-n661941

 

[Jagger69]

No I don't agree that Trump himself is, although obviously they make up a part of his base.

And if I were the president of ESPN I probably would can Hill.

A month ago I would have sais "No Way !".

As of today I would answer that I'm not so sure he isn't a white supremacist. But I'm 100% sure he is a racist, Central Park Five proves it : https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/20...tral-park-five-are-guilty-despite-dna-n661941

I'd be pretty much of the same mindset. His personal history is rife with racist overtones.

I'd tend to concur with these opinions in general. He's got a serious personal history of prejudicial statements and actions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...p-racist-examples_us_584f2ccae4b0bd9c3dfe5566

 

[Rattrap]

Out of the blue here but....does anyone else here agree with Hill's belief that Trump is a white supremacist?

A month ago I would have sais "No Way !".
As of today I would answer that I'm not so sure he isn't a white supremacist. But I'm 100% sure he is a racist, Central Park Five proves it : https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/20...tral-park-five-are-guilty-despite-dna-n661941

I'd be pretty much of the same mindset. His personal history is rife with racist overtones.

I'd tend to concur with these opinions in general. He's got a serious personal history of prejudicial statements and actions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...p-racist-examples_us_584f2ccae4b0bd9c3dfe5566

It's very obvious Trump is a racist, and has been for some time. My take on him being a white supremacist is that one needs to care a lot more to go from racist to white supremacist - and I don't think Trump honestly cares enough to go that extra step.

On the original topic, though it seems there is mostly agreement on the role of the First Amendment here, it's always useful to keep in mind what it actually says, my emphasis added:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I don't think I've ever watched ESPN intentionally (as opposed to, say, when it's on in the background of a sports bar), but that's because I couldn't give the slightest fuck about sports unless I was paid real good money. I get enough circus with my bread watching politics.

 

[Elwood70]

His personal history is rife with racist overtones.

I'm not defending Trump here, but if you look at it from a certain perspective, this could be said about pretty much anyone..

 

[Mayhem]

I don't think I've ever watched ESPN intentionally.

They don't cover Curling anyway, so my viewing is severely limited.

I'm not defending Trump here, but if you look at it from a certain perspective, this could be said about pretty much anyone..

It's a big step from some N-word jokes when you're young to Trumpian racism. Gotta go with 85% disagree here.

 

[Johan]

I'm not defending Trump here, but if you look at it from a certain perspective, this could be said about pretty much anyone..

You can find some racist overtone to most politicians. But very few can compare to Trump on how many racially charged statement or actions they did or maid. And, on somme occasion (such as Central Park Ficz) Trump went way over "obvertone" to full-on racism

 

[Elwood70]

You can find some racist overtone to most politicians.

I wasn't referring to politicians specifically, but people in general.

Which is why I agree with this:

It's a big step from some N-word jokes when you're young to Trumpian racism. Gotta go with 85% disagree here.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Out of the blue here but....does anyone else here agree with Hill's belief that Trump is a white supremacist?

Me.

“If you just come out and say that someone can’t judge your case because they are Mexican; if your response to the first black president is that they weren’t born in this country, despite all proof; if you say they weren’t smart enough to go to Harvard Law School, and demand to see their grades; if that’s the essence of your entire political identity You Might be a white supremacist, it’s just possible.”

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/you-mig...ehisi-coates-lists-examples-of-trumps-racism/

 

[BCT]

Why is everyone surprised?