American Family Association calls for McDonalds boycott
flockwoodThe Mississippi group has launchedBoycottMcDonalds.Com and is calling on supporters to steer clear of the golden arches. AFA is unhappy because McDonalds gave money to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and supported Gay Pride events in California.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I know that everyone on this blog thinks that I’m a dyed in the wool pinko commie. However, my buddies with whom I gather at our local McDonald’s think that, because I was never actually a member of the Communist Party, I’m a horrible conservative and might consider voting Republican some day if I can get the money together. The fact that McDonald’s is brave enough to support groups like this in this day and age when people are regularly attacked by the religious right for their beliefs might make me order another Big Mac, not a good idea for my waistline.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Hey Caleb,
This might come as a surprise, but I do NOT think you’re a pinko commie. Maybe a “not- so-much-in-the-closet socialist….but that’s a different story.
I wonder if the “brother” that sits across the table from me in our church high council meetings, who happens to be a McDonald’s regional corporate officer and has the same views on homosexuality as myself, will quit his job? My guess is no….
And I had a couple of chicken snack wraps this afternoon, after knowing about this story.
I don’t think this is going to hurt McDonald’s one bit.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
The funny thing about corporations and gay rights these days is that the companies are making sound business decisions. They are finding good consumers in the gay community, and good employees who happen to be homosexual. To be profitable they are becoming gay-friendly. And the “pro-America” social conservatives are howling and complaining about this rampant freedom and free enterprise.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I agree, Jose. With the economy the way it is, I doubt the decision would be made if it were not a good “business” decision. If they were going to do it for a social statement, it could have been made long ago.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I agree, David and Jose. Socialist (not at all in the closet) that I am, even I have to admit that what really has driven the acceptance of gays and lesbians in the business and social world is not creeping socialism but dominant capitalism. Gays and lesbians spend money, and there’s always going to be someone there who wants it.
Remember a few years ago how the Baptists tried to boycot Disney World because they began hosting gay pride days and whatnot? We see how well that worked. The parks were more crowded than ever during the boycot, and I’d imagine that the Baptists were well represented in the crowd. The fact is that the public has no stomach for boycotting anything because of the gay issue, probably on either side of it.
One last anecdote about McDonald’s. In the late ’50s, McDonald’s hadn’t yet introduced their fish sandwich. In big Catholic cities like Detroit and Chicago, their store managers lobbied hard for a fish sandwich, because the Church in those days took the idea of meatless Fridays seriously; many generations of us grew up with fish on Fridays at school because of it. A group of them went to Ray Kroc, who had all kinds of objections to it: It would cost too much, wouldn’t be popular, etc. But finally he gave in. His last statement, though was: “Okay, guys, you want a fish sandwich so bad, we’ll do it. But mark my words. Once we do, they’ll change the rules.” Of course, a year or two later, Vatican II did change the rules. By that time, though, the Filet O Fish was so entrenched that it lives to this day. If you’ll notice, though, every year at Lent, McDonald’s trots out their DOUBLE Filet O Fish and features it during that period. My waistline has not yet recovered from Lent this year. Even my most Commie friends love it.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
See, Caleb, there is another thing we have in common. I don’t celebrate Lent as part of my religious observance, but I still love the Filet O Fish! I order it probably two to one over anything else at McDonalds.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
But, David, what about that DOUBLE Filet O Fish???
July 8th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
The idea of celebrating Lent with a gluttony of fried fish…that’s just wrong!
July 8th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Not if you’re ever been to a Catholic fish fry during Lent . . . Even my old buddy Earl Pitts, Amurrican, did a routine on it.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
As long as there are two “half slices” of cheese to go with the two fish patties, I’d be fine with that!
July 8th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
You see, David, the problem is economics. With so many good paying jobs out there, it’s apparently difficult to hire people who can see straight. So, when they put the fish filets on the bun, they get them crooked, and I don’t mean a little bit off, I mean one going east and one going west, and never the twain shall meet. Which wouldn’t be hard to fix, except that those half slices of cheese glue the filets to each other and to the bottom bun with an attraction that makes super glue look like a bandaid. I’ve had a discussion with my McDonald’s manager about it to no avail. Lots of tartar sauce, though, even during Lent.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I got family in Mississippi, truth is, it wouldn’t hurt some of them none to lay off them Big Mac’s and Supersized fries, course there’s alot of burger eaters in Mississippi, it can’t be doing McDonalds none to good to lose all them customers. It sure isn’t the salad eaters that make them money.
July 13th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Something tells me that the burger eaters are not going to stay away because of this; it will be Disney World all over again, that is, the boycott will be ignored.