Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Politics, Religion, Society

Fair or Fowl? Chick-Fil-A Controversy Grows With Elected Officials Moving To Block Chain

The fallout from the controversial interview given by Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy over anti-gay comments continues to build. While most business leaders work hard to keep their political and religious views from affecting customers or their business, Cathy came out swinging with comments saying that he runs the company according to Biblical commands and that he views gay marriage as a sin. The result has been national boycott, store protests, and most recently moves in major cities like Chicago to bar the restaurant. The suggested legislation in Chicago would be in my view unconstitutional. Despite our disagreement with Cathy, civil libertarians should defend his right to do business without harassment or censure from the government for his views. His company is subject to anti-discrimination laws. Those laws protect his employees from “Biblical” harassment.

The gay rights group Equality Illinois is launching a campaign against Chick-Fil-A – petitioning universities and lawmakers to evict the fast food restaurant from their campuses. There is also a plan for a “kiss-in” campaign by gay and lesbian couples outside Chick-Fil-A restaurants. The latter protests are perfectly constitutional. Indeed, Cathy decided to force this issue in his interview and should have expected that his comments would enrage some consumer while delighting others.

It is the plan of Ald. Proco “Joe” Moreno (1st) that crosses the line.
I would also oppose as an academic an effort to bar the restaurant at universities. Universities are institutions committed to free speech and free thought. To start to bar groups or businesses on the basis of the religious views of their officers runs against the mission of a university.
Cathy was stating his personal view of gay marriage. He magnified the controversy by extending those views to the company: “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”

He seemed to double down on those comments despite the controversy and obvious cost of proselytizing to his business: “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say ‘we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,’ and I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about.”

Moreno is moving to block permits for a new business in Chicago. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has also vowed to block Chick-Fil-A from entering his city at all.

The suggestion that these cities would block a business because of the content of the religious views of one of its officers offends the principles of free speech and a host of constitutional protections. To the degree that the company violates discrimination laws, it can be punished and fined. In the meantime, the company is likely to loss millions in sales as well as protests from customers offended by Cathy’s comments. Just as Cathy elected to make his views public, customers have the same right. We can leave the outcome to the marketplace to work out.

Source: CBS

155 thoughts on “Fair or Fowl? Chick-Fil-A Controversy Grows With Elected Officials Moving To Block Chain”

  1. Otteray Scribe1, July 28, 2012 at 10:15 am

    Hubert, one of my best friends is a Jewish doctor. Tell your Old Testament theory to him. I have not asked him to read your comment yet, but already know what he would say about the OT not being operative any more. I know his style. He has a dry sense of humor, so will probably say something to the effect, “Yer funnee!”

    =========================================================

    Someone Jewish doesn’t recognize Jesus as the Messiah. So the OT Law hasn’t been fulfilled and they are still under OT Law. It’s not an Old Testament theory. When read in context, the OT and NT, we can learn that Jesus fulfilled the OT Law, in effect, nailing it to the cross. We are now under NT Grace.

  2. mespo7272721, July 28, 2012 at 7:50 am

    Hubert (sorry about the prior typo):

    “Our local restaurant here in town has always been busy, but it’s been observed lately, that it’s more busy than usual. The drive-thru line almost circles the building twice.”

    **********************

    Like I told you before, bigots have to eat somewhere.

    ======================================================

    Ah, I see… if you don’t have the politically correct worldview and you choose to voice your opinion, exercising the first amendment, it makes you a bigot.

    Of those who pride themselves in “tolerance”, isn’t it ironic how those same people are not tolerant of differing opinions.

  3. mespo7272721, July 28, 2012 at 7:49 am

    Humbert Cumberdale:

    “We’re no longer under OT Law. ”

    *************************

    Well, somebody had better tell Jesus not to worry about all those jots and tittles:

    17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

    18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

    19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

    Matt. 5

    Hey, Humbert have you ever read that book?

    =======================================================

    Hey mespo…. Read what you quoted in Matt. 5:18. “…till all be fulfilled”. What, or more suitably, WHO fulfilled the OT Law. Jesus – the one you’re mocking.

    Hey mespo, ever read things in context?

  4. Liberal Defenders of Chick-Fil-A Unwittingly Defend Corporate Personhood [Updated]
    Lee Fang on July 30, 2012
    The Nation
    http://www.thenation.com/blog/169147/liberal-defenders-chick-fil-unwittingly-defend-corporate-personhood-updated

    Excerpt:
    Chick-Fil-A’s financial support to anti-gay causes has gone on for years with little commotion outside the LGBT activist community.

    But that changed earlier this month when Dan Cathy, CEO of the fast food chain, told the Baptist Press that he is “guilty as charged” for pushing the company to take a stand in the national debate over marriage equality. Those comments set off a backlash—including boycotts, protests and politicians’ denouncing Chick-Fil-A. In Chicago and Boston, the mayors of each city fired off statements claiming the chicken sandwich joint is no longer welcome in town. The backlash, like any charged political debate, is now setting off its own backlash.

    Liberal commentators Glenn Greenwald and Adam Serwer are leading the contrarian charge, claiming that mayors opposed to the construction of new Chick-Fil-A outlets are setting a “dangerous” precedent for violating the First Amendment:

    • Mother Jones’s Adam Serwer (7/26/12): “Blocking construction of Chick-fil-a restaurants over Cathy’s views is a violation of Cathy’s First Amendment rights.”

    • Salon’s Glenn Greenwald (7/26/12): “But that is not the case here; the actions are purely in retribution against the views of the business’ top executive on the desirability of same-sex marriage.”

    • Boston Globe editorial (7/25/12): “But 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 activist-led uprising against Chick-Fil-A were simply about the CEO’s views, I would agree with these comments. The debate, however, centers around how Chick-Fil-A and its business affiliates spend direct direct corporate cash on supporting anti-gay causes.

    Here’s the real issue. Chick-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy’s family manages a charity called the WinShape Foundation, which dispenses millions of dollars to anti-gay organizations, including Focus on the Family. Where does that money come from? According to tax disclosures, the WinShape Foundation received $8,067,161 from Chick-Fil-A corporation and $11.5 million from CFA Properties, a corporate affiliate of Chick-Fil-A registered in Delaware in 2010.

  6. Jim1,
    You are wrong!! Marriage is a state right. (10th amendment) By the way, how many states have voted down gay marriage?

    Jim my parents were first cousins. In Pa it was illegal so they went to NY and the marriage was sanctioned.
    Whats your point? That the states who have passed same sex marriage are an abhorrence before G-d but those that have not voted it in are ok with the Lord?
    I am so glad you are able to speak for Him (I am sure this has been quoted in the thread but for Jim it bears repeating (maybe a lot)
    1 Corinthians 2:11 >>

    New International Version (©1984)
    For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

  10. raff and Malisha, our Gene is just the shy and retiring type. He has trouble coming right out and saying what he means. He can’t help it, it is probably a genetic condition.

  12. I think Romney would have a go at the 1864 civil rights amendment as well.

  13. Gene H: DAMN! You mean I could’a done it? DAMN!

    (Even if it WAS a bad idea, so what? I’ve done lots of other things that were plenty bad ideas!)

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