Bigots gather in Racine to support Chick-fil-A

28 thoughts on “Bigots gather in Racine to support Chick-fil-A”

1. No, is what’s amazing is conservatives don’t freak out and say how horrible a company is just because of there stance on something. You didn’t see conservatives going around saying put I support walker sign in your business or we will boycott.

2. The older I get the better I understand liberals, if you don’t agree with them your a bigot, a racist, intolerant, stupid, you get the idea. There can be no dissension,their ideas are the only ideas, don’t think for yourself, don’t follow a religion that is over 2,000 years old, follow the new religion. It’s worked so well for society. Just curious when President Obama didn’t support gay marriage was he a bigot? I must have missed your blog post on that.

   1. Mr. Adams…you actually said “don’t think for yourself, don’t follow a religion that is over 2,000 years old” in the same sentence? I find that rather amusing…seems to me that you can either think for yourself OR follow a religion that is over 2,000 years old.

   2. JA, I’m all for dissension; I simply don’t support bigotry and intolerance. If I didn’t want dissension, you wouldn’t be posting here.

      1. Supporting man/woman traditional marriage doesn’t constitute bigotry and intolerance.

         1. Says you.

            1. Wow, really? So because I don’t precisely agree with on gay marriage, I am a bigot.

               Do you support polygamy? If not, you are a bigot, sir. Unlike gay couples, polygamous couples are actually harassed, pursued, and prosecuted by the government.

               Do you support intrafamily marriage? No? Who are you to be so intolerant to stand in the way of people in love.

               Do you support lowering our state’s age of consent to marry law? Other states have lower ages than 18, so if you don’t support youngsters having the same freedom that you have to marry, you must be an intolerant bigot. It doesn’t seem fair that states would have varying laws on this, considering you say it should be a right for all.

               What about the 60s hippies that don’t believe in marriage at all? Couples that feel living together should have the same status as married couples? Benefits for married couples that single people don’t have sounds like discrimination.

               So until you sign off on all of these other situations (and quite frankly ANY possible situation), I guess you will find yourself in the BIGOT category yourself.

3. Wow, really, John Adams? First of all, learn to spell. Second of all, we were not all that thrilled that Obama didn’t “evolve” fast enough on marriage equality, and we are delighted that he is now completely on the right side of justice and history. Third of all, the 2,000 year-old mythology you describe has killed millions of people and continues to this day to express ideas of hate and intolerance that are simply unacceptable.

   As for Chick-fil-A, I find it incredibly interesting that the folks in line were bribed with gift cards. I really wonder how many of those Mensa members were there just for free food.

   Finally, for a dose of reality on what it feels like for people to hate you simply for being yourself, read this:

   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/chick-fil-a-anti-gay-controversy-employees-speak-out_n_1729968.html?ir=Business

4. It seems that Blogging Blue may be losing the interest of its progressive readers, as the comments here are two-to-one against…
   Charmaine is SOOO right, the conservatives would NEVER deride a business for its stance with demonstrations or postings. I believe that is precisely what the initial posting documents. Charmaine, you, to my secret (oops) delight, represent the lack of clear thinking and reactive mindset of so many non-progressive persons. The fact that your complaint embodies the very element you are complaining about shows that your perspective needs a good deal of logical review, shall we say.
   The reason many businesses in WI wanted Gov. Walker to be removed is three-fold. One, he spat on due process of law when the open meetings rules were flaunted at the collective bargaining bill’s passage out of committee. Two, this union-busting bill was an affront to union workers and the businesses that have them as regular customers, and employees.
   Three, it is the right and perhaps even the obligation of citizens to make their criticisms of all levels of government clear, and to act to make change. This is the very essence of patriotism, to me.
   So, when a coffee shop or an auto repair shop posted a Recall Walker sign, they were stating their position clearly, and without subterfuge. Gift cards, mock outrage, and religious “fervor” do not constitute a proper civic revolt.
   Yes, I am for gay marriage equality at the Federal, and even Constitutional level. I am for-square in support of complete separation of all churches, even my own Unitarian one, and all state and civil matters, even though the prospect of taxing the Catholics is a joy to contemplate. Jerry Falwell knew that as soon as churches became as entitled to political speech as a person, (and now, it seems, a corporation, and a labor union)his moral status, and that of all clergy, would be compromised.
   And I am all for anyone’s right to protest at a Chick-Fil-A, either for or against their corporate stance on anything germaine to civic discourse. When anyone does so, they are open to, and ought to expect, a critique from their opponents, as is happening here and now. This is the way things work.
   Religion as a yardstick for anything civil went out after the Bible was used as a support for slavery. The Koran is used as a prop for just about anything these days, from Peace through Allah to Holy War through Allah. So, let’s try and see human beings for what they are, and what they can become, not what “hokey religions”, to quote Han Solo, think we ought to be.
   A-men, A-Women,
   MBB

   1. Michael, Blogging Blue has long had many conservative commenters, and from time to time that means they may be more numerous than progressives in a particular comment thread, especially when they’re being called out and feel the need to defend themselves, as seems to be the case here.

5. What’s great here with Blogging Blue is that have a public forum–made not just for the blogger–where everyone can say their piece. That seems rather progressive, doesn’t it?
   I count myself as a progressive, as well as a Democrat. The candidates we vote for at voting booth are labeled as Democrats, not Progressive.
   Today’s progressive movement comes as a reaction to those Democrats who in the 1990s became pretty much warmed-over Republicans in their thinking. On a national level, one could identify that element as being associated with the Democratic Leadership Council (think Al Gore, Joe Lieberman, etc.).
   The Progressives of 1900 had a similar thing going on. One could say that Bob LaFollette had a lot to do with getting the Party to national prominence, but then Teddy Roosevelt had to come in and take over, creating a progressive-lite, if you will. LaFollette and TR didn’t like one another at all; their stances on policy were very different.
   I believe in the LaFollette version of Progressive, and I hope today’s Wisconsin Democrats would, too.

   That said, Chick-fil-A’s chicken isn’t Dixie-fried, they use a pressure cooker. Their corporate slogan used to attract buyers is “Eat mor chikin.” Dan Cathy’s executive brother calls himself “Bubba.” The chain grew out of Atlanta-area restaurants called “Dwarf Houses,” where they had small-sized Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs in the back, and a little door set up next to the main entrance. Chick-fil-A went national after it became a favorite at NASCAR races. Their kiddie meals include an interactive CD from Focus On The Family.

   I think the Republicans along with the media are drumming up this tempest in a tea pot for November 2012.

6. Enough already. If one does not agree with Chick-fil-A…don’t eat there. The right wing religious nuts are using this as a political football. With all the real problems in America this is a diversion. Anyone know if Chick-fil-A has turned away any gays? That would then be a problem. I have actually read here in NJ where some Chick-fil-A’s are supporting gay rights. So be it.

   A bigger problem with this company has surfaced which may be a legal problem. Seems a woman was fired because the manager thought she should be a stay at home mom. Now this IS illegal. I hope the courts go after this company. They can say what they want but when they put their own beliefs first breaking civil rights laws…then something must be done.

   http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/chick-fil-a-sued-for-firing-pregnant-woman-so-she-could-be-a-stay-home-mom/legal-issues/2012/07/26/44701

   And by the way…all this free PR is only helping their sales. We can thank nut case Huckabee and his side kick Santorum for that.

7. Here’s a liberal who was disappointed with the president and all the other (D)s in office who not only didn’t back marriage equality, but supported DOMA. I’ve chosen those words carefully, however. “Back” and “support.” Notice I didn’t use “think” or “believe.” They’re politicians for crying outside. What they think and what actually comes out their mouths is rarely the same thing (there are few exceptions — B. Sanders comes to mind), and usually when it is, it’s a slip. My guess is that there was no “evolution” for Obama on this issue; he was solidly pro-gay marriage all along, but saying so publicly would be political suicide. I get that. I just wish it weren’t the case and politicians could take bold, brave stances and follow through.

8. Right it took him 3 years to evolve. So where were the protests, where was the outrage, he was against gay marriage, Oops not really, wink, wink. But democrats were fine with him lying about it, right? You knew he was lying about it so it was ok. I also find it very strange that liberals seem to have no problem with Islam but a serious issue with Catholics. Not sure I understand that when under the tenants of Islam if you are gay you are to be killed. No marriage there, no equal rights, no understanding and truly no avenue for evolving. See us Catholics haven’t killed people for being gay, we actually have evolved over the last 2000 years The crusades were over 800 years ago, the Spanish Inquisition was over 500 years ago. No protests against Islam and its stance on gay’s. Oh that’s right, those nice tolerant Muslims tend to kill people who speak out against their religion. Go ahead you nice tolerant liberals bash Catholics, but make sure to include how intolerant I am against those misunderstood Muslims. Don’t forget to bring up the pedophile priests that’s another one that’s great to throw at Catholics. But if you don’t understand that the priests aren’t the Church then you don’t understand what it is to be Catholic.

   1. Wow, that was quite a rant.

      From one Catholic to another, I’ll just say that there’s flaws in EVERY religion, because ultimately religions are run by people. People are fallible and imperfect, and thus the religions they lead are imperfect.

      As for your comment about pedophile priests, I truly hope your intent wasn’t to somehow defend how leaders within the Catholic church handled that whole mess, because there’s a lot they did wrong (and should be held accountable for).

9. No Zach, actually you and I would tend to agree more than we disagree and over a beer we could have some far reaching discussions. I’m sickened at the way DA E. Michael McCannn handled the case of priests he new were raping youing boys and girls. I think it’s apparent from evidence that has come out in the last 4 or 5 years that he was fully aware and assisted Archbishop Weakland in covering up the problem. My point is that the Pope and Priests are not the church, we are the church. The people that fill the pews, volunteer at St. Ben’s, donate our time to serve the poor and contribute to various missions throughout the world. We are the true representatives of the church. It’s shameful the way the hierarchy of the church covered up the scandal. But my greater point is that everyone is so quick to attack Christians and Catholics in particular when we (you included) are not the problem and are not hateful and bigoted. Just because I disagree on gay marriage doesn’t mean I hate gays. It doesn’t mean I want them dead nor does it mean I won’t associate with them. I would support civil unions and I think it’s terrible that a gay couple can’t have the same type of property and health care rights that I enjoy as a married person. I just don’t believe in gay marriage.

10. All you religious nuts need to keep your Jesus in your church. Face it, you are all a bunch of bigots who use Jesus as a shield for your bigotry. You should have been delivering chicken sandwiches to the poor. No. You stood in line to prove you are an intolerant bigot. Therefore, don’t expect tolerance from others. I have no tolerance for bigot conservatives.

11. Always get a kick out liberals who call themselves Catholics. You can’t support murder of babies and be a Catholic.

    1. You can’t support murder of babies and be any kind of a Christian. Or anyone with any common sense or human values whatsoever. Or anyone with a brain who accepts the basic science of a sonogram.

    2. I’d bet money both of you know someone who’s had an abortion, and who suffers with it silently in your presence because the two of you scare her.

       1. I believe in forgiveness, after repentance. But for those who are going to justify their actions by saying abortion is a-ok, well, the fact remains that they ended a life.

          1. FMSN,

             For all we know you’re seriously in arrears of back child support. Repent yourself.

12. Zach writes: It’s truly unfortunate that so many “small government” conservatives who want government to stay out of our day-to-day lives are only too willing to let government get “all up in our business” when it comes to same-sex couples who love each other wanting to have marriage equality or when it comes to women and their uteri.

    Zach, the Chick-Fil-A story is not about a government “all up in our business” concerning same sex couples and women’s reproductive organs. Rather, it is about government (Rahm Emmanuel etc….) trying to punish a business because of the views of a business owner. So yes, government should not be all up in our business. They should let people speak their minds, dissent, enjoy their constitutional rights etc… It is ironic that you allow dissenting viewpoints on this blog while simultaneously supporting government punishing the free expression of ideas.

13. On cue the tolerant liberal calls me a bigot. Gotta love it. I do in fact give to numerous charities as well as my Church. I volunteer through my church in helping the less fortunate. But Mikey you talk big, you want the government to help everyone, you can’t be concerned with the poor. But I’m the bigot. Let your hate out you’ll feel better.

14. Knock off the “poor christian” schtick. You have dominated religious and political thought in this country since it was first colonized. Now that there are people who dare to call out christians on their hypocrisy suddenly they’re oppressed. Gimme a break.

15. Actually, the passing out of the gift cards makes me feel a little uneasy. I realize that the marrriage group wanted to offer them as a sign of their appreciation that people came out to support Chic-Fil-A, but I am afraid that it was perceived as a bribe to those who disagreed with them. Perhaps a gesture that might have been beyond reproach would have been to donate the food gift cards to the local food shelter nearest the restaurant in Racine.

    I think this entire controversy is touching people on both sides of the issue. I found a web page link that cited information from source documents: https://imlikingit.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/fact-guide-the-chick-fil-a-controversy/#comment-226. I posted a fairly long comment at the end that expresses my appreciation for the writer’s research but argues against his conclusion that the charities that Mr. Cathy donates to through the charitable arm of Chic-Fil-A are “hate-mongers.”

    These issues are not going to go away. It behooves all of us to act as Americans and champion tolerance, even when our opposition is doing the opposite.

    1. Even if you see it that way, it was only “bribery” in the sense of standing in line to get chicken sandwich. Big deal! It’s not like it was an election and they were handing out cigarettes to vote. Who would do such a thing?

       I agree with you about championing tolerance. No one should be subject to abuse or harrassment. But tolerance is very different from acceptance or having to change everything in society to cater to it. You have to tolerate my right to an opinion and free speech, but it certainly doesn’t mean you need to agree with it.

       1. Well said, forgetmyscreenname!

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