What did Chick-fil-A’s boss really say?
posted at 10:20 pm on July 24, 2012 by Allahpundit
I missed this post from Get Religion’s Terry Mattingly last week when I was on vacation, but it’s making the rounds today and now I’m more confused than ever about why Chick-fil-A is suddenly on the cultural radar. Let me walk through this as I understand it; stop me when I get something wrong. Fact one: Chick-fil-A’s owners are outspoken Christians and are widely known to be so. The franchise actually shuts down on Sundays for the Sabbath notwithstanding the lost profits from weekend business. Fact two: Per Dave Weigel, it’s also no secret that Chick-fil-A’s owners oppose gay marriage. The company’s charitable arm has been hosting events along those lines for years, apparently. Just recently, in fact, COO Dan Cathy said, “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.’ I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think we can try to define what marriage is all about.” And yet, those aren’t the comments that (initially) got Cathy in trouble. Per Mattingly, these are:
The company invests in Christian growth and ministry through its WinShape Foundation (WinShape.com). The name comes from the idea of shaping people to be winners. It began as a college scholarship and expanded to a foster care program, an international ministry, and a conference and retreat center modeled after the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove.
“That morphed into a marriage program in conjunction with national marriage ministries,” Cathy added.
Some have opposed the company’s support of the traditional family. “Well, guilty as charged,” said Cathy when asked about the company’s position. “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. …
“We are very much committed to that,” Cathy emphasized. “We intend to stay the course,” he said. “We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”
Turns out he can’t quite share his values everywhere, but lay that aside for now. Simple question: Why did a famously Christian guy delivering a doctrinaire Christian take on marriage result in a sudden “awakening” that Chick-fil-A is a famously Christian company with Christian views? Did people somehow just … not know? Or, as Mattingly suggests, were his “guilty as charged” comments taken out of context in press accounts to make them sound more condemnatory of gays than he intended? (His other comments, about God’s judgment being visited upon America for messing with marriage, are far more condemnatory.) I’m guessing that, contra conventional wisdom, a lot of people actually didn’t know of Chick-fil-A’s Christian roots, if only because it’s exhausting trying to keep track of which companies tilt which way politically and ideologically. For instance, here’s a bit from Dana Milbank’s new piece begging Huckabee not to turn this into some partisan/religious cause:
[N]ow Chick-fil-A seems destined to climb to the top of the left’s boycott list, already crowded by, among others, Wal-Mart, Target, Bayer, Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries, Peabody Energy and United Parcel Service. Conservatives “buy-cott” such enterprises to counteract the boycotts, while observing their own long boycott list, including: AOL, Planet Hollywood, Nike, Southwest Airlines, General Mills, JCPenney, Starwood and Whole Foods.
This may be my RINO roots showing but I honestly didn’t know that we were boycotting any of those companies at the end. And, given how Wal-Mart and Target and those dastardly ol’ Kochs are doing these days, I’m also not sure why anyone bothers with boycotts anymore. I suspect one or two percent of people on one side of the aisle care enough about politics to actually participate in a boycott, another one or two percent on the other side of the aisle care enough to react by engaging in a “buy-cott” to offset the boycott, and the other ~96 percent or so can’t be bothered. Maybe this is the next wave of partisanship, as red/blue media preferences spill over into red/blue retail preferences generally, but I don’t grasp the timing. Why boycott Chick-fil-A now instead of the first time they started doing anti-SSM charitable events?
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Southernblogger on July 25, 2012 at 1:03 AM
If I had worked @ a Wally in the Chicago So. ‘Burbs-or even certain Lubbock shops-I’d probably feel much differently about my employer than I do now.
I’m sorry that your shop sucked.
*smiles in a friendly way*
annoyinglittletwerp on July 25, 2012 at 1:06 AM
It sounds like a great fit for you Barb, it’s always great when everyone can appreciate each other. As we know it isn’t always like that. I think personalities become less of a problem when you have an excellent work history. Hopefully!
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:06 AM
I suppose you don’t see the irony in your post?
Whining about not whining…were you being funny or do you normally whine about things you don’t like…
right2bright on July 25, 2012 at 1:06 AM
I’ve had pretty decent luck with the company on a whole.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:08 AM
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:06 AM
Spawn works in the same store but in a different department. Because I’ve done well they bumped his app up. I’ve told him that while I helped him get a job-it’s up to him to keep it!
annoyinglittletwerp on July 25, 2012 at 1:11 AM
I’m sure he will do great. How does he like living in Texas?
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:12 AM
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:06 AM
Sometimes I’m ready to ‘carpe jugulum’ when I get off work-but for the most part it’s good. LoL
annoyinglittletwerp on July 25, 2012 at 1:12 AM
He wasn’t whining. He gave his opinion of his experience there. If you didn’t keep harping on it, I bet it would have been the only comment he made on the issue.
Night Owl on July 25, 2012 at 1:13 AM
There isn’t a better run company than Chic-fil-a, they really take care of their employees, and help employees improve.
Great training, clean stores, very dedicated to making sure their employees are treated with respect and care.
How many fast food rest. work you to death? CFA give you every Sunday, to be with the family, off. They encourage you be involved with non-profits…it’s just a great company.
The irony is, what liberal want every company to be, they are…
right2bright on July 25, 2012 at 1:14 AM
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:12 AM
He loves it. He’ll be casting his first vote tomorrow…and he’s got his eye on a fellow 18 year old that works in bakery. She’s a Cubs fan-so I approve. LoL
annoyinglittletwerp on July 25, 2012 at 1:14 AM
LOL! I don’t know what that means but I think it is safe to say we all have our days no matter where we work.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:14 AM
I think it is pretty obvious. This is one more weird kerfluffle by Obama supporters to fill the news with stuff that distracts from Obama’s failing campaign. It also gives the news something to talk about rather than informing the public of Romney’s campaign speeches.
Here today Obama’s taking it in the shorts over economic woes, MSM is taking it in the shorts over gun control mis-reporting, at the same time Romney is nailing solid campaign speeches left and right.
And a primary media story is a boycott of Chick-fil-a or the redefinition of marriage argument?
All the news that’s manufactured to print in lieu of real news. That’s all this is.
Lawrence on July 25, 2012 at 1:15 AM
I saw that nasty ad against Mr. Cruz. I hope that backfires in a big way.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:16 AM
I wonder if I can start a boycott credit offset business.
What I’ll do is start a website in which people can come find someone on the opposite side of an issue in order to continue buying products that they like.
For example, a radical liberal that wants to boycott Chick-fil-A, but really really loves the chicken can simply log onto my website and find a conservative that will promise not to eat at Chick-fil-A in exchange for an offset of his own. For example, he might love Ben & Jerry’s and get the Chick-fil-A loving liberal to agree not to buy Ben & Jerry’s.
This way, people can get the products they love while still feeling good about the fact that they put some type of dent in the business of the company that they hate.
Kenny Roger’s Roster anyone?
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:16 AM
I hadn’t thought of that. The Left stinks.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:17 AM
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:14 AM
‘Seize the Throat. There was a tee floating around w/ that on it during the ’90′s.
annoyinglittletwerp on July 25, 2012 at 1:17 AM
That’s what I thought also.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:18 AM
Cindy Munford
Southernblogger
I feel so sorry for your husbands.
ImageSniper on July 25, 2012 at 1:19 AM
You are a f****** imbecile who probably has never worked a day in your life. I am not whining. I am stating that Wal-Mart of my experience was total bullchit. You can like it or go suck a fat one. This started by my asking ALT if Wal-Mart treated employees good there as that was not my experience. You decided to mindlessly show what a f****** imbecile you are by opining on stuff you have no knowledge about. Are we clear??
Southernblogger on July 25, 2012 at 1:21 AM
ImageSniper on July 25, 2012 at 1:19 AM
I’m FB friend’s w/ Cindy’s husband. He’s a terrific guy…and she’s great too.
Much nicer and reasonable than me.
annoyinglittletwerp on July 25, 2012 at 1:21 AM
LOL!
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:21 AM
Let it go, Kiddo, who gives a flying flip what an anonymous commenter on a blogs says?
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:23 AM
I found you on FB once, because you friended someone immediately after they mentioned their real name on here. I should have looked to see if you were friends with a Munford, then maybe I could have found Cindy! :)
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:24 AM
‘some type of dent’? As you propose a zero-sum game, there is no dent at all. But, the libs will love it , as they can get the emotional payback, and the conservatives will love it because there will be no ‘hit’ to enterprises they support.
socalcon on July 25, 2012 at 1:24 AM
And you would have won. I was simply asking for fb from another WM employee as to their experience.
Southernblogger on July 25, 2012 at 1:25 AM
Haha…..it’s a wonder recruiters aren’t knocking on your door.
ImageSniper on July 25, 2012 at 1:26 AM
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:24 AM
Cindy doesn’t have a page. If I have something that I’d like her to see-I post it on his wall w/ a note to show it to her. I AM FB friends w/ a lot of HA’ers though.
annoyinglittletwerp on July 25, 2012 at 1:28 AM
That’s certainly not the image she is projecting.
ImageSniper on July 25, 2012 at 1:29 AM
I don’t do Facebook. I am totally devoted to HotAir.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:29 AM
I disagree.
1. There could be a small dent because the other party has agreed not to buy certain products. That’s better than simply indulging your pleasures and not getting a promise of a boycott from anyone else, right?
2. The dent is surely wouldn’t be as big as a straight boycott. If you love a product enough to use my website, then you’re probably going to purchase more than someone that might not even like the product.
3. There might be no dent at all if the person completely defaults on their promise.
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:30 AM
I’m FB friend’s w/ Cindy’s husband. He’s a terrific guy…and she’s great too.
Much nicer and reasonable than me.
annoyinglittletwerp on July 25, 2012 at 1:21 AM
What unreasonable things has Cindy Munford said?
sharrukin on July 25, 2012 at 1:31 AM
That’s awesome. I wish I could put faces to the Hot Air names.
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:31 AM
We don’t know each other, so I’m going with the eye of the beholder for you opinion of me.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:32 AM
Well, I’ll see you at the big Hot Air Commenters Convention in Florida.
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:33 AM
The only problem I have with Chic-fil-A is that the nearest one is on the far side of Tyler, over 30 miles away.
I try to find excuses to go down there. It helps that there’s a Lowes, a Best Buy, and a Target nearby. Love the spicy chiken sandwich. Must eat mor.
trigon on July 25, 2012 at 1:33 AM
Be careful, I was mean to Cindy once and have felt guilty about it ever since. She’s one of the nicest people on here.
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:34 AM
I sure hope that can be pulled off, I want to meet so many people.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:34 AM
I have a sister who worked for McDonald’s in PA. I lived in TX, so this could in no way be directed toward her, I said I thought when you go through the drive-thru, if you would have to wait 20 minutes for your order, it would be nice for them to tell you, so you you could change your order if you didn’t want to wait. She didn’t speak to me for a year and a half. I suspect what we have here is a very sensitive Walmart employee- LOL!
Night Owl on July 25, 2012 at 1:35 AM
Oh, you were never mean to me! ImageSniper isn’t being mean either, just an interesting getting to know you style.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:35 AM
Do you live in Longview?
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:36 AM
See what I’m talking about, ImageSniper? How can you be mean to someone that’s so gracious???
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:37 AM
I stopped going to the drive thru tellers at the credit union when it became apparent they were applying for mortgages there.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:38 AM
Are you serious? Because of that?
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:38 AM
Becaus eits an election year and Obama needs his base to turn out and be fired up and get in their face and bring a gun to a knife fight.
unseen on July 25, 2012 at 1:38 AM
The funny thing is hat you would be one of the stupid f**** who claimed the job was nothing during orientation, and then you would have tapped out by lunch and never came back. I saw plenty of your type.
Southernblogger on July 25, 2012 at 1:38 AM
No, Longview is about 30 miles away, too. I’m about 10 or 11 miles north of Hawkins.
trigon on July 25, 2012 at 1:39 AM
Yep. Or a Wal-Mart mgr that hates the truth. Either way there is good and bad. Nighters folks.
Southernblogger on July 25, 2012 at 1:44 AM
OK, that area looks very “heartland” on google maps. :)
blink on July 25, 2012 at 1:45 AM
Goodnight!
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:46 AM
Cindy, aside from the Dale Carnegie comment (I had to look him up, by the way), my point is that I would distance myself from someone like Southernblogger rather quickly.
ImageSniper on July 25, 2012 at 1:46 AM
LOL! I used to be a loan officer and that was my biggest fear, that I would have to start approving mortgages through the drive-thru window!
Night Owl on July 25, 2012 at 1:47 AM
When I want to distance myself from people, I ignore them. Just different strategies, I guess.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:50 AM
Yep. I moved to TX when she was only 11, so we weren’t that close. I did not realize how invested she was in the McDonald’s brand- LOL!
Night Owl on July 25, 2012 at 1:50 AM
I suppose that makes you a better person than I. I’d prefer to laugh at her instead.
ImageSniper on July 25, 2012 at 1:52 AM
Deep in my heart I know that it is someone who doesn’t own a pen, can’t find their check book and has four kids in the car, so I shouldn’t be ugly about the wait. I’m always amazed at the people in the grocery store who seem to be taken completely by surprise that they are going to be required to pay when that nice person is done ringing up their purchase.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:53 AM
Where you laughing? Somethings aren’t obvious in text.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 1:54 AM
Or the people who have a coupon for every item they purchase. I hate to leave my house!
Night Owl on July 25, 2012 at 2:01 AM
I wish I could get into the coupon thing, I think I was better at it when I was young and had kids at home. Now I apparently think I’m Mrs. Vanderbilt. Not really, I just stick with sales now.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 2:04 AM
Opps.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 2:05 AM
Sadly, I clip them, but I never remember to take them to the store with me.
Night Owl on July 25, 2012 at 2:11 AM
Yeah. That’s one way of putting it. I can’t quite decide if I’ve moved to Hooterville or Pixley. The people are great, though. Now, if I can just get used to the heat. 1 am and it’s still around 80 degrees.
It’s a wet heat though. :-)
trigon on July 25, 2012 at 2:11 AM
Obviously we are related.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 2:17 AM
The culture war against Christians for all to see. the mainstream media promoting gay marriage at all costs.
Q: What will the media say about Islam’s view against gays?
Crickets.
dthorny on July 25, 2012 at 4:19 AM
Anne Hathaway gave $25,000 to Obama’s Victory Fund.
So I hope Batman goes down in flames, so to speak. Despite its obvious other issues, the movie won’t see a dime of my family’s money.
If you want to play in politics, be prepared to defend your POV and ready yourself for the consequences. Otherwise, stay home and play beanbag.
By the way. It’s funny how people such as CAF expressing a more conservative point of view suddenly do better. I am about to eat there every day now for the next week. Well, except Sunday of course. I’ll be in church.
Are liberals only inherently cheap when it involves their own money? No small wonder why they love confiscatory taxation and generous government handouts.
Marcus Traianus on July 25, 2012 at 4:52 AM
All this hoopla about CFA is much ado about nothing.
SC.Charlie on July 25, 2012 at 5:37 AM
I’m so outrageously outraged that I have to comment:
Meh.
Jaibones on July 25, 2012 at 6:37 AM
Alriiiight.
Another place I can go where the cultural atmosphere still reflects reality. Something about feminized men and masculine women just spoils my appetite.
Cleombrotus on July 25, 2012 at 6:38 AM
It is certainly nothing to their bottom line but it makes the liberal gay activists feel good and, in the end, isn’t that all that matters?
swinia sutki on July 25, 2012 at 6:43 AM
But, but, Chick Fil A has a salad bar. I didn’t know we were supposed to boy or buy cott some businesses. I’m sure there are zealots who do, but I never got the memo. Mr. Cathy is right in what he says about our straying from what God says. There are lots of examples in the Bible of what happens to countries when they do that.
Kissmygrits on July 25, 2012 at 7:06 AM
Well, I would happily try a meal at Chik-Fil-A, but just checked and their nearest restaurant is about 32 miles away.
Next tim I’m in that part of the state, though. . .
Siddhartha Vicious on July 25, 2012 at 7:28 AM
I love it how those Christians who actually live what they believe and stand up for their beliefs become “outspoken.” You never hear about the “outspoken” Islamic activists calling for the adoption of Sharia law in the United States. Why the double standard?
I respect CFA that they’ve been consistent from the founding of their company. I respect the fact they make it a point to close on Sunday. I respect the fact that they have invested in family-nurturing projects. Plus they have some really good food, their restaurants are always clean, and the people behind the counter actually do their job (as opposed to mumbling a few words and punching your order into the system).
Happy Nomad on July 25, 2012 at 7:32 AM
I know where I’m going for lunch today! What boycott? :)
golfer1 on July 25, 2012 at 7:35 AM
That sound, coming from inside Freud’s tomb, is a giggle.
Extrafishy on July 25, 2012 at 7:40 AM
I guess this deep-sixes the plan for the 100,000 sq ft Chickmart Superstore on Haight Ashbury.
And wait a second, isn’t the owner of Whole Foods a prominent Republican donor?
CorporatePiggy on July 25, 2012 at 7:44 AM
The gays are using their newfound political clout to try and bully their way to acceptance. However, I think they are very quickly wearing out their welcome and therefore creating enemies of those who couldn’t care less about what they do in their private lives.
Sporty1946 on July 25, 2012 at 7:50 AM
I’d boycott places too if I had enough money to shop there in the first place.
eforhan on July 25, 2012 at 7:50 AM
The charitable arm is anti-gay marriage? Or is it pro-traditional marriage? There’s a difference (though not to the gay lobby).
gwelf on July 25, 2012 at 7:50 AM
He publicly opposed Obamacare, but I don’t think he’s huge Republican donor.
The owner of Urban Outfitters, a clothing store so hip most people here have never heard of it, is a prominent Santorum backer, and there have been calls to boycott them, too but they’ve never come off.
It’s all a bit silly — and that’s speaking as someone who just donated to the Maryland effort to keep gay marriage legal.
On the other hand, people here will call for boycotts at the drop of a hat (remember the Rachel Ray/Dunkin Donuts kerfuffle), so both sides tend to be equally juvenile along these lines.
urban elitist on July 25, 2012 at 7:51 AM
We made a point of eating at CFA yesterday because of this wingding. Excellent meal, excellent service. We’ll probably be going there on a regular basis now.
Apparently we’re not the only ones, too. The restaurant was packed at lunch, the drive thru line was around the block. The McDonald’s next door was empty.
Wonder why gay activists worry so much about the Christian definition of marriage and say NOTHING about the Islamists wanting to KILL homosexuals.
itsacookbook on July 25, 2012 at 8:00 AM
Expect a food tampering scare at CFA within the next couple of weeks. The MFM will play any incident to the hilt in order to help their “cause”.
Haiku Guy on July 25, 2012 at 8:02 AM
Yes, the reductio ad absurdam would mean conservatives could not use computers for just about anything given that the industry is overwhelmingly populated with leftists.
TV and Film would also be out etc.
CorporatePiggy on July 25, 2012 at 8:08 AM
Hurry up and expand in Minnesota already.
MNHawk on July 25, 2012 at 8:22 AM
Flora Duh on July 25, 2012 at 8:27 AM
This whole CFA boycott is ridiculous. It’s no secret that Truett Cathy is a strong Christian. I have gone out of my way to patron CFA more than usual since this whole thing started. It doesn’t look to me that our local store has been affected. The drive-thru line is still wrapped around the building morning, noon, and night.
BTW, our son is currently spending the week at summer camp, which is founded by the Cathy family and sponsored by CFA. My kid is having the time of his life and yes, it is Biblical based. He’s not being taught to hate gay people, which someone actually suggested to me.
Nikkia2112 on July 25, 2012 at 8:45 AM
No real surprise the Muppets are pro gay. I mea, after all, they make their living with someone’s hand shoved up their poopers.
PJ Emeritus on July 25, 2012 at 8:46 AM
She’s a charmer isn’t she?
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 8:46 AM
All this hype by the left and special interest groups has made me hungry for a Chick-fil-A.
We love it. My wife and I go to the drive through and eat in the parking lot.
Married 30 years and we know what we like!
FireBlogger on July 25, 2012 at 8:46 AM
Yes, the reductio ad absurdam would mean conservatives could not use computers for just about anything given that the industry is overwhelmingly populated with leftists.TV and Film would also be out etc.
CorporatePiggy on July 25, 2012 at 8:08 AM
Not to mention the trouble that I woulkd have finding a banker to handle my 401k.
My son’s college expenses account and my vacation account are in TD Bank. The CEO, if you’ll recall, was the guy who wanted to bankroll the Revererend Wright/Anti Obama independent expenditure campaign. I vaguely considered switching accounts, but it was too much of a pain.
urban elitist on July 25, 2012 at 8:49 AM
meant to quote, not strike.
urban elitist on July 25, 2012 at 8:50 AM
For what it’s worth, I didn’t know anything about the owners of ChickFilA or their leanings. I still haven’t forgotten Men’s Wearhouse sympathizing with OWS though…
Violina23 on July 25, 2012 at 8:57 AM
2
Spending an extra $200 on your next suit will certainly teach them a lesson.
urban elitist on July 25, 2012 at 9:05 AM
It’s nice to see the sodomy lobby get upset about this quote, since it reveals that they recognize that the biblical definition of marriage is something other than what they wish it was.
Akzed on July 25, 2012 at 9:06 AM
TV and Film out to be out, those people have had an original thought in twenty years.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 9:09 AM
And it will look like you paid more than $50 also, so bonus.
Cindy Munford on July 25, 2012 at 9:10 AM
Somehow, I missed this post last night. To spite the left, I ate there for the second time in a week last night. It was very busy, with kids all over the place. Oh, apparently blacks aren’t put off by the company. I saw several black families.
BuckeyeSam on July 25, 2012 at 9:22 AM
Heh. You fell for our plot. All that fat and sodium is slowly killing off red state diners. The future is ours!
(As long as we stay away from that artisanal pizza we yuppies so crave).
urban elitist on July 25, 2012 at 9:30 AM
There’s a new Chick-Fil-A within walking distance from my house. It’s probably going to do well.
22044 on July 25, 2012 at 9:35 AM
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