How does this happen? Chick-fil-A branded as anti-gay?

[regexcellent]

I'm not saying you have to be right wing to be patriotic...it's just that right-wingers tend to be more into the whole patriotic kitsch stuff.

edit: also I should admit that when I initially wrote that post, I mixed it up with the Lee Greenwood song, and didn't feel like fixing it because the point still sorta stands.

[Al B. Sure!]

Freedom of speech?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle4462401/

What are Black people doing at a swimming pool? Don't they know it's dangerous?!

[Flubber]

Flubber, so since CFA executive, Cathy, made his bigoted opinion public, it is fair game then, according to what you've said, right? City mayors do not have any particular duty to companies that want to locate a branch in said cities.

I dont know what the American equivalent might be but in Canada anyone that exercises any governmental powers such as permitting have duties of fairness to all applicants. Basically it's a positive duty to apply theeir rules under their legislative or regulatory mandate.

So while I agree the mayors wouldn't have a particular duty to chickFila the folks that assess and issue the zonings and permits would have duties to ALL applicants to treat them fairly. I suspect the US must have sort of similar doctrine.

This would not prevent an administrative body that wanted to cause trouble from hassling someone quite a bit ( you are new in the city after all so it might take a while for you to see and gather evidence of unfairness... The inspector reschedules a few times and nitpicks... How much is normal and how much is them being obstructionist??

[Flubber]

For god's sake, CFA will do just fine with only two or three cities denying them a location for business.

Isn't this the wrong test? Many voters might be " just fine" even if denied their right to vote.

How about if two or three cities decided to announce a ban on hiring gay people. I am sure the potential municipal civil servants could be " just fine " elsewhere

Etc etc.

The impact of a denial of rights is irrelevant. Here I don't really like chickFila's speech but whether I agree with the content is irrelevant too. They had every right to do what they did and nothing took away their right to expect and demand fair and equitable treatments before the municipal authorities.

Likewise anyone that wants to boycott chickFila is welcome to do so

[MrFun]

I wouldn't be angry, because I did this all the time, as does every Republican on the Hill for obvious and legitimate reasons. You walk into my office and I find out you're a Democrat and I might actually kill you. I think you need to look up what a "protected class" is and revisit this thread.

You have to be a member of a protected class in order to be able to exercise your freedom of speech?

If CFA is not part of a protected class . . . . .

[MrFun]

I don't think it's creepy at all. When three mayors of major cities threaten to unconstitutionally lock a business out because of its owner's personal view on gay marriage, customers should take every opportunity they get to remind them we live in America and are not fascists.

Denying a minority group (this instance, gays) equal rights protection IS part of being fascist.

[MrFun]

Meanwhile, back at the chicken ranch...



http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...andalized.html

free speech

[MrFun]

Welcome to the world of academia, Mr. Fun. 5 percent of professors are registered republicans.

I'm talking about any industry in my post, douchebag, not just academia.

[Wiglaf]

You have to be a member of a protected class in order to be able to exercise your freedom of speech?

If CFA is not part of a protected class . . . . .

I think you are just very confused, and very, very unintelligent.

1. You do not need to be a member of a protected class to exercise first amendment rights, a protected class is not more likely to contract STDs than an unprotected one, exercise does not mean physically working out, and the first amendment is NOT necessarily the best amendment simply because it comes first.
2. Government officials like mayors cannot discriminate against anyone on the basis of an exercise of their first amendment rights, with a few very narrow exceptions that involve public safety and an urgent compelling need, such as when 2/3 of the the state government has a full bladder and the toilets are all occupied.
3. Private employers can discriminate in hiring against anyone based on virtually anything, unless they are a member of a protected class and the discrimination is not urgently necessary for the performance of their job. Hooters can refuse to hire an ugly male waiter because, even though discrimination based on sex is illegal, they can demonstrate that hot women are uniquely integral to their business model.

[Kidlicious]

Disagree with the sign - there's a difference between a private business and an apartment complex. Apartment complex can refuse to rent to people they don't like - but they can't treat those who do rent with them differently from any other.

What?! Apartment complexes can't refuse to rent to blacks!

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm talking about any industry in my post, douchebag, not just academia.

No, you're talking about a thought experiment. I'm talking about the real world where conservatives are discriminated against. At least in academia.

[Ben Kenobi]

What?! Apartment complexes can't refuse to rent to blacks!

Then America isn't a free country - complexes should be free to rent to whomever they want. If a complex doesn't want to rent to white people - that's fine with me. If the market decides that this is unacceptable - then they will go out of business.

[Kidlicious]

Then America isn't a free country - complexes should be free to rent to whomever they want. If a complex doesn't want to rent to white people - that's fine with me. If the market decides that this is unacceptable - then they will go out of business.

Who cares if people aren't free to discriminate against minorities?

[Flubber]

Then America isn't a free country - complexes should be free to rent to whomever they want. If a complex doesn't want to rent to white people - that's fine with me. If the market decides that this is unacceptable - then they will go out of business.

Just so i am sure i understand you. ........ If a bunch of employers decided to announce a policy not to hire black people, or deaf people or Catholics or registered Republicans ( in roles where these factors made absolutely no difference tithe particular job. .. I am purposefully eliminating situations where the fActor on which they discriminate would impact job performance in anyway), you would be ok with that? More to the point would you support that as being a necessarypartof a free country ?

Is being a " free country " a good thing to you?

[giblets]

Who cares is people aren't free to discriminate against minorities?

I think most people care more about the freedom minorities have to do the same things white people do.