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Fifth Column
Houston taxi drivers: constitutional right to airport fares
2007-05-09
A few hundred local taxi drivers descended on City Hall today, protesting security requirements at Houston's airports that they say threaten their business. At issue is a recent requirement that drivers picking up passengers at Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports have new photo identification badges.

"It violates the constitutional rights of the cab drivers in that in enacts a very, very strenuous background check," said Deric Muhammad of the local Ministry of Justice for the Million More Movement, a group helping represent the drivers. "Many of them are being put out of business and not being allowed to work at the airport system for something they may have done in the past."

Airport officials say everyone else doing business in their facilities is required to wear a badge and undergo criminal background checks.
Posted by:trailing wife

#17  "Many of them are being put out of business and not being allowed to work at the airport system for something they may have done

exactly lol
Posted by: Jan   2007-05-09 21:11  

#16  You missed one requirement,
"Must carry a weapon at all times".
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2007-05-09 18:29  

#15  of them are being put out of business and not being allowed to work at the airport system for something they may have done in the past

That's funny, muslims never seem to forget anything bad that's happened to them in the past. Even if it was 1000 years ago. Why should they be forgiven until they learn to forgive?

Next case?
Posted by: gorb   2007-05-09 18:27  

#14  Nation of Islam.
Posted by: Percy Omusogum3605   2007-05-09 18:14  

#13  Million more what? Mooks?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-05-09 18:01  

#12  Don't these reporters ever ask questions?

Not when they don't want to hear the answers.
Posted by: xbalanke   2007-05-09 17:59  

#11  Angaiger Tojo1904: Be "allowed" to be taxi drivers? In most cities, taxi companies are always short handed. The only reason that most cabs aren't driven by illegal Mexicans, is because citizenship or having a green card is more important than about anything else.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-05-09 16:22  

#10  ...not being allowed to ________________ for something they may have done in the past.
Strange how that works-- in Houston as well as where you're from I'm sure. I'm curious as to exactly which article of the constitution Mr Muhamad is citing. Don't these reporters ever ask questions?
Posted by: GK   2007-05-09 16:09  

#9  "It violates the constitutional rights of the cab drivers in that in enacts a very, very strenuous background check,"

So, what Mister Muhammad—there's that name again!—is saying is that the position of public trust held by cab drivers shouldn't require a background check? Bus drivers and other transportation providers all have to do this, why not cabbies?

More than anything, you do not have a "constitutional right" to a job or earnings. Position and income are earned. You do that by complying with the requirements of your employer and any other agencies that regulate whatever industry you're in.

This is merely more of the usual "Islamophobia" bullshit, carefully rebranded and repackaged to slip under radar.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-05-09 14:33  

#8  Stay tuned for the next installment of : " As the Meter Spins," Where we find our hero Deric Muhammad petioning Airport officials for foot baths........
Posted by: USN. Ret.   2007-05-09 14:23  

#7  We just had a taxi driver with a Muslim sounding name get arrested for driving a girl into an alley and shoving his hand down her blouse. She was able to run away, so who knows what else might have happened?

Cons and illegal Muslims (who consider unaccompanied women uncovered meat) should not be allowed to be licensed cab drivers. It is a position of public trust when a woman (or man) gets into a cab.
Posted by: Angaiger Tojo1904   2007-05-09 13:54  

#6  Actually, they may have a point. A lot of cab drivers are ex-cons. It is one of the better paying jobs they can get. And airports are the most valuable taxi turf in cities, with taxi companies paying a premium for their license.

The reality is that ex-cons driving taxis to airports are considerably less of a threat than having immigrant Muslims, who would be approved, doing it.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-05-09 13:31  

#5  How is it that all cabs in this country are being taken over by illegal Muslims ? Why wasn't this asshole taken in to custody ? If anyone in Houston gives an inch on this, they have lost their freakin' minds. Not only should they have current ID, they should be subject to a thorough backround check, including proving their legal papers on how they just appeared in Houston. These illegal cabs should be fed into a crusher and removed from the streets along with these illegal Muslims. Do I know they are illegal? No. Would it be safer wager than any bet I've ever made on a game? Hell yes.
Posted by: Woozle Elmeter2970   2007-05-09 11:47  

#4  Rantburg Cab Co.

We only hire the best.

All Veterans who have clean backgrounds and driving records.

Please support our ex-servicemen and women Taxi drivers.

If you want the Best Hire US!

they'd sure get all my business and tips.
Posted by: RD   2007-05-09 11:45  

#3  Houston has a Ministry of Justice?
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-05-09 10:25  

#2  Deric Muhammad of the local Ministry of Justice for the Million More Movement

Suuuurpise, suuurprise, surprise...
Posted by: tu3031   2007-05-09 10:20  

#1  Musta missed the part about "LICENSED taxi driver", huh?
Posted by: mojo   2007-05-09 09:59  

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