ScottF

And again, you have taken a neutral thread and turned it into a political debate, and of course, the liberals are completely wrong again.

No liberal is disputing CFA's freedom of speech, but several are saying that based on the ideals of the company, they will not be patrionizing the restaurants. Apparently in your mind liberals are not afforded the same first amendment rights as CFA, and should only protest silently.

sharke

I'll gladly say that I do not eat at Chickfila because of this. If you want to, cool. Don't really want to support or patronize a company with such views. Though, the fact that Zaxby's is a hundred times better helps too. And just an observation, the right wing did the same to Oreo and JC Penny, yet I don't see certain people crying about that.


We don't need your logic!

papz

And here I thought I was the only one that didn't care for their chicken. Granted I eat it all the time, but that's just because the pharmaceutical reps bring it to us all the time. Can't turn down free food!

SloMotion

I thought the issue was the city of Boston denying CFA a license to do business (or making it difficult) based on the the CEO/owner's personal beliefs ... and/or Chicago mimicking the same sentiment, that in itself is discriminatory.

If a group disagrees with an establishments political stance or the way they do business, then boycott it, that's our right as consumers, but blocking access to markets, locations or licensing is over the top and, I believe, illegal.

Personally, I don't care if the guy is a homo-phobe or not, it doesn't influence my decision to have a chicken sandwich either way. I try to keep politics out of my food as much as possible, .

Here's an interesting perspective on the whole thing:


... not trying to poke at anybody, just sayin' I think it's all much ado over nothing.

Danno

Like-Like

ScottF

I agree Slo, that keeping out CFA legally is not feasible. You might not be happy about an adult bookstore moving in next door, but legally you can't do anything about it.

The fact is that CFA did bring politics into their business, and as with everything in this country, it will be polarizing. Here's a perception survey:
Chick-Fil-A takes perception dive with fast food eaters
Chick Fil A will take a hit for awhile, but America's short memory will then kick in

sharke

sidenote, I also try not to support atlanta franchises.....

SmashMouth

Politicians have no place in trying to dictate these kinds of things, among others. That is polarizing and counterproductive, despite the attempts of the spin machine of the left to paint it otherwise. The fact is the left would love to force you to tell you how to wipe your butt too, if it could, figuratively speaking of course.

Chick-fil-A not alone in touting religion alongside products

Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy is not the only business tycoon who refuses to hide his faith under a bushel — top executives from some of America’s biggest companies are born-again Christians who talk about their beliefs more often than their balance sheets.
Major corporations like Tyson Foods, Interstate Batteries and Hobby Lobby were either founded or are now led by outspoken and deeply religious bosses. While some of the companies distinguish between their corporate identities and their leaders’ faith, others embrace it.
—Norm Miller, chairman of Interstate Batteries, discusses his faith and salvation at length on the company’s website, even inviting people to write him for advice on prayer;
—Tyson Foods, the Arkansas food processing giant, offers chaplains to counsel its employees on life issues like deaths or family emergencies;
—In-N-Out Burger, the popular California-based hamburger chain, prints “John 3:16” on the bottom of its cups;
—Hobby Lobby, the Oklahoma City-based arts and crafts store chain, cites its commitment to “honoring the Lord” on its website and closes its 500-plus nationwide locations on Sundays, as does Chick-fil-A.
“We believe that it is by God's grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured,” its website reads. “He has been faithful in the past, we trust Him for our future.”
Cathy sparked a national controversy last month when he told the Baptist Press that he was “guilty as charged” for supporting the “biblical definition of a family,” leading to widespread criticism from gay rights groups and the mayors of at least three large U.S. cities — Chicago, San Francisco and Boston — who said the chain was no longer welcome there.
“It can come across as anti-something rather than pro-something. It’s very important to do it positively and inclusively.”
- Jonah Bloom, chief strategy officer for Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal & Partners
Another well-known company, furniture maker Herman Miller — which was founded by Christian evangelical D.J. De Pree in 1905 — said despite its founders’ religious background, the firm is not a “religious company,” a spokesman told FoxNews.com.
“Although the founding family were deeply devout Christians, at no point in the company’s history was their religious faith part of the ethos,” spokesman Ron Reeves said. “The company’s ethos is based on values rather than religion.”
Requests for comment from Interstate Batteries on what role religion plays in its company were not returned Wednesday, but a “personal testimony” page on its website clearly spells out the beliefs held by its chairman.
“Norm Miller is also a believer in God’s power to change lives, because it was that power that turned his own life around after years of drinking as hard as he worked,” the website reads. “That was the beginning of many changes in his personal and professional life. At the same time, there were some things about Norm Miller that stayed the same. His creative energy never flagged, and his willingness to dream up and try new ideas remained his hallmark.”
One marketing expert said blurring the line between a company’s image and its top boss’s religious beliefs can be bad for business.
Jonah Bloom, former editor of Ad Age and chief strategy officer for Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal & Partners in New York, told FoxNews.com that while having a “purpose” such as a social or environmental cause can be a very good thing for a business, evoking religion can backfire.
“It can come across as anti-something rather than pro-something,” Bloom said. “It’s very important to do it positively and inclusively.”
With regards to Cathy’s statement on same-sex marriage, Bloom said it appeared to have been a “bad business decision” and not the kind of “purpose” he would have advocated.
But other business leaders, including Hobby Lobby CEO and founder David Green, say being outspoken about their religious beliefs is non-negotiable. In 2011, the Green family — whose fortune was estimated by Forbes magazine at about $2.5 billion — purchased 30,000 rare biblical texts and artifacts that now make up one of the largest private collections of its kind in the world.
“We believe the Bible has a positive influence and I think that all people should see what it has to say,” president Steve Green said. “We encourage people to make their choice and follow its principals like we do and strive to do.”


Read more: Chick-fil-A not alone in touting religion alongside products | Fox News

ScottF

Politicians have no place in trying to dictate these kinds of things, among others. That is polarizing and counterproductive, despite the attempts of the spin machine of the left to paint it otherwise. The fact is the left would love to force you to tell you how to wipe your butt too, if it could, figuratively speaking of course.


Guess what, professing your faith is just as polarizing.
Actual numbers vary, but 12-15% of the U.S. is agnostic or atheist. No poll data could ever show many other consumers are put off by a specific religion, but that is a factor as well. That is a big segment to ignore.

I am all for companies declaring their religion, ideal, political leanings, whatever. However, they have to understand that with each statement that strays from the middle, they risk alienating more and more customers.

The generation that is in high school and college right now is much more accepting of the gay/lesbian community than previous generations. And that gay population is growing and becoming more mainstream. Businesses and political parties (cough) that don't recognize this will suffer in the long run.

SloMotion

... for the record, I did not attend Chik-fil-A Appreciation Day, but only because it's kinda' far & I wasn't going to be out that way, didn't feel like 'chicken' and it's really not that important to me either way ... I just like posting stuff, .