A Slippery Slope

The hot button issues seem to spring from everywhere in this political season.  Now the President of the Atlanta-based fast food chain Chick-fil-A has brought about the latest storm over same sex marriage with his opposition to it.  These views were probably never a secret. Don Cathy's outspokenness left his company's public relations department scrambling to play it down, but it was too late. While he has a right to his opinions, increasing numbers of potential customers who do not share his views are not comfortable patronizing a business that funds anti-gay causes. The mayors of Chicago and Boston have said Chick-fil-A would not be welcome in their cities. New York's mayor cautions against government officials attempting to ban this company's expansion plans, and he is so right.  Government could intercede if the company clearly practiced discrimnination against the LGBT community, but that doesn't appear to be the case.  Is a private citizens' boycott any better? That would be more appropriate, with several cautions. First, the irresponsible rhetoric by people like Roseanne Barr hoping everyone who eats at Chick-fil-A gets cancer just brings out more out-of-control reactions on the other side. Also, where do the boycotts stop? Do I stop drinking Coors Beer or using Brawny paper towels because their parent companies gave money to candidates or causes I oppose?   Where does it end?

Conservatives have taken up the defense of Chick-fil-A's right to freedom of speech and religion. Fox News and Cumulus Media* commentator/host Mike Huckabee has inserted himself right into the thick of the debate, and the right wing could not have found a more inappropriate leader on this issue. He recently agreed with a caller who characterized gay men as child molesters, giving that false assumption as a good reason why the Boy Scouts are right in not allowing gay scoutmasters. Huckabee's record of homophobic statements is outrageous. An individual's views are one thing, but Chick-fil-A has also put their corporate money where their mouth is. That could cost them a lot of goodwill in what has been an impressive American success story based on some otherwise solid values. It is sad to find them on the wrong side of history this time.

*The above opinions are my own and should not be construed as the opinions of management of Cumulus Media Inc. or its affiliates.