LeMunyon Participates in Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day
Delegate says he patronized the fast food restaurant Wednesday in support of free speech
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Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-67th District) joined the thousands of Northern Virginia residents who supported Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day on Wednesday, saying his decision to patron a Chantilly location of the fast food restaurant was in support of the First Amendment.
"I see it, and people I talked to over there, see it as a First Amendment issue. People have a right to say things in public, particularly expressing their religious beliefs and people ought to tolerate that whether they agree with it or not," LeMunyon said. "When you have big city mayors ... saying you can't put a store here because we don't like what you say in public, I think that would fit anybody's definition of intolerance."
Chick-fil-A has recently received pushback from gay rights advocates for Chief Executive Officer Dan Cathy's statements on a Christian radio show against gay marriage when he said, "I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,' and I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."
The statement put a spotlight on the company's millions of dollars worth of donations to groups that actively advocate against gay rights issues and caused many gay rights supporters to declare a boycott against the chain.
It also elicited statements from mayors of major U.S. cities — like Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C. — that declared Chick-fil-A's business unwelcome in those towns.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who also made a run for the presidency in 2008, declared Wednesday "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" after becoming "incensed at the vitriolic assaults" against the company because of the statements.
"Given my long standing strong support for LGBT rights and marriage equality, I would not support #hatechicken," D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (D) tweeted July 27.
In an interview with the Washington Post, a spokesman for Gray clarified the administration would not block Chick-fil-A from opening a new D.C. location if it has a legally obtained permit.
"We will not support and don't want them here, but if they are legally entitled to a permit, they are legally entitled to a permit," spokesman Pedro Ribeiro told the Post.
LeMunyon, whose 67th District includes parts of Oakton, Centreville and Chantilly, posted a photo to his Facebook page Wednesday night that showed him holding a Chick-fil-A bag, then wrote "Let's not be chicken to support First Amendment rights!"
LeMunyon, who defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, said he voted in support of the 2006 amendment to the Virginia Constitution that bans same-sex marriage. He also introduced a bill to the General Assembly earlier this year that would have made it illegal to terminate a state employee for anything other than their performance, a measure that would have outlawed workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.
"I don't think the issue of Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, in my view, has anything to do with gay marriage. It has everything to do with the ability of Americans to speak in public whatever their view might be and have people respect it," he said. "People are really sick and tired of the incivility in public discussion."
LeMunyon said he is unfamiliar with the details on the money Chick-fil-A gives away in support of organizations against gay rights, but said he respects those who choose not to patronize the chain if they disagree with the way the company spends its money.
"We have competition in America. We have a free market, and people have choices," he said. "I don't think there's any place for bashing people because they take a particular religious viewpoint and express that publicly. I just think that's a disgrace, whether I believe that religious viewpoint or not."
John Farrell
7:45 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Did they teach this justification for bigotry at the ALEC convention, Jim?
Joe Brenchick
8:50 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Well John, I too was in attendance at the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day at their Fairfax Circle location, yesterday. It was nice to be a part of a well attended event, celebrating and supporting our First Amendment Rights. The irony is, it seems like those who preach about tolerance the loudest, are themselves often the least tolerant.
John Farrell
9:13 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
So, Joe, why do you hate gays?
Joe Brenchick
10:04 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
I never said or implied that I hated anyone! I was simply showing my support for someone expressing themselves under the First Amendment. Furthermore, I reject your argument of “if your not with us, your against us” on this issue.
John Farrell
12:05 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
When you actively support a company that uses its vast wealth to deprive some of your fellow Americans of the civil recognition of their innate and immutable desire to form the pair bond of their choice, thus causing them to be reduced to second class citizenship, what else are we to conclude?
Or do you claim to only pander to bigotry?
MaryAnn Gaughan
9:53 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
What Mr. LeMunyon and others do not understand is it is not about free speech, it is about the 5 million dollars that Chik-fil-A has given to discriminate against the gay community and taken his corporate dollars, money you and everyone spend at his fast food chain to fight against other human beings. (If Mr. LeMunyon doesn't "know anything about this" perhaps he or his staff need to do their homework before he decides to take a firm stand). Freedom of speech is one thing. Supporting bigotry and intolerance is another.
K R L M
11:34 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Do you know what the Owner/CEO of every establishment you frequent donates the company money to support?
John Farrell
12:07 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Hard to do after Citizens United, when corporations can make secret donations to superpacs without disclosure.
D P Fink
9:55 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
I am absolutely appalled that Del. LeMunyon went out of his way to do something that is so hurtful to his LGBT constituents and all of us who support equality.
Jim Daniels
10:26 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
So Joe...what attack on First Amendment right are you referring too?
Joe Brenchick
10:40 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Jim, your kidding, right? When threaten you with financial ruin simply for expressing their belief or opinion, you don’t call that an attack? Regardless of if you support someone’s opinion or not, they have the right – The Right – to express it. That’s Freedom of Speech.
John Farrell
12:01 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
The First Amendment only restricts the government from prohibiting speech content.
It says nothing about speech by ordinary citizens that criticizes the bigoted speech of a multi-million dollar corporation which seeks to render some Americans into second class status.
Jim Daniels
10:51 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
How sad that Del. LeMunyon felt he needed to go out of his way to insult his LGBT constituents like this. This is not about First Amendment rights....as he should know. No one is saying Chik-Fil-A cannot say what they want or give whatever money they want, to whatever bigoted cause they wish. But that does not mean they should not expect to be criticized, or that their restaurants shouldn't be boycotted. I don't think that the power of Government should be used to prevent them from doing business as a couple have perhaps suggested (though not in Virginia). But boycotts, demonstrations...well...that's free speech too...right?
Americaphile Freedom
11:15 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
A NEW AMERICAN TRADITION IS BORN!!!!!!
http://americaphile.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/a-new-american-tradition-is-born/
[HOLDING HIGH THE STANDARD: CAROLE LOKAN-MOORE OF WHITEBRIAR BED & BREAKFAST IS THE BETSY ROSS OF THE SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION!!!!]
A NEW DAY HAS DAWNED ON THE HORIZON OF OUR NATION’S HISTORY, AS AMERICANS ACROSS THE LAND ARE JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING CHICK-FIL-A® APPRECIATION DAY AND ENJOYING DELICIOUS CHICKEN SANDWICHES!!!!!!!!
TODAY WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNOR ROMNEY TO SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF CHICK-FIL-A® AND SHOULD INSPIRE AMERICA’S COUNTRY WESTERN SINGERS TO COMPOSE AND RECORD SOME MOVING CHICK-FIL-A® SONGS!!!!!
FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH AND WE’RE ENJOYING LIBERTY FOR LUNCH!!!!!!!!!
Jim Daniels
12:35 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Oh yeah!! Nothing says liberty and freedom like denying a whole class of citizens their basic civil righst!!! U.S.A..
Jim Daniels
11:25 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Joe..I asked you what the attack on their First Amendment rights was...you do know what the First Amendment is right?
Joe Brenchick
1:38 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Jim - The personal and general threats made against Dan Cathy are numerous and well documented in the media, so they don’t need repeating. As to your questioning my knowledge of the Bill of Rights, I see no reason to dignify it with a response.
Jim Daniels
1:47 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
I've heard precious little about any personal threats against Dan Cathy...no doubt there are...of the same anonymous belligerent type that any public figure receives...as to threats to boycott his business because of his bigotry...I don't see that as a threat, I see it as another expression of free speech which you seem very intent on preserving...as to the First Amendment if you see criticism of Dan Cathy, and threats to boycott his business as a first amendment issue, then you clearly do not know what it is...
Joe Brenchick
2:11 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Jim – Freedom of Speech is a two way street For and or against an issue. If you fail to grasp that concept, then you need to go back to wherever it was where you received your Primary Education and demand a refund.
John Farrell
2:15 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Since no government is trying to restrict the content of anyone's speech, no First Amendment issues are implicated here.
Just intolerance and bigotry.
Robert F. Dorr
1:55 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
I decided years ago that I was annoyed at Chick-fil-A because its corporate name, menu, publications and news releases all celebrate faulty spelling and poor grammar. For that reason alone I would boycott them except that I've never been a customer, not even once. The owners of the company are entitled to their political opinions and their detractors are, too. When county or city officials intervene to try to prevent this business from operating in their turf, that's going too far. There are some pretty extreme views on both sides here and everybody needs to relax.
Jim Daniels
2:21 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Joe,,,that makes absolutely no sense...exactly how is Dan Cathy or Chik-Fil-A being denied their first amendment right to free speech..? You have not said...are you saying because Chik-Fil-A is being criticized their free speech rights are being denied...?
Joe Brenchick
2:50 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Jim – As the conversation string so obviously shows, I support Dan Cathy and his right to express himself, verbally and financially, under the First Amendment. Where did I say he was deigned the right? Only that he’s being threatened personally and professionally for expressing his opinion on a controversial subject, which is protected under the First Amendment. Some have even called for a “same sex kiss in” tomorrow at Chick-fil-A restaurants. Your tactic is when others disagree with you, you reflexively attack them and their opinion and try to twist the facts and or the context of the debate.
Jim Daniels
2:24 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Just bizarro world...a huge company gives millions of dollars to an organization dedicated to keeping a certain class of people in 2nd class status...money that the Supreme Court defines as free speech...and they are the ones having the free speech rights violated ? Really? My guess is that Jefferson, Paine, Madison et al are rapidly spinning in their graves over that notion...
Jim Daniels
3:04 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Joe - Wouldn't a same sex kiss in a Chik-fil-A restaurant be something worth "celebrating and supporting" as an expression of first amendment rights?
It is clear up thread you believed that somehow Dan Cathy's first amendment rights were being violated - your exact words "It was nice to be a part of a well attended event, celebrating and supporting our First Amendment Rights. "
Now, if I understand you, you don't believe they are being violated, since no government entity is threatening them, and that is what the first amendment protects against. Great...
Now if Dan Cathy is being threatened personally...and like I said I don't doubt he has received the same anonymous type threats every public figure receives... I don't think anyone on here would condone that. And that is certainly not protected speech. But I doubt that in and of itself is what drove people to Chik-Fil-A yesterday...I haven't heard of any serious threat made against Dan Cathy's person...
So that leaves "being threatened professionally." Do you mean through a boycott of their restaurants? If that is the case, isn't that too an expression of free speech that should be protected?
Joe Brenchick
3:30 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Jim – Obviously we can go round and round on this and never reach an agreement. Therefore I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
Jim Daniels
3:58 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Joe - I actually think that's the heart of it. I don't think you really think Chik-Fil-A is having their free speech rights threatened, I think you are just on their side of the argument and want to win...
What?
4:28 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
@Joe - I think what Jim is trying to point out is the normal misunderstanding of "1st Ammendment Rights" by most people. The first 5 words of the ammendment are: "Congress shall make no law". I don't see congress involved here, so no rights are being violated or infringed. Both sides of this issue are able to state their opinion and their disagreement with the other side. Physical threats are wrong and should be prosecuted. Everyone is free to express their views, just as everyone who hears/reads those views are free to embrace or decry those views (without violence, of course). Just curious. Why did you mention the "same-sex kiss in" in your next-to-last post. Seemed like a non-sequiter.