Well, just as distasteful as it is the have to support racists skinhead's rights to march, one must support the right to open this store if it abides by all laws. The most unpopular opinions are the one's that need protecting if we all all to enjoy the right to voice our opinion. You don't have to agree with the opinion, but you must agree that they have the right to do/say whatever within the law.
That said, this company looks doomed to fail before it even opens up in MV.
Look at the horrific PR stunt that they got busted for trying to pull:
Web Link
I'll not spend one penny in their stores because their message is one of oppression and denying equal rights to all.

If you are not Pro-Gay you had just better keep your mouth shut these days. Does that sound like the American way? It is so sad that we are now being forced to think one way or else we get penalized. Starting to sound like North Korea. Think about it folks, kind of scary.

If your religion says that you must actively work to oppress others, then your religion is a sham and is nothing better than some white pride group working to restrict rights to people of color.

You're right MCSA, its hard to be anti gay these days as it is hard to be anti black or anti anyone, especially if you work to try and restrict the rights they are entitled to under the law.
Our evolving society has become more inclusive and less tolerant to bigotry. I totally agree. Yah to our inclusive society!

I'm totally for gay rights, but this is ridiculous. Just because they don't agree with other peoples views, doesn't make them bad.
If people don't like their stance on gay marriage, then don't eat there.

If we cant stop gay bars from opening in the area, how come gays can stop Straight loving restaraunts from doing so? How is that fair?

So can we expect the same group to protest any mosque that wants to open in MV in the future?

YEAH RIGHT.

Ridiculous. There was almost no opposition when this was first approved by the city; now, a small group gets upset over the personal beliefs of the found and tries to deny us access to a great restaurant.

Isn't it hypocritical to claim tolerance and inclusiveness while trying to block access for the rest of us?

If the Council decides to be anti-business and turns away Chick Fil A, they will ALL be voted out. Even neighbors in the apartment complex nearby have come forward in support of Chick Fil A.

As Chicago became the latest city to tell Chick-fil-A it isn't welcome because its president doesn't support gay marriage, legal experts said the communities don't have a drumstick to stand on.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel became the second big-city mayor to blast the company over president Dan Cathy's comment last week that he is “guilty as charged” for supporting the traditional definition of marriage. Emanuel spoke up after Alderman Proco Joe Moreno announced he intends to block the chain from opening its second Chicago location over his stance.

But barring the popular fast-food restaurant over the personal views of Cathy is an “open and shut” discrimination case, legal scholars told FoxNews.com.

“The government can regulate discrimination in employment or against customers, but what the government cannot do is to punish someone for their words,” said Adam Schwartz, senior attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. “When an alderman refuses to allow a business to open because its owner has expressed a viewpoint the government disagrees with, the government is practicing viewpoint discrimination.”

The city recently denied an application to open a gym on Castro st. So, if the city can deny a business opening up that promotes peoples health, why cannot they also deny an application from a company that is actively promoting discrimination against homosexuals?

Sorry Christians and other haters, it is the 21st century and intolerance will no longer be tolerated! :)

What's lost in the main argument is a pretty amusing side story. Its clear that most people supportive of equal rights will not be eating at the CFA. Its also clear that many people opposed to equal rights will eat there to be supportive of the company that shares their beliefs, perhaps more than they would have otherwise.

When societies evolve, as ours currently is doing wrt marriage equality, it is sometimes necessary for the older more rigid generations to die off (sorry, blunt) and be replaced with people sharing the new belief. Knowing what eating that food regularly will do to a person, its interesting who appears to be on the winning side in the long run if in fact it does open up.

This is just an example of how our ridiculous laws are being used to push one groups' agenda.

If you don't like the opinions of the leaders of Chick-Fil-A, don't buy their products.

We all know there's no law against having an opinion.. so there's no legal recourse there (darn that silly 1st Amendment!)

But I know! Let's use all these silly city codes and rules to pester someone who wants to build in the city. We don't like the peoples' opinion (and that's all it is) so we don't want them in our town.

Freedom of speech be damned! Agree with us or we'll make your life miserable!

Of course Chick-Fil-A has the resources to get through this. They will build and this will amount to nothing.

Vote with your dollars people. That's the only thing that really matters in this world.

Anyone boycotting the Chik Fil A should also boycott the falafel place on Castro St. They are way behind the times and make the women working their cover up head to toe.

Who wants to set up a protest march out front?

Given that over 50% of Californians very recently voted for Prop 8, seems like roughly half the businesses in California are likely owned by people with similar opinions to the founder of Chick Fil A. Should we close down all businesses owned by anyone who voted for Prop 8?

Ridiculous!

Social change is obviously very difficult for some. As it becomes increasingly difficult to actually justify their position, you'll see opponents resorting to straw men comparisons and extreme examples, twisted up to try and make their point. In the end, though, this is about equal rights and an argument against equal rights is a very difficult one to make in America.
This restaurant is going to open, it would be silly not to let it open, but after that, people can vote with their pocket books.

LovingMtnView,

Your hypocrisy is disgusting. I hope you experience real discrimination some time soon in your life. You have no right to claim a business cannot exist because you disagree with its owners opinions, but I doubt you have any real power or control over the situation anyways.

Be careful who you think you are controlling - a world where ALL opinions aren't allowed to be shared probably doesn't work out too well for you personally.

If a business wants to set up in town and use its profits to discriminate against homosexuals, then yes I think the town has the right to not enable this.

To set up a restaurant is not a personal right, it is a privilege that can be approved or rejected based on what is best for the community.

Tom--the fact that you think that anti-homesexual hate groups are not practicing 'real discrimination' makes me sad. I don't know what you have against the gay and lesbian community, but I hope you don't get treated as poorly as you are treating them.

I have to say that the vocal supporters of the LGBT community sure are prone to the very intolerance they often accuse others of. You really think labeling someone as a "hater/bigot" for having the gall to vocally support an opposing view to yours furthers your cause? Show me where Chick-Fil-A discriminates as a franchise and I'll line up behind you in protest. The problem is you cannot.. because they don't. In store everyone is treated equally. They, their employees and owners have as much right to express an opinion without fear of reprisal and spend their earnings as they wish as anyone else. Including YOU! The 1st amendment does not discriminate and was not intended to be applied only to those who feel they are being slighted by the opinions of others. The sooner the supporters of the LGBT figure this out the better. Labeling others as haters/bigots has the same effect as accusing someone of racism. A connection many here are still trying to make for the same effect.. to shut down legitimate debate. I'll wrap up by stating it's a overt and deplorable tactic I really wish the LGBT supporters would abandon.

Hi MVScooter-- If the employees were to make the donations out of their own pocket, then you are completely correct that it has nothing to do with the business. The issue that most 'chick supporters' gloss over is that it was the company itself that provided the donations!
Communities have the right to deny a business application if they feel it will be detrimental to the community. This has been held up as constitutionally sound (referred to as 'secondary effects'). If you want to pass legislation that would allow any business to open up anywhere it wants, then let's do it!

Can you name any other local (secular) businesses that invest significant revenues to organizations that promote discrimination? Yeah, me neither...

Hi LovingMtnView. I see you missed my point(s) just about entirely so I'll take a slightly different tact. This is from the responses to the other article and was posted by Phil that I think sums the issue up nicely:

What I like about 'open-minded' people like David Speakman is their total intolerance to any view that doesn't match their own thinking. We should probably stop the President from using Moffett Field since up to about two months ago he held the same belief. Maybe we should ban the Catholic Church and most other religions because of their views.

Borrowed this from the Armstrong and Getty radio program. Enjoy

Subject: Opening a business in Mountain View

Message:

Hello: I'm very interested in opening a business in your beautiful city and have a couple of questions and requests.

If it's not too much trouble, could you please send me the official list of political and social opinions that I must hold in order to open a business in Mountain View.

It's recently become clear that merely expressing an "incorrect" opinion could lead to me being barred from doing business there...or at least having to fight David Speakman's lawsuit and disapproval every step of the way. It's hard enough to start a business and create jobs without that kind of resistance!

I'm sure you understand. I would just try to guess which opinions the government requires that I hold, but in a recent case, you folks made clear that an opinion held by half of Americans was completely unacceptable. Guessing which other opinions the government doesn't permit would be tough! In the case I alluded to (involving the folks from Chick-fil-A) the "illegal" opinion was the same one held by the President of the United States until very recently.

Perhaps you could put out a "government-approved beliefs" newsletter on a regular basis so no one engaged in unacceptable speech or thought. Those who repeatedly expressed views contrary to the government could be given special training and re-education so that they wouldn't make silly mistakes anymore!

Again, thanks for your assistance. I look forward to being in compliance with all acceptable beliefs so that I will be permitted to earn a living.

Regards,

Joe Getty

Read more: Web Link

"We should probably stop the President from using Moffett Field since up to about two months ago he held the same belief. Maybe we should ban the Catholic Church and most other religions because of their views."

I'm not sure what a military airfield has to do with a public restaurant... And, there are protections built into the constitution about religions. The last time I checked, this particular fast food restaurant is not a religion.

The company is funding hate groups that will negatively impact a segment of Mountain View residents. Sorry, but we actually do have a choice here. A company is not a person, regardless of the supreme court decision regarding campaign finance.

Hope that makes sense...

@LovingMtnView

You claim there are protections for freedom of religion in the Constitution. At the same time you don't understand why it's wrong to keep a business from opening because the COO holds an opposing point of view than yours based on his religion? Try this exercise. What if the COO of Chick-Fil-A supported gay marriage and the residents of MV decided to try to stop them from opening a store on that basis? How would that differ from the activity you are now supporting?

If you simply voted with your feet and chose to not buy their goods it's one thing. Your choice.. I have no issues with that. But what's going on here is an attempt to shut a company out completely based on the views of their COO. Look up the definition of intolerance in the dictionary. You'll find that no one has exclusive right to be victim of it... including the LGBT community. Matter of fact the LGBT crowd seems to be one of the most intolerant lot's I've ever encountered. Many seem to be case study's in cognitive dissonance.

As to your "hate group" claims. Sorry.. simply claiming opposing views are hate motivated to shut down debate only shows weakness in your argument. It's a no-sale. I'd recommend trying a different tactic.

MVScooter:
I'm not sure where to begin. You seem reasonably articulate, but don't seem to understand the difference between businesses that are funding organizations that expand peoples rights and the one that seek to shut them down. So yes, if a business is funding organizations that seeks to expand peoples rights and make this a better city and country to live, then I don't think their opening a business in Mountain View would be a bad thing..not on that point alone at least.

If you think that there was no funding of hate groups, then you have not done your research. The company itself is funding these groups as well. I would suggest getting your information from other places besides Fox News.

I love conservatives (or closet conservatives) who label groups that seek to increase the liberty and freedoms of people as intolerant. I guess the Southern plantation owners called Abe Lincoln intolerant too. C'mon..it's the 21st century. Let's finally ALL be free...

@LovingMtnView

The problem is the comprehension issues are not on my side. You seem to think banning people with opposing views from doing business is fine.

It's not.

You appear okey~dokey with claiming opposing views to yours must be motivated by hate despite the very conspicuous absence of anything that comes close to fitting that description.

They aren't.

You also seem extremely determined to connect the gay marriage issue to having close ties to slavery and racism. A baseless connection the black community itself denounces. Perhaps you should do a little more research on that score.

There is also a reoccurring theme in your posts that you feel (or at the very least like to imply strongly and repeatedly) that everyone who does not share your opinion is ignorant. Simply another bad tactic that does nothing to further your position. Yes.. people with opposing views can be well informed.. intelligent and articulate. Why.. I've even been known to walk upright and chew bubblegum at the same time. ;P.

Lastly.. I am a conservative. Well fiscally anyway though I'm more closely aligned to libertarians. Regardless, Implying that I've employed some form of subterfuge to hide political leanings is simply another argumentative fail to add to your growing list. I mean.. invoking the Foxnews strawman... really? Reeks of desperation and a really empty position from where I am sitting.

It may shock you to discover I'm not against gay marriage. But you never asked. You simply chose to try to paint any opposition to your opinion as that of a hating mouth breather. For me it's the very overt tactics you've tried to employ repeatedly in this exchange that makes people tune out gay marriage supporters. Which is why I usually take my time to point that out to folks like yourself. Simply put.. you could do a lot better for the cause you are trying to champion if you abandoned the exact tactics you've stuck to here.

If you'd care to have a rational discussion of the issue minus all the tactics I've outlined above I'd like to have a go at it. If your reply to this post is the more of the boilerplate.. hate.. intolerant.. racist.. ignorant.. emotional filled theme many including myself are tired of, this will be my last reply.

Hoping for a better exchange.

MVScooter: I don't know you. I don't know if you are gay or straight. Democrat or Republican. It doesn't matter, really. I don't have anything against you personally, but I do take issue with your statements. I have responded to many of your points and you have not dealt with them specifically, but just called me a hater.

It's funny, when conservatives get upset when large businesses are financially impacted by people who think that they are doing bad things for the community. There's a nice little gym on Castro that was forced to move. They are unable to stay on Castro because the city planners only want retail on that street. Now, we have a huge company that is doing bad things to the community (I won't get into the fast food health issue) and all of these right wing conservatives are coming out to protect them. Who came out to protect this small gym owner? Interesting...

Again, I don't know you. I'm sure you are a nice guy and all... Neither you nor I will have much impact on this issue..

I invite you to do some research on the groups that this company has funded. I don't get the impression that you have, but maybe I'm wrong.

Finally, I also invite you to seperate the argument from how it's stated. You say me and others are wrecking the argument by our 'tactics'. Well, filter those out and respond! So far, you haven't...

Mountain View has a porn store on El Camino, just a few blocks from the proposed CFA site. Mountain View is going to get into serious constitutional issues for discriminating against a business based on a founder's sincerely held religious beliefs, protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and U.S. Supreme Court rulings. The founder's sincerely held religious beliefs are all protected by law: believing in a Biblical form of marriage; not being open on Sunday's (in obedience to the Bible's commands for a day of rest); giving millions of dollars to take care of orphans and foster children (another Biblical command to help them); not incurring debt for their business (another Biblical command). The head of CFA never used any "hateful" speech, CFA follows all state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and employs gays. They are protected by law. Ditto for someone who burned a U.S. flag and wanted to open a business (also protected "speech" according to the U.S. Supreme Court).

@LovingMtnView

Those comments coming from someone who just one reply ago accused me of being a "closet conservative/Foxnews watcher/intolerant"? Seems a lil disingenuous. Especially in light of the fact you are still going on about "right wing conservatives" as if being one would make anyone automatically disqualified to have a valid opinion.

You really have not responded to any of my points directly or given any suggestions. The conversation thus far has revolved around your insistence that anyone not sharing your particular point of view on this topic is a supporter of hate.. racism.. intolerance.. ignorant or worse in your mind.. a republican/conservative & Foxnews watcher. I've patiently replied as you've constructed strawman after strawman. You've gone on at length about how I "need to do research". And why? because I simply don't agree with your baseless "hate" accusation or any of the other opinions you hold toward opposing view-holders.

I'm sorry you are unable or unwilling to see what I've pointed out. But minus you vacating those unsupportable positions we'll never get into a real discussion for possible solutions. Which is a problem I often see from other supporters of gay marriage.

I think this pretty much wraps up all there is for us on this topic.
Good day.

For those of you who support Chick-fil-A and refuse to do research on why they are bad for the community, I invite you to read the following...

From "5 Simple Facts About Chick-fil-A":

Chick-fil-A profits fund documented hate groups that aggressively work against LGBT people, advocating for their criminalization, psychological abuse, or death.

Chick-fil-A profits support the radical-right-wing group Eagle Forum, which supports LGBT people being considered criminals.

Chick-fil-A profits support Exodus International, which claims to "cure homosexuality" through psychological coercion of LGBT people. It says LGBT people are "perverse."

Chick-fil-A profits support Focus on the Family (FOF) and its off-shoot group, the Family Research Council (FRC), which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. FOF aggressively defames LGBT people as a threat to children, and FRC spent $25,000 to stop the U.S. Congress from condemning Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill, which calls for the execution of gay people in some cases.

Chick-fil-A profits come from you. When you choose Chick-fil-A, you help fund hate groups.

Loving Mtn View,

It's disappointing to see you have so little comprehension for the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, protected speech, and the U.S. Supreme Court rulings regarding same. The CFA founding family members have never used "hate speech" as such conduct is against the Bible: Let no vile word proceed out of your mouth. You may be shocked to find out that the CFA family is also against straights committing adultery or shacking up (also forbidden in the Bible). Focus on the Family is a Christian organization, also protected by the First Amendment. So are other groups they support. They do not use "hate", even if you disagree with them. Exodus International has repeatedly treated the victims of felony sexual abuse. I know one woman who was sexually abused as a student by a female gym teacher. As a sex crimes victim she was able to resolve complex issues in EI. She's now happily married, and she and her husband have adorable kids and a happy home. The Southern Poverty Law Center declared the Family Research Council as a "hate group" because the FRC had the temerity to disagree with SPLC. While I have personally admired alot of the work of Morris Dees (the award-winning attorney of the SPLC), they've gone way over the line into silencing anyone who disagrees and labeling them as a "hate group". That's just petty.
They've intentionally tried to silence the First Amendment by simply making petty, untrue accusations about anyone who disagrees. (By the way, I spent part of my life raised in a gay household and I'm all for CFA coming to Mountain View.) I take it that Orthodox Jews, Moslems, Hindus and others will soon be under attack for also disagreeing.

Grace:

Yes, the Chic-Fil-A franchise has the constitutional right to promote the execution of homosexuals as they have done by supporting the "Family" Research Council's attempt to prevent Congress from intervening in Uganda's anti-homosexual bill. This is well documented and only news sources of the same journalistic integrity of Fox News disagrees.

However, that protection does not extend to providing automatic approval on letting them open a restaurant in Mountain View. For better or worse, the community has the right to approve or reject businesses from opening. For example, a MMJ dispensary was closed down and not allowed to re-open. A gym is not being allowed to re-open on Castro street simply because the city planners only want 'retail businesses' there. So, until the law is changed, I don't see any reason why a business that is promoting the wholesale execution of homosexuals should be given any preference, simply because they are acting heinously and wielding the "First Amendment".

Mountain View Loving,

Your argument makes about as much sense as Michelle Bachmann's attack on Hilary Clinton's Chief of Staff who has a Moslem background, that someone connected to somebody else connected to somebody else might have done something bad and the Moslem Brotherhood is somehow connected. CFA doesn't support the execution of homosexuals, or any sinner, because murder is against God's Ten Commandments in the Bible.

The City of Mountain View has no right to prohibit a business based on protected First Amendment "speech". That's exactly why First Amendment attorneys have promised to sue Mountain View.

I did some further research on The Southern Law Poverty Center. So in their negative write-up of Focus on the Family they managed to post a picture of a protestor, not even connected with Focus, holding the most vile sign (language that Focus doesn't use or condone). You know, in journalism there's a word for that: It's called Lying.

Loving Mountain View,

So here is what CBS News had about the Family Research Council and their opposition to the bill in Uganda:
FRC did not lobby against or oppose passage of the congressional resolution," the group said. "FRC's efforts, at the request of Congressional offices, were limited to seeking changes in the language of proposed drafts of the resolution, in order to make it more factually accurate regarding the content of the Uganda bill."
"FRC does not support the Uganda bill, and does not support the death penalty for homosexuality - nor any other penalty which would have the effect of inhibiting compassionate pastoral, psychological, and medical care and treatment for those who experience same-sex attractions or who engage in homosexual conduct," the group adds.

So according to CBS, the Family Research Council has upheld the Bible's prohibitions against murder, including in Uganda.

Grace:

Two points and I'll let this rest...

1. CBS merely printed the statement they received from the "Family" Research Council. You can read this for yourself in the excerpt you published: "...the group said." and "...the group adds. OJ Simpson is also quoted as saying that he didn't kill his wife. Do you believe him also? For G's sake, FRC published a document that they lobbied against Congresses attempt to resist this atrocity. Of course they are backpedaling by issuing the statement. Think of all the donations they will lose!

2. Your quote: "CFA doesn't support the execution of homosexuals, or any sinner, because murder is against God's Ten Commandments in the Bible. " So, you are saying that this fast food franchise follows every Commandment to the letter. Wow. OK. That definitely closed out this discussion. I guess Christians never break any of these commandments. Sigh...

I know I can't convince you. Discrimination has been around forever, but will eventually evolve out of our civilization... 10 years from now, you will deny ever defending this homophobic franchise.

Loving Mtn View,
You're really not making much sense. Have you always resorted to name-calling of anyone you disagree with? You've repeatedly made vile attacks about the family of CFA, who are actually very fair people and abide by all laws including federal and state anti-discriminations. The founders of CFA are - gasp - against straights committing adultery and shacking up (because it's also unBiblical)! Does that now make the CFA family "discriminatory" on that point too? You've gone as far in your posts as to associate the CFA family with Uganda, Uganda's violent country and policies (and murder). That's the kind of nonsense Michelle Bachmann utters. And of course you're more than willing to toss aside the First Amendment, sincerely held religious beliefs protected by the U.S. Constitution and U.S. Supreme Court rulings. I spent part of my childhood raised in a gay household in the gay community. Now you accuse me of "defending a homophobic franchise." I can see why you've been criticized on these boards by other posters. You lack the ability to have civil discourse.

Loving Mountain View,
Since you don't know The Gospel - here's the short version. You know of The Ten Commandments given by God to Moses. Have you ever told a lie? Stolen something (even small, even as a child)? Looked upon another person with sexual desire? Misused God's name? That's only 4 commandments and most of us are guilty. That makes us lying, thieving, adulterous, blashemphemers. God said He's punish one of our sins with death. Standing in court, guilty, Jesus walks in and says, "I paid that person's huge fine" for those who repent and believe in Him. We can legally be forgiven. God has said that for one sin He'll send us to Hell because He's holy and can't stand to be in the presence of sin.

This is ridiculous. The city council must not have anything to do with this matter. The Catholic Church opposes gay marriage. The city council should consider using their zoning and taxation powers to eliminate Catholic Church's from Mountain View if we follow this matter to its logical conclusion.

Mr. T-- the council can oppose it due to the drive-thru feature or noise concerns. They are definitely within their rights to do that.

I don't think the Catholic Church funds hate groups or tries to prevent Congress from stopping the wholesale massacre of homosexuals in Uganda.