On Wednesday, Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country turned into mob scenes, as customers turned out for what Mike Huckabee termed “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.” The company says it was their best sales day ever. At some locations, customers waited in line for hours for food.
I hope Tom Menino is happy. Because this controversy has hurt, not helped, the cause of gay marriage. And it is largely Menino’s fault.
A couple of weeks ago, the company was desperate to get out of the spotlight. CEO Dan Cathy’s remarks against gay marriage had sparked consumer outrage and threatened to damage the company’s brand.
But then came Menino — and after him, a parade of other municipal officials — threatening to punish Chick-fil-A for the comments of its CEO and the political activities of its owners. Express policy views we disagree with? We’ll block you from doing business in our city.
Under pressure, Menino walked back his comments, saying he can’t actually keep Chick-fil-A out of Boston. Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno hasn’t been so circumspect, as he continues to make demands about what the company must do before he’ll allow them a permit to build in his ward.
Chick-fil-A no longer has to answer for its CEOs’ position on gay marriage.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Washington Mayor Vincent Gray, and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn also added their unhelpful voices to the chorus. Gray took to Twitter to say that “#hatechicken” should stay out of the District of Columbia. In doing so, these city officials changed the subject, and not in a good way for advocates of gay marriage. Chick-fil-A no longer has to answer for its CEO’s position on gay marriage and its owners’ support of organizations that oppose gay rights...
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonglobe.com ...
