Yawn, Chick-fil-A. Bigger things happened yesterday than haters lining up to buy mediocre “chikin” sandwiches.
Posted by: Donna
News stations everywhere were hyperventilating over “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” on Wednesday, in which large crowds showed up to purchase chicken sandwiches and waffle fries from the chain of restaurants owned by a guy who is proudly bigoted against gay marriage rights. This was a successful mobilization by conservative religious groups and stars like Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee in response to a boycott by gay rights groups. It was a good showing and, hey, boycotts ain’t beanbag. If you boycott, gotta expect a counter “buycott”. Team Chick-fil-A won the news cycle but is Team Homophobia winning the long culture war? Nope.
From SFGate (emphasis mine):
Daniel Jordan of Atlanta showed up at one Atlanta Chick-fil-A to support the company. He said that while he disagreed with Cathy’s position on marriage, he is equally opposed to shutting down a company because of the views of one of its leaders.
“Some people are trying to upset their business because of their opinions,” he said. “The fact that they don’t support gay marriage, what a surprise.”
Erik Bloom, who tagged along with Jordan for a Chick-fil-A lunch, said Cathy should have kept his views private.
“I just think it’s dumb to be that outspoken about it,” said Bloom, an Atlanta resident. “I think it’s a bad business move. In business, you have to be more politically correct.”
For Teresa Williams of Albany, N.Y., Wednesday was her first Chick-fil-A experience. Williams, who was visiting Atlanta, was talked into eating a Chick-fil-A by friend Megan Myers, a Rochester, N.Y., resident, who sang the praises of the company’s chicken sandwiches. Both were aware of the controversy but were unmoved by boycott efforts.
So, some people don’t approve of or just don’t go along with boycotts. Doesn’t mean they’ve signed onto the views of whomever’s being boycotted by consumers more committed to opposing to their cause.
And Pew did a poll on support for gay marriage recently:
The chart at right tells the story. In the four years since the 2008 survey, there has been a 15-percent jump in support among Democrats (65 percent), seven percent among Independents (51 percent) and five percent among Republicans (24 percent). Republicans are the most opposed to marriage equality (70 percent). Overall, 48 percent are in favor and 44 percent are not.
That’s up 9% nationwide since 2008. How do you like them chicken patties, Cathi Herrod?
But yesterday was also the day that the Affordable Care Act mandates to cover preventative treatments with no co-pay in insurance plans went into effect.
A highly upset Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) really compared this to terrorist attacks:
“I know in your mind, you can think of the times America was attacked,” he said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. “One is Dec. 7, that’s Pearl Harbor Day. The other is Sept. 11, and that’s the day the terrorists attacked. I want you to remember Aug. 1, 2012, the attack on our religious freedom. That is a day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates.”
Sheesh. Calm down and have a waffle fry will ya, Mike?
Also, the 9th Federal Circuit Court blocked Arizona’s draconian 20 week abortion ban yesterday. That seems to have made Cathi’s Spicy Chikin Combo go down badly. Her Center for Arizona Policy Foundations blog issued a terse statement on it:
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked a key provision of HB 2036, known as the Mother’s Health and Safety Act, from taking effect.
Earlier this week, the Arizona District Court upheld the law and denied the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Reproductive Rights’ request to stop it from taking effect.
Yet today, the Ninth Circuit Court ordered that the state couldn’t prohibit most abortions after 20 weeks of a pregnancy, pending oral arguments.
A calendar has been set for both sides to file briefs in the case. Center for Arizona Policy (CAP) is committed to standing for this important law that protects mothers and preborn children from the dangerous practices of the abortion industry.
We remain confident that this law will be upheld and will keep you up to date on any further action.
I remain confident that the more evident it is that these angry prudes are losing the culture war, the more intent they will be to use the law to impose their will on all of us.
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Had lunch at Chick-fil-a yesterday to show my support. The place was packed. Plan to go tomorrow for lunch to see if any gays actually show up to protest. Should be fun.
Too bad all you “Christians” couldn’t have lined up at a food bank or homeless shelter, Mike. WWJD?
Hey! Brathole! All my good stuffs downstairs.
That’s it, the dog gets it.
Suhweeeet! Going to a restaurant on a Friday to have fun looking for gay pipples!
Partay hartay honey!
YOU GO GIRL!
Jane ,
You mean the way the smelly hippies of OWS did last year ?
I’m confused again still more.
Is eating chicken sandwiches at a fast food joint a new way of showing your devotion to Jesus?
Is this a new type of Christianity? Because I too thought it involved loving your neighbor and caring for the less fortunate and all that unglamorous hard work stuff.
I wonder what it’s called?
Drive Thru Jesus?
I remain confident that the more evident it is that these angry prudes are losing the culture war, the more intent they will be to use the law to impose their will on all of us.
Interesting that when blatantly idealogical legislation gets shot down in court for violating existing laws and precedents the judge gets called an activist.
As I recall, OWS participants did do community projects to help the poor in a lot of places. What does that have to do with “Christians” thinking buying chicken sandwiches from a company run by a bigot makes them morally superior, Alan?
Hi Donna . You should be press agent for OWS . Their image is of a bunch of trouble making clowns . This is the first I’ve heard of them doing anything positive, much less community projects .
Jane brought up the argument that Christians could have ” have lined up at a food bank or homeless shelter, ” , instead of supporting Chick-fil-A .
The answer of course is that they can do both . OWS makes political statements by camping out in unhygienic tent communities and picking fights with Police. Christians eating at a restaurant is a much less destructive way of exercising free speech .
Calling people bigots is a common way to attack anyone one disagrees with . I suppose your hero President Obama is now an ex bigot since he put his finger in the air and decided to stop opposing gay marriage ?