Chick-Fil-A is probably up to the same old crap?- Page 2

[Addison D.]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 3:34pm

I certainly share the skepticism expressed by those who wonder whether the core beliefs of the principals in the story have changed.

But I do think that there is real value in having people whose complacent opposition to marriage equality was re-inforced by seeing Cathy et.al. stand by their position see them abandon their position and make a statement of support for fairness. I believe that it is a moment where people can't help but examine their own prejudices and--maybe--re-think them.

That, to me, is the possible magic of the PR wand...

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 3:40pm

Roscoe, do you mean you think the company will publicly say they're no longer funding these hate organizations but will continue to do it? Isn't that sort of thing fairly visible nowadays?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 3:44pm

I think they'll just funnel the money elsewhere -- they'll still make big contributions to the GOP and to GOP candidates, which amounts to the same thing as donations to the FRC.

If they want money to go to hate groups, they'll make sure it gets there, one way or another.

Updated On: 9/19/12 at 03:44 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 3:51pm

It just seems that if we equate directly funding hate organizations like FRC with contributing to the GOP--and don't get me wrong; I'm against funding the GOP--then there really is no point in actions like the Chick-fil-A boycott.

Particularly if we're going to shrug when they respond in the way we said we wanted them to.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 3:55pm

I don't believe it.

Since the statement didn't come from Dan Cathy.

When I Google him, the only stories that come up are the one about him NOT in support of gay mariage.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 3:57pm

I don't imagine anyone was expecting Cathy to have a personal change of heart. Just to decide that directly funneling Chick-fil-A money into anti-gay organizations was bad business.

I mean, it'd be nice to have an Ebeneezer Scrooge in the last act moment from him, but . . .

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 3:58pm

Cathy (I always say "AAAck!" when I say his name) hasnt changed his views at all. The board of directors of his company decided this.

I take full responsibility for the turnaround because I refused to eat there on Friday night.

You're welcome.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 4:09pm

Why was the letter signed by "Chick-fil-A's Senior Director of Real Estate"?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 4:12pm

I do have to wonder what the reaction of those that rushed out to support Cathy and Chick Fil A in the name of "Free Speech" have to say. And I do wonder what's really going on here. I wish I could just accept this at face value, but like others, the fact that Cathy or Chick Fil A hasn't made a statement is odd.
Updated On: 9/19/12 at 04:12 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 4:15pm

Hmm. PJ, now I'm wondering if this is a much smaller "victory"--i.e., merely something small to appease those who opposed the company's expansion in Chicago.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 4:34pm

"Particularly if we're going to shrug when they respond in the way we said we wanted them to."

The point is, for me at least, that they've been too awful for too long for this little step to mean very much of anything. And it has been pointed out that this little response isn't being trumpeted by Chick-Fil-A as a major step in any particular way -- Cathy hasn't made a statement on the change in their corporate hatred of gays as being against the Biblical principles of family. Their new "inclusivness!" isn't being given the fanfare that their previous BIGOTRY was.

And yeah, I think it was all done to get them a new restaurant in Chicago. They can make all the little changes to corporate policy they want -- it means about as much as their belief in that Bible they pretend to put so much stock in.

Updated On: 9/19/12 at 04:34 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 4:40pm

For me the question is: Is this a little step or a big one? If it's the former--a cynical bid to expand in Chicago--then count me among the shruggers.

If, on the other hand, the corporation is as a whole doing what the boycotters were supposedly asking it to do, then my response is "Dan Cathy can go to his grave* hating the gays, but at least my food dollars aren't funding the loss of my own rights."


*As soon as possible.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 4:53pm

Count me astonished too.

(And a little suspicious...)

^ THIS!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 4:55pm

LA Times: Chick-fil-A spokesman Jerry Johnston said the company is “not offering any response” to the news from TCRA.

So far this seems to generated by one Chicago city alderman, Joe Morena, who had vowed to block Chick-fil-a from opening in Chiacgo, and a local gay organization called "The Civil Rights Agenda."

It does not seem to be verified outside Chicago gay circles.
Chick-fil-A promises to stop giving money to anti-gay groups

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 5:05pm

Who knows what anyone thinks or believes? This is a company whose CEO took to the public to say "our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena" while still giving money to anti-gay groups. This is a company that people riled into into supporting "free speech" by buying chicken and soda.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 5:10pm

Any insight into this Joe Moreno alderman from Chicago BWWers?

Is it possible Chick-fil-a pulled the wool over on his for a contract? Or that he's pulling the wool over on us for a nice, juicy bribe from Chick-fil-a?



And has anyone ever heard of "The Civil Rights Agenda"?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 5:24pm

I don't know anything about him, but I'm not in Chicago anymore.

I just can't wrap my head around this. I thought the point of Chick Fil A appreciation day was that they were doing just fine without the dollars of people who don't agree with their jubilant homohphobia.

I also remember other stories popping up when this was in the news a few months ago, like how the company systematicly shut out women who become pregnant and whatnot. I can't see how Chick Fil A will ever share my values.

Updated On: 9/19/12 at 05:24 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 8:29pm

Civil Rights Agenda is real- they've actually had some good victories, overturning laws, getting legislation passed. I think they are usually pretty low-key, work within the system types. I think they might have helped broker the Domestic Partnership law in Illinois- or perhaps formed by some folks who had worked on that issue.

The alderman is kind of cute for an alderman.
CRA

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/20/12 at 12:41pm

Looks like the "cute" Chicago alderman is either an idiot or he was duped.

At any rate, the story is a big fat lie.


A Big Loophole? Chick-fil-A Is Already Raising Questionable Money

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/20/12 at 12:47pm

Hardly surprising. Folks have got to get over this notion that these kinds of bigoted minds are going to be changed by anything as simple as a few meetings -- this kind of hate does not stop. They will look you right in the face and say in no uncertain terms that gays are not deserving of equality. No amount of reasoned argument or appeals to basic human decency will work with these people.

Haters gonna hate, as the kids say.

Updated On: 9/20/12 at 12:47 PM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/20/12 at 1:23pm

I am not excusing the guy or the company, but isn't it possible and probably that this fundraiser was planned months ago? At $3500 a person, I am guessing it wasn't a last minute thing.

Yes, I am being uncharacteristically optimistic, but for some reason, I need this to be true so I can have some faith in humanity to do the right thing at SOME point.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/20/12 at 2:17pm

I think you should change the subject line on this thread.
Towleroad: Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy Still Flaunting Anti-Gay Politics

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/20/12 at 2:49pm

I think we're going to see an interesting battle ahead of us- Reading between the lines I see a Board of Directors who is saying "Enough with this- no more politics" and a CEO who is disregarding (or even openly challenging) that policy.

And when there is a battle between the Board and the CEO....the board always wins.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/20/12 at 8:08pm

Don't be naive. The Board of Directors is NOT on our side.

See the article below
JoeMyGod: Chick-Fil-A: We Haven't Changed A Thing

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/21/12 at 7:47am

Another article concluding that Chick-fil-a is just trying to have their chicken and eat it too.






TOWLEROAD: Chick-fil-A Releases New, Inconclusive Statement Following Interest in Whether It Has Given Up Anti-Gay Giving Read

Updated On: 9/21/12 at 07:47 AM