The disturbing attacks on Chick-fil-A
There’s one part of Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy’s recent remarks that the left seems especially intent on disproving: the part where he said,
… we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.
The rest of Cathy’s comments, if you haven’t already heard, concerned his opinion of the propriety of gay marriage from a biblical perspective. As retribution for his voicing this opinion, some liberals in Chicago and Boston want to deny Cathy and his company the right to operate in their cities.
This is disturbing on a number of levels, two in particular.
The first is the idea that local governments might deny a business license to a company because of the beliefs of its owners. In Chicago, Alderman Proco “Joe” Moreno threatened to do just that in his ward. (The city’s mayor, former Obama aide Rahm Emanuel, was more oblique, voicing sympathy with Moreno’s perspective but saying only that a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Chicago “would be a bad investment, since it would be empty.”)
As Elizabeth Scalia notes, this is how fascism works. As the far-from-right-wing Boston Globe editorialized, in response to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s statement that “Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston” and that the company shouldn’t be allowed to open a store near famed Faneuil Hall along the city’s — first irony alert! — Freedom Trail:
… which part of the First Amendment does Menino not understand? A business owner’s political or religious beliefs should not be a test for the worthiness of his or her application for a business license. … If the mayor of a conservative town tried to keep out gay-friendly Starbucks or Apple, it would be an outrage.
Menino has since backtracked on his threat. Moreno appears to be digging in, although some of his fellow aldermen take a different view.
The second is the way Menino and Moreno are twisting the definition of the word “discrimination” to apply it to Cathy’s objection to — second irony alert! — the redefinition of the word “marriage” to apply to same-sex couples.
“You can’t have a business in the City of Boston that discriminates against a population,” Menino told the Boston Herald to explain his desire to keep Chick-fil-A out of his city.
“If you are discriminating against a segment of the community, I don’t want you in the 1st Ward,” Moreno told the Chicago Tribune.
But I have yet to see the first shred of evidence Chick-fil-A is actually discriminating against gay couples. Menino and Moreno cited no reports that same-sex couples in a Chick-fil-A restaurant have been denied service or asked to leave, nor any instances of gay employees or job applicants being dismissed due to their sexual orientation. This is hardly comparable to a Southern lunch counter turning away black customers half a century ago.
Nor could anyone accurately describe Cathy or Chick-fil-A as influential political agitators who are enabling some sort of “discrimination.” While much was made back in March of the company’s donations to groups that promote the traditional definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, the company is practically silent in terms of donations to politicians and political organizations. According to the Sunlight Foundation, the sum total of all political donations by the company, its employees and its PAC, between 1989 and 2012, was just $177,410 — about $7,400 a year. And even this meager spending does not appear to have been tied to the issue of gay marriage.
If a mere difference of opinion with elected officials is enough to qualify as “discrimination,” then in some way or another virtually every employer would be, as Cathy put it in the interview that sparked this episode, guilty as charged. Civil society itself would be fractured irretrievably. As Scalia asked,
… where does the “punishment” spiral stop? The press declares Chick-fil-A “homophobic” (a dishonest word) and then the local governments start penalizing them for it; Jim Henson’s outfit stomps off. What next? Will people against gay marriage start boycotting Muppet stuff? Pyres of Elmo in support of Chick-fil-A’s right to be itself?
We’re already seeing a preliminary version of this: Activists are encouraging same-sex couples to visit Chick-fil-A stores next Friday for a “National Same-Sex Kiss Day”; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is encouraging fellow social conservatives to “buycott” the company by patronizing its restaurants en masse next Wednesday.
Does anyone see this thing headed toward reconciliation?
The idea at the foundation of our freedom of speech is often said to have been summarized by the French philosopher Voltaire: “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” It’s a long way from Voltaire’s France to Menino’s Boston and Moreno’s Chicago, and the direction is a very disheartening one.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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474 comments Add your comment
Jeffrey
July 26th, 2012
2:59 pm
I think everyone is too uptight about these things. Didn’t the Christian conservatives have a problem with Disney just a few years back. I support gay marriage but I am not surprised and certainly, not shocked by Cathy’s comments. I don’t think he went out of his way for this publicity and i would be personally more concerned if his company discriminated against gays in hiring and promotions.
Follow the Money
July 26th, 2012
3:00 pm
Follow the money Kyle. You really should dig a little harder into those “Christian” groups and organizations to which the Cathy’s donate money. It includes a “pray-away-the-gay” group and others that use the bible as justification for hate.
Last I checked, no gays did any harm to Mr. Cathy, but the types of groups with which he associates promotes the attitudes and mindsets that lead to physical attacks and bullying of gays.
What is truly pathetic though, is the Conservative Christian crying “FREEDOM” when it is their stance on DENYING someone the right to marry the one they love. I guess freedom only works if it coalesces with your bible-thumping values.
JF McNamara
July 26th, 2012
3:01 pm
The idea at the foundation of our freedom of speech is often said to have been summarized by the French philosopher Voltaire: “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Indeed, but Voltaire never said that you would be free from consequences of your actions. Say what you want, but others have the same right to speak and the right to take action against what you said.
Aren’t you being a hypocrite for criticizing their right to free speech? Have any of them taken any real action against Chic-Fil-A?
Jose
July 26th, 2012
3:01 pm
christopher
the GROUND ZERO MOSQUE was a zoning question that private citizens were asking NYC not to APPROVE……… it wasn’t a GOVT OFFICIAL of NYC coming out and making those statements…….
your logic is unsound for that one
and there is no need do defend the mosque in TN when it is obvious to everyone (AS PROVED BY THE JUDGE LAST WEEK)………. that if they met all the criteria that is established by law then the mosque will be built……………..and the courts will uphold the laws on the book………..just like the SCOTUS did in Bush v Gore when they tried to change law AFTER an event happened
Jefferson
July 26th, 2012
3:03 pm
There was a time when cafes in the south would have menus with prices that depending on your color, you would move the decimal one space to the left.
This is not the case at all with this place, they take a low cost product and sell it at a high price to all that will pony up with the jack.
The only thing that would hurt this outfit is if it became a gay, druggie, or muslem hangout. That would befront their base. Don’t seem too likely.
Abrazos
July 26th, 2012
3:03 pm
Ms Elizabeth Scalia the Benedictine Oblate stated “this is how facism works”. Has a nice dramatic ring to it. Maybe she should have added the soundtrack from “Jaws” to give it even more punch.
Here’s a litmus test: if a blogger ever seeks to call attention to him/herself by comparing almost ANYTHING to “Hitler” or “Facism”, it’s a certainty he/she slept through European History class. Let’s save the “facism” comparisons until we see tanks rolling through Boston or Chicago streets along with brown-shirted thugs breaking windows of Chik-Fil-A stores like Kristallnacht. Until that happens, Ms Scalia still has First Amendment protection to write whatever pops into her fevered brain, including comparing other Americans to “facists”.
Kyle Wingfield
July 26th, 2012
3:06 pm
JF @ 3:01: Well, they have the right to bluster — they’re politicians, right?
— just not to follow through.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 26th, 2012
3:06 pm
Tom Menino is a blithering idiot. No wonder his nickname is “Mumbles”. The only reason this guy gets re-elected is because his constituency consists of Democrats.
tjatl
July 26th, 2012
3:07 pm
I seem to remember an unsuccessful 9-year boycott of Disney by the American Family Association because Disney was offering partner benefits to its employees.
The reality is that they are all entitled to free speech on the matter. CFA can say what it wants, Henson can say what they want, people can choose to boycott or not, and anyone can have a debate about it.
Free speech does not become an “attack” just because the recipient of the criticism is a Christian.
@@
July 26th, 2012
3:07 pm
Truett Cathy, very rich. Forbes estimates his worth at $1.2 billion. And he’s devoted his considerable wealth to a life of philanthropy. He has distributed more than $35 million in scholarships to help Chick-fil-A employees go to college, another $26 million to scholarships for students at Berry College, and another $18 million for foster homes throughout the United States. He’s been honored by the Children’s Hunger Fund, and won the Horatio Alger award and the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership, for his charity.
Most Chic-fil-A restaurants are franchises. Obviously the people who own the franchises operate under their own set of standards.
In an interview today, Silich addressed Emanuel’s comments. “I get it,” Silich said in an interview. “I’m from here as well.”
“I just want people to know there’s a local face to this controversy,” she added. “We’re not a corporate face. We love our city.”
Silich said she would never discriminate against anyone and has gay employees working at her restaurant.
Silich said she has deep Chicago roots and her husband Steve works for the city. City records indicate he’s a police sergeant.
“We hold fundraisers for hospitals, schools, fallen police, and we donate to a wide variety of causes, including everything from churches to gay and lesbian organizations,” Silich wrote.
I hope Rahm takes the high road and listens to what Mrs. Silich has to say.
Jefferson
July 26th, 2012
3:08 pm
Nobody has infringed on Cathy’s freedom of speech, he won’t go to jail for what he said. But there are results, some good as in support some bad as in lost customers. But he’s still free to speak his mind. Anyone guess his party affiliation ? Is that the underlining issue ?
JamVet
July 26th, 2012
3:08 pm
Please stop trying to tie the gay rights and black rights together. They are totally different.
Nope.
Irrational intolerance is irrational intolerance.
Bigotry is bigotry.
Injustice is injustice.
Though I do understand how conservatives would try to paint this version differently.
And to Jeffrey’s point about Disney, ironic huh?
When it comes to the Religious Right and boycotts, the list is staggering, including even the US Army! (Support the Troops.)
Karma can be a real b*tch…
deca
July 26th, 2012
3:09 pm
Have you actually read what Dan Cathy of Chic-fil-a said? He said, “We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit.”
Sure, the statement may not be ‘pro-gay,’ but I don’t see how it’s ‘anti-gay’ either.
It’s like this: Does it mean you’re ‘anti-beef’ if you say, “I like chicken?” No. You’re simply stating a personal preference toward chicken – it doesn’t mean you’re ‘anti-beef.’
In the same way, by Dan Cathy saying, “We support the biblical family unit” he’s not saying, “We hate gays,” or “We think you shouldn’t be gay.” He’s just stating a preference toward support of the biblical family unit. That’s all.
So if you like chicken, Eat Mor Chikin. If you don’t, take your beef somewhere else.
@@
July 26th, 2012
3:10 pm
Oops!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-chickfila-owner-wants-to-talk-with-emanuel-20120726,0,7136734.story
Jose
July 26th, 2012
3:11 pm
JF MCNAMARA
your logic is flawed……………. the mayors of cities making statements in their official duties is NOT FREE SPEECH………… when they are not in their capacity of mayor they are FREE to speak as they wish.
i remember how much ignorance LIBERALS had when the DIXIE CHIX ran their mouth against Bush in GB!……………. when they were boycotted by radio stations and fans………..liberals starting screaming that you can’t deny them their right to free speech
what the ignorant liberals didnt understand that the reaction of the radio stations and fans was FREE SPEECH…………. liberals cried that the DIXIE CHIX cant be denied their free speech…………. but the logic liberals didn’t understand was that those AGAINST the DC’s weren’t DENYING FREE SPEECH………. but rather EXERCISING THEIR FREE SPEECH TO DISAGREE
Jefferson
July 26th, 2012
3:12 pm
Deca, he said our nation would be punished, how does he know that ?
St Simons - we're on Island time
July 26th, 2012
3:12 pm
ahhh, the ‘how dare you not tolerate my intolerance’ card
Remember, monay is speech, corporations are people,
and i have to remember that karma is slowwww
Thulsa Doom
July 26th, 2012
3:13 pm
I think people really ought to be more scared of a politician who attempts to pick and choose which businesses are allowed to open in his district based upon that particular politician’s political whims. That is indeed scary- and fascist.
Kyle Wingfield
July 26th, 2012
3:13 pm
tjatl @ 3:07: If you read the post, you know I wasn’t talking about the boycotts, but about the possibility two cities would deny Chick-fil-A a business license based on its owner’s beliefs.
Don't Tread
July 26th, 2012
3:13 pm
“I hope Rahm takes the high road…” That’s about as likely as Rahm sprouting wings and taking the really high road. Seeing as he is/was affiliated with 0bama…not a chance.
Jose
July 26th, 2012
3:15 pm
maybe we should start creating seperate but equal establishments for homos and straights
bathrooms
men
women
gays and confuseds
no voting unless hetero
that way then the argument can equate the civil rights movement to the GLBT movement
Tealiban Party
July 26th, 2012
3:15 pm
Freedom of Expression = Marrying the One you Love
JamVet
July 26th, 2012
3:17 pm
…the mayors of cities making statements in their official duties is NOT FREE SPEECH.
That is completely illogical and makes zero sense.
Of course it is.
Simply look up the definition of freedom of speech.
Freedom of speech is the political right to communicate one’s opinions and ideas via speech.
The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law.”
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
TGT
July 26th, 2012
3:18 pm
Interesting contrast with these two large American companies and the positions taken in the marriage debate: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/07/corporate_culturenational_culture.html
Something left out: As Kyle has noted, Chick-fil-A’s position has NOTHING to do with the way the company is run. However, JC Penny’s position is to fully incorporate their views into their business.
Up Up and Away
July 26th, 2012
3:18 pm
Kyle
It is messed up that those mayor’s would say such a thing
Did you have the same sentiment about the NYC and TN mosques? Did you use the same wording? If not, why not?
Be honest and did you write an article about it?
And you can save the, there were Democrats against those mosques as well because I mean strictly on principle and not party affliction.
Bruno
July 26th, 2012
3:18 pm
“If you are discriminating against a segment of the community, I don’t want you in the 1st Ward,” Moreno told the Chicago Tribune.
It’s always ironic to me when liberals pat themselves on the back for being so “tolerant”. Disagree with their positions in the least, and get ready for the hate speech.
I’ve met Truitt Cathy in person before, and thanked him for all of his charitable work. He waved away any praise and simply said “There’s so much more to be done.”
I can pretty well guarantee that Mr. Cathy has done thousands of times more good for the community than all of the loud-mouthed liberals on board here today. In their world, politically correct speech is all that matters. In my world, actions speak far louder than words. Shame on you Libs.
Tealiban Party
July 26th, 2012
3:19 pm
Freedom of Speech = Being Able to Say “I DO”
carlosgvv
July 26th, 2012
3:20 pm
Moreno is just another hack politician trying to be the next Joe McCarthy. People who will boycott Chick-fil-A because of Cathy’s beliefs have serious maturity problems.
Up Up and Away
July 26th, 2012
3:22 pm
Bruno
While Cathy has certainly giving millions (and that is a great thing), you have no idea as to who has given what in terms of money and time to charities. So quit with the crap and your sanctimonious bs.
Rollo
July 26th, 2012
3:22 pm
I think I will go to Chick Fil A for lunch, maybe dinned too! Have to practice up for going there next wednesday. What I like it is that Chick Fil A is Rom Emanuel free zone.
Up Up and Away
July 26th, 2012
3:23 pm
Kyle
You seem to be avoiding the mosque issue.
Seems like you came down with a case of selective outrage. Hopefully you overcome that in a short period of time.
Bruno
July 26th, 2012
3:23 pm
Did you have the same sentiment about the NYC and TN mosques? Did you use the same wording? If not, why not?
You’re welcome to search the archives, Up, and you will see that I have been in full support for these mosques, and any others, locating anywhere they please. Freedom of religion isn’t conditional upon which religion you are following. Ditto for free speech. The Cathys are entitled to their opinion–a concept apparently lost on the Libs here. While I disagree personally with their conclusions, I respect their right to believe as they wish.
Bruno
July 26th, 2012
3:25 pm
you have no idea as to who has given what in terms of money and time to charities. So quit with the crap and your sanctimonious bs
Survey after survey has shown what I’ve always known intuitively: Liberals are big talkers, but little givers.
Up Up and Away
July 26th, 2012
3:25 pm
Bruno
One I was addressing Kyle.
Two I didn’t say nor even imply that the Cathy’s didn’t have a right to say what they said.
So not sure what your point is.
Jefferson
July 26th, 2012
3:27 pm
Don was the mouth, not Truit. Both are generous with their wealth.
@@
July 26th, 2012
3:27 pm
The ACLU has spoken.
…But barring the popular fast-food restaurant over the personal views of Cathy is an “open and shut” discrimination case, legal scholars told FoxNews.com.
“The government can regulate discrimination in employment or against customers, but what the government cannot do is to punish someone for their words,” said Adam Schwartz, senior attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. “When an alderman refuses to allow a business to open because its owner has expressed a viewpoint the government disagrees with, the government is practicing viewpoint discrimination.”
The ACLU “strongly supports” same-sex marriage, Schwartz said, but noted that if a government can exclude a business for being against same-sex marriage, it can also exclude a business for being in support of same-sex marriage.
“But we also support the First Amendment,” he said. “We don’ think the government should exclude Chick-fil-A because of the anti-LGBT message. We believe this is clear cut.”
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/26/politician-plan-to-block-chick-fil-is-unconstitutional-legal-experts-say/
Case closed.
Jose
July 26th, 2012
3:29 pm
chic-fil-a employing thousands of people and sending thousands of great kids to college
rahm emanuel——— stealing millions of dollars from poor americans when working for Freddie ma
1961_Xer
July 26th, 2012
3:29 pm
Here’s a litmus test: if a blogger ever seeks to call attention to him/herself by comparing almost ANYTHING to “Hitler” or “Facism”, it’s a certainty he/she slept through European History class. Let’s save the “facism”
WRONG. The economic component of Fascism has business in private hands, but controlled by the state. In other words, when the state tells a business where it can open based on the beliefs of the owners (an not something like zoning law), this exactly meets the definition of Fascism.
Bruno
July 26th, 2012
3:30 pm
One I was addressing Kyle.
If you can’t handle people responding to your posts, then maybe you shouldn’t be posting on a public forum. I didn’t address my first post to you, but you felt free to answer.
Kyle Wingfield
July 26th, 2012
3:31 pm
Up Up and Away: Read what I wrote and decide for yourself.
DannyX
July 26th, 2012
3:31 pm
Kyle you seem to be avoiding the excellent comparison Road Scholar made about the NY Mosque.
As for Boston and Chicago trying to deny Chick Fil A restaurants from operating in their cities I think it is a no brainer, its wrong. It will also go nowhere.
Cathy and the gay activists have every right to their opinions. If those that support Cathy wish to show their support eating there great! If people boycott Chick Fil A great too!
I won’t eat their because of the hyper religious wrong groups they support.
Jefferson
July 26th, 2012
3:32 pm
I’m tell all ya’ll now, politics are the underlining issue, not the customer base. Its like global warming, gun laws, charter schools, vouchers….anything to get them going.
chickfilarocks!
July 26th, 2012
3:32 pm
I will continue to eat there regardless of his beliefs on same sex marriage, the man has a right to voice his opinion… That is what our country was founded on… freedom of speech, religion, etc… people are so lame to attack an entire entity based on one man’s beliefs… I mean honestly people it’s a Christian based company that closes its doors every Sunday for that exact reason!! Not all Christians or any religion for that matter is accepting of same sex marriage…. I, for one, could care less who people marry, all I care about is who I marry and I will continue to eat Chick-fila in the future…
tjatl
July 26th, 2012
3:33 pm
Yes, Kyle, I should have acknowledged that you made a very valid point about the Chicago alderman. Should he actually succeed in getting their application denied, I highly doubt it would stand when inevitably challenged in court. But the two mayors can say what they want (and have to deal with all the subsequent fallout and criticism). They are not the decision makers about who can open a restaurant.
I was mostly responding to the second half of your post.
dawgfan
July 26th, 2012
3:34 pm
Rahm Emmanuel has obviously never had the #5 value sized with barbecue sauce and a diet lemonade. It will blow your damn mind. Chic Fil A could come out in support of kicking puppies for fun and I would still eat there.
Thanks.
BlueinRed
July 26th, 2012
3:34 pm
Are non-Christians welcome at Chick-fil a? What about gays? Or people in same sex marriages or same sex relationships? What about their family members, are they welcomed at CFA? I’m uncomfortable taking my hard earned money there, where people who are different aren’t welcomed.
HR Pufnstuf
July 26th, 2012
3:35 pm
Mr. Cathy doesn’t believe I should have the same rights as heterosexual couples. Therefore he believes in discrimination, and has proven it in word and in cash to anti-gay groups.
He has no business talking about gay marriage in the first place. He needs to STFU and stick to frying chicken.
Joe Johnson
July 26th, 2012
3:35 pm
“But I have yet to see the first shred of evidence Chick-fil-A is actually discriminating against gay couples.”
Here’s your evidence, Kyle: donations of corporate profits to anti-gay hate groups that pass themselves off as “pro-family,” when what they really are is a conservative fertility cult that gets to exclude people they don’t like. Why not donate that money to food kitchens for the homeless?
http://equalitymatters.org/factcheck/201111010001
Drudge
July 26th, 2012
3:35 pm
People – go across the street for lunch if you don’t like what he believes. He isn’t “oppressing” anyone so stop with the GD drama. Your dollar is your voice – you sound like children. I don’t watch Michael Moore films…and that is how I voice my opposition, I don’t give him my money. That is the best way to hurt a business if that is what you want to do – whining on Kyle’s board gets you exactly nowhere.
Up Up and Away
July 26th, 2012
3:38 pm
kyle
Thanks for the follow up. While there seems to be some consistency, which I thank you for, you were not as selective with the words such as “fascism” when it came to those who disagreed with the NYC and TN mosque. It was an outright shame what the people had to go through for the TN mosque. So Christian like of that community.
So while I see some consistency, I don’t see the hyperbole used today. Give you a B minus.
To be fair, Bookman’s writings tend to be the same way but of course coming from the left.