Chick-fil-A chickened out

Chick-fil-A.jpg


Chick-fil-A chickened out. To get city approval for a restaurant in Chicago, the chain agreed to stop funding traditional-marriage groups. This after conservative supporters of traditional marriage gave them record sales. So what did they say as they chomped on their own foot? “Tastes like chicken!”

J.P. Travis: Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1976 graduate of University of Michigan, father, grandfather, husband, founder and CEO of Travelyn Publishing (http://www.travelynpublishing.com/), and passionate anti-government believer in individual liberty.

View Comments (47)

    • Man, there are really two conflicting stories out there, aren't there? One thing to keep in mind is that Dan Cathy, in spite of his title of "President and COO [chief operating officer]," is NOT the CEO of Chick-fil-A. He's the owner, along with his brother, but not the CEO. That makes me wonder if Dan Cathy is saying one thing while the CEO (his brother) is saying something else to the Chicago alderman. From what I can tell by reading about the company, Dan travels from restaurant to restaurant, which makes him the go-to guy for cooking, food, and restaurant atmosphere. That would leave expansion plans, financial matters, and POLITICAL RELATIONS in the hands of his brother, the CEO. Thus making a dichotomy possible. Things can get weird in family-owned corporations.

  • I just thought of something! Cathy could have told Chicago that they would not donate to "anti-gay" groups and not have to change anything. Focus on the Family is NOT an anti-gay group. It is a pro-family group. So Cathy could have honestly said that CFA won't donate to anti-gay groups, without changing their stand or actions.

    I am not saying that is correct, but it is a possible way to connect the two completely different understandings.

    It's like saying that Harry Reid is correct that Mitt Romney didn't pay income tax for 10 years. He almost certainly DIDN'T pay tax - from birth til he got his first job. LOL

  • "Chick-fil-A's giving heritage is focused on programs that ... enrich marriages"

    But will they do that by not giving to lightning rod groups (to liberals) like Focus on the Family, by giving to groups with a more vague politically correct mission of helping "marriages", without defining those "marriages"? I'll take Cathy's word for it and give Chick-fil-A the benefit of the doubt while braced to be disappointed.

      • Yeah, but we won't know for about a year, when all the charities' public filings are examined. Unless Focus on the Family burns its bridges and makes a public announcement telling us they aren't getting donations anymore. In that case we'll know sooner.

        Chick-fil-A can still finesse their capitulation by stopping donations to traditional marriage groups and letting Cathy make those donations personally. Then how would you feel? I'll still feel let down.

          • If you have tax-exempt status you have to file an annual form with the IRS and I think that form is public information and tells the world where your donations came from. I think. But regardless, you can't succeed in the modern world as a charity if you don't report your information. People want to know where you're getting your money and how much administrative overhead you're spending, so we'll know eventually.

  • OK. I could be wrong, but I think this story is a lie. Dan Cathy was not afraid to tell the nation his beliefs. That makes me think that he is a strong, honorable man. He keeps his restaurants closed on Sundays. That tells me that he is not a cutthroat who would do anything for a buck. He has lawyers, and even a 1st year pre-law student could tell you that it would be illegal as hell for a city to block a company for their religious beliefs. AND he has access to national media, which would force a level of propriety over the situation, no matter how angry the *officials* got. They would allow the restaurant to be built - and would just mess with them later, after the attention died down.

    I can understand why CFA would word their statement the way they did. They can't come out and say "we are going to donate to XYZ charity". Not in today's environment. If for some reason they decided not to, XYZ could easily sue them for breach of contract. Come on - you KNOW that's true! But will they suddenly start donating to the LBTQ-NAMBLA-NARAL-Beastiality-Incest groups? Highly unlikely. They have HEARD the support of the American people. We sent a strong message saying "stick to your beliefs and we will stick with you" (And the opposition will stick with them too, because good fast food is more important to them than beliefs). So would CFA cave to appease some whacked-out lunatics? Not likely.

    Anyway, bottom line. Cathy seems to be a man of principle, and a man of principle will not sell out his integrity for a few dollars, or a restaurant in a Godless city. Just my opinion, and I could be wrong - but I would put my money on CFA.

  • "did not agree to stop making donations to groups that support the biblical definition of marriage in exchange for being allowed to open a franchise in Chicago."

    • In addition, I am sure the publicity was great for the earnings but I am sure they did not want to be a center piece in the culture war. They've always treated "All" their customers with respect, that has never changed and is a smart business decision that the MSM is hyping has changed. I have read articles by USA Today, LA Times. Parse the lib media reports and pick out the key words "controversy", "anti-gay". Supporting God's view is not controversial. They were never anti-gay, only pro-Christ. Citizens Link (Focus on the Family) didn't list if they still receive donations. That is not a public matter in a private company. I am willing to bet that they want to expand and that Christ remains the foundation (closed on Sundays). I hate the media should be careful on this one. 2% of the population that is gay will not break the company as they are estimated to overtake KFC in 2-3 years.

    • In that whole article they never clarify whether or not Chick-fil-A will continue giving money to Focus on the Family. Read it again. That's mush-mouth waffling political talk. It sounds good, but tells you nothing. We know they've given money to Focus on the Family in the past. We know Focus on the Family is trying to make it sound like they're still happy with Chick-fil-A. But NOBODY says they'll still get donations from Chick-fil-A. Vague lying-by-omission crap like that article makes me sick. We get enough of that stuff from Obama.

      • I think they will. While DObson is against gay marriage, Focus runs a lot of programs such as marriage counseling and enrighment, family support, etc. I think Cathy will continue to support that.

  • Take heart, myth busted. What you're getting is the spin from the Collaborationist Media.

    http://twitchy.com/2012/09/20/did-chick-fil-a-cave-restaurant-chain-responds-to-mischaracterization-of-giving-practices/

    "While Chick-fil-A’s “clarification” statement still leaves a number of questions open, it appears for now that claims of the chain caving come not from Chick-fil-A or Moreno but from a third party anxious to claim victory in the controversy."

    • Hmm, very interesting, but it's not a third party claiming this, it's the Chicago alderman... wait a minute, what did I just say? That's an even more untrustworthy source!

      Okay, I'm wondering now who's telling the truth. I guess we won't know for sure until about a year from now when certain traditional marriage organizations tell us whether Chick-fil-A stopped giving them money.

    • I'll wait for clarification, but if CFA franchises are suddenly welcomed to Chicago and San Francisco we'll know for certain they caved.

    • I read CFA's statement. Vague at best and they do not want commentary from its customers. I commented anyway and let them know that they surrendered a lot of good will. Doesn't matter what the actual story is, it lost the PR war.

      • Maybe it was a business decision? Did they notice a dropoff after the clear surge of that day? I drive by one every day to work and there's nothing remarkable about the traffic i see anymore, but on that particular day they were blocking a lane on a major street

        If there was a clear threat to their revenue overall, i couldn't find blame

        • I can only guess that CFA's business returned to pre-controversy levels. In my view, senior management is trying to appease (there is that word again) a small but vocal population segment and in so doing, lost a lot of good will because it appears that corporate values were sacrificed for an outlet in Chicago that could not have been legally blocked anyway.

          • Not LEGALLY blocked. But in that town, they'd find a way, THAT is the Chicago way. The needed permits would triple, union workers would call in sick, police would find "violations"... That crap on tv is underplayed. Look at what they did when their gun ban was over-turned by the supreme court. Daily just rewrote the ban the very next day.

      • I read that yesterday. I also don't buy it. Their statement strikes me as trying to play both sides. If they were truly being mid-characterized, they would have been way more emphatic on the negative.

        • They were accused of funding "anti gay " groups. They ARE funding groups that support traditional marriage. That is a very different agenda. They hire anyone on the planet who can be decent to people and work their asses off while still being overtly kind and polite to cutomers. THey have never denied service, nor denied a job due to sexual orientation. ALL this is bull from the gay rights activists who are trying to convince the nation that they are more numerous than they are.

  • Those thousands of good people who stood in lines for hours to buy at Chick-fil-A have been played for suckers. The owners of CFA wanted a part of the lucrative urban markets and had no problem in compromising their moral beliefs. I don't blame them for caving, it was a business decision, I do blame them for their cynical betrayal of the public that had supported them.

  • Who's the governor of Ill-noise? Does he have so much clout that he can just snap his fingers and people take a nose dive off a ten story building? Why does an alleged christian company drop its christian values over opening a store in Chicago? Is their profit margin so demanding that they can't afford to miss a state or two? And do they think that be doing this, wink-wink-nod-nod, we'll be placated with whatever BS reason they'll give us for doing it and keep buying their stuff. I plan to boycott their decision and I plan to tell my friends and I suggest you do the same!

    • I was angry when I wrote this and have since calmed down. I'm letting this sort itself out...lettin' the dust settle, so to speak. Mr. Cathy is strong enough and smart enough to make his mind up how he wants this to play out for the benefit of his company. I still like Chick-Fil-A fast food products so I'm not going to boycott his restaurants...I must have been raving...I do that when I don't eat.

  • I'm not going to boycott CFA, it only hurts the franchise employee. Still, it is a damn shame that they caved in.

    • I know what you're thinkin' but you gotta draw the line somewhere and if it hurts the employees, it also hurts the brass. If we don't start fighting back because we're afraid for the employees of company X, Y, or Z our message will never come across as credible...you think the filth on the other side give a rat's ass about us whenever they decide to occupoop someplace or somewhere?

      • So we are going to drop to their level and act like animals? No, I eat at Chick fil A because I like it. I respect their decision to run it based on the personal beliefs of the OWNER regardless of whether I agree or disagree. There is a big difference between stopping funding for antigay groups and funding for traditional marriage groups. I have seen both descriptions used. I too, would like to see the actual letter, and whether it only applies to that franchise, or across the company. Don't let the media scam you.

      • I get all that. I'd rather communicate my feelings to the actual actors (which I have done) than take out others as collateral damage.

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