Huckabee backs Chick-fil-A in same-sex marriage controversy
Mike Huckabee.
/ AP Photo/Alex BrandonUpdated: 3:52 p.m.
(CBS News) Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has jumped into the fray of an ongoing controversy over a fast food chain's outspoken stance against same-sex marriage, standing behind the company, Chick-fil-A, for supporting "the Biblical view of marriage."
Huckabee, in a statement on his Facebook page, said he has been "incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick Fil-A company because the CEO, Dan Cathy, made comments recently in which he affirmed his view that the Biblical view of marriage should be upheld."
In a recent interview with the Baptist Press, Cathy said he was "guilty as charged" when asked about his "support of the traditional family."
"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that," he said in the interview. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."
Amid controversy sparked by the comments - including vehement opposition from the Muppets - Huckabee defended the company, and even called for a "Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day" this summer.
"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," he wrote. "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, August 1."
Huckabee, a former Republican presidential contender, is a prominent voice in the Republican Party - and his name has been mentioned as a long-shot possibility to serve on the ticket with Mitt Romney.
In a statement, Chick-fil-A said it would be staying out of the debate over same-sex marriage going forward.
"The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender," the statement read. "We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 Restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena."
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But gay people and their supporters are fighting for CIVIL FREEDOM. Our civil rights should not be hijacked by the perceptions of a businessman who speaks of "God's judgment" against America. This is overstepping the realm of credibility. Gays and their supporters are also exercising their freedom of speech and religion, but the situation is direr than this. Gays are protesting all the money that Chick Fill A donates to anti-gay groups, who in turn line the pockets of lawmakers and politicians.. Anti-gay groups are responsible for the insidious TV ads that appear whenever there if a referendum on civil marriage. Why would gay people patronize a business whose profits contribute to bigotry against them?
This is a matter of civil freedom. Those who uphold religious values are not being denied their faith. But one's individual faith should not result in the unfairness of anti-gay legislation in our civil government.
The owner of the company says that we are inviting "God's judgment" upon our nation. Holy Cow! When will he and other Bible fanatics realize that the best family value is to include your gay members, not shun them!