Posted on 07/26/2012 8:12:05 AM PDT by upchuck
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“Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values. They’re not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our family members. And if you’re gonna be part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values,” Emanuel said Wednesday.
“What the CEO has said as it relates to gay marriage and gay couples is not what I believe, but more importantly, it’s not what the people of Chicago believe. We just passed legislation as it relates to civil union and my goal and my hope … is that we now move on recognizing gay marriage. I do not believe that the CEO’s comments … reflects who we are as a city.”
Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) is using the same argument to block Chick-fil-A from opening its first free-standing restaurant in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood.
Chick-fil-A already has one Chicago store — at 30 E. Chicago near Loyola University’s downtown campus.
“Same sex marriage, same-sex couples — that’s the civil rights fight of our time. To have those discriminatory policies from the top down is just not something that we’re open to. …We want responsible businesses,” Moreno said.
“If he’s in the business of selling chicken in Chicago, he should be in the business of having equal rights for everyone. Period …. If it looks like a chicken, talks like a chicken, walks like a chicken, it’s a chicken. If you’re saying you don’t respect the values and rights of same-sex couples, that trickles down through the organization. … That’s paramount to the way the company behaves.”
Don Perry, vice president of corporate public relations for Chick-fil-A, and senior manager Jerry Johnston could not be reached for comment on the opposition from the mayor and Moreno.
Chick-fil-A has already obtained zoning approval to build a restaurant in the 2500 block of North Elston. But, the company still needs City Council approval to divide the land and purchase a lot near Home Depot.
Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy was quoted last week as saying he was “guilty as charged” for supporting, what he called the “biblical definition” of marriage as between a man and a woman.
“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that,” Cathy was quoted as saying.
Appearing on the Ken Coleman Show, Cathy was further quoted as saying, “I think we’re inviting God’s judgment when we shake our fist at him, you know, [saying], ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.’ And I pray on God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we would have the audacity to try and redefine what marriage is all about.”
Cathy’s comments have infuriated gay rights activists across the nation, prompting their political allies to take a stand against the company.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has said Chick-fil-A “doesn’t belong in Boston” because of Cathy’s discriminatory stance.
On Wednesday, the tag team of Emanuel and Moreno joined the chorus, citing Cathy’s anti-gay views. The only question is whether they have a legal leg to stand on.
“Absolutely not,” said former Ald. William Banks (36th), the longtime chairman of the City Council’s Zoning Committee who presided over a massive re-write of the city’s 1957 zoning ordinance.
“Any alderman can hold a development issue for virtually any purpose. But if he’s doing it for the wrong reasons — if he’s citing a gay rights issue — there’s nothing illegal about that.”
Moreno said he has an ace in his back pocket if he runs into legal trouble: traffic and congestion issues caused by the store that have been the subject of behind-the-scenes negotiations for the last nine months.
Shutting down businesses because of their owner’s religious views can not be tolerated. These fascists must be stppped
The problem with this is that the stores are individually owned.
On hearing the news of Dan’s comment, if I was a store Owner, I would have done a Face Palm. Not because he is wrong - but because I know there would be blowback.
I love their morning Chicken Biscuit. I drive thru and tell them this purchase supports their President . However, I would be going anyway because I like the sandwich.
Some restaurants have a card you can punch. 6 morning meals equals a free sandwich.
When I go into a restaurant, which is next to never, I don’t announce my sexual preferences, or put my sexuality on display. What the owner’s sexual preferences and sexual politics are don’t matter to me, providing he doesn’t sit at my table, and tell me about them.
Furthermore, if Rahm and his pal Barry are going to harangue heterosexuals for not wanting the gay agenda as the new normal, they should be completely honest, and tell us which one of them is the stud muffin and which is the Sally. Do they use dead fish when playing sex games? We know Barry the twinkie can’t pitch, but he can bow and receive. Does Rahm let him play the man?
Typical RAT hypocrisy!!! This same weasel and his boss will bend over anytime for “Calypso Louie Farakhan”. Who’s probably the biggest anti gay guy in Chi-town.
Take a look at the comments on this Sun-Times article. Every single one that has not been removed is on our side. The alderman is having the stuffing knocked out of him.
I assumed the dozens of comments that were removed by by gays who can’t help themselves from being potty-mouthed.
All the reasoned, intelligent comments are on the side of Chick-Fil-A.
And that’s not necessarily usually the case. In the Tribune and Sun-Times, when an issue of traditional sexuality or the Catholic Church comes up, the comments are often 90% Christian-bashing.
That this is a free speech, thought-police issue seems to have taken root, beginning with reactions to Menino in Boston.
A faint glimmer of hope in the darkness descending on us.
I think you meant “hate-thought.” That’s what it’s come to.
Judas had Jewish DNA,
but worked for haSatan as well.
which is why Senate Rats and RINOs want to pass “disclose” act-so they can harass & intimidate those who donate to “wrong-thinking” people/groups.
I figured Rahm is a Communist. Now it appears that he is a queer also. Democrats are the dregs of the human race.
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