But which part of the First Amendment does Menino not understand? A business owner’s political or religious beliefs should not be a test for the worthiness of his or her application for a business license.

. . . there’s really no excuse for Emanuel’s and Menino’s actions. If you don’t want to eat at Chick-fil-A, don’t eat there. If you want to picket them, go ahead. If they violate the law, go after them. But you don’t hand out business licenses based on whether you agree with the political views of the executives. Not in America, anyway.

As both a private citizen and a prominent public figure, Menino is welcome to abstain from fried chicken sandwiches and urge others to do likewise.

It’s a different matter if he attempts to trample the free-speech rights of others by using the power of his office to fight against a business license for Chick-fil-A. Menino suggested that it would be appropriate to block the chain from opening in Boston because Cathy’s views amount to discrimination. That would rightly apply if Chick-fil-A were to refuse service to gay customers; the city has a right and an obligation to prevent discriminatory actions against its residents and visitors. But there’s no evidence that any such thing has occurred.

Menino referred derisively to Chick-fil-A’s possible plans to open a restaurant along the city’s Freedom Trail, considering Cathy’s stand on marriage freedom. That too misreads law and history. It was the freedom to express politically unpopular views and to oppose such views that the Founding Fathers fought to establish.

We think free speech is a Chicago value too. And it's a good thing because we're sure there are plenty of businesses in town run by people whose views are offensive to some. It's not up to the mayor or the alderman to decide which opinions are appropriate.

Chick-fil-A is known for its conservative Christian business culture. All of its restaurants are closed Sundays. But it doesn't refuse to serve same-sex couples. It doesn't have a heterosexuals-only hiring policy. We've seen no evidence that the company president's views about "biblical marriage" have translated into anti-gay policies. He's entitled to his opinion, and it's not up to the mayor or the alderman to silence them.

intelligence is not always tied to a profit focus

there is also integrity, which often costs people money because it pays better to have no morals and just 'live and let live',,,,so noone is offended

and integrity can also MAKE money from people who respect it, for instance, people who may now START to patronize Chick fil a BECAUSE of this particular stand


remember, when we dont STAND for something, we fall for anything, and money should never blur our decisions

I just don't see how marriage has anything to do with selling chicken sandwiches. Now if they were taking a stand on free range chicken or something like that, I can see how they may want to have a voice, but even then as a company the smart thing to do is not have a political voice.

Now the individuals behind the company can do what they wish as individuals.

It doesn't have anything to do with selling sandwiches. The LGBT alliance is blowing it out of proportion. The mayors of the cities Boston, Chicago, San Francisco are discriminating based on their preferred lifestyle. I've been to both cities (not Chicago) and I won't go there again if this is what represents them. That is my right, and it is the LGBT right not to do business with them as well.

I don't see it that way. The way I see it is that many people seem fine with the boycotting and being against the companies I listed above for not being bigots, yet they get upset when people stand up against what chick fil a thinks.

Why is it ok to speak out against gay rights, but not for them?

YOU have no way of determining WHICH of those people who boycott the companies you've listed, would also "get upset when people stand up against what Chick-fil-A thinks".

Rarely can you point to two people on this earth who are totally in agreement with all things protested.

I realize that from interacting with those of my own family .



It may have a something to do with moral standards -and not necessarily from a religious standpoint. So don't go there.

I just don't see how marriage has anything to do with selling chicken sandwiches. Now if they were taking a stand on free range chicken or something like that, I can see how they may want to have a voice, but even then as a company the smart thing to do is not have a political voice.

Nobody boycotted Obama when he shared the same views as the owner of Chich-fil-a.

That's because homosexual chickens don't lay eggs. You can't stay in the chicken business that way.....

That's because homosexual chickens don't lay eggs. You can't stay in the chicken business that way.....

sure they do, its called not voting for him again

people are boycotting him over all types of issues,,,


and its their perogative with their vote as much as it is with their money,,,to spend it where they choose.

Obama's views on gay marriage wasn't ever an issue.
I don't recall Mayors of cities telling Obama he can't come to their city because of his views on gay marriage.

Nobody boycotted Obama when he shared the same views as the owner of Chich-fil-a.

Why are you telling me not to go there? Not everyone is going to share the same morals you do.