Southwest Airline pilot says Let's go Brandon

In my fantasy world, this NASCAR Brandon guy would go to the White House next week, pose with Biden in Aviators holding a sign that says Get Vaccinated and Wear A Mask. Sane Americans could sit back and enjoy watching the deplorable kick rocks while they burn their Let's Go Brandon merch. It would be like watching a toddler inevitably picking up their toys after a meltdown, snot bubbles and all. A girl can dream.....

"Back to repeat the fourth grade."
Is what I think after hearing/seeing "let's go Brandon." Childish.

If my memory serves, that's when the (mostly) boys in my class thought they were way more grown up and clever than they were.

Same feeling.

I like the way you think. 

"Fox News dubs this a "joke.""

That's funny. I dub Fox News a joke.

What's really interesting to me about this is that back in 2003 the Dixie Chicks made a comment about the war and they were blacklisted because they were "not supporting the president". Could you imagine if they had said "Fuck the President"? I mean.

SW needs to fire that dipshit. The NASCAR driver, Brandon, is also being hurt by this. Do his "fans" care? No. They have excuses. Just like always.

I also don’t remember pilots on the job and representing the company saying FU Trump over a loudspeaker to the entire plane.

There's a significant difference between elected members of Congress and pilots being rude, disrespectful and using that phrase vs actors and entertainers.

He is free to express his opinions on his own time.  And Let's Go Brandon clearly means FU Joe Biden, there's no maybe critical or can be construed.  It's a very definitive and clear statement.

You don't see the difference between companies trying to be inclusive or a football player silently expressing his support for racial justice vs a pilot being rude, disrespectful and saying something politically charged and divisive?  Colin Kaepernick at the time was vilified for his actions.

Southwest as a private company gets to decide what kind of people they want representing their company.  If this particular pilot does not represent them well, they can fire them.  Just as football teams have the ability to not renew contracts or fire players if they disagree with their actions.

I have no issue if SW fires him (they won't). His judgement is suspect. We expect people who hold the lives of a hundred people or more in their hands to act w/professionalism, intelligence and discretion.

He had none.

If I did that as a professor I would be a nightly segment on Fox News.

Wow, you live in a bubble.

What would be meaningful consequences in this situation?

This seems like a perfectly reasonable approach for a private company to take.  I don't think he will be fired either, the pilots union and contracts seem pretty powerful.  However, I think he is likely to face some kind of disciplinary action - docked pay, demotion etc.  But the MAGA supporters will probably start a go fund me for him, if they haven't already.

www.npr.org/2021/11/01/1051074812/lets-go-brandon-southwest-pilot

Southwest says it does not condone its employees sharing personal political opinions while working.

"One Employee's individual perspective should not be interpreted as a viewpoint for Southwest and its collective 54,000 Employees," the airline's statement said.

"Southwest is conducting an internal investigation into the recently reported event and will address the situation directly with any Employee involved while continuing to remind all Employees that public expression of personal opinions while on duty is unacceptable. Southwest does not tolerate any behavior that encourages divisiveness," the airline said.

Fixed it for ya.