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Quinn-fil-A: Speaker Clarifies Stance On Controversial Chicken Chain
By
Garth Johnston
Published Aug 1, 2012
Modified Aug 1, 2012
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New York City Council's flickr
By
Garth Johnston
Published Aug 1, 2012
Modified Aug 1, 2012
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Today is apparently "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," according to Mike Huckabee, which the chain probably needs as the controversy over the homophobic beliefs of its owners refuses to die down. Sort of. Lately it has morphed into a debate about free speech, business and government control.
See, while Mayor Bloomberg quickly came out to say that he had no problem with Chick-fil-A existing in NYC his hopeful successor, openly gay City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, came out pushing for the chain to head for the hills—going so far as to write a letter to NYU (which houses the only Chick-fil-A in town) asking them to give the chain the boot. And oh boy has she gotten flack for it.
After the Post piled onto the Speaker yesterday for using her title to try and force NYU's hand, the Daily News today chimed in with its own editorial calling her out for letting "personal passion" get the better of her. So now she is clarifying.
The pander-happy Quinn has backtracked a bit, telling reporters yesterday, "I don’t want businesses that hold discriminatory views and feelings, but I don’t have any legal recourse or reason to block this company." She went on to say, "We are asking [Chick-fil-A president] Mr. Cathy to reconsider, open up his mind and really overcome his homophobia and stop investing his money in efforts to limit the rights of LGBT Americans."
As for Quinn's mayoral competitors? They're being very cautious about the issue: "The power of office can’t be used to prevent the company from doing business. I could see myself picketing and saying, ‘Don’t buy here,’ but not using governmental powers to shut it down," Bill Thompson told reporters.
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christine quinn
Election 2013
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