Should the Mich. Asst. AG be fired?: Join the Live Chat
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Tonight on 360, more on the strange case fo the Michigan Assistant Attorney General targeting a gay University of Michigan student. Also, Dr. Phil joins us to talk about cyberbullying and the Rutgers student who committed suicide this week after his roommate streamed live video online of him kissing another boy. And an update to our Dr. Detectives series. 360 MD Sanjay Gupta joins us along with patient Sally Massagee. That and more on AC360° tonight at 10pm ET.
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
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Palin doesn’t read news papers doesn’t watch CNN or MSNBC another example
It doesn't take asking another lawyer to fire Shirvell. An average person can tell what 's right or wrong. This is not a freedom of speech. If his boss could not see it, he too should be fired. The bullying sounds personal not political.
My former governor of only 5 months (Palin) should come on CNN if she has complaints, instead of hiding behind her keyboard and sending out tweets!
I really do not like these political advertisements. I think they have no boundaries. Do people even listen to these anymore? I do not believe anything.
Palin blaming the media for something......big surprise......
Thankfully our Gov. here in MI has also asked for his removal
Andrew should be fired, end of story. This has gone too far and should have been dealt with once news leaked of Shirvell's behavior
Emily
@Megan,
But they ARE expecting it! Shrivell admitted to standing outside of Armstrong's house, and videotaping him, and he has also harassed his family, friends, and friends' family members.
Shrivell said that it's free speech, and he has the right to protest on his own time.
Emily,
I also disagree with Andrew Shrivell's free speech, he don't have right target against gays!!! I never said against gays, I don't mind about gays not matter what's says. I don't think that Andrew should says that free speech.
Good evening Anderson, Isabel, Emily, Starr, Megan, Sree, Nicole, everyone.
Chris Armstrong filed for a personal protection order, how was that filing ruled on?
Is there an injunction? I'm sorry didn't catch that.
If so that would impact how the Michigan Attorney General treats this.
Isn't it kind of jumping the gun to say Andrew Shirvell shld be fired, esp by the Michigan gov? Maybe suspension while the matter is under review by the attorney general or other non court duties.
@Nina,
"anyone else would have been placed immediately on administrative hold pending a full investigation"
I think that if Cox had something to lose, he would have done just that.
Shirvell deserves the boot. If flippant swastika use isn't "conduct unbecoming" I don't know what is.
i fear the safety of this colledge student...hope he is being protected from the mad man
@Sara Hailstone
Very well said, Miss.
Under 1st amendment US constitution give him right to protest or support whatever he believes.
Since Shirvell is working for the government, i wonder why his boss was not notified of this restraining order?
@Sharon,
that's a good point...if by chance he were to get fired, or not, I do hope that he is being watched.
Thanks to 360 for bringing this story to my attention. Shirvell should absolutely, without a doubt be fired. He should be been fired when this whole thing started. What astounds me is that people are defending his behavior by claiming it is protected free speech. Since when is defamation of character and libel constitutionally protected? The first amendment provides us with the freedom to speak our minds. It does not protect against the consequences of those opinions. The act of blogging may be protected, but a position in a public office is not.
Shirvell, is a very scary to person to me
Mike Cox's toleration of vicious anti-gay cyber-bullying from his own Assistant Attorney General is especially repulsive, in light of the fact that four gay students have committed suicide because of bullying in the past couple of weeks alone. It sends a horrible message and Cox ought to be ashamed.
Psychologically unstable – definately. I'd say a prototypical example of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Thank you Anderson for bringing awareness to this and enabling dialogue that will hopefully suppress this discrimination.
Hateful speech is not freedom of speech; it is oppression.
-Sara Hailstone
Ontario, Canada
I think that Mr. Cox has his own agenda regarding this story. I"m glad to see that Chris Armstrong was able to get a restraining order against Mr.Shirvell.
Why is this guy still a lawyer? I can understand his politician boss not firing him, but why hasn't the bar association disbarred him? Being a licensed attorney is surely a requirement for his job. Anyone who is offended by this guy's conduct should file a complaint with the Michigan State Bar Association.
An additional note, according to MichiganMessage blog Mr. Shirvell served as a campaign manager for AG Mike Cox in 2006, I think this may hint at Mr. Cox's negligance in pursuing disciplinary action agains his assistant. I contacted my governor, Jennifer Granholm today.
Shirvell is showing obsessive behavior towards Armstrong. How many anti-gay right wing fanatics are really closet gays themselves? Makes you wonder.
@Lori
It sounds like the current Attorney General just wanted to retire in peace. Didn't he say that he only has three more months or was I hearing things?
____
Of course. He seems not to care.
First Amendment rights aside, no government official has the right to stalk and enter the private life of an American citizen who has done no wrong by law. He should be fired and made an example of. Perhaps he would like his own life under a microscope.
Andrew Shirvell should absolutely without a doubt be fired. We don't want a political figure, an attorney general, so discriminating and downright deranged towards a student. Shirvell's actions – going to his house to protest, finding his friends, his friends parents, the whole swastika situation. I just can't believe our government is still letting this continue. As a college student, I really feel for Chris Armstrong. It's really a shame that a grown adult is attacking him in these childish and lunatic ways. I understand the freedom of speech, but this has gone way too far!
Anderson– GREAT Question turning the tables- what if Shivell was gay...since employment non discrimination does cover sexual orientation- couldnt the AAG if he was gay be fired for basically being gay? Would love to hear Jeff Toobins response to that....
@Jo Ann...you just made me wonder how "we" can control anybody who wants to write their own blog about ANY subject, considering the lack of physical confrontation. Hmmm.
Someone is hiding very pertinent information. It makes no sense otherwise.
@ Lindy
"unfortunately in Michigan we do not have a provision for sexual orientation in our Hate Crime Law, nor do we have a cyber bullying law. But we do have laws against harassment."
Sounds to me like Michigan may use this case to legislate some laws of protection for hate crimes, cyber-bullying, etc. Hopefully, the constituents of Michigan get with their lawmakers to ensure this happens. Other states of the Union have done so.
i am sure there is merrit system where the asst ag works...and you cannot act like this and call yourself a professional....he is unbecoming and officer...he should be fired
If the Michigan AG is ignoring it he's condoning it by default.
Good evening everyone.
bad enough that Shrivell is harrassing Armstrong but his parents as well?? Shame on him! and Shame on Shrivell's employer for encouraging this behavior
Is it possible that Shervill is blackmailing Mike Cox with nefarious information about his campaign and that’s why he won’t fire him? Doesn’t make sense why he won’t terminate his employment.
Yes- he should most definitely be fired. I'm only seventeen, but I know the difference between hate and a "political campaign." This man, Shirvell, needs to give a public apology to Chris Armstrong, or at the very least stop following the man around. There is no excuse for Shirvell's constant harassment of Armstrong, other than (as Mike Cox said) "immatur[ity]."
What about protesting at the house of the student?
I'm wondering if Mr. Shervell is dangerous in any way, particularly if fired or hampered in any way from actively pursuing his obsession. He needs to be watched closely.
@Casey-'there is much more having to do with personal feelings than has been reported at this point. I can guaranty you that.'
I have no doubt about it!
@Megan,
But they ARE expecting it! Shrivell admitted to standing outside of Armstrong's house, and videotaping him, and he has also harassed his family, friends, and friends' family members.
Shrivell said that it's free speech, and he has the right to protest on his own time.
Kudos to 360 for exposing this guy! This guy's continual harassment has to be stopped!
I agree this law says!!! it's correct that is against at law who never bully other people, that is not right to stalker or cyberbully in the country! That is unacceptable behavior!
I am surprised that Shirvell's "boss" was unaware of the restraining order.
If Shirvell's blog is targeting Armstrong because he is gay I don't know why this is not a clear cut case of harassment.
This is one of those insane situations–why wouldn't he be fired?
the asst. ag is acting a little crazy
As an open gay man 60 years old I have seen tremendous changes in society over the past 40 years when I came out at 21 years old in 1971.
I have been happily partnered with one man for 25 years and another for 15 years with another partner and two adopted kids from Guatemala. Public servants like this should be held to a higher standard, he should be terminated.
@Chris...Anderson did hit it on the head which proves there are more ways to get to the truth than conventional questions and answers. Good for AC.
That said, being "obsessed with a homosexual" pretty much sums it up. You barely have to read between the lines.
There is so much bullying in schools everywhere and there are documentaries showing shocking and disturbing videos of bullies. When the parents of these bullies are taken aside and questioned about their child's behaviour, they do NOT care! WHY?!
unfortunately in Michigan we do not have a provision for sexual orientation in our Hate Crime Law, nor do we have a cyber bullying law. But we do have laws against harassment.