The kerfuffle over a statement on same-sex marriage made by the president of the fast food chain Chick-fil-A has sparked calls for a boycott from various quarters, posturing by politicians, and something of a backlash, according to a story on Fox News.
While Chick-fil-A apparently does not discriminate against gays or anyone else in its hiring practices or customer service, the mere fact that its president dared to express an opinion that some found to be offensive on whether gay people should marry one another. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has declared her preference for KFC, despite the fact, as the Daily Caller cheekily notes, that company is destroying the Indonesian rain forest, at least according to Green Peace. Roseanne Barr sort of kind of had to apologize, according to ABC News, for her tweets wishing cancer on people who eat Chick-fil-A sandwiches. According to Hot Air’s Allahpundit, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, of all people, has come to the defense of the chicken fast food chain while Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, having brought a knife to that gun fight, has had to walk back his pontification about “Chicago values.”
In the meantime, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has declared Aug. 1 “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” when all good people should go hence to the nearest restaurant in that chain and have lunch or dinner. According to Politico, Sarah Palin, in Texas to boost the candidacy of Ted Cruz for United States senator, paid a local Chick-fil-A, something they don’t have up in Alaska, and had a post-rally supper.
What has become outrage over a corporate titan’s remarks about same-sex marriage has become a backlash revolt of sorts against political correctness. One suspects that the number of gay people staging “kiss-ins” in front of Chick-fil-A stores are going to be far outnumbered by social conservatives showing up to show solidarity by munching on chicken sandwiches.
The lesson contained herein is that one should avoid jumping the shark where it comes to someone else’s political speech. Had it been proven that Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy was a member of the Westboro Baptist Church it would have been one thing. But it looks like some supporters of same-sex marriage have done their cause, righteous as it is, no good indeed.
