Angry Calls, Fake Reservations Pour in to Morton’s After Their Defense of Brett Kavanaugh
“Currently we are experiencing a massive wave (trending at #2 on social media now) of negative response to our comments yesterday as well as being bombarded at the local level with phone calls and fake reservations on Open Table,” Morton’s COO Scott Crain wrote to managers.
As if the disturbing Wednesday night incident during which Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh had to be escorted the back way out of Morton’s restaurant in Washington, D.C. after radical pro-abortion “protesters” stood outside and harassed him wasn’t bad enough, the popular steakhouse chain is now on the receiving end of harassment in the form of fake reservations, phony online reviews, and angry phone calls in response to their defense of Kavanaugh.
According to Politico, company senior vice president and chief operating officer Scott Crain sent an email to managers in response to the restaurant trending on social media after the story broke Friday on what happened and their criticism of the protesters and defense of Justice Kavanaugh, reminding them of the company’s “no comment” social media policy, especially on political matters:
“Currently we are experiencing a massive wave (trending at #2 on social media now) of negative response to our comments yesterday as well as being bombarded at the local level with phone calls and fake reservations on Open Table,” SCOTT CRAIN, SVP and COO of Morton’s, wrote to managers in an email obtained by [Politico reporter Daniel] Lippman.
“[T]here is a good chance that your restaurant will also potentially have some people reaching out for comment and/or making (bogus) reservations over the next few days. As I stated yesterday, our comment is always ‘No Comment.’ We don’t respond, we don’t retweet, we don’t post on Instagram or Facebook, we don’t do anything. Please remind your teams (especially the hourly employees) of this policy,” he added. “Again, we do NOT insert our political beliefs at any time – not with an employee, not with a fellow manager, and most certainly NOT with a guest.”
The full email can be read below:
I obtained an email sent by Morton’s SVP/COO to managers telling them how to deal with the Kavanaugh news: “[T]here is a good chance that your restaurant will also potentially have some people reaching out for comment and/or making (bogus) reservations.” https://t.co/vjrA3hMFNO pic.twitter.com/xflrqnhJZU
— Daniel Lippman (@dlippman) July 9, 2022
In addition to that, Lippman learned of some of the fake reservations that were made and canceled, some of which were under obviously fake names:
Abortion rights supporters flooded OpenTable with fake reservations because they were mad at Morton’s. At one location, the fake diners included “Arnold Benedict,” “Abortion Rights” and “First Amendment,” according to an Instagram story one employee posted. pic.twitter.com/REIaYATarN
— Daniel Lippman (@dlippman) July 9, 2022
At another Morton’s, reservations that were removed Friday night included “Dick Hertz,” “Amy Coney,” “Neil Gor,” “Kava Naugh,” “Roe Wade,” “Jane Doe” and “Pro Choice,” according to a reservation list I obtained.
— Daniel Lippman (@dlippman) July 9, 2022
Morton’s has also restricted comments on their social media accounts, and Yelp has temporarily removed the ability to review the D.C. location on their website.
The agitators behind the harassment campaign angered folks on the right and left, both of which noted this punishes the wait staff:
Awesome way to support working class people who rely on tips. https://t.co/dG2GIF9tcq
— Emily Jashinsky (@emilyjashinsky) July 9, 2022
This is just stupid and hurts the working people who rely on the joint for their paychecks. It's the kind of stunt people who've never worked for wages and tips would pull. https://t.co/7G9RSdY36C
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 9, 2022
Twitter blue check William LeGate, who has nearly 176,000 followers and who boasts of being the “founder of Good Pillow,” deleted an entire thread (which can be read here) after he was flooded with bipartisan criticism for defending the actions of those harassing Morton’s, gleefully sharing screengrabs of people who had DMed him them their fake reservation information, and encouraging people to post 1-star reviews.
Others pointed to how Politico did a little victim-shaming by portraying Morton’s as “steer[ing] right into the middle of the culture wars” as though far-left activists gave them a choice:
Politico Playbook says that Morton’s “steered right into the middle of the culture wars.”https://t.co/kRTYkj6xY3 pic.twitter.com/RIaJwlgT2Q
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) July 9, 2022
Meanwhile, where is Joe Biden? Trying to do end runs around the Supreme Court via executive orders, instructing the DOJ to do the same, and labeling Supreme Court conservatives as “extremists,” all of which fans the flames of an already dangerous fire. Unbelievably, his spokespeople called Wednesday night’s incident “democracy” in action.
For the record, our feckless “leader” himself has not directly condemned last month’s assassination attempt on Kavanaugh, which should tell people all they need to know about what his priorities really are: trying to make the wokesters in his party happy.
Undoubtedly, all of this is just more evidence of the left-wing outrage mob’s continued efforts to brazenly escalate matters when they don’t get their way in the culture/abortion wars. Harass anyone, anywhere, at any time is their mantra – something encouraged by the likes of Reps. Maxine Waters and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Interestingly enough, AOC had a “what’s the big deal”-type of reaction to Wednesday’s events, though she sang a much different tune when the shoe was on the other foot:
Now wait, I’m sorry – NOW it is acceptable to creep on people in restaurants??
It’s almost as if there is a double-standard when it comes to politicians being confronted as they are dining out… https://t.co/2y4R2yY9GU pic.twitter.com/wC3YTtFw4U— Brad Slager 🍸🥃🍺🎙 Lifetime Subscriber to CNN+ (@MartiniShark) July 9, 2022
As usual, they don’t like it when their rules are turned around on them.
— Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via Twitter. —
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Comments
The proper response to this is the same response people had when the Left decided to cancell Chick Fil-A. Spend your money at the restaurant. Make sure they survive the storm until the leftists move on to their next target.
I canceled Chick Fil A when they groveled before BLM. Apparently, my neighbors have as well; their lines are FAR shorter than they were before.
Not here in Texas, extremely long lines. I go but very infrequently.
That groveling really turned me off, that was the last straw for me & I haven’t gone back–and I loved Chick Fil A’s ice cream cones & milkshakes. But I can live without them.
No chance of that. These guys are in deep DC. No conservative with any sense goes there unarmed.
Read that Morton’s is now only accepting reservations with a valid credit card. That should slow the far left fascists down a bit.
Unless Mom left her purse in the basement along with her credit cards.
Yeah. I used to own a restaurant. The obvious answer is to provide a valid credit card to hold the reservation. The card will be declined if you provide a fake name like “abortion rights.” Give people a certain amount of time ahead of the reservation as some people have legitimate reasons. As in, “My flight from Memphis has been cancelled and I won’t be able to make my dinner meeting in Denver.”
“Understandable, Ma’am. Do you wish to reschedule. You’ll let us know? That’ll be fine, we’ll be looking forward to it.”
Then, as only one who has endured the hospitality industry can express, f*** the troublemakers hard. F*** ’em with a sandpaper condom.
Maybe the restaurant should ask for a credit card number and charge, say, a $20 fee (immediately billed, but to be deducted from the actual tab) for reservations. Maybe have most of the money going to staff on no-shows. The callers would then have to provide real names or if they used a hacked credit card number, would be committing a real crime. Real customers would probably understand and go along with it.
This is the easiest way to sort the scum out. Get their money up front and if they don’t show then so be it.
No, the fee should be $200, applied to the check with any difference refunded.
Some restaurants don’t accept reservations because of no-shows, and it drives me crazy because I want to know that my table is ready when I arrive, give or take a few minutes.
BTW, the First Amendment uphold the right of peaceable assembly and redressing grievances to the government. Creating a nuisance is not a protected right.
It’s my understanding that once it was recognized bogus table reservations were being made enough to cover a dismal business night turnout when they wound up being no shows. It was then reservations were taken only by a hold on a credit card by the person making that reservation. No amount was stated so I have to assume it was based on the number of people being seated..ex. Table for 4 @ $35 for $140. Apparently it worked as wokes who are wont to do, came back to bite them in the ass.
We are in a undeclared Civil War by the Marxists/Leftists..
Hope the restaurateur can walk through it without getting sent down the drain.
“pour into Morton’s”
An allusion to salt.
You’re rubbing it in.
Require confirmed credit card info to schedule a reservation. No shows get docked whatever it takes to make them stop. Turn it into a profit center for Morton’s.
BTW, I really don’t understand why Morton’s would even have a Yelp account. They could survive by reputation alone and so don’t have to stoop to Yelp to solicit reviews. Anyone who has been to DC a few times knows about Morton’s.
Not all businesses create their own Yelp accounts.. Patrons create new ones if Yelp doesn’t have them. There are thousands of Yelp accounts marked “unclaimed” — that’s what that means. I’ve walked into a number of (mostly rural) places and told them I chose them because of Yelp, and they had no idea what I was talking about. I’ve also created a few.
Yelp is a disgraceful extortion racket.
A fair number of big-city upscale restaurants require deposits. That started in the ’90s, and I supported it. Still do, as long as you can cancel for an exigency. I’ve never had any trouble with that.
As for Yelp, about 25 years ago I met with them because I was a frequent poster on a travel website, and they were doing research. When they told me that restaurants did free promotions for highly active Yelpers, I cancelled my account. I’ve never used them since, and find restaurants by other methods.
I wonder if AOC would go on a date with me to Morton’s. in DC. I will post if that happens.
Not a post. We want to see pictures.
Feet.
And teeth.
You’ll need a *very* wide angle lens to get all her teeth in.
Why is this making me think of that scene in The Godfather where the guy wakes up with a horse head in his bed?
Her tweets say no. But her crazy eyes say yes. She wants you to date her.
She’ll write in her diary that in the days leading up to the date she constantly fretted about being raped. Like on J6. “OMG they’re coming to rape me?” Then on the night of your date you drop her off at her D.C. condo and tell her you’re good with just a handshake, she’ll demand to know why she wasn’t good enough for you to rape her!
Drawn from actual experience with dating feminists by accident before I knew they were feminists. Stealth feminists.
“No, I’m good on the sofa.”
There is no mystery in sex and conception. The Pro-Choice ethical religion denies women and men’s dignity and agency, and reduces human lives to negotiable commodities. Society has compelling cause to discourage human rites performed for social, redistributive, clinical, and fair weather special and peculiar interests.
We should brainstorm ways of retaliating against radical leftists:
… sabotage tampon dispensers in men’s rooms.
… stencil “Official Ballot Drop Box” on trash bins.
… slap “Trump 2024” stickers on all Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf cars.
… have Musk buy Apple next.
…
Good for Morton’s for affirming a policy keeping individual politics separate from the business.
The woke better be prepared for this. Little reminder here.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10999721/Woke-Oberlin-College-hit-4m-dragging-heels-paying-36m-family-run-bakery.html
$20 cover charge to make a reservation, that is then applied towards the cost of your meal when you show up.
Doesn’t hurt actual customers one bit.
I hear the leftists are so angry that Morton’s allowed Brett Kavanaugh et al to patronize their business they are boycotting all salt.
Also the leftists are marching on Washington. Why, they’re halfway to Seattle already.
At least Kavanaugh knows that Morton’s is a tasty steak house.
This reminds me of a dinner at Morton’s in the Virginia suburbs about 35 years ago.
At the time, Morton’s sold cigars at the maitre-d spot. I have been a cigar smoker for decades, so I bought one. Asked if it was okay in the restaurant, this being before the anti-smoking craze. Yes, they said, and seated us in the smoking section.
I lit up, and within minutes some woman, a Karen before Karens were cool, started making faces, etc. I looked at her and said, “Ma’am, if you don’t like it, why are you sitting in the smoking section?”
She made a verbal stink to match my cigar (although my mantra has always been that a good cigar never stinks, and Morton’s sold only good cigars — I think it was a Macanudo) and yammered to the waiter. Who reseated her and her suffering husband in the non-smoking section, and comped myself and my partner a glass of wine each for our inconvenience.
Morton’s earned some repeat business out of that one, but probably not Karen’s. LOL