While the government should be required to treat all citizens the same, individuals are guaranteed the right of freedom of assembly which to me says you may choose who you will and who you will not associate with.
I believe that any business should have the right to post a sign that they will or will not do business with any group or individual that they choose.
OTOH, if the owner of a business chooses to cross the street to harass someone who is not welcome in their establishment, then they are liable to civil penalties as addressed in court.
Liberals are liberals first. They worship at the altar of liberalism and will do so even to their detriment.
I completely agree it was the baker's right to refuse to make a special cake for the gay couple based on the baker's religious beliefs. He offered to sell them any of his standard cakes, but just would not make a special one they wanted. But I just worry where you draw the line. At some point it does turn into a true discrimination issue.
I can just see this getting completely out of hand quickly.
Any private service related business should be able to dictate who they provide service to. If the market deems their policies are bigoted and prejudiced, that business won't last long. The courts should keep their noses out of it.
Matt
At least in my area of the country and within my circle of friends and I do not know anybody that has run into this type of discrimination. I also travel a lot and have not seen it on any trip to any part of the country
Maybe I have just been lucky !!
So, successful and innocent owners should change his business's names because a bunch of idiots can't figure out where to aim their hate? I don't agree.
This isn't a franchise situation where owners have to play by franchise rules. These are unaffiliated restaurants in other states that happen to have the same name. It's bad enough that some people think making hate calls and posts, and death threats is going to accomplish something, but it's profoundly stupid when they can't even aim them at their target.
Matt
People are quick to attack when they have social media as a weapon. The owner should have told her staff to serve the meal and been done with it. Now there's consequences.
The misplaced outrage is being reported by multiple sources. Enough so that I think it's fair to say it's not "unconfirmed". You probably won't hear it on FOX, however.
That said, I do agree with you, this whole mess was started by someone who probably shouldn't own a service business. It's definitely her fault, but that doesn't excuse the misplaced hate responses, either.
Matt
Grey Ghost's Link
What is "leftwing" about disapproving of both the cause and the inappropriate responses to this situation?
BTW, I did find where FOX reported about the wrong restaurants getting the backlash, so it must be true, eh? I stand corrected on my earlier assertion that they wouldn't cover it.
Matt
LOL, you're right Solo, and it's costing them big time.
This means rude and obnoxious people. This means people with poor hygiene. This means people that are purposefully disrupting the environment of the establishment.
When you are a private business serving the public, there are certain things you have to table. And, there are certain things you should not.
Unspoken political differences is one of them (to table). Maxine Waters walking in and running her mouth the way she does is one them (not to table). At that point you, as a business owner, not only have the right to say get out - but get the HELL out.
Often times the behavior involved in the backlash of these events is just as bad as the original offense. Make no mistake, I think the Red Hen's owner created this mess, now she get's to clean it up. It wouldn't surprise me if her restaurant doors were permanently closed in a few weeks, nor would it upset me.
But, as I said, I'm equally disappointed with the misplaced outrage. Making hate calls and FB posts, sending threatening emails, posting negative Yelp reviews, even death threats....all to the wrong eateries? That defines stupidity, and shows there is very little moral high ground left on either side of the isle to cling to.
Matt
I'm a small business guy conservative in CA.....so it goes without saying I never discuss politics. I think its unprofessional....my clients don't need to know my feelings on that or what I ate for breakfast....we talk business.
I think the owner of the Red hen is going to get a hard lesson on separating her politics from business....but then I read she organized a shouting session at the Huckabees when they went across the street....and I take that back, she won't learn squat. Plus when she goes belly up...it will be all Trumps fault.
I bet if the Red Hen handled it differently....a quiet side conversation would be all it takes...and its off of the front page....Sarah has better things to do. But as it stands when RH escalates the venom by following them across the street....they got what was coming to them.
But regardless..... the money being spent at my store is all one color....green...... and pretty much all I see and deal with. Obnoxious, vagrant, just a pain in the azz..... yeah, I've bounced few...... normally with an "I'm sorry, we are all booked up....."
Folks seem to be missing out on a key point, according to Huckabee Sanders Dad his daughter left, then this group harasses her extended family and friends across the street at a different place of business. Sarah wasn't event there (e.g. she and her husband left, went home). Plus some of her relatives are Democrats, even leaning left. Stupid, stupid people not even knowing what they are protesting and whom. Reminds me of the time the University I worked for was fire bombed, the dummies fire bombed in the name of stopping GMO foods and GMO research, the building they chose was a alternative, non-GMO research facility. Destroyed years of research and possibly endangered lives in the process. Complete idiots.
That said my state's former governor lived in my area. Met him in public a few times at local business. Didn't like all of his policies but what can you say about a guy stopping by the hardware store to ask about the 2 cycle oil for his mower?? Certainly didn't have folks following him and his family around harassing them...
They were inhospitable and will now pay the price for it... rightfully so.
I'm an NRA Endowment Life member, and as much as I'd like to, I do not have a sticker on my truck window. Business is business.
Now 7 PAYING customers are asked to leave the Red Hen. Liberals find the act commendable and urge it be spread as a "movement."
What flexible standards they have! Who knew?
(OK, I already know the answer! We all knew.)
Pete