What would you do about a *stealth* rethug propaganda poster at work?

[RiverStone]

I work as an educator in a public school with part-time administrative responsibilities; it's lunch time and I wanted to share my frustration with an annoying fly that keeps buzzing around.

In the shadows, hides a rethug employee who frequently posts rightie propaganda in the staff lounge. Today this idiot took an opinion piece off the web, removed the link and source - and posted it. The title of this wingnut OP was Democrat Liberals Caused The Financial Collapse. Above this piece of paper, he/she wrote the word WOW! and drew a red arrow (posted it on the dry erase board). As usual, I promptly ripped this crap off the wall and tossed it - but not before running a quick Google check on the language and to no surprise, this swill was posted by Ann Coulter on her website today.

Staff here in general are in the middle politically, as we do work in a red county. I don't have the time to get into a political post-it war in the staff lounge, I far prefer a direct argument. My political views are well known, and I am unabashedly progressive (and a Obama supporter). Yet the-rethug-in-the-shadows has never debated me or claimed ownership of his/her stealth postings on the wall.

Anyway, the walls of this public school building should be, at the very least, politically neutral. I'll just keep ripping the stuff down, or I could make an issue of it and report it to the Superintendent. Of course, we all have much bigger fish to fry. Too damn bad this coward works in the school and drank the kool-aid. :dunce: Hopefully he/she is not a teacher!

What would you do?

[RT Atlanta]

1. stealthily take it down...

or post your on stealth rebuttals

[Warpy]

2. The coward might be the principal, so tread lightly

Offhand, I think just ripping it down and shitcanning it is the most appropriate response until you spot whoever is doing it. When you spot that person, keep a few examples, do the work to attribute them, and maintain a paper trail.

If it's a fellow teacher or other peon, don't hesitate complaining about a hostile work environment.

This is incredibly inappropriate.

[RiverStone]

6. The principal is an Indie, who is voting for Obama - the Supt. is very Republican

Ideally, one's political preference should have no bearing on policy - though in small town USA, we know it does.

And I work in a small, rural town.

[wryter2000]

3. I'd ask the person in charge for help

I'd ask for a no-political-messages policy and post the policy in all the places the rethug posts his/her crap. I would think that would stop it. If not, you'd have to hope you could catch the creep in the act and turn him/her in.

[texastoast]

4. Is the nutter creating a "hostile" environment for you?

That's a key word for human resource people and they will reign in this type of behavior if you let them know you think your environment is hostile as a result of the poster.

[dorkulon]

5. I have to wonder what your reaction would be if someone ripped down a liberal editorial.

Are you sure you're not the fascist here? I think I'd have just written "wow! Ann Coulter's an idiot!" on the paper and left it up.

It's the staff lounge, not a classroom.

[Vincardog]

11. IT is a public building it should be neutral. Comparing Coulter's scribblings to an Editorial is

jumping the shark

[RiverStone]

15. I just think this garbage needs to not be posted at school - period!

Everybody knows I think Ann, Rush, Hannity are all f'ing idiots. But the public pays for this space, has access to the facility - and be it right or left - it seems wrong to post it anywhere in a public school.

[Dukkha]

7. It's racist as well if it's from Coulter

she blames minorities for the The financial collapse because of the fairness in lending act that prohibits discriminatory actions against minorities.

[RiverStone]

10. Yep, the Op referred to black and latino's with negative connotations

[SoCalDem]

8. Take it down, and deliver it to HR..

:)

[loveable liberal]

9. I would mock it.

If its on a dry erase board I would put "written by Man Coulter, professional liar. The person posting this here knows this, thats why the writers name is deleted"

[Vickers]

12. That would be my approach.

For better or worse, I find that my open ridicule toward McCain and Palin at work is much more effective than reasoned discourse.

[amdezurik]

13. write COWARD in red across the next one

the fact that they sneak it up and then scurry off to hide from the consequence just indicates they are a neoloon

[EFerrari]

14. I think I'd ask the lounge at large, when it's the most crowded,

who keeps posting this racist stuff?

[ColbertWatcher]

16. What is the school (or district) policy regarding hate speech? n/t

[WhollyHeretic]

17. You know they're getting a thrill out of pissing off all the liberals at the school

I would glue pictures like this



or maybe a nice zombie Reagan picture onto any article this person posts.

[RiverStone]

19. After Obama wins the Presidency, I think he/she will shrivel up or go crazy

There will be nothing to feed anymore, or he/she will show up at work wearing a Klan hat. The best satisfaction I/we can have regarding fools like this will happen the moment the networks flash Obama's smile and say --- we have projected Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States!

OK staff, that's "president-elect Obama" :)

Ooops, there goes the bell - back to work.

Cheers~

[harun]

18. Log everything this individual puts up and when it was done

Build a case against him. When it eventually goes over the line, which eventually it will, sue the district for 7 trillion dollars. Show the pattern of abuse, and intimidation, etc.

A policy will quickly be adopted to not post political propaganda this way. You can cancel the suit and all will be well.

[RainDog]

20. write "liar" across it and post a fact-check article

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. Wait until you're the last person around...

Print out an article debunking it. Post that up below the offending article and with a big red pen write "Wow, 'insert coworker's name' is a liar and an asshole!!!"

[Dollface]

22. There's nothing like a rational rebuttal to reveal how stupid their argument was.

Ideally you should write a rebuttal but who has time for that at work. Especially when its against a nut-job like Coulter where you have to vet not only the facts but the assumptions behind the argument. I have some of this with email associates so when I read a good rebuttal to some of the standard nonsense being posted these days, I keep a copy or bookmark it. I get excellent stuff here at DU as well as at TYT, Factcheck.org, snopes, truthout, crook and liars, fairness and accuracy etc.

It is good to remove it, best to disprove it. (ALthough I do enjoy mocking.) Good luck.