Chick-fil-A says it set a sales record on Wednesday, the day that supporters rallied around the fast-food chain amid a debate over its president's opposition to same-sex marriage.
The chain won't release sales numbers, but "we can confirm reports that it was a record-setting day," said Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A's executive vice president of marketing.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee had called on people to buy food at the chain on Wednesday, which he dubbed "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," after a backlash against the company and their president.
The controversy started after an interview with the fast-food restaurant chain's president and COO, Dan Cathy, appeared in The Baptist Press on July 16. He weighed in with his views on family.
"We are very much supportive of the family - the biblical definition of the family unit," Cathy said. "We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."
On a Facebook page Huckabee created announcing the event, more than 620,000 people said they would participate.
He called for a response to a backlash against the restaurants and its president. Customers flocked to the restaurants on Wednesday, many showing their support for the chain and Cathy's opposition to same-sex marriage.
Gay rights activists are planning to hold a "national same-sex kiss day at Chick-fil-A" on Friday.
FULL STORY
I saw on the news that the Pastors from the Afro-American community are chastising the President for his evolved views of Gay Marriage. Saying that he changed his views just to gain fund raising dollars from the Gay community.
Hmmm, I wonder if the liberal left will exercise their voices against these Black Pastors...Probably not, but if they do I'm ready to play my race card and call them racist. How does it feel ?
Go kill yourself
now are they all repubs, or are they just lookin for a lil piece a chicken?
I guess we'll see how this turns out. People who support a cause generally only turn out once or twice. People who oppose a cause boycott continuously. Really, though, even if I think the owners are outdated hypocrites, do we really need to be doing stuff like this during a recession? The family that owns this chain already has money and will be okay. But the people who work there will be in trouble if the chain goes under. Either way, innocent people get hurt. We should remember that. Sometimes there are more than two clear-cut sides to an issue.
Yes, this might have brought out all the gay haters but will it last. It's also caused a lot of people who previously ate at Chick Fila to no longer support the chain. Only time will tell.
Disrespectful and not an example for humanity...shame on you.
Gays, Liberals and atheists, just go find your own restaurant. You want to condemn a man for having an opinion. I thought you guys were all about free speech?
Go back to your beer Jim.
learn the definition of free speech. It has nothing to do with protection from the public and everything to do with protection from the government. He can have any beliefs he wants, but he is not immune from the backlash he has received.
Exactly, Jim
Cows say" "Wheee R Bee-guh-tid"
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Martin Niemöller – German pastor 1946
If you don't stand up for everyone's freedom, even if it doesn't matter to you at all, they might not be there to stand up for yours when you need them.
so that just makes me ask, which side of the issue are you refering to? the company being persecuted because they did something distasteful and nobody telling elected officials that its not their job to inflict their concepts on that company or the company giving money to potential hate groups?
my opinion is that the elected officials ARE breaking the law while the company is not. i may disagree with them (I do) but we dont elect people to make up things that are extra-legal based on opinion
how true this is!!!!!
Well said Zach!
"my opinion is that the elected officials ARE breaking the law while the company is not"
how? no one has stopped them from building restaurants. Those officials expressed their opinions. until they actually keep the business from opening, there is no law being broken.
T in NH,
The supreme court says they can donate to whatever groups they want (unless banned as a terrorist group). Your perception or my perception doesnt really matter. Elected officials shouldnt be punishing them based on doing something within the bounds of our laws.
I went yesterday and am very proud to support their company. I don't think people should give into the bigots and hate-mongers on the left.
why always the left? what a one track mind.
This is not about Freedom of Speech or Religious Freedom....the Cathy family has the right to say whatever they want....just like the KKK has a right to say what it wants to.....It's about funding hate groups like Focus on the Family. I really wonder if the Cathy family was funding or supporting the KKK if there would be any outcry....or would it just be a freedom of speech issue..........why doesn't someone ask ? I would love to hear the answer from the "Hucksters" ..I mean the supporters of Mike Huckabee and the Cathys...... let's ask them......
Record day for fairy-tale based bigotry.
Oh yeah, like it's hard to find a bunch of haters in this country to support a pathetic food chain. You people think it's cool that a bunch of fat, hateful so-called christians went and ate a bunch of deep fried chicken to support christianity? PATHETIC AND HILARIOUS!
Let me guess...your name is Bob and you Suck!!
People are furious because of this.LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....you mad bro ??
Whaaaaaaa, I'm butthurt because people showed support.Now I'm gonna bash christians.Whaaaaaaaaaaa I'm so sad.