Three: Sue him on First Amendment grounds now that they have evidence in writing that the permit’s being withheld due to viewpoint discrimination. They might not win — a court might blanch at the thought of overriding a legislator’s discretion by ordering him to submit a bill in the city council

Sorry, but a legislator doesn’t HAVE any discretion when it comes to the First Amendment. This should be an easy lawsuit – and it should bankrupt poor Alderman Moreno. It should threaten to further bankrupt the city of Chicago.

I have to admit to being less noble than the CFA folks. I would have a press conference to respond to the Alderman’s charges and reply with nothing more than a few gestures (from across the diverse cultures of our beautiful land), all of which would simply repeat the message of the first one: nInn.

Either Moreno’s flatly lying about what they said to him or the company’s official position is “in flux” at CFA HQ.

I think I’d go with option A.

Seriously, what’s hard about this? The Chicago alderman has no power to do what he says he will do, and could be sued if he actually tried. Of course he’s going to try to save face when his bluster fails, then get all outraged and claim he was lied to when his target doesn’t back up his BS.

Predictable, really.

I’m not saying that Chick-Fil-A didn’t try to smooth over their differences. But I wouldn’t expect any more than 5% of what the thug claims to have any correlation to the truth.

Then pro-gay agenda companies should focus on their products too and keep quiet about their causes?

hawkdriver on September 24, 2012 at 8:26 PM

Yep.

dedalus on September 24, 2012 at 10:03 PM

But they won’t. And they won’t be ridiculed like Conservatives who aren’t quiet about theirs. And even gay Conservatives will be happy with the hypocrisy because it suits their agenda.

Then pro-gay agenda companies should focus on their products too and keep quiet about their causes?

hawkdriver on September 24, 2012 at 8:26 PM

Yep.

Would you give this advice to companies like Amazon and Starbucks who are openly supporting gay marriage. Or do you have a bias?

melle1228 on September 24, 2012 at 8:39 PM

Those companies have to deal with the negative consequences for their brand. I’m sure they studied it. I’d have told them to be cautious and focus on continuing to make their product better. Leave the social causes to others.

If Cathay continues to donate to groups like Focus on the Family and NOM, it wouldn’t be caving. Keeping the CFA value proposition focused on their core product (good food, good price), rather than adding in a layer of political questions allows them reach a bigger customer base.

dedalus on September 24, 2012 at 7:37 PM

How medicated or educated into imbecility do you have to be to make such an obtuse and downright stupid comment?

Moreno, you thug..you’ll get yours one day, what goes around comes around..you reap what you sow buddy and your harvest is going to be devastating

sadsushi on September 24, 2012 at 8:42 PM

very well said, and agree 1000 percent!!!!!

If Cathay continues to donate to groups like Focus on the Family and NOM, it wouldn’t be caving. Keeping the CFA value proposition focused on their core product (good food, good price), rather than adding in a layer of political questions allows them reach a bigger customer base.

dedalus on September 24, 2012 at 7:37 PM

Would you give this advice to companies like Amazon and Starbucks who are openly supporting gay marriage. Or do you have a bias?

If Cathay continues to donate to groups like Focus on the Family and NOM, it wouldn’t be caving. Keeping the CFA value proposition focused on their core product (good food, good price), rather than adding in a layer of political questions allows them reach a bigger customer base.

dedalus on September 24, 2012 at 7:37 PM

Then pro-gay agenda companies should focus on their products too and keep quiet about their causes?

M2RB: Chicago

All of this nonsense because Chicago aldermen are little dick-taters.

Fallon on September 24, 2012 at 4:45 PM

You misspelled tasters.

It’s a pretty solid indicator of all excitement that rMoney is generating when chick-fil-a, Jay Carney and some kind of scary terrorist picture have more photo coverage than the man from Bain.

Keep up the positivity teabaggers!

tommyhawk on September 24, 2012 at 5:03 PM

GFY. See, most everyone here is going to vote for Romney because they hate your guy so much.

When I go to troll over at HuffPo or MMatters, there’s a fair number of your folks that hate him too. Maybe you should concentrate on them.

You don’t reason with ‘people’ like this. You use legal force. Destroy them legally, personally (read: reputation) and financially. Turn their ruin into a monument to stupidity.

Chick-fil-A could crush this moron if they so desired. They should do the country a favor and do so.

avgjo on September 24, 2012 at 7:02 PM

This. Publicly humiliate the slimeball and force the city to defend the indefensible.

If not, Chick Fil A is a business that practices irresponsible, and potentially illegal, business standards.

Well, that’s just precious coming from an extortionist.

I will wait to see what Mr. Cathy’s next PUBLIC statement is, and reflect on that statement before moving forward with appropriate legislation.

Really? You’re honestly going to move forward with legislation that will single-handedly give CFA’s legal team exhibit one in a lawsuit.

Hell, they wouldn’t even have to call a witness to win. It would be sweet for CFA to win a $10million judgement against the City of Thugs and then give every damn dime of it to a traditional marriage organization.

You really think it would make a difference though? I haven’t really gotten the impression that most people cared more than just a surface level interest. And sales haven’t been hurt that I know of.

However, if they make a move that looks like caving, they could easily lose some of the support they’ve had all this time. I don’t remember this working out well for Komen when they tried something similar.

Esthier on September 24, 2012 at 6:03 PM

If Cathay continues to donate to groups like Focus on the Family and NOM, it wouldn’t be caving. Keeping the CFA value proposition focused on their core product (good food, good price), rather than adding in a layer of political questions allows them reach a bigger customer base.

You don’t reason with ‘people’ like this. You use legal force. Destroy them legally, personally (read: reputation) and financially. Turn their ruin into a monument to stupidity.

Chick-fil-A could crush this moron if they so desired. They should do the country a favor and do so.

It’s a pretty solid indicator of all excitement that rMoney is generating when chick-fil-a, Jay Carney and some kind of scary terrorist picture have more photo coverage than the man from Bain.

Keep up the positivity teabaggers!

tommyhawk on September 24, 2012 at 5:03 PM

start your own site and populate however you desire.

but even if they don’t, the PR value of being seen as free-speech martyrs should offset some or all of the business discomfort of remaining in the thick of the culture wars over gay marriage.

Time to buy some more yummy chicken from Mr. Cathy!

It’s just that simple.

find another city to build your francise, obviously Chicago doesn’t need the jobs, taxes, or chicken sandwiches

burserker on September 24, 2012 at 5:04 PM

There are plenty of other wards in Chicago (in even better neighborhoods) whose aldermen have already said they’d welcome Chik-fil-A with open arms.

IMO, Moreno is a lying weasel, trying to look like the typical macho Chicago thug, having the upper hand, twisting the arm until you hear a bone crack. If he’s attempting to imitate the great and powerful Rahmbo, he’s just missing the knife to stab the table with. If he has documentation or recordings (which are known to happen in Chicago politricks) backing up his claim, then he should release them, otherwise just STFU.