A Christian Business in the Left's Crosshairs

Townhall.com ^ | February 2, 2011 | Michelle Malkin

[Kaslin]

Here's a modest proposal for liberals who say they support job creation: Stop smearing successful, law-abiding private companies whose values don't comport with yours. I'm looking at you, New York Times.

Chick-fil-A is an American success story. Founded by Georgian entrepreneur Truett Cathy in 1946, the family-owned chicken-sandwich chain is one of the country's largest fast-food businesses. It employs some 50,000 workers across the country at 1,500 outlets in nearly 40 states and the District of Columbia. The company generates more than $2 billion in revenue and serves millions of happy customers with trademark Southern hospitality.

So, what's the problem? Well, Chick-fil-A is run by devout Christians who believe in strong marriages, devoted families and the highest standards of character for their workers. The restaurant chain's official corporate mission is to "glorify God" and "enrich the lives of everyone we touch." The company's community service initiatives, funded through its WinShape Foundation, support foster care, scholarship, summer camp and marriage enrichment programs. On Sunday, all Chick-fil-A stores close so workers can spend the day at worship and rest.

For the left, these Biblically based corporate principles constitute high social justice crimes and misdemeanors. Democrats are always ready to invoke religion to support their big government, taxpayer-funded initiatives (Obamacare, illegal alien amnesty, increased education spending and FCC regulatory expansion, for starters).

But when an independent company -- thriving on its own merits in the marketplace -- wears its soul on its sleeve, suddenly it's a theocratic crisis.

Over the past month, several progressive activist blogs have waged an ugly war against Chick-fil-A. The company's alleged atrocity: One of its independent outlets in Pennsylvania donated some sandwiches and brownies to a marriage seminar run by the Pennsylvania Family Institute, which happens to oppose same-sex marriage.

In the name of tolerance, the anti-Chick-fil-A hawks sneered at the company's main product as "Jesus Chicken," derided its no-Sunday work policy and attacked its operators as "anti-gay." Michael Jones, who describes himself as having "worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School," launched an online petition drive at www.change.org "demanding" that the company disavow "extreme anti-gay groups." Facebook users dutifully organized witch hunts against the company on college campuses.

Over the weekend, New York Times reporter Kim Severson gave the Chick-fil-A bashers a coveted Sunday A-section megaphone -- repeatedly parroting the "Chick-fil-A is anti-gay" slur and raising fears of "evangelical Christianity's muscle flexing" with only the thinnest veneer of journalistic objectivity. Severson, you see, is an openly gay advocate of same-sex marriage equality herself and the former vice-president of the identity politics-mongering National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association.

In a bitter op-ed on gay marriage laws not changing quickly enough, she asserted: "I don't want the crumbs. I want the whole cake." Severson has voiced complaints about her social and economic status as an unwed lesbian with a partner and child in several media publications.

None of this was disclosed in Severson's advocacy journalism hit job on Chick-fil-A. But therein lies the unofficial motto of The Gray Lady: All the ideological conflicts of interest unfit to print.

Progressive groups are gloating over Chick-fil-A's public relations troubles exacerbated by the nation's politicized paper of record. This is not because they care about winning hearts and minds over gay rights or marriage policy, but because their core objective is to marginalize political opponents and chill Christian philanthropy and activism. The fearsome "muscle flexing" isn't being done by innocent job-creators selling chicken sandwiches and waffle fries. It's being done by the hysterical bullies trying to drive them off of college grounds and out of their neighborhoods in the name of "human rights."

Remember: These were the same tactics the left-wing mob used in California to intimidate supporters of the Proposition 8 traditional marriage initiative. Individual donors were put on an "Anti-Gay Black List." Businesses who contributed money to the Prop. 8 campaign were besieged by fist-wielding protesters. The artistic director of the California Musical Theatre was forced to resign over his $1,000 donation.

Message: Associate with the wrong political cause and you will pay. So much for national "civility."

[nina0113]

I plan to be going to Chik-Fil-A once a week for the foreseeable future. I started Monday. I wish I could get going early enough on Saturdays for their breakfasts - the burrito is great.

[MrB]

It is purposeful. The goal is to criminalize Christianity and destroy the family,

with the end goal of totalitarian communism.

See tagline.

[Mich Patriot]

Ha ha ...two days in a row you’ve made me laugh. No Chick-Fil-A in Michigan, but I hope everyone will support them. If everyone fed-up with this socially forced tolerance of gays made a point to eat there several times this month, these gay apologists might regret the profits they pushed to the company. Then maybe they’d STFU and think twice about the next target.

[Keith in Iowa]

What the “gaystapo” is doing is nothing short of economic terrorism.

[Mich Patriot]

Thanks for sharing this info, Cowgirl. No CFA in Michigan, but maybe someday. I always enjoyed their commercials and support of my #2 passion, College Football (craft beer is #1!). Now I have a more informed appreciation for the company. Great stuff!

[IronJack]

Glad I could put a smile on your face. And you’re completely right about this homo-terrorism. They’re a tiny bunch of loudmouthed malcontents who make a noise way out of proportion to their numbers. We need to say it loud and say it proud: That’s “the Way,” Chick-Fil-A!

By the way, what was the other post that gave you a chuckle?

[Mich Patriot]

I’m not sure, but I think we were discussing “food for crude”. I just remember responding to one of your posts.

“...noise way out of proportion to their numbers.” EXACTLY! This is why I wish more people and companies like CFA would stand by their beliefs and not back down. I realize the CFA incident wasn’t intended as anti-gay, but they should not have backed down.

I’m not out there gay-bashing, but I won’t have it shoved at me and bow (or is ‘bend’ the right word?) to their demands for false acceptance. False acceptance is all I could ever give, and that’s not in my makeup.

[Always A Marine]

Great column by Michelle Malkin. I have the privilege of knowing some of the Cathy family, many of their corporate employees, and several restaurant operators. They are some of the finest people in the world. Chick-fil-A delivers great food in a clean and friendly atmosphere with outstanding service.

Chick-fil-A is a privately held company, built by Truett Cathy and still owned by Mr. Cathy and his family. Their business is a great force for good in every community it serves. Chick-fil-A funds children's homes, camps and countless local philanthropic endeavors, and even provides scholarships for its part-time employees. Chick-fil-A closes on Sundays because the Cathys want their employees to enjoy the privilege of spending time with their families away from work. It is apparent that God has blessed their work.

It is great to see a business honor its customers, its employees, its suppliers and its communities, and to honor God in the process. One must harbor a terrible bitterness to find any fault with those practices.

I am going to Chick-fil-A for lunch today!

[Vigilanteman]

All three of my daughters got their first job in high school at Chick-fil A. Two of them were hired for food service jobs in college solely on the basis of a phone interview and their experience with Chick-fil A. The third wanted something other than a food service job, so had to get it with a personal interview.

Friday night for the Mrs. and I used to be Chick-fil A so we could watch our girls ar work. Now, we only do it monthly. Maybe we need to do it weekly again.

[IronJack]

I don’t think Chick-Fil-A has backed down. And with God’s grace and a firm belief in His righteousness (along with some visible support from conservatives) they won’t.

Too bad a simple business has to become a battleground, but our enemies do not rest.

A Fil-A a day keeps the poofters at bay.

[Mich Patriot]

“Poofters” - too funny.

Indeed our enemies do not rest. They won’t be satisfied until we’re all walking around in pink tights.

Not sure where you’re at, but we’re snowed in up here. Have a great day.

[fwdude]

The stores are bright, clean.... and SPACIOUS - the lobby in front of the order counter is like a hotel mezzanine! Managers are always making their rounds in the dining area, asking customers if everything is o.k. Food is great, service is fast and friendly, and the personnel speak English!