Community | September 29, 2010 | 51 comments

Michigan's Assistant Attorney General vs. Gay College Student Body President... Why? | Video Interview with Anderson Cooper

source: http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&vi...

EthicalVegan
State official vs. gay student .. why?


Assistant attorney general blogs against gay student body president

By the CNN Wire Staff
September 29, 2010 2:39 a.m. EDT

Asst. D.A. explains attacks on gay student

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* Michigan attorney general may take action against assistant
* Blog has criticized openly gay student assembly president for nearly six months
* Blog is composed during assistant attorney general's off-work hours



(CNN) -- For nearly six months, Andrew Shirvell, an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, has waged an internet campaign against college student Chris Armstrong, the openly gay student assembly president at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Using the online moniker "Concerned Michigan Alumnus," Shirvell launched his blog in late April.

"Welcome to 'Chris Armstrong Watch,'" Shirvell wrote in his inaugural blog post. "This is a site for concerned University of Michigan alumni, students, and others who oppose the recent election of Chris Armstrong -- a RADICAL HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVIST, RACIST, ELITIST, & LIAR -- as the new head of student government."

Among other things, Shirvell has published blog posts that accuse Armstrong of going back on a campaign promise he made to minority students; engaging in "flagrant sexual promiscuity" with another male member of the student government; sexually seducing and influencing "a previously conservative [male] student" so much so that the student, according to Shirvell, "morphed into a proponent of the radical homosexual agenda"; hosting a gay orgy in his dorm room in October 2009; and trying to recruit incoming first-year students "to join the homosexual 'lifestyle.'"

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has declined to comment directly about Shirvell's comments, saying he is pursuing legal action against the civil servant, who works on the blog during his off-hours.

"Mr. Shirvell's personal opinions are his and his alone and do not reflect the views of the Michigan Department of Attorney General," Cox said in the written statement provided by his office to CNN's "AC 360" Tuesday night. "But his immaturity and lack of judgment outside the office are clear."

Cox has not said what kind of legal action he is pursuing against Shirvell or how it might affect Shirvell's employment.

On "AC 360," Shirvell made no apologies for his blog postings, which include a picture of Armstrong with "Resign" written over his face. The same picture also had a swastika superimposed over a gay pride flag, with an arrow pointing toward Armstrong.

Shirvell acknowledged protesting outside of Armstrong's house and calling him "Satan's representative on the student assembly."

"I'm a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights," Shirvell told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "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."

Armstrong has supported gender-neutral housing at the university for transgender students who haven't had sexual reassignment surgery.

Armstrong has hired an attorney, according to CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin, who says Armstrong may have grounds for a harassment case.


CNN's Martina Stewart and Ed Payne contributed to this report.
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51 comments // Michigan's Assistant Attorney General vs. Gay College Student Body President... Why? | Video Interview with Anderson Cooper

  • Ceyril
    • +1
      Ceyril  

    • Psh, I know what went down.
      Andrew tried to get with Chris.
      This is Andrew's burning sense of rejection and jealousy.

    • 1 year ago
  • Proud_Progressive
  • SageRockandRoll
  • Daena_Smith
  • ayipis
  • Daena_Smith
  • donkeyfly69
  • EthicalVegan
    • +1
      EthicalVegan  

    • Michigan AG: I was 'shocked' by employee's blog

      Posted: September 29th, 2010 08:36 PM ET

      Martina Stewart
      AC360° Digital Producer

      (CNN) - Michigan's top lawyer is standing his ground - and fleshing out his legal position - when it comes to the controversial off-hours online behavior of one of his employees.

      For months, Assistant Michigan Attorney General Andrew Shirvell has published "Chris Armstrong Watch," a personal blog that seeks to spotlight the comings-and-goings of Chris Armstrong, the first openly gay president of the University of Michigan student assembly.

      In an interview Tuesday on AC360°, Shirvell defended his behavior, saying he is a concerned alum of the university who is invoking his constitutional right to speak out against what he views as Armstrong's agenda as the head of the school's student government.

      Related: Assistant attorney general blogs against gay student body president

      "I'm a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights," Shirvell told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "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."

      In an interview that airs Wednesday on AC360°, Shirvell's boss expressed distaste for his employee's behavior but insisted it was legally protected absent changed circumstances.

      Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox told Cooper that after receiving complaints at his office, he read portions of "Chris Armstrong Watch."

      "As I expected you did," Cox told Cooper, "I found it a bit of rambling of a slightly immature adult. And I was a bit shocked by it."

      Shirvell's "actions are offensive," Cox also said. But the top Michigan lawyer also maintained that Shirvell's personal blogging is a form of free speech protected by Michigan law and by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

      Cox added, "Quite frankly, I feel embarrassed for Mr. Armstrong - that he has this unwanted attention. But again, Anderson, this is speech put on a blog. And if you think about it, when we start censoring blogs or having workplace punishment for off-duty free speech, where do we draw the line?"

      But, Cox also shared with Cooper some circumstances that, if they came to pass, might lead him to discipline Shirvell for targeting Armstrong and the Michigan AG also shared his opinion about whether he thinks Shirvell is a bully.

    • 1 year ago
  • SageRockandRoll
    • +2
      SageRockandRoll  
    • EthicalVegan:

      This really isn't a freedom of speech issues. It an issue that revolves around how we as people treat our fellow human beings. Morality and what it means to be a good person. Cooper said it on the show and everyone else who I've talked about it say the same "Yes, you have the right to say these things. No ones arguing that."

      I don't think this nut job understands that while he can say whatever he wants, there will be consequences that come from his words and actions. It amazes me that no one has taken that angle yet. Especially his place of employment.

      Crazy. Really. This is all just way over the top.

    • 1 year ago
  • EthicalVegan
  • ayipis
  • SageRockandRoll
    • +4
      SageRockandRoll  
    • ayipis:

      Yes. Everyone should always be nice to everybody. Of coarse not you douche, it was a generalization.

      If you want to treat someone like crap, go ahead. Your entitled to your opinion. But freedom of speech doesn't cover harassing someone.

    • 1 year ago
  • MasteroftheObvious
  • wtthfkovr
  • Tangofinn
    • +3
      Tangofinn  

    • This man is a bigot and a complete dip. If he was half the man Ann Coulter is he'd admit that. but he is not (it's the lack of an adams apple like Ann's) so he's going to continue to hide behind his "ums" and sound like an idiot bigot homophobe loser.

    • 1 year ago
  • BrushwithDeathToothpaste
  • Still_Falling
    • +5
      Still_Falling  

    • My rule of thumb is, as follows:
      Anyone who spends this much time obsessing about homosexuals and their affairs. Has to be a homosexual himself.
      Why is it the so called moral crusaders, are the ones who possess the most flaws.

      My verdict is as follows, Andrew Shirvell - Self hating homosexual.

      (p.s) For a Asst. Attorney General, his reasoning is pretty fucked up. If Anderson Cooper can run circles around you, the law is the last thing with which you should be involved.

    • 1 year ago
  • bike10
  • toastyguy11
  • pandaman2105
    • +3
      pandaman2105  

    • I loovveedd Anderson's insinuations about him being obsessed with him because he's been stalking his facebook and protesting outside his house.

      who watched it all?!?! seeing his denial and hate battling against Anderson's morally intelligent interrogation was great!

    • 1 year ago
  • CarlosIsDown
  • CarlosIsDown
  • themotivateddropout
    • +5
      themotivateddropout  

    • "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."

      What? Being an open homosexual? Not being ashamed of the fact that he's a homosexual? Not telling others it's okay to be homosexual?

      This Shrivel (purposefully misspelled) fellow needs to stop hiding behind the First Amendment and Christianity and just up and admit he's got it in him.

      He likes the caulk.

    • 1 year ago
  • Charles_Sommers
    • +7
      Charles_Sommers  

    • Shirvell should come to grips with his own sexuality and realize that he is probably gay himself. A very high percentage of outspoken homophobes are! Cuddle up with a cute male and see what happens Shirvell!!

    • 1 year ago
  • FtheBULLSHT
  • unimatrix0
  • donkeyfly69
  • donkeyfly69
  • CarolineS
    • +3
      CarolineS  

    • "according to Shirvell, "morphed into a proponent of the radical homosexual agenda"; hosting a gay orgy in his dorm room in October 2009; and trying to recruit incoming first-year students "to join the homosexual 'lifestyle." hahahahahahahaha just hilarious, this guy is ridiculous and seems to me to be the homophobic racist elitest.

    • 1 year ago
  • SageRockandRoll
  • SageRockandRoll
    • +2
      SageRockandRoll  

    • Wow. That guys is freaking stupid and scary. How the heck does he still have a job? I wish Anderson would have gone after him harder. Ridiculous. He's comeback to very good points and questions had nothing to do with the what was asked.

    • 1 year ago
  • bc_f
    • bc_f [removed]  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • SageRockandRoll
  • HiImGuss
  • UtopianSky
    • +10
      UtopianSky  

    • The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

      EDIT:
      I wrote that before playing the clip, and I was right on the money.
      My god, that guy is SO obviously gay.
      He makes even low-powered gaydars point in his direction.

      He totally has the hots for that college student, combined with the fact that he is jealous that he was unable to be out in school like this young man is.

    • 1 year ago
  • onemalefla
  • EthicalVegan
  • littlwarrior
  • MAssappeal
    • +2
      MAssappeal  

    • oh. lord. How in god's name (was that a factor?) did this ridiculous man get a job in the AG's office? Granted, an interview with anderson cooper isn't exactly the easiest forum in which to represent onesself, but this guy sounds completely incapable of appreciating the big issues at hand here or even explaining himself coherently. I'm amazed that this is what even state politics has become. THIS KID IS A FUCKING STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW! More power to mr. Armstrong for seemingly keeping a level head through this whole thing.

    • 1 year ago
  • Stoneyroad
    • +8
      Stoneyroad  

    • What's the big deal? (sarcasm)
      So he stands outside the home of this elite gay student body..president,
      He only wants to videotape him trying to shove his radical homosexual agenda down his throat. Why is Anderson Cooper trying to make it seem like he has a fetish for gay nazis. He justs wants to spend his free time exercising his first ammendment all over a college student. That has nothing to do with the hard work he does all day under Mike Cox.

    • 1 year ago
  • UtopianSky
  • EthicalVegan
  • ii386
    • +3
      ii386  

    • What a self-hating closeted homosexual....My gaydar went nuts as soon as he started talking. He can't even keep eye contact and is extremely awkward and inarticulate.

    • 1 year ago
  • common_sense_please
    • +2
      common_sense_please  

    • hy·poc·ri·sy (h-pkr-s)
      n. pl. hy·poc·ri·sies
      1. The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.
      2. An act or instance of such falseness.

      Yep that pretty much sums up Mr. Shirvell's obsession with a young if not still even teenage boy's homosexuality and his extremely vigilent need to blog about supposed homosexual orgies a young man supposedly had in his dorm room or other homosexual conduct this young man might have been involved in while he (Mr. Shirvell) works for the Attorney General's office who is in charge of prosecuting hate crimes and while he also claims he is just a super conservative christian exercising his First Amendment rights.

      Funny -- I thought the 14th and 22 amendments outlawed bigotry and said finally ALL people were created equal and entitled to privacy in their sex lives,

      Also in related deeply ironic news:

      This guy's name is Andrew Shrivell--but it could easily be misspelled as shrivel--which duh!! that explains it...... :P :P :P

      shriv·el/ˈSHrivəl/Verb
      1. Wrinkle and contract or cause to wrinkle and contract, esp. due to loss of moisture.

    • 1 year ago
  • common_sense_please
    • 0
      common_sense_please  

    • sadly although this is completely unethical and just outright wrong--and its majorly hypocritical to call someone else out for being a racist, elitist, bigoted, hate monger when you are the one doing all those things.....this guy is right--Fred Phelps etc all has set the standard of what is acceptable under the First Amendment and I could pretty much promise you that this guy has an attorney from Westboro church already retained so he can keep his toes touching but not over the legal limits of speech.

      But sadly given all the PR the dumb-ass in Florida along with the members of Westboro church continues to get (and Sarah Palin and Christine O'Donnell) and the fact this makes Fox news some serious cash in advertising dollars and bumps up their Nielson ratings =these yahoos will continue to act like jerks while wrapping themselves in their own misguided version of what christianity (with a very small c) means to them and a few other completely misguided obviously illiterate idiots who did not read their bible .....so unfortunately here we go again.

    • 1 year ago
  • iamfree
  • Stever_B
    • +7
      Stever_B  

    • Oh yeah, my gaydar was going off like crazy watching this guy. He's crushing so hard on Chris Armstrong that he can't even make a coherent argument of his cause -- well, as if there is one.

    • 1 year ago
  • CalPal
    • +6
      CalPal  

    • Oh my God, if I was anywhere near that man, I would smack him senseless for what he was saying to the student, even without considering his blatant lies and horrid opinions.

      Who the hell does this monster think he is, running a merciless, bigoted campaign against someone who literally has little to no influence on his life?!

      Shame on you, Shirvell, shame on you!

    • 1 year ago
  • H3ADLINE
  • Swisher
  • H3ADLINE
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