Chick-fil-A rallying point for conservative pols

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., posted a photo online for "Chick-fil-A appreciation day" on Aug. 1.

/ Facebook

(CBS News) Conservatives backing Chick-fil-A for its president's unapologetic opposition to same-sex marriage flocked to the fast food joint Wednesday, including a few politicians who proudly gave proof of their chicken meals on social media.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee last month dubbed August 1 "Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day" after a renewed controversy over Chick-fil-A's conservative ties arose. Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy has long made his political leanings known, but the issue became reached a boiling point this summer after Cathy spoke openly in a set of interviews about his opposition to same-sex marriage. Supporters of same-sex marriage spoke out against the company, and Huckabee and other conservatives subsequently hit back.

On his Facebook page today, Huckabee posted pictures of people lining up to eat at Chick-fil-A's around the country.

A number Republicans still in office followed suit, including several from the South Carolina Republican Party. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., for instance, posted a picture online of himself eating Chick-fil-A. "As a long time Chick-fil-A fanatic, I stand with Chick-Fil-A," he wrote. "We had it for breakfast today, but my usual order is the #1 combo with slaw and a Coke Zero. Can't beat it."

Photo posted on Facebook Aug. 1 by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

/ Facebook

South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan similarly tweeted today, "Bought #chickfila for the office this afternoon. Never tasted so good." The tweet included a picture of a picture of Duncan sitting at his desk, which was covered with bags of food from the restaurant. South Carolina Rep. Tim Scott and the staff of the South Carolina Republican party similarly shared their Chick-fil-A meals online.

Republican Rep. James Lankford of Oklahoma also tweeted his Chick-fil-A meal, and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., was spotted outside one of the restaurants.

Backers of same-sex marriage kept up their protests today as well. The Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights advocacy group, encouraged people to tweet, "I don't appreciate #ChickfilHATE RT if you agree w/ @HRC!"

[audemus]

What these neo-cons are really displaying is their intolerance...nothing more.

[TimeToEvolve]

These are just big government conservatives that want the government to tell everyone who they can marry. And whether women can control their own health. These are extremist hypocritical conservative wackos who are pro-war, pro-gun and somehow think they are pro-life. Wow, the stupidity and ignorance is breathtaking.

[jbfrizzle]

listen son...i'll keep my guns, money, and fried chicken...you can keep the change. suuuuweee!!! Freedom hater mo bater!!!

[A_Moderate]

I have a question how can one WANT LESS GOVERNMENT and LESS GOVERNMENT INTERFERING IN PERSONAL LIVES and yet want the same government go get involved (pass laws and amendments) regarding gay marriage issues? It seems people like bigger government when it supports their ideology.

[expatriate2]

Consider the school system in Lexington, Massachusetts where the book, "King and King" was used to teach kindergarten kids about same-sex marriage. It also used another text that portrayed various types of couples, including a gay couple, all in the name of building "tolerance" in the minds of six-year-olds. Small children in kindergarten at Windridge Elementary School in Utah can practice reading with the book, "In Our Mother's House" that tells of a child being raised by two lesbian mothers. Kindergarten children across the nation were able to read "Daddy's Roommate" that explicitly dealt with a gay couple living together with a child.
The national gay campaign to gain recognition had merit and contained issues deserving pubic attention. But the current campaign amounts to little less than national indoctrination where the gay community wants not only to be recognized but to be recognized as being a "normal" part of the society. It is "normal" to be gay. "God made me this way." "You violate my 'rights' if you do not see me as I see myself." "Intolerance will not be tolerated." The problem is that homosexuality is not, and never was, normal. The idea of discrimination assumes that special rights are given because a person is not normal. The concept is so absurd that it has countless comparisons. I discriminate if I do not permit a child with no legs to play jump rope with the other kids? I recognize the difference between the children but do not permit them to jump rope because it simply isn't possible. Perhaps God made the child that way but she remains abnormal. Does she have the right to jump rope?
Marriage is perhaps the most ancient of all civil ceremonies. There are records of them dating back to ancient Sumeria, written in Akkadian. Perhaps in its earliest stages it was merely intended to give man "possession" of a woman that would be his. Even Biblical content describes women in this form. In later ages, however, children became a consideration and marriage was largely intended to give children a heritage, a basis of familial roots. We find evidence of this concept in the old "shotgun weddings." But it remains the institution uniting man and woman as creating a legal foundation upon which their family can be established.
Should same-sex couples in a continuous relationship be entitled to joint ownership of property, insurance benefits and in the absence of direct family members, the power to make health decisions? Yes. Is marriage necessary for those benefits? That is the real job of homosexuals, not the constant publicity stunts bringing attention to the abuses against their imagined "gay rights." Campaign against insurance companies, change hospital policies, lobby for alterations in property law but don't diminish the beauty of marriage by pretending that it can be applied to two people of the same gender.

[jbfrizzle]

"but don't diminish the beauty of marriage by pretending that it can be applied to two people of the same gender."

Dats what I'm saying!!! Everybody understands that hetero marriage is beautifull and same sex marriage is ugly. Thats a scientific fact!! Please eat more fried chicken to understand these simple truisms.

[ugot2bkiddgme]

Well said and I agree 100%

[mysticpizza]

I wonder do Chick fila use gay chickens?

[jbfrizzle]

dat der gayness is a choice. Since chickens were not given free will from god they cannot be gay. That is a scientifically proven fact son. you need to eat more fried chicken cause it will help you understand dis stuff.

[AOCGUY]

What makes you think they actually use chickens?

[Man_ofreason]

Wow! Europe's about to implode and take the U.S. economy with it; Syria is killing its people with tanks, artillery and helicopters; the U.S., once a bastion of equal opportunity and fair play now has the greatest income inequality of any first world nation; etc., etc. But here we are commenting on this this stupid issue as if it's life or death. Perspective people - perspective!

[jbfrizzle]

Nothing is more important than my guns and god's desire for the true believer to eat fried chicken. Get yer commie lib topics off this post! Syria?? isnt that the voice that talks to me from my phone?? who cares?!! Europe?? Isnt that where the french people live?? I eat freedom fries son!!! (preferably in waffle form)

[AOCGUY]

Curious how so-called conservatives regularly spout off about personal responsibility while at the same time continuing to play the victim card. Not really sure what they are supposed to be the victim of or what exactly is the nature of the injury they were supposed to have suffered but complain they do.

Just imagine how much better this country would be if everyone would just quit concerning themselves over what other people believe and how they wish to live their lives.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

Did you miss the whole fiasco ? gay activists made an attempt to financially HURT the owner of Chick-fil-A, because he actually dared to publically give his position on gay marriage....gay activists attacked the place, had a "kiss-in" and attempted to hurt them financially and economically........it back-fired, the majority, which supports the owner's opinion, came out and supported the chain, which was under assault.

So, now you want to say they weren't the victims of a politically correct witch-hunt ??? same issue with the baker, it backfired, they are now showing INCREASED business, and aren't "shut-down" like you and your fellow CBS'ers suggested they would be.

[jbfrizzle]

CBS'ers are so g a y. Maybe if they ate more fried chicken they would grow a set.

[standingfrog]

Never have I been quite as concerned for the state of this country as I am now, after Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. Let me be clear, I HAVE NOT boycotted Chick-fil-A because of company President Dan Cathy's comments on marriage equality. I may not personally agree with him, but that's the beauty of America; we have the right to express our opinions freely. I HAVE boycotted Chick-fil-A because Dan Cathy has used profits from Chick-fil-A to donate five million dollars to organizations that advocate criminalizing gay people, denying gay people the ability to serve in the military, denying gay people the right to marry, depicting gay people as pedophiles, making it okay to fire gay people, denying gay parents access to their own children, denying children of gay couples the protection that comes from having both parents recognized as having responsibility for that child, treating gay people as broken, in need of repair, and depraved, along with a host of other oppressive initiatives. Yesterday, thousands of Americans packed into Chick-fil-A's across the nation, many seeking only delicious chicken, but many others went to show their support of the anti-gay organizations and initiatives that Dan Cathy supports. I worry for what that says about us as a nation. I fail to understand how denying anyone their human right to marry, to serve their country, to be a parent, or simply to exist free of discrimination can be justified by ANY means, especially in a country founded on the principle of the separation of church and state. Just because one group does not approve of another's lifestyle does not grant them the right to deny the other their rights as equal citizens, and I will defend this view as long as I live.

[proffessrG]

We should tear down all the Chick-Fil-A's and build coliseums where we can feed these Christians to the Lions and finally rid our culture from their intolerant hatred and ignorant beliefs.... And thus history can repeat itself.

[ajoseph1234]

""It's gone beyond anything I could have imagined," Huckabee told Fox News. "Every one of (the stores) that I know have reported record, historic sales yesterday. ... A lot of the stores ran out of chicken before the end of the day."

Pastor Rick Warren also tweeted that Cathy called him and told him the company set a world record Wednesday."

[andyk1234]

I've never eaten at CFA in my life, and probably never will. But that's probably because I live in the Midwest, and most people here are too smart to ingest that grease-laden swill. That's why CFA has never really taken off in this neck of the woods. Whenever I see these line-ups in the news, most of everyone in line is at least 100 lbs overweight. This picture CBS displayed is probably the most forgiving one yet for these supporters.

Also, anyone eating deep-fried chicken for breakfast probably needs to re-evaluate their existence on this earth. Jesus, go to the store and get a piece of fruit. Maybe then you'll be able to walk up the stairs to your office without huffing and puffing like Mike Huckabee probably does.

[jbfrizzle]

Oddly enough the midwest is the second most obese region in the country behind the deep south (Alabama, Mississippi, etc). But ya, fried anything is not good for you.

[andyk1234]

I guess I must just live in a more health-concious area of the Midwest then.