'Surrendering to Appease Those Who Despise Them': Huckabee Hammers Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is coming under heavy fire for announcing it will no longer donate to Christian ministries that have been falsely accused of anti-LGBTQ views.
The chicken chain says, instead of making donations to groups like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salvation Army, the company will now focus on its initiative to nourish the potential in every child.
The Salvation Army has responded saying it is, "saddened to learn that a corporate partner has felt it necessary to divert funding to other hunger, education and homelessness organizations—areas in which The Salvation Army, as the largest social services provider in the world, is already fully committed".
Over the years, both the Salvation Army and the FCA have taken a biblical stance on the definition of marriage, and that position has apparently proved untenable for the Christian-owned Chick-fil-A, at least from a marketing standpoint. LGBTQ activists have relentlessly targeted the company for supporting those Christian groups.
Since the restaurant made the announcement on Monday, conservatives have shared their shock and disbelief on social media.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tweeted about the move, saying in part, Chick-fil-A is "surrendering to critics and betraying loyal customers to appease those who despise them."
Huckabee said he now regrets standing up for the company that he thought would stay true to the convictions of founder Truett Cathy.
In Aug 2012, I coordinated a national @ChickfilA Appreciation Day after they were being bullied by militant hate groups. Millions showed up. Today, @ChickfilA betrayed loyal customers for $$. I regret believing they would stay true to convictions of founder Truett Cathey. Sad.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) November 18, 2019
Huckabee also tweeted, "In Aug 2012, I coordinated a national @ChickfilA Appreciation Day after they were being bullied by militant hate groups. Millions showed up. Today, @ChickfilA betrayed loyal customers for $$. I regret believing they would stay true to convictions of founder Truett Cathy. Sad."
Appearing on The Family Research Council's "Washington Watch" podcast on Tuesday, Huckabee said Chick-fil-A's new position was really a disappointment.
"Such a bewildering situation as to why Chick-fil-A after being so successful would decide they are going to surrender to the bullies," the former Arkansas governor asked. "And I think the implications of this are far broader than Chick-fil-A and that's what I'm concerned about."
"Chick-fil-A can give their money to anyone they want or to any group they want. They're free to do that," Huckabee told host Tony Perkins. "But when they did what they did yesterday, what was really objectionable they basically affirmed the lie that has been told from the Far Left about the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
By succumbing to the pressure, they will cause a lot of people to say 'O yeah, the Salvation Army. Boy, they're a bigoted organization.' Tony, the Salvation Army serves everyone. They serve more people who are homeless, more people without food, than any organization in the world. The great irony was that Chick-fil-A said 'We're not going to work with the Salvation Army anymore because we're going to focus on homelessness and feeding people.' And they disassociated themselves from the number one homeless and feeding organization in the world. That makes no sense.
But it left a stain on the Salvation Army," Huckabee continued. I'm so proud the Salvation Army came out with a strong statement pushing back and showing how they help anybody regardless of who they are."
Listen to Mike Huckabee on The Family Research Council's podcast "Washington Watch with Tony Perkins" on Chick-fil-A's decision to end donations to the Salvation Army and the FCA.
DailyWire's Matt Walsh highlights the obvious contradiction as Chick-fil-A shifts their focus toward other charities.
"The company confirms that it will be breaking ties with the Salvation Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Paul Anderson Youth Home. In other words, it will stop donating to charities that help with education, homelessness, and hunger, in order to focus more on education, homelessness, and hunger," Walsh wrote.
Conservative talk show host Mark Davis says the move is an insult to everyone who has supported Chick-fil-A.
#ChickFilA shafting #SalvationArmy and #FellowshipOfChristianAthletes is a slap to any and all of us who have stood with them as they faced pressure and criticism. For them to buckle under pressure now is a sad and infuriating thing. I pray they find clarity.
— Mark Davis (@MarkDavis) November 19, 2019
#ChickFilA shafting #SalvationArmy and #FellowshipOfChristianAthletes is a slap to any and all of us who have stood with them as they faced pressure and criticism. For them to buckle under pressure now is a sad and infuriating thing. I pray they find clarity.
Another talk show host, Joe Pags Pagliarulo, is calling the move shameful.
in a stunning move, @ChickfilA kowtows to the intolerant, hate mob. I don't eat fried chicken and rarely have fast food.. but, I cannot tell you how disturbing this news is to those who believe in traditional Judeo-Christian values. Shame on you. https://t.co/YjxdhjqnsH
— Joe Pags Pagliarulo (@JoeTalkShow) November 18, 2019
"In a stunning move, @ChickfilA kowtows to the intolerant, hate mob. I don't eat fried chicken and rarely have fast food...but, I cannot tell you how disturbing this news is to those who believe in traditional Judeo-Christian values. Shame on you."
Even Texas Congressman Chip Roy is weighing in, questioning if Chick-fil-A's next move will be to abandon its commitment to honoring the Sabbath.
Correct. And now my attitude toward @ChickfilA is “meh.” It’s just like every other corporation that ultimately capitulates. Sundays not far behind? https://t.co/eYvMIXm88g
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) November 18, 2019
"Correct. And now my attitude toward @ChickfilA is "meh." It's just like every other corporation that ultimately capitulates. Sundays not far behind?"
Dan Celia, president, and CEO of Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries, Inc. tweeted that according to Chick-fil-A, the unchangeable God has become changeable.
Mr. Cathy said in 2012 that supporting same-sex marriage was “inviting God’s judgment.” Mr. Cathy must now believe that the unchangeable God of yesterday, today and tomorrow is changeable. Men of steadfast, unwavering faith becoming lukewarm.. Well, read . Not good 4 Biz.
— Dan Celia (@financialissues) November 19, 2019
"Mr. Cathy said in 2012 that supporting same-sex marriage was 'inviting God's judgment.' Mr. Cathy must now believe that the unchangeable God of yesterday, today and tomorrow is changeable. Men of steadfast, unwavering faith becoming lukewarm...Well, read . Not good 4 Biz."
Rodney Bullard, vice president of corporate social responsibility for the restaurant and the foundation's executive director, posted a letter on the company's website.
"Moving forward, with a continued eye on nourishing the potential in every child, we are narrowing our corporate giving to three critical needs facing children in our communities: education, homelessness, and hunger. The Chick-fil-A Foundation will deepen our giving to a smaller number of organizations working exclusively in these areas."
But, LGBTQ activist group, GLAAD, isn't applauding Chick-fil-A, saying more transparency is needed if the company wants to be taken seriously.
Drew Anderson, GLAAD's director of campaigns, received the restaurant's news with "cautious optimism."
Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A President Tim Tassopoulos said the company will still "consider" donating to faith-based organizations.
"There's no question we know that, as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are…There are lots of articles and newscasts about Chick-fil-A, and we thought we needed to be clear about our message," he concluded.
