Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Internet marketing company cancels accounts of Trump supporters, refuses service to Republicans, Trump voters

Joe Newby

Blanchfield CEO of 1st SEO bans Trump supporters

"Shortly after the November election, Mathew D. Blanchfield, CEO of the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based 1st in SEO announced that accounts belonging to supporters of President-elect Donald J. Trump would be canceled and the company would refuse to do business with Republicans and Trump supporters.
“ 'America has elected Donald Trump, a racist, sexist, fascist, to be our next president. 1st In SEO will no longer do business with any person that is a registered Republican or supports Donald Trump,” Blanchfield said in a blog post at the company’s website.
“ '1st In SEO will also not do business with business interests that support either the Republican Party or Donald Trump. 1st In SEO obviously has no actual means of determining our clients’ or prospective clients’ political standing. We will rely on the integrity of the men and women who are our clients currently to find another Search Engine Optimization provider if they are Republicans, voted for Donald Trump or support Donald Trump. If you are a Republican, voted for Donald Trump or support Donald Trump, in any manner, you are not welcome at 1st In SEO and we ask you to leave our firm.' ” . . .

. . . "And it seems Blanchfield’s actions may be legal, the Daily Caller reported:

"While it’s illegal for most businesses in the U.S. to discriminate on the basis of sex, religion, or race, there are no federal laws barring discrimination based on political ideology. A handful of states prohibit such discrimination. New Mexico isn’t one of them.

"The State Supreme Court, however, did side with plaintiffs who sued a photographer who refused to work a same-sex wedding. Perhaps that case could be used as a template, since Blanchfield’s business appears to be available to the public." . . .

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