Former Gov. Mike Huckabee is calling people who believe in traditional marriage to go eat more chicken on Wednesday. Huckabee has declared Aug. 1 Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.
Incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick-fil-A company because the president and chief operating officer, Dan Cathy, made comments recently in which he affirmed his view that the biblical view of marriage should be upheld, Huckabee is standing up and speaking out for the chicken chain. Huckabee offered the following statement:
“The Cathy family, led by Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, are a wonderful Christian family who are committed to operating the company with biblical principles and whose story is the true American success story. Starting at age 46, Truett Cathy built Chick-fil-A into a $4 billion-a-year enterprise with more than 1,600 stores. At 91, he is still active in the company, but his son Dan runs it day-to-day as CEO. It’s a great American story that is being smeared by vicious hate speech and intolerant bigotry from the left.
“The Chick-fil-A company refuses to open on Sundays so that their employees can go to church if they wish. Despite the pressure from malls, airports and the business world to open on Sundays, they still don’t. They treat customers and employees with respect and dignity.
“The militant homosexual advocates have launched an all-out assault on Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-A, pushing for a boycott because the Cathy family has contributed to traditional marriage organizations. The attempts to hurt or destroy Chick-fil-A is nothing short of economic bullying.
“In the name of ‘tolerance,’ there is an effort being mounted to put pressure on people to stop eating at Chick-fil-A. Even worse is the vilification of the company and its employees. The Christian worldview of Dan Cathy is being met with intolerance and vicious hate speech.
“I ask you to join me in speaking out to your constituency via Facebook, Twitter, email, broadcast, etc., to make Wednesday, Aug. 1 ‘Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.’ No one is being asked to make signs, speeches, or openly demonstrate. The goal is simple: Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday, Aug. 1.
“Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same-sex marriage, abortion or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we’re considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers and intolerant. This effort is not being launched by the Chick-fil-A company and no one from the company or family is involved in proposing or promoting it.
“There’s no need for anyone to be angry or engage in a verbal battle. Simply affirm appreciation for a company run by Christian principles by showing up on Wednesday, Aug. 1. No need to make signs, honk horns or have rallies. Just show up Aug. 1, eat, and affirm support for a business that stands for something.
“I hope you will use your Twitter account, Facebook page, radio or television platform, pulpit or printed word to share with your friends, family and followers. Let’s make this viral.
“Cut and paste and put your own message or approach to it. Make it your own platform—not mine. Please send to those with large Twitter followings or other social media networks. Thanks!”
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