Jul 26, 2012
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The owner of a Chicago Chick-fil-A franchise that created 97 jobs has a message for Mayor Rahm Emanuel – eat more chicken.
“I would like to invite Mayor Emanuel into my restaurant to meet me, my husband Steve, and my management staff,” said Lauren Silich in a letter posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
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The invitation came after Emanuel declared that he would supports efforts by an alderman to block a second restaurant from being constructed because the Atlanta-based restaurant chain supports the biblical definition of marriage.
“Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values,” Emanuel said in a statement to Fox News, saying the comments “disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents.”
Alderman Joe Moreno said unless the company comes up with a written anti-discrimination policy, he would not allow Chick-fil-A to open its first free-standing restaurant in the city.
Silich said Chick-fil-A located in Loyola Water Tower has “been dedicated to serving all of our guests with honor, dignity and respect.”
“We are a family of deep Chicago roots – my husband and I both came from city worker families (teachers, police, laborers) and Steve is a city worker,” she noted. She also said they’ve supported, hospitals, schools, churches and even LGBT groups.
At stake could be the loss of jobs from companies that share similar personal beliefs. If the city cracks down on Chick-fil-A, could other businesses be forced out of Chicago?
“We alone created 97 jobs this past year and our passion is building leaders for future generations, regardless of sexual orientation or beliefs,” Silich noted. “We are not a corporation – we are real people and taxpayers as each Chick-fil-A franchise is independently owned and operated.”
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Newspaper editorial boards and religious liberty organizations have blasted the Moreno’s declaration – calling it a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Mat Staver, president of the Liberty Counsel, said it’s unconstitutional.
“No city can ban Chick-fil-A because the president has his own view regarding marriage – a view that his held by much of the American public,” Staver told Fox News. “To discriminate against Mr. Cathy because of his biblical view and then to extrapolate that to Chick-fil-A is illegal. It would be unconstitutional and certainly any city trying to do so would not win that battle.”
Staver called Emanuel’s remarks offensive and accused the city of trying to “bully them into silence.”
“This is a very intolerant response by Rahm Emanuel and some of the others who are pushing back against Chick-fil-A,” he said. “It is absolutely incredible that we are at a point in history where an individual who is an owner of a company can express his view on marriage and get so much push back.”
Staver said there is absolutely no evidence that Chick-fil-A has discriminated against homosexuals. They serve all people equally, he said.
He also took issue with the idea that the restaurant’s values differ from those of Chicagoans.
“I imagine Chick-fil-A’s values are not Rahm Emanuel’s values, but I’m sure the values of Chick-fil-A resonate with a majority of people in Chicago,” Staver said.
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said she was appalled by Emanuel’s statement.
“Chicago thuggery is a scary thing in 2012,” Palin told Fox News. “For its politicians to think they can muscle businesses and shut them out just because they hold a differing, albeit traditional, view on an issue is a scary thing indeed.”
Moreno said he does not dispute that the owner of Chick-fil-A has First Amendment rights – but, he warned, there are consequences.
“There are consequences for freedom of speech (and) in this case the consequences are…you’re not going to have your first free-standing restaurant in Chicago,” Moreno told Associated Press.
Regardless of what happens, Silich said they will still be serving chicken sandwiches and sweet tea.
“We will continue to serve our guests in the only way we know how – with great food, exceptional service and a lot of fun,” she wrote.
Last week, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino told the Boston Herald he would block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in the city. And city officials in Mountain View, Calif. are considering similar action.
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FOX News Talk
“There are consequences for freedom of speech (and) in this case the consequences are…you’re not going to have your first free-standing restaurant in Chicago,” Moreno told Associated Press.
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Obvioulsy not Moreno….. your ignorant yapper is still running. Aren't you all glad you don't live in such a crooked city? I am!
Disagreement is not hatred. It is simply disagreement. This is the United States, where people are free to disagree. Or, at least it used to be.
Disagreement is not hatred. It is simply disagreement. This is the United States, where people are free to disagree. Or, at least it used to be.
Right Rahm….because Chicago values are 271 homicides in your city in the past 7 months…those are your values right? Sounds like your people could use some good old fashioned values up there. it's a business you idiots…he doens't discriminate in hiring or in serving and the last I knew this was America where it's fine to not share an opinion or to have your own. I don't agree with his stance on gay marriage, but I'll fight to preserve his right to have his opinion and to stand by it.
Right Rahm….because Chicago values are 271 homicides in your city in the past 7 months…those are your values right? Sounds like your people could use some good old fashioned values up there. it's a business you idiots…he doens't discriminate in hiring or in serving and the last I knew this was America where it's fine to not share an opinion or to have your own. I don't agree with his stance on gay marriage, but I'll fight to preserve his right to have his opinion and to stand by it.
what has happened to our CIVIL rights! THESE people think they are KINGS OR DICTATORS!
we are a country of men governed by LAWS NOT MEN chic fil a SHOULD SUE THEIR PANTS OFF!
the progressives are always trying to stop all opposing views, that is why donors to repub. canidates don't want names released!
what has happened to our CIVIL rights! THESE people think they are KINGS OR DICTATORS!
we are a country of men governed by LAWS NOT MEN chic fil a SHOULD SUE THEIR PANTS OFF!
the progressives are always trying to stop all opposing views, that is why donors to repub. canidates don't want names released!
The liberals are coming out of the woodwork and showing the entire nation who they really are. Are not these the same people who squall constantly about discrimination, bigotry, etc.
Does the Chicago city hall require all businesses to submit a written anti-discrimination policy. The truth is, chic-fil-a has discriminated against no one. “There are consequences for freedom of speech (and) in this case the consequences are…you’re not going to have your first free-standing restaurant in Chicago,” Moreno told Associated Press. Moreno, the consequences will be that you cause the taxpayers of Chicago to have to pay outrageous laywers fees for both the city and for chic-fil-a as well as other penalties and fees that the judge decides to levy against you. Rahn Emanuel, your threats show you bigotry against christians just like Obama's bigotry against christians. Christians should vote Obama and Emanuel out of office!
Mayor Emanuel heaps praise and admiration on Louis Farrakhan, who is well known for his public statements about how much he hates Jews and gays, and his opinion that Hitler was a good person. There are numerous businesses in Chicago that are owned and operated by Muslims, who also voice their hatred of Jews and gays.
Chicago does not share Chick-fil-A values? Maybe they should, given that the homicide rate has increased almost 40% since Emanuel was sworn in.
Only a Democrat would fight perceived discrimination with very real discrimination.
Only a Democrat would fight perceived discrimination with very real discrimination.
To John below Where is proof Obama hates America? His apologys to other countries for America, his CHANGE America (into liberal and socialism), his tearing apart business' that give us the opportunity to provide for ourselves, his dividing of our people (where it took years and years to begin to unite) his throwing away of all our hard work and money from taxes! Need more? Don't know if he's muslim – but his heart IS with the radical muslim! We don't need him in the position to lead our country and hopefully 2012 will take him out of that position. An organizer he may be good at, but a leader he is not.
For Chicago – have Chick-A-Fil come here. We could use the jobs and our people believe in working for what they attain and are strong workers.. And bring the other place also. We would welcome you! If you stay Emanual will make your lives miserable as he's part of the Obama administration and that's how they deal! Gangsters! They don't need your tax dollars maybe we could make you a much better deal and happier life. Bring the other business' that want their own freedoms also – love to have them. If you give in and stay you are only encouraging this clown!
For Chicago – have Chick-A-Fil come here. We could use the jobs and our people believe in working for what they attain and are strong workers.. And bring the other place also. We would welcome you! If you stay Emanual will make your lives miserable as he's part of the Obama administration and that's how they deal! Gangsters! They don't need your tax dollars maybe we could make you a much better deal and happier life. Bring the other business' that want their own freedoms also – love to have them. If you give in and stay you are only encouraging this clown!
Will Chicago, Boston etc. try to shut down businesses such as the vast holdings of the LDS church? I am no fan of the LDS religion or Mitt Romney but they do own a myriad of corporations–and they are against gay marriage.
We better wise up America or these God and America haters will destroy this country.
It seems to me if a property is zoned for a restaurant then it would be illegal to stop the building of a restaurant so long as they follow all the building codes, etc.
It seems to me if a property is zoned for a restaurant then it would be illegal to stop the building of a restaurant so long as they follow all the building codes, etc.
The idiots in Chicago deserve the idiot that THEY elected as their Mayor. Noone to blame but themselves.
Noone to blame but yourselves for electing these idiots. Elections have consequences.
This is exactly what everyone was talking about when the current adminstration was elected. The Socialists are showing themselves, they are using thier government positions to force thier way upon us. They are using the government to strip Constitutional rights away.
Here is the problem in a nutshell. The left homosexuals want and need our approval because the seriousness of their evil doings haunt them daily. We won't give it to them so they try to force it. We however do not need their approval for anything.
Amazon’s Founder Pledges $2.5 Million in Support of Same-Sex Marriage.
I guess Christians are not welcomed to shop there…
lines at chik fil a are around the block and casuing traffic jams all over my home town area.. shove that up your ass mr mayor.. in other words fuck you very much!
Well, these mayors have made it clear that, they think that their personal beliefs trump all others and that they are above the law and can ban any business because they don't agree with them. This is very illegal and I'm sure Mr. Cathy will seek legal recourse over this. I absolutely would. If I lived in one of these cities I would want the mayors recalled. You cannot pick and choose what business can move in based on their religious or political beliefs. Part of being American was knowing you could practice and express your belief system without fear of retribution. America has begun to regress instead of progressing, shame…..This kind of crap has been happening a lot over the last several years.
Chick-fil-A owner to Mayor – "We create shitty, low-paying jobs, dammit!"
Chick-fil-A owner to Mayor – "We create shitty, low-paying jobs, dammit!"