TeaPartyWire.com – Tea Party News by and for Tea Party Members

Freedoms of religion, speech, press and peaceful assembly are among the most important human rights we have. There is no “human right” to compel anyone to agree with one’s political, religious or other views.

To my regret, I did not dine at Chick-Fil-A yesterday. I live in the somewhat remote and rural highlands of the Republic of Panama and the nearest Chick-Fil-A is probably more than a thousand miles distant; going to one would have been inconvenient. However, many more people than usual apparently did find it convenient to go, judging by abundant photos on the internet. Here is one:

I have seen no customer counts; perhaps they will come later. It seems reasonable to assume that there were many more Chick-Fil-A customers than normal, that some were expressing agreement with the owners’ views on the nature of marriage and that perhaps more were expressing disagreement with the positions of various government officials.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s former chief of staff, said: “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values. They’re not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our family members. And if you’re gonna be part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values.”

Freedom of speech and religion are alien to Chicago values? Verry Interesting.

Other officials said that they would use governmental pressures — denials of licensing, abnormal frequencies of inspections and the like to keep the Bible humping thumping un-American jerks away from their cities. Fascism? Nazism? Librulism? I don’t know. They all have means, some obvious and some easily concealed, to have their way.

The First Amendment, when last I read it, provided that Congress shall make no laws infringing our freedoms of religion, speech, press or peaceful assembly. Through the Fourteenth Amendment, those limitations on Federal authority apply to State and local governments. I am unaware of any amendment to the First Amendment, or even of an Executive Order expressly abrogating it (as distinguished from several nibbling away various bits and pieces).

An interesting collection of photographs of various (unrelated) right and left protests is presented here. The differences may be a tad subtle, so do look closely. Hint: those on the left tend to encourage violence and to manifest quaint (perhaps even antiquated) sensitivity to matters of personal hygiene.

There have been many reports of the Chick-Fil-A protests (I question the use of the word “protests,” but it seems to be the descriptor most commonly used. “Appreciation” seems a better choice). Here’s a thoughtful report from Fire Dog Lake. It offers a remarkably unbiased and level-headed analysis.

There was a huge colon-clogging, gizzard glutting eat-in at Chick-fil-A on Sunset and Highland Wednesday for the Mike Huckabee-called, frothy Rick Santorum-embraced, Sarah Palin-endorsed, Rush Limbuagh-hyped “National Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-hAte Appreciation Day.” Two lines of cars snaked into the drive through ordering stations, backing up traffic onto Sunset Boulevard. I wish I had been able to take a snapshot of the woman in a nose job bandage eating a frozen dessert cone as she drove out. Very L.A.

The parking lot was full, and there were more people in line and on the patio than I had seen cumulatively in all the years I had driven by the deep-fried food scented corner. Groups holding a rainbow flag and pro-LGBTQ signs stood on the corner with two (female) LAPD officers who were very nice. The protestors were out-numbered by the gluttons easily 1:10.

Consistently(?), this was a sign proudly carried by one protester and published at the Fire Dog Lake site:

Many if not most patrons dining at Chick-Fil-A would probably agree with the sentiment expressed by the sign; the report did not deal with that possible dichotomy.

Here’s a piece from The Daily Beast reflecting on the situation. The first paragraph was written by a Lesbian Chick-Fil-A employee four days ago, when there was talk of boycotts:

So when people boycott Chick-fil-A, it means I don’t get hours. Which means I don’t get money. Not just me, but ALL of the LGBT employees at Chick-fil-A. Yes, CFA hires LGBT people. No one’s been fired for being gay or coming out. It’s a job. A job that can’t be taken for granted when work is scarce across the country. We have to eat too. So sure, boycott Chick-fil-A because you don’t agree with the CEO. Will you change his mind? No. Will it change the amount of money my LGBT peers and I can earn? Probably. Boycotting Chick-fil-A doesn’t hurt the company. It hurts the employees. And it’s hard enough working for a place that doesn’t think you should get married. But it’s work. Don’t take it away because you feel righteous. (Emphasis added.)

Following yesterday’s Chick-Fil-A “protest” she had something of a change of heart:

Oh well. Hypocrisy is bad and it’s encouraging that she has none of it. Still, perhaps she shouldn’t eat at Chick-Fil-A, even if the food there is provided to employees free or at a discount. It’s her choice.

In the meantime, here’s a statement from Chick-Fil-A’s extremist, rabble-rousing, hate-spewing moral dictator wannabe and Executive Vice President for Marketing:

We are very grateful and humbled by the incredible turnout of loyal Chick-fil-A customers on August 1 at Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country. We congratulate local Chick-fil-A Owner/Operators and their team members for striving to serve each and every customer with genuine hospitality.

While we don’t release exact sales numbers, we can confirm reports that it was a record-setting day.

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was not a company promotion; it was initiated by others. The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We understand from news reports that Friday may present yet another opportunity for us to serve with genuine hospitality, superior service and great food. (Emphasis added.)

The vile hatred evidenced there is remarkable, particularly in contrast to the love and good will shown in the Fire Dog Lake post quoted and linked above. The reference to an event on Friday is probably to a National Same-Sex Kiss Day in support of the homosexual community.

Activist Carly McGehee told GLAAD she was inspired to call for the “kiss in” because an economic boycott of Chick-fil-A didn’t go far enough.

I wonder how much additional business Chick-Fil-A got because of the boycott.

“Change will not come if we are sitting at home behind closed doors,” she said. “We need to show not just the Chick-fil-a company, but the rest of the country that our numbers are great. By participating in the kiss in, thousands of people will get out of the house and show their support for LGBT equality.”

On Fox, Huckabee said, “If they believe that this will help their cause – to put people of the same sex kissing each other in front of families – if they believe that will encourage people to be more sympathetic, then more power to them.” (Emphasis added.)

Former Governor Huckabee refrained from saying that if they believe that people of the same sex kissing each other in front of families will encourage others to be more sympathetic they may be in for some big surprises. It was kind of him to avoid diminishing the surprises awaiting them. He did say that

he has no problem with gay rights supporters organizing a counter-protest for Friday.

“That’s America,” Huckabee said on Fox News Thursday morning. “As long as they’re orderly. As long as they don’t disrupt the flow of customers and traffic.”

If Same Sex Kiss Day proceeds on Friday as contemplated (It has not yet been declared a national holiday; if President Obama gets a second term, who knows?), here are some excellent but probably unnecessary suggestions from Red State.

Same sex couples are staging a “kiss in” Friday at various Chick-Fil-A restaurants. If you think this is to demonstrate a widespread level of support for gay marriage, you’re wrong.

The purpose is to bait someone on the right into doing something stupid.

The left would like nothing more than to capture on camera someone:

• yelling at a gay couple
• assaulting (shoving, hitting, etc…) a gay couple
• telling a gay couple to “go to hell” or using other obscene language
• getting in a gay couples face
• employees forcibly escorting someone from the premises (call the police if feel this is required)
• giving a gay couple the middle finger
• angrily scowling at a gay couple

I don’t know any conservatives who would do that sort of thing. They will instead use the most grievously cruel insult to obnoxious attention seekers known to modern humanity: ignore the buggers.

Sticks and stones may break my bones
but words can never hurt me.

In the present context, abusive words hurled at them will inflate their egos, not diminish them. If you have young children, perhaps consider not taking them. Ignoring the protesters’ pitiful pleas for attention in all other respects will insult and hurt them and their supporters more grievously than anything else could. It will show not one iota of respect for them, but much for your own dignity and restraint. Boycott them. Don’t even “turn the other cheek;” walk past or if necessary around them without looking at them. Look instead at a flower, the sky, your spouse or even the Chick-Fil-A menu.

Then, on Saturday (Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays) and later,

First published at Dan Miller’s Blog.

By Mr. Curmudgeon:

Americans ate a whole lot of chicken on Wednesday; in particular, Chick-fil-A chicken. Here in South Florida, where I live, the area’s powerhouse talk-radio station provided updates from listeners who reported standing in long lines around the fast-food chain’s various locations.

“They are making a lot of noise,” Celio Fonseca of Boca Raton told the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel of the gay lobby’s attempt to intimidate the fast-food chain’s president, Dan Cathy, for stating that his organization’s corporate culture is Christian as are its values. “But they are in the minority,” continued Fonseca, “Everyone has the right to express what they believe, and we are here to support the chain.” Fonseca is a member of the Church of All Nations.

Fonseca’s pastor, Rev. Mark Bykin, staged a rally of support in front of a Chick-fil-A at the Boca Town Center Mall. Describing Friday’s National Same Sex Kiss Day as “reprehensible and offensive,” Bykin told the crowd of supporters, “We are not going to give in to these bizarre and freakish behaviors. We will continue to exercise our First Amendment rights, the gay community notwithstanding.”

And with that, the Rev. Bykin got to the heart of the matter. A minority, and a slim one at that, is attempting to redefine the eons-old institution of marriage. Their political friends (from President Obama, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to the mainstream media) hold minority views as well. Like puffer fish, they enlarge themselves in a defensive display so as to scare off the predator, i.e., the normal.

Not all that long ago, President Obama promised to “radically transform” America. From the moment he began his programs of unprecedented spending, “investing” tax dollars in ridiculous solar and wind projects to benefit mega-buck campaign bundlers, draining the economy of capital to grow out of economic depression, and rammed an unpopular and dictatorial health-care monstrosity down the throats of the American People, all opposition has been deemed racist or dismissed as “Astroturf.”

All this comes under the heading of political correctness. It plays off the old mass-media tricks employed by advertising agencies that convinces you brand A’s bottled water is much better than the competitor’s brand B.

Toss in the mystical claim that the product has the power to “save the planet” and an uncritical and robotic public flocks to the store, ready to shed its dollars.

Back in 2007, the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company admitted their Aquafina bottled water originated “from a public water source.” That’s Public Relation-speak for “we got our water from the kitchen tap.” In 2006, gullible Americans spent $2.17 billion on Aquafina, according to CNN.

In 2008, they voted for “hope and change.”

Political correctness reminds me of that scene from the 1947 film The Hucksters. Clark Gable plays an advertising executive (Victor Norman) who is given the prized Beautee Soap account. His first meeting with soap mogul Evan Evans (played by Sydney Greenstreet) is one he won’t soon forget.

As Gable pulls his chair up to a highly polished conference table, Greenstreet sits in his throne-like chair at its head. He makes a disgusting sound as he summons spit from the back of his throat and spews it on the table.

“Mister Norman,” says Greenstreet as he wipes the spit from the table, “you’ve just seen me do a disgusting thing. But you’ll always remember what I just did. You see, Mr. Norman, if nobody remembers your brand, you’re not going to sell any soap.”

Political correctness is designed to make you think that worthless spit is a valuable commodity worth buying. More importantly, it is designed to make you think that not buying worthless spit is a sign of moral corruption and small-minded stupidity. In other words, practitioners of political correctness are selling a product that can’t sell itself. It’s main function, therefore, is to marginalize the non-buyer.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel overplayed his hand by breaking a cardinal rule of advertising: never conduct side-by-side comparisons of an inferior product to the time-tested superior one. Emanuel’s denunciation of Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy’s support of traditional marriage as out of line with “Chicago values” allowed such a comparison.

Presented with a clear choice, customers naturally flocked to Chick-fil-A last Wednesday and gorged themselves on a superior product. Dining on “Chicago values,” they instinctively knew, would leave a bad taste in their mouths.

The success of Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day should send a shiver up the spines of the politically correct. People aren’t as gullible as they were in 2008. And the outpouring of support for a fast-food chain’s traditional standards was a palpable display of the silent majority’s discontent with Obama’s nationalization of “Chicago values.”

This November, the customers will decide whether to box-up “Chicago values” and send it, postage paid, back to the manufacturer.

By Mr. Curmudgeon:

Adolf Hitler’s first official act as the new German Chancellor was to end the centuries-old tradition of independent local governments. In 1933, he sent armed SS thugs to arrest small town politicians and install handpicked National Socialist commissioners. And so began the Führer’s remaking of German society. It was a simple first step on the road to convincing his people they were a super race of beings descended from the survivors of the lost continent of Atlantis – Aryans.

When we think of World War II, we tend to think of it in political and military terms. Historians give short shrift to the underlying (and highly bizarre) assumptions that fueled Hitler’s desire for conquest and inspired a racial hatred that led to the Holocaust. It’s disconcerting to the modern mind that late 19^th century occult ideas and not politics were responsible for the 20^th century’s bloodiest conflict.

The radical transformation of society begins with small steps: An underlying religious idea that believes humanity is a work in progress and that wise shepherds (community organizers?) are needed to aid our evolution toward perfection. That evolution, to the shepherd, is continually under threat by those who hold to the old ways – the old religion.

A recent Biblical Reporter story has sparked a conflict between new-age shepherds and the old religion. “We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit,” said Dan Cathy, president of fast-food chain Chick fil-A, “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”

Most mainstream media outlets reported Cathy’s remarks as an attack on the recent redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

They miss the point.

The more offensive statement, to the shepherds, was this: “… As an organization, we can operate on biblical principles, asking God and pleading with God to give us wisdom on decisions we make about people and the programs and partnerships we have. And He has blessed us.”

What offends new-age shepherds is not what a fast-food chain thinks of same-sex marriage. It’s that the owners and company officers of Chick-fil-A follow a decidedly different Shepherd. This is heresy to new-agers.

Hitler had his SS. New-age shepherds have political correctness, politicians and the media to pressure the fast-food chain to renounce the old Shepherd for the new.

The politicians and media representatives of the new-age religion say the ancient biblical traditions followed by a company’s officers threaten the new-age revelation that gay sensibilities are superior and unassailable.

Nothing is beyond debate in politics. But this is a religious issue and not a political one. There can be no opposition to the relatively new, new-age religion.

“Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values,” said new-age high priest and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, “And if you’re gonna be part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values.”

Emanuel didn’t feel the need to add “or else” to his praise of the city’s Capone-like “values.” In Chicago, that’s clearly understood.

Emanuel fears that Chick-fil-A’s non-Chicago values will “trickle down the organization,” insinuating that gays are being denied service or asked to leave store premises. Nothing of the sort has happened.

In New Jersey, gay organizations are planning trickle-down events designed to introduce new-age values to Chick-fil-A’s customers. According to the New Jersey Star Ledger, “One [gay] group is encouraging same sex couples to mark next week’s National Same-Sex Kiss Day with smooches at Chick-fil-A locations.” So, bring the kids.

Sexual harassment on the job may lead to a swift termination of employment, but same-sex sexual harassment of society at large is a sacrament of the new-age religion.

However, old-time religionists are expressing support for Chick-fil-A. Former Arkansas Gov. and Fox News personality Mike Huckabee announced that next Wednesday would be “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.”

“I plan to eat more chicken and show my support by visiting Chick-fil-A next Wednesday,” the Rev. Billy Graham told Newsmax. Roger Oldham, a spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention, agreed, saying Christians “will come out of the woodwork when a theologically based position is being politicized by individuals for their own purposes.”

The Southern Baptist Convention fails to realize that the assaults on Chick-fil-A are part and parcel of a broader “theologically based position” that holds “no gods shall be greater than our new-age gods.”

Buying chicken sandwiches next Wednesday may quiet a few growling stomachs, but it won’t end demand’s by new-age shepherds that you “reflect Chicago values.”

————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Curmudgeon is a freelance writer living in Florida.

morethanright@gmail.com

By Mr. Curmudgeon:

Adolf Hitler’s first official act as the new German Chancellor was to end the centuries-old tradition of independent local governments. In 1933, he sent armed SS thugs to arrest small town politicians and install handpicked National Socialist commissioners. And so began the Führer’s remaking of German society. It was a simple first step on the road to convincing his people they were a super race of beings descended from the survivors of the lost continent of Atlantis – Aryans.

When we think of World War II, we tend to think of it in political and military terms. Historians give short shrift to the underlying (and highly bizarre) assumptions that fueled Hitler’s desire for conquest and inspired a racial hatred that led to the Holocaust. It’s disconcerting to the modern mind that late 19th century occult ideas and not politics were responsible for the 20th century’s bloodiest conflict.

The radical transformation of society begins with small steps: An underlying religious idea that believes humanity is a work in progress and that wise shepherds (community organizers?) are needed to aid our evolution toward perfection. That evolution, to the shepherd, is continually under threat by those who hold to the old ways – the old religion.

A recent Biblical Reporter story has sparked a conflict between new-age shepherds and the old religion. “We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit,” said Dan Cathy, president of fast-food chain Chick fil-A, “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”

Most mainstream media outlets reported Cathy’s remarks as an attack on the recent redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

They miss the point.

The more offensive statement, to the shepherds, was this: “… As an organization, we can operate on biblical principles, asking God and pleading with God to give us wisdom on decisions we make about people and the programs and partnerships we have. And He has blessed us.”

What offends new-age shepherds is not what a fast-food chain thinks of same-sex marriage. It’s that the owners and company officers of Chick-fil-A follow a decidedly different Shepherd. This is heresy to new-agers.

Hitler had his SS. New-age shepherds have political correctness, politicians and the media to pressure the fast-food chain to renounce the old Shepherd and accept the new.

The politicians and media representatives of the new-age religion say the ancient biblical traditions followed by a company’s officers threaten the new-age revelation that gay sensibilities are superior and unassailable.

Nothing is beyond debate in politics. But this is a religious issue and not a political one. There can be no opposition to the relatively new, new-age religion.

“Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values,” said new-age high priest and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, “And if you’re gonna be part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values.”

Emanuel didn’t feel the need to add “or else” to his praise of the city’s Capone-like “values.” In Chicago, that’s clearly understood.

Emanuel fears that Chick-fil-A’s non-Chicago values will “trickle down the organization,” insinuating that gays are being denied service or asked to leave store premises. Nothing of the sort has happened.

In New Jersey, gay organizations are planning trickle-down events designed to introduce new-age values to Chick-fil-A’s customers. According to the New Jersey Star Ledger, “One [gay] group is encouraging same sex couples to mark next week’s National Same-Sex Kiss Day with smooches at Chick-fil-A locations.” So, bring the kids.

Sexual harassment on the job may lead to a swift termination of employment, but same-sex sexual harassment of society at large is a sacrament of the new-age religion.

However, old-time religionists are expressing support for Chick-fil-A. Former Arkansas Governor and Fox News personality Mike Huckabee announced that next Wednesday would be “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.”

“I plan to eat more chicken and show my support by visiting Chick-fil-A next Wednesday,” the Rev. Billy Graham told Newsmax. Roger Oldham, a spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention, agreed, saying Christians “will come out of the woodwork when a theologically based position is being politicized by individuals for their own purposes.”

The Southern Baptist Convention fails to realize that the assaults on Chick-fil-A are part and parcel of a broader “theologically based position” that holds “no gods shall be greater than our new-age gods.”

Buying chicken sandwiches next Wednesday may quiet a few growling stomachs, but it won’t end demand’s by new-age shepherds that you “reflect Chicago values.”

————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Curmudgeon is a freelance writer living in Florida.

morethanright@gmail.com

By Mr. Curmudgeon:

The Windy City has always felt a little like a second-class citizen when compared to the Big Apple. That’s why Chicago’s other nickname is the Second City. But the greatest force in the universe – stupidity – is helping to level the playing field.

After the Aurora, Colorado, shooting, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg appeared on CNN to speak with host Piers Morgan.

“I don’t understand why the police officers across this country don’t stand up collectively and say, ‘We’re going to go on strike. We’re not going to protect you unless you, the public, through your legislature, do what’s required to keep us safe,’” said Bloomberg, “After all, police officers want to go home to their families, and we’re doing everything we can to make their jobs more difficult, but more importantly, more dangerous by leaving guns in the hands of people who shouldn’t have them.”

Bloomberg fails to understand that the police do not, for the most part, prevent crime. They are after-the-fact collectors of evidence at crime scenes; like the officers in Aurora, Colorado, who gathered and tagged shell casings, took eyewitness statements and drew white chalk outlines around the bodies of Aurora’s expired victims.

A strike by the nation’s cops would further underscore the need for law-abiding Americans to own a firearm and become proficient in its use. A strike would also drive home the tragic point made in Aurora: There is never a cop around when you need one.

Meanwhile in Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that his city’s police need help keeping the streets safe for decent people. To that end, Emanuel said that Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is just the man to provide that help.

“The police have a role to play,” Emanuel told the press, “Tearing down abandoned buildings has a role to play. Shutting liquor stores that are a cancer in the community have a role to play. Community leaders have a role to play. Pastors have a role to play. Principals have a role to play. And most importantly, parents have roles to play. They have decided, the Nation of Islam, to help protect the community. And that’s an important ingredient, like all the other aspects of protecting a neighborhood.”

Unlike New York’s Mayor Bloomberg, Emanuel isn’t urging that his police officers go out on strike. His city’s authorities are mere figureheads. The real power, as Emanuel admits, is “community leaders.” That’s Chicago-speak for “community organizers.”

Should police officers find themselves in a shootout with the Southside’s notorious gangs, and one of the drug-pushing darlings ends up on a coroner’s slab, Chicago’s community organizers might confuse Rahm for a racist. So, Hizzoner will use Lewie and company to bash heads in precincts the cops fear to tread.

For Emanuel to promote black-on-black crime in one of America’s largest cities isn’t considered racist at all. It’s the price of doing business in a city with strong anti-gun laws, a fearful police authority and race hucksters all too familiar with manipulating “The (feeble) Man.”

And the mainstream media scratches its collective head on the news that gun-sales are skyrocketing in dysfunctional America.

————————————————————————————————————

Mr. Curmudgeon is a freelance writer living in Florida

morethanright@gmail.com

By Stephen Lendman, Contributor theintelhub.com June 2, 2012 Obama’s wars increase body counts daily. New ones planned will add more. Death squads operate in 120 or more countries. So do CIA agents licensed to kill. US citizens may be targeted at home or abroad. No one anywhere is safe. Summary judgment means no arrests. No Miranda rights. [...]

Truthout | Hundreds of protesters slowly marched to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Ravenswood neighborhood in Chicago.

Source: IsraelToday.co.il

By: Ryan Jones

Posted: May 07, 2012