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And this is the crux of the problem with his lawsuit. Political views are not a suspect class in US law afaik. What Damore may be trying to do is establish a l

And this is the crux of the problem with his lawsuit. Political views are not a suspect class in US law afaik. What Damore may be trying to do is establish a legal understanding that the political discrimination (which definitely happened) was connected to racial discrimination (which would need to be proven in court). If Damore can do that successfully, he should be able to win the lawsuit. But I don't think it's possible. At least it shouldn't be possible. Like you suggested, companies must be able to discriminate against political behavior at work that is disruptive. Damore's memo was released in an unruly manner that disrupted Google's bottom line. It also brought down company morale, alienated fellow coworkers, and caused undue internal strife. His resulting unwillingness to help contain the drama demonstrated his lack of allegiance to the company's interest. Behavior like this cannot be protected from termination.

mbrumlow 9y ago
From my understanding he was getting death threats and misrepresented. He did the only thing he could do and try and set his name strait. The person who leaked it to vox should be on the chopping block.
- zpallin 9y ago
  I agree that the person who leaked the memo against Damore's intent should be punished similarly (and I hope Google did). However, the death threats and misrepresentations of his text were not simply a factor of it being published globally. From what I have heard, the discussion was already heated inside of Google before it even got leaked. Also, I don't think Damore was ignorant to the fact that his content was divisive in nature. I think he knew exactly what he was trying to say and knew what kind of reaction it would provoke. I really think he needs to own it, and the lawsuit just proves the point to me why he was fired. He's not a "team player"; can't own up to his mistakes. Sure, perhaps this lawsuit will make it easier for people to discuss politics in the workplace without being fired, but his actions telegraph his intent, at least to me.
jacksmith21006 9y ago
Do not think this had anything to do with social politics. It was about getting along with your co-workers.. It was external forces that tried to make it into some social political thing.
- zpallin 9y ago
  Damore's lawsuit specifically claims he was being discriminated for his conservative political opinions. In his own memo, one of his bullet-point suggestions was "Stop alienating conservatives". This has been about "social politics" from the beginning.

mbrumlow 9y ago

From my understanding he was getting death threats and misrepresented. He did the only thing he could do and try and set his name strait. The person who leaked it to vox should be on the chopping block.

zpallin 9y ago
I agree that the person who leaked the memo against Damore's intent should be punished similarly (and I hope Google did). However, the death threats and misrepresentations of his text were not simply a factor of it being published globally. From what I have heard, the discussion was already heated inside of Google before it even got leaked. Also, I don't think Damore was ignorant to the fact that his content was divisive in nature. I think he knew exactly what he was trying to say and knew what kind of reaction it would provoke. I really think he needs to own it, and the lawsuit just proves the point to me why he was fired. He's not a "team player"; can't own up to his mistakes. Sure, perhaps this lawsuit will make it easier for people to discuss politics in the workplace without being fired, but his actions telegraph his intent, at least to me.

jacksmith21006 9y ago

Do not think this had anything to do with social politics. It was about getting along with your co-workers.. It was external forces that tried to make it into some social political thing.

zpallin 9y ago
Damore's lawsuit specifically claims he was being discriminated for his conservative political opinions. In his own memo, one of his bullet-point suggestions was "Stop alienating conservatives". This has been about "social politics" from the beginning.