Oh Boston......(political)

Blueyed228

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/middle-class-guy/2012/jul/24/boston-mayor-tom-menino-twill-not-allow-chick-fil-/

So the Mayor of Boston has decided to not allow Chick-Fil-A to open any businesses in the city because he does not like the CEO's beliefs on gay marriage.  This has obviously been a hot topic with a lot of my FB friends because I live here and have a lot of gay friends.

While I also do not agree with the CEO and his beliefs, I think the mayor overstepped his scope of power by doing this.  A private business has the right to purchase land and open regardless of their political beliefs.  I think the free market should be allowed to do its job and people should express their dislike of the CEO's beliefs by just not being a patron at this store.  It is really concerning to me that the mayor can decide things like this just because he doesnt like someones opinion. 

Now, if Chick-Fil-A had come to Boston and put a sign ont he front door saying "Gays need not apply" or wouldnt serve gay people, then I would have a serious issue with it, but that was not the case here.  What concerns me is say I wanted to open a business, and the Mayor didnt like my thoughts on gun control, does he get to deny me too?

Its just typical of the politicians here.  Using their office as a bully pulpit to get everyone to think the same way they do.

What say you on this?

allisong23

Menino is a douchecanoe. I can't comprehend how he continues to be reelected.

brandichamberlain

I think you put it exactly the way I see it.  He has tremendously overstepped his boundaries.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

I've been hearing a few rumblings about this too, but not as much since people around here are talking about gay marriage announcements in the paper Thanks for bringing me up to speed.

I think I side with you.  I don't think people should be denied the right to open a business because of their beliefs.  If there already was a Chick-Fil-A in Boston (I dunno, is there?) would they mayor have the power to shut them down because they don't like gays?  FFS.

I'm also in agreement with you that I think the CEO's opinions are garbage.  BUT.  If people in Boston really are displeased with this, Chick-Fil-A wouldn't get business and couldn't stay open.  I think that might send a stronger message, kwim?

KateJ10

I agree- he shouldn't be able to stop them from having the Chick-Fil-A. I don't think corporations/businesses in general should be stating their gay/anti-gay opinions either though. 

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:51d67c6c-e31f-4562-88ec-1c44c9933f36">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]Menino is a douchecanoe. <strong><u>I can't comprehend how he continues to be reelected</u></strong>.
Posted by allisong23[/QUOTE]

Oh I can.  If you saw the discussions I had with people you would laugh.  I got called "privileged" and told I was ont he wrong side of history, lol.  Oh and that I must hate gay people, right before I got defriended.  For saying exactly what I said above.

Lucille04

Well, the mayor said he would make it difficult for them to open. The article you link to doesn't really give details about how that would happen. I think this is just silly, ridiculous pandering on his part. 

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:2815cf43-b751-4108-9fc8-9ac1a89b69fa">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]I've been hearing a few rumblings about this too, but not as much since people around here are talking about gay marriage announcements in the paper :) Thanks for bringing me up to speed. I think I side with you.  I don't think people should be denied the right to open a business because of their beliefs.  If there already was a Chick-Fil-A in Boston (I dunno, is there?) would they mayor have the power to shut them down because they don't like gays?  FFS. I'm also in agreement with you that I think the CEO's opinions are garbage.  BUT.<strong><u>  If people in Boston really are displeased with this, Chick-Fil-A wouldn't get business and couldn't stay open.  I think that might send a stronger message, kwim?</u></strong>
Posted by AllAboutTheBenjamin[/QUOTE]

Exactly.  Let them open and pay a ton of taxes etc, and let the free market do its job.  I would probably not eat there based on his beliefs (he has never said he doesnt want to hire gay people or let them eat there, just that he doesnt believe in gay marriage), and if Boston doesnt like what he says, then they dont have to eat there either.

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:c5ed8f36-3351-4a8f-900f-ac4dd03299b8">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong><u>Well, the mayor said he would make it difficult for them to open</u></strong>. The article you link to doesn't really give details about how that would happen. I think this is just silly, ridiculous pandering on his part. 
Posted by Lucille04[/QUOTE]

He already does this for people who are not his friends getting liquor licenses, non-unionized companies, etc.  Its really scary.

shaydenise

Yeah, I'm with you on this one.  Do I agree with CFA?  Nope.  Do they have a right to their opinion no matter how ridiculous I think it is?  Yep.  Now, if they were discriminating like you said above by posting things that said, "No gays allowed!"  then that would be an entirely different issue.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

I kind of think the notion of it is stupid, too.  I mean - sure, the CEO's opinions suck, but I'm not going to research all the CEOs of all the businesses I frequent to see if all my beliefs are in line with them before I buy their shiiit.  That sounds exhausting.

Just because the CEO thinks this way doesn't mean every last employee of Chick-Fil-A feels this way, either.

lindseyann410

I'm against it any time people use their beliefs to take away the rights of others.

I'm against people who use their religion to take away the rights of gays.

I'm against government officials that take away the right of businesses to open where they want.

calixtine

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:c5044b21-2bba-47cb-abbb-45e1d7a48ada">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]I kind of think the notion of it is stupid, too.  I mean - sure, the CEO's opinions suck, but I'm not going to research all the CEOs of all the businesses I frequent to see if all my beliefs are in line with them before I buy their shiiit.  That sounds exhausting. Just because the CEO thinks this way doesn't mean every last employee of Chick-Fil-A feels this way, either.
Posted by AllAboutTheBenjamin[/QUOTE]

Yes, and if you are going to deny a company the ability to open based on the CEOs beliefs then you have to do that for every company.  Which means the Mayor has to ask every CEO what their beliefs on gay marriage is.  I don't think he's going to do that so he can't deny Chik fil a the ability to open stores.

ZombieNates

ITA with all of you.

I find it alarming and disgusting that people will allow others to take actions like these, just so they don't have to think or put forth any action of their own. It seems very,  "Oh, I don't want to go to the trouble of avoiding Chick Fil-A and not supporting their business--can you just block them from coming here so I don't have to do anything different?"

pkontk

Yeah, I'm the lefties lefty of them all, and Menino has definitely overstepped his boundaries on this one.  Perhaps he should be using more time pressuring the police to amp up patrols in neighborhoods that have seen a crime spike since January (ahem, mine.)

He has a crap-ton of political clout, I can't wait to see a fresh face in there.  Someone who won't control the liquor licenses.  Hell, somoene who will help repeal our antiquated licensing laws too.

pkontk

Also, I'm not sure why CFA's anti-gay stance has just come out - its been public record for years and now the media is catching on?  I know the muppets backed out of a deal recently, which is fine for them to make a business decision of that nature, but other than that, how has this turned into news when its been CFA's policy for years?

Blueyed228

Know what the sentence that got me defriended and called scary and told I should think about changing careers (he thought I still bartended in gay clubs) was?

"I think there is a better way to fight for more (equal) rights than trying to take away other people rights."

Meaning, I dont think it is going to do anything for the cause if you want to get more rights by denying people their Constitutional rights to free market and capitalism.

Clearly that means im anti-gay and should go into hiding before all the gays of the city hunt me down and tar and feather me.

Megbo2012

I'm surprised that we would even get a CFA in the first place. I didn't know there were any near us. 

I agree with letting them pay our taxes and letting the people decide if they want to go or not. 

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Gawd, Blue.  Gay basher.

rhodesign

I'm with you largely on this, but at the same time I can't help but take just a little bit of civic pride that a local alderman here in Chicago is trying to do the same thing. I can't help it, I am 'guilty as charged' in taking delight in seeing bigots suffer. =P

That said, though, I totally see the overstepping part, etc. That makes sense.

There is something here apparently called aldermanic privilege that lets alderman vote down zoning proposals from companies at their will, and that's what this one guy is doing to attempt to block chick-fil-a from opening in his ward. He can site all sorts of other reasons (concerns with traffic he mentioned) to deny them a permit to build, but he acknowledges it's policitcal. Maybe that's just the "chicago" way, though.

shaydenise

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:c5044b21-2bba-47cb-abbb-45e1d7a48ada">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]I kind of think the notion of it is stupid, too.  I mean - sure, the CEO's opinions suck, but I'm not going to research all the CEOs of all the businesses I frequent to see if all my beliefs are in line with them before I buy their shiiit.  That sounds exhausting. Just because the CEO thinks this way doesn't mean every last employee of Chick-Fil-A feels this way, either.
Posted by AllAboutTheBenjamin[/QUOTE]

<div>There was a thread on GBCN a while back about what companies people boycott.  My God that list was freaking long.  I get trying to avoid certain places because of their beliefs conflicting with your own, but then I also think about the people who work at those places who could be out of job if enough people boycott and they don't even have control over it ya' know? </div>

pkontk

(eyeroll)

Its people like those who de-friende you who gives liberals a bad name in a lot of places.  ARGH!

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:9e308ab4-b177-4646-86e2-639bb5b65177">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]Also, I'm not sure why CFA's anti-gay stance has just come out - its been public record for years and now the media is catching on?  I know the muppets backed out of a deal recently, which is fine for them to make a business decision of that nature, but other than that, how has this turned into news when its been CFA's policy for years?
Posted by pkontk[/QUOTE]

I think its because he had done an interview recently talking about it?  Im not defending the guy, but I heard the interview and it wasnt a hateful "GOD HATES GAY PEOPLE" rant.  It was just a very calm explanation (that was heavily religious based) on why he doesnt support changing the definition of marriage.  He didnt say he hates gay people, he just said he doesnt support the Govt changing things.

Not that it makes it any better, but he didnt sound like some Westboro type bigot to me.

jcg98

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:931d69eb-dddc-42a2-b652-856cd7b8d2d0">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Oh Boston......(political) : He already does this for people who are not his friends getting liquor licenses, non-unionized companies, etc.  Its really scary.
Posted by Blueyed228[/QUOTE]

He sounds like Boss Tweed.  Yikes!

NuggetBrain

I agree with you.  If society finds his views so unacceptable then they will "vote with their wallet".  But until then it's really not up to the mayor to decide that they can't come there because he doesn't agree with the CEO's personal views. 

lbarr088

Oh Mumbles Menino...

I think he overstepped his boundaries on this one.  I might not necessarily agree with CFA but they are entitled to their beliefs.  With measures like this I feel like it's only a matter of time before churches are prevented from moving in the area with their belief systems...

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:913f80cf-7b90-47a1-8310-dd2de5423834">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm with you largely on this, but at the same time I can't help but take just a little bit of civic pride that a local alderman here in Chicago is trying to do the same thing. I can't help it, I am 'guilty as charged' in taking delight in seeing bigots suffer. =P That said, though, I totally see the overstepping part, etc. That makes sense. There is something here apparently called aldermanic privilege that lets alderman vote down zoning proposals from companies at their will, and that's what this one guy is doing to attempt to block chick-fil-a from opening in his ward. He can site all sorts of other reasons (concerns with traffic he mentioned) to deny them a permit to build, but he acknowledges it's policitcal. Maybe that's just the "chicago" way, though.
Posted by rhodesign[/QUOTE]

Rho- I think that is part of my problem, that people are so excited that he stood up for gay rights, that they fail to see the danger in this type of action.

What if the Mayor decided he didnt like black people and wouldnt let you open a business because of it?  People would be ALL OVER HIM.  But because gay rights is such a popular movement here, people dont care about the danger of this over-step of power.

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:c3d44213-ef7b-4989-a1e9-6483586e1072">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]Oh Mumbles Menino... I think he overstepped his boundaries on this one.  I might not necessarily agree with CFA but they are entitled to their beliefs. <u> <strong>With measures like this I feel like it's only a matter of time before churches are prevented from moving in the area with their belief systems...</strong>
</u>Posted by lbarr088[/QUOTE]

In the same FB thread, someone pointed this out, that if they start with CFA, then whats next?  Banning the Catholic Church, Boy Scouts, and some other companies (I forget).

FB friend said "I am all for banning all those places too".

UMMMMM, but IM the scary one?????  Ok.

allisong23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:fabc73c2-de63-478e-9a87-7e02a382e7da">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Oh Boston......(political) : Oh I can.  If you saw the discussions I had with people you would laugh.  I got called "privileged" and told I was ont he wrong side of history, lol.  Oh and that I must hate gay people, right before I got defriended.  For saying exactly what I said above.
Posted by Blueyed228[/QUOTE]

You and i are on opposite ends of the political spectrum, and we completely agree on this. There was this whole deal a few blocks from where I live. One house on the corner put up a sign for his opponent. The house on the opposite corner had a Menino sign. The Menino people kept going across the street and tearing down the sign for Flaherty, over and over. Flaherty signs in my neighborhood were torn down, again and again. Menino supporters are punks.

maratea

Nanny state. Motherfucking nanny state. Officials patting us on our heads, trying to hold our hands and tell us what's good or bad for us.

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_oh-bostonpolitical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:97374ff2-925b-4cff-b0da-f2d122a31d46Post:19d48746-d1d2-48fe-97c0-fda03f2f715c">Re: Oh Boston......(political)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Oh Boston......(political) : You and i are on opposite ends of the political spectrum, and we completely agree on this. There was this whole deal a few blocks from where I live. One house on the corner put up a sign for his opponent. The house on the opposite corner had a Menino sign. The Menino people kept going across the street and tearing down the sign for Flaherty, over and over. Flaherty signs in my neighborhood were torn down, again and again. Menino supporters are punks.
Posted by allisong23[/QUOTE]

H has to deal with his office all the time when he has to go before the liquor board for the club.  Its ridiculous.  He is such a corrupt politician.  I really hate that guy.

Plus, when he talks, he sounds like he has got a BOD in his mouth.  He is worse than Barney Frank.