Michigan attorney General Mike Cox has fired his assistant AG Andrew Shrivell for homophobic blogs, harassing, and stalking University of Michigan college student and Michigan Student Assembly (MSA) President Chris Armstrong. Months after starting a BlogSpot which has recently been made private bashing Armstrong for being gay and promoting what he said was a gay agenda. Anderson Cooper first broke the story during his bullying week on AC360.
Shrivell had stated that his blog was protected because of the First Amendment as he was doing it on his own free time and not using Government work time to update his blog or using his powers to effect said blog.
Investigations had proven that Shrivell used Government resources and time to contact Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in hope to slander Armstrong as he was interning for the Speaker. In a statement made by AG Cox he stated that “To be clear, I refuse to fire anyone for exercising their First Amendment rights, regardless of how popular or unpopular their positions might be.
However, Mr. Shirvell repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior, and inappropriately used state resources, our investigation showed.” Shirvell defended his postings on AC360 Telling Cooper, “I’m a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights. I have no problem with the fact that Chris is a homosexual.
I have a problem with the fact that he’s advancing a radical homosexual agenda.” My question for Shrivell is this, how do you know he has a gay agenda? How does the First Amendment protect you stalking, harassing, outing his friends and slander? My answer for you is this, there is no gay agenda. No matter how hard you want to think there is some gay conspiracy, there is just people out there who want to be treated like you and I.
As for the first amendment let me jog your brain. First Amendment would protect your Christian religion and your right to free speech, but nowhere does it allow you to stalk him at 1:30am, slander him, using state resources to do it, and destroy his image. I’m all for the First Amendment, Hell, I believe that Westboro, no matter how much I disagree and can’t stand them, have all the right to have their rallies and protests. As long as they do not do it during a funeral or a time that you must respect others.
