First it was the Mayor of Boston who announced his intention to block business permits for Chick-fil-A not because there is any evidence that it discriminates in employment or services, but because its founder and his son (now the President) support keeping the definition of marriage as one man – one woman.
Now an Alderman in Chicago is joining in on the act:
A Chicago alderman wants to kill Chick-fil-A’s plans to build a restaurant in his increasingly trendy Northwest Side ward because the fast-food chain’s top executive vocally opposes gay marriage.
Ald.Proco “Joe” Moreno announced this week that he will block Chick-fil-A’s effort to build its second Chicago store, which would be in the Logan Square neighborhood, following company President Dan Cathy’s remarks last week that he was “guilty as charged” for supporting the biblical definition of marriage as between a man and woman.
The attack on Chick-fil-A for the beliefs of its owners is part of a larger cultural attack which mocks and derides evangelical Christians, as evidenced in this college professor’s blog post at HuffPo:
I ate at a Chick-fil-A restaurant the other day and my life was transformed. You see, at Chick-fil-A you get so much more than mouthwatering, delicious fast food. In addition to chicken, biscuits and fries, you also get a whopping helping of evangelism. Wow! There is no reason to go to church anymore. I can get my dose of religion and values by driving through my local Chick-fil-A!
That is mild compared to many of the attacks.
As I said before, it is one thing for private individuals to boycott and deride, but when the government gets involved in punishing not acts but thoughts, we’re in dangerous territory.
Remember, there are 30 states which have passed constitutional amendments or laws recognizing the same standard as advocated by the founder of Chick-fil-A.
Do the people cheering the Mayor of Boston or the Alderman in Chicago really want governments to punish those with whom they disagree on the issue of marriage, and does that standard also empower the politicians in those 30 states as much as it empowers the Mayor and Alderman?
Update: Ukrainian Legislators Proposing Ban on “Propaganda of Homosexuality”.
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Apparently we have elected officials and leftist thugs using their office to threaten and intimidate Chik-fli-A.
A fine company whose owners espouse the same views on gay “marriage” that Obama did from 2005 to about three months ago.
Something stinks. And it’s not a chicken sandwich.
Chick-fil-A and lemonade stand owners of the world unite!
You have nothing to lose except your business. Which you never built anyway.
Don’t the Mayor of Boston and Chicago Alderman have a duty to uphold the U.S. Constitution? Remember that First Amendment stuff in there? We don’t ban chicken places because we disagree with the political views of the owner. Heck, these are views Barack Obama had until recently.
I do love Chick-fil-A’s advertising campaign.
THE NEW MCCARTHYISM: Eugene Volokh: No Building Permits for Opponent of Same-Sex Marriage. “But denying a private business permits because of such speech by its owner is a blatant First Amendment violation. Even when it comes to government contracting — where the government is choosing how to spend government money — the government generally may not discriminate based on the contractor’s speech, see Board of County Commissioners v. Umbehr (1996). It is even clearer that the government may not make decisions about how people will be allowed to use their own property based on the speaker’s past speech.”
via InstaPundit
Heh. Lawsuit time…!!!
Apologies for not having the time to read the whole thread…
https://legalinsurrection.com/2012/07/now-chicago-alderman-seeks-to-ban-chick-fil-a/comment-page-1/#comment-357806
Chuck was da man…!
This is an ideological game of chicken … with only one participant.
Louis Farrakhan, noted anti-Semitic bigot, apparently had no trouble obtaining a license for his restaurant business in Chicago.
First Amendment rights for me, but not for thee — eh, lefties?
Intolerance, bullying and political coercion are all out of the closet here in Chicago.
Were they ever in the closet? It’s been open fact that Chicago is run for the benefit of the ruling class.
I’m not sure what the college prof quoted above ordered, but I freqent Chick-fil-A and have never been served any evangelism. I get an excellent meal in a clean restaurant served by friendly staff (who I suspect could make change faster than I could if the computers happened to me down)
The left just likes to trash anything good and decent.
It’s clear from the quotation that he’s never been to a Chick-fil-A. He’s probably trying to poke fun at the CEO’s having said that the company is “based on biblical principles” but he doesn’t realize that the work ethic and good customer service to which many Christians aspire stem from their theology.
I call BS on the Huffing-Pro poster.
I’ve ACTUALLY been in a Chick-fil-A franchise…which are closed on Sunday, BTW…and you won’t find anything APPROACHING “evangelism” in one.
And if the voters of Ald.Proco “Joe” Moreno are content to let that puke limit their choices, I say, “You all deserve each other”.
The irony of the situation is lost on these liberals. A company, which does not let its personal beliefs interfere with its business practices (other than being closed on Sunday), is being attacked by a group who demands its personal beliefs dictate (other people’s) business practices, while the latter does so under the premise that mingling personal beliefs with company policy is evil, unfair, and un-American.
Right.
Yeah real smart..prevent a company from expanding and hiring local folks.
Perhaps a new Planned Parenthood operation would be more appropriate.
So in the states that don’t recognize gay marriage, should politicians restrict development of businesses run by gay couples?
Should supporting blog comments be made about those businesses … “boy, with my flower arrangement, I got a big dose of gay sex (or insert more graphic language here)”.
That never happens, because it is the left that is vile and intolerant, especially to Christians that “cling to their religion and their guns”. And since the corporation is a separate entity, do the politicians have any grounds to “profile” these companies based on an owner’s private beliefs? Isn’t this a hate crime?
What is remarkably funny to me is my experience with Teh Gay business. Back in the late 1990’s when I was brain-dead NYC Liberal who knew nothing of the dreadful group-think collective permeating Identity-Politics, my friend (who is gay and black) was visiting from out of town and want to do the scene. Now my gay friend only wanted do the gay scene but I am a straight female and my straight male friend was joining us.
So we came together and decided to go to a lesbian dance club. WHen we got to the door-without anyone saying a word the first thing the female bouncer said was to my straight male friend “YOU CAN’T COME IN”. So we ask why and she responded with “BECAUSE HE IS NOT GAY” Wanting to get in the door we responded with “YES HE IS GAY, THE OTHER GAY IS HIS BOYFRIEND” After a few momments of thought she decided to let us enter the dance club.
The irony to my story is that:
– even though I am Not Gay I was not questioned about my sexual orientation and would have easily been admitted.
-My Gay friend who is black was instantly labeled Gay without question.
-My straight male friend was instantly labeled Not Gay and was almost forbidden entrance had we not played the lesbian nightclub’s silly raindeer games.
In my experence, Teh Gay is the MOST exclusive, close-minded, stereotyping, intolerant of all the collectivist group-thinks.
“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Rev. 13.17.
I guess we now have its name. Democrats.
One would think GLBT would be against INEQUALITY promoted by both Boston and Chicago politicians.
On that note; now that Homophobe means the same as Racist which means the same as Bigot (ie to disagree with the collectively Progressive group-think) I do believe we have achieved EQUALITY!
You didn’t build that business … and we’ll demolish it to prove our point.
LukeHandCool (who thinks Julia’s guilty pleasure secret diet to staying so two-dimensionally thin is Chick-fil-A’s chargrilled chicken cool wrap).
Here is an alderman attacking a free enterprise that would generate revenue while providing a decent place to eat for the people of his ward. And, homosexuals have many other bistros to eat at in Boys Town.
All this while people are killing each other in the Chicago streets! Let’s also ban 16 oz soft drinks and let’s really go idiotic!
This idiot in Chicago is concerned about Chick-fill-A?
Hey IDIOT, howz’ about you concern yourself with the Chicago Murder Rate, Rapes, ____, ____, ____..
Menino (believe that’s the Bawlston asshat)same goes for you!
I suggest we all have lunch at Chik-fil-a this week!
While I support their rights, I cannot support their menu. I’ll pass.
I love their chicken, but I’m sodium-sensitive, which means that too much sodium in my system at once will raise my blood pressure.
I guess I’ll have to stick with a side salad and let my children have their Kids’ Meals. (I can always sneak my teeth into a waffle fry or two…)
But don’t take me wrong. I love Chick-fil-A!
They have very tasty iced tea.
Get a grilled chicken salad or a box of waffle fries!
Gotta go with the Spicy Chicken Sandwich Deluxe with Pepper Jack cheese. So yummy!
I like that they serve decaf diet coke, not many restaurants do.
And lemonade (even the diet lemonade) that tastes like real lemonade.
There are more accurate words and descriptions for this process but for now let’s use the Americanese “you didn’t build that” which leads to “you can’t build that” (because of what you think and say). The “you don’t own that”, “you can’t own that” part comes later.
Definitely worth a read.
http://www.humanevents.com/2012/07/24/the-chick-fil-a-gay-marriage-controversy/
Simply more evidence that the progressive mindset – which some call a “religion” in its own right – sanctions its own form of bigotry and fells “sanctified” in making it punitive. It is one thing to simply speak out against the owner, as the owner himself spoke out. It’s another to take action as a member of the elected class that you know results in financial/punitive damage, even if minor.
Unless Chicago can show some instance of discrimination I hope the company slaps a big lawsuit on tAlderman and the city of Chicago. I doubt that there are any laws that require businesses to support gay marriage.
AFAIK, Chick-fil-A has no stance on gay marriage. The separate entity is being threatened because of private beliefs of the owner.
This is another degree worse than the boycotts of businesses that advertise with Rush. There is “guilt” by association, plus it is force by government.
Separation of Church and State is only important to liberals when they want it to be important. They have no sustained principles; just feelings looking for a high sounding rationalization.
To quote the alderman – “If you are discriminating against a segment of the community, I don’t want you in the 1st Ward,” Moreno told the Tribune on Tuesday.”
Who exactly is being discriminated against? Has Chik fil a refused service to a gay married couple? Have they refused to hire a gay married person? Thoughts are not actions. Are we at the point of “thought crime” ? Pretty scary stuff.
“Who exactly is being discriminated against?”
Chick-fil-A, evidently. I guess Moreno should leave.
I had never heard of the college where the professor is employed, Ursinus College, so I did a Google search. The first sentence under the heading “History”, at Wikipedia says:
1867 – Members of the German Reformed Church begin plans to establish a college where “young men could be liberally educated under the benign influence of Christianity.”
Many of our nation’s earliest colleges and universties were affiliated with religious organizations to educate men capable of preaching and spreading the Gospel. It sounds like Ursinus fits this category.
Now Urinus College employs professors who openly mock Christianity. Progress!
I hope and pray to God Almighty that one of these elected idiots is stupid enough do do something like block a permit for a Chick-fil-A restaurant.
It would set up an ENORMOUS FEDERAL Civil Rights complaint on the part of the owners. Government discrimination against a private business for the owner’s religious beliefs? INSTANT 14th Amendment violation (Equal Protection under Section 1) and 1st Amendment violation (as government religious viewpoint discrimination). It’s time that these idiots started being forced to LIVE with the judicial precedents that they’ve forced onto the rest of us.
This idiot Moreno said to the press “You have the right to say what you want to say, but zoning is not a right,” he said, adding that he also had concerns about traffic in the area.”
Um. NO. Mr. Moreno. You have expressed your OUTRIGHT RELIGIOUS BIAS against Chick-fil-A and are denying them a permit ON THOSE GROUNDS, which is an Unconstitutional abuse of your office (I know you’re in Chicago, and think that pesky things like the Constitution don’t apply to you, but you are WRONG) and a Federal Court is HIGHLY likely to ORDER you to issue the permit if you deny it. Failure to do so post-order would likely be hazardous to your freedom, as the Courts can then throw you in JAIL for failing to issue.
Zoning isn’t a right, but to be treated equally without viewpoint discrimination IS a right.
Alderman Moreno better learn that quick, or he’ll be on the losing side of a VERY expensive judgment
Eugene Volokh (who I believe specializes in 1st Amendment and speech law) seems to agree with you that if Chick-Fil-A is denied a permit in either Chicago or Boston, it is highly likely Chick-Fil-A would win if it chose to sue.
http://www.volokh.com/2012/07/25/no-building-permits-for-opponent-of-same-sex-marriage/
Sidenote: Alderman Moreno ought to be aware that he’ll likely be having to fight a demand that he pay BOTH sides attorney’s fees (both his own / the ward council for denial of the permit AND Chick-fil-A’s attorney’s fees (if any) for the Civil Rights denial).
I wonder how far the Alderman is willing to stick his neck out when his OWN finances are on the line (because they should also sue him in his PERSONAL capacity as acting contrary to the Constitution and thus not be subject to governmental immunity).
“Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values,” the mayor said in a statement when asked about Moreno’s decision. “They disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents. This would be a bad investment, since it would be empty.”
Moreno is relying on a rarely violated Chicago tradition known as aldermanic privilege, which dictates that City Council members defer to the opinion of the ward alderman on local issues. Last year Moreno wielded that weapon to block plans for a Wal-Mart in his ward, saying he had issues with the property owner and that Wal-Mart was not “a perfect fit for the area.”
—————————
From HotAir
“Aldermanic privilege” sounds like something out of the DSM. A delusion disorder.
“Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values”…
for which we can all be grateful.
Rosanne Barr has wished cancer on ‘fil-A customers, which includes the Obama campaign.
Oooooppps
As always, another refreshing reminder of the compassionate “can’t we all just get along?” civility of the (in)tolerant (il)liberal Left on display:
Freedom of speech/action for me and not for thee…by the way, ya wanna side order of poisonous venom to go with that? No? Well here it is anyway, Super-Size!
Besides DEFCON 1 thermonuclear launch-all-weapons knee(-and-other)-jerk reactions, a total ignorance of the classical definitions of “liberal” and “tolerance.” Pubic skroowal edjoomikated, no doubt…
What Constitution? We don’t need no **** constitution! Freedom of speech is only for democrats apparently.
When my boys were a bit younger we used to eat at Chick-fil-a every couple of weeks so they could play in the kiddie area while I got 5 minutes of quiet. It’s a great restaurant… great value for the money (although a bit more expensive than other fast food,) always spotlessly clean, chicken strips made from breast meat (not bits all squished together,) fruit available instead of the fries, and the best staff around.
I’ve never had a bad experience, never had a wrong or incomplete order, never had anything but polite service. THEY MUST BE DESTROYED!!!
You may not know, but Chick-fil-A is closed on Sunday so employees can spend time with family and for church. Yeah. They close on one of their busiest days of the week. There is a small sign that states this in just about those terms in every restaurant. If that’s what some(alleged)professor thinks is “evangelism,” he has a real tolerance problem.
And that just burns the butts of so many Lefties out there.
The employees are great. The food is good and healthy. Yankee politicians hate it. ALL WIN.
My favorite fast food.
“Another Dem Politician Moves To Ban Chick-Fil-A Restaurants – Update: Mayor Rahm Emanuel Backs Ban, “Chick-Fil-A Values Are Not Chicago Values”…
In other words, to achieve “chicago values” rhambo wants Chick-fil-A employees to go around chicago like a mob of black teenagers and randomly murder other blacks – children and women first – while his police sit on their hands, eyes closed and do nothing (except eat lots of donuts) ?
http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/cities-move-to-ban-chick-fil-a-supporters-launch-day-of-support.html
The Mayor of Chicago is on board, the heck with murders.
The left never learn. Any time they trash a person or company, that entity gains customers and fans. Look at obama’s war on Rush. There is no such thing as bad publicity. Chick-fil-et probably saved milllions in advertising. People will go to Chci-fil-et in droves and get great food at a cheap price and will be fans forever. Win-win for Chick-fil-et.
BTW, there are no Chick-fil-a restaurants already in Chicago? Seriously? I thought they were everywhere.
There’s one Chick-fil-A restaurant currently in Chicago. This would be the second restaurant to open.
FYI: The Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses in Germany took place on 1 April 1933, soon after Adolf Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor on 30 January 1933. The boycott was the first of many measures against the Jews of Germany, which ultimately culminated in the “Final Solution”. DO YOU SEE THE SIMILARITIES ?????
[…] should remember that those opponents may well return the favor when Fortuna spins her wheel again. Take it away, Prof. Jacobson: Remember, there are 30 states which have passed constitutional amendments or laws recognizing the […]
Well, I just returned from casting my TX runoff ballot for Ted Cruz… and celebrated by buying kids meal from the drive-thru at Chick-fil-A!
I cast my ballot against a xenophobe and voted with my money against Christophobes. Two birds with one stone. Isn’t that great?
I must assume that the anti-Chik-Fil-A folks have polled all muslim-owned and operated businesses in Boston and Chicago to get their opinion on gay marraige.
And surely those muslim-owned businesses have all voiced enthusiastic support for marraige equality.
Otherwise, these people would be nothing but a bunch of hypocritical, anti-Christian d-bags.
what i can’t understand is why this business owner wanted to alienate part of his customer base by making public his political views in the first place. just as we told the dixie chicks to “shut up and sing”, perhaps this gentleman should have shut up and sold his sandwiches.
The Chick-fil-A president was ASKED if his position was that marriage should be between a man and a woman only. He could have ignored the question, but he didn’t. That’s why his answer was “Guilty as charged.”
Christian values are an important part of the personal philosophy of the owners. The owners have NEVER by shy about being a “Christian Owned Business” and having certain standpoints because of it: Closed on Sunday; fair dealings with suppliers, employees and the local communities; giving to charity; community service; etc….
It is their moral compass and underlies the focus of the business decisions they make. And by all accounts so far, as a business philosophy it’s working out pretty well for them.
There are some things that are more important than profit. Being able to look at yourself in the mirror in the morning is one of them. The Chick-fil-A owners are entitled to say that “The way I run my business is part of the way I honor God.”
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[…] Square …(They’re Christian) …Update: But Welcome Farrakhan (thegatewaypundit.com)Now Chicago Alderman seeks to ban Chick-fil-A (legalinsurrection.com) Post Published: 29 July 2012 Author: Ironmill Found in section: Religion, […]
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