Eat up, you godless Sodomites!

[Tim]

I gather you don't buy that. Is it possible that all patriotic Americans, liberal or conservative, detest what those people do?

It's true that pretty much no one actually likes WBC. Empirically, though, I've never seen a single Facebook post or Tweet from my conservative friends (the lion's share of people that I deal with) regarding WBC, whereas I've seen quite a few from my progressive friends. I don't think conservatives detest WBC more than liberals do -- we all detest them, and liberals are more willing to talk openly about it.

[Uncle Ted]

Sometimes people want to curtail speech so as to silence folks like flag burners and talk show hosts. We need to let idiots speak so that it is clear they are idiots.

"Free speech is meaningless unless it tolerates the speech that we hate." – Henry J. Hyde.

I also very much agree that it makes it easier to spot the idiots. (Note that website contains a lot of idiots and some of it may be NSFW.)

[UtahDan]

I gather you don't buy that. Is it possible that all patriotic Americans, liberal or conservative, detest what those people do?

I thought that was what Tim was saying.

[DU Ute]

I think the quote is probably true because social conservatives fear that they'll be associated with these yokels.

"We don't hate 'fags'... that much."

[LA Ute]

I think the quote is probably true because social conservatives fear that they'll be associated with these yokels.

Probably true for some. I've also seen lots of conservative anger over WBC inflicting additional pain on military families at the moment they are burying their loved one.

This group of Texas A&M Aggies, for example.

Then there's just the appalling cruelty in what they do.

[YOhio]

Someone on CB posted this link. Interesting to see McDonalds right in the middle of the partisan divide, just barely below the average turnout line.

Each bubble in this chart represents an American chain restaurant (or in one case, a store). The relative bubble sizes are based on the percentage of American adults surveyed by Scarborough Research who reported patronizing a particular outlet in the previous 30 days (except the Whole Foods bubble, which is based on reporting of the previous seven days' consumption). About 42% of respondents, for example, reported going to McDonald's, while just 2% reported going to Hooters. About 11% said they'd eaten at Chick-fil-A. The bubbles were placed on the chart according to what those surveyed reported to be their political leanings and their likelihood of voting. Thus, a chain with a clientele that is heavily Republican and likely to vote would be placed in the upper right, whereas a chain whose clientele skewed Democratic and unlikely to vote would end up on the lower left. So what can we glean? Chick-fil-A's customers are among the most Republican in the country, but they're less likely to vote than Cracker Barrel diners. Well-to-do urban Democrats are buying takeout and groceries at Whole Foods, and they vote. Socioeconomic status, urbanism and regional geography shape the partisanship and voting behavior of restaurant customers. High-turnout voters of both parties are more likely to be found at sit-down chains, where they can afford the higher tabs.

[Commando]

Now that Whole Foods thing makes complete sense to me- not surprised in the least. However- WTF is going on at Church's Chicken? That's weird.

[DU Ute]

Someone on CB posted this link. Interesting to see McDonalds right in the middle of the partisan divide, just barely below the average turnout line.

The two restaurants skewed most highly Republican are known for their racism and homophobia.

[LA Ute]

The two restaurants skewed most highly Republican are known for their racism and homophobia.

[DU Ute]

Cracker Barrel and Chick-fil-a are farther right than any other two chains on that chart.

[TripletDaddy]

Now that Whole Foods thing makes complete sense to me- not surprised in the least. However- WTF is going on at Church's Chicken? That's weird.

Not weird at all. Maybe you are unfamiliar with the chain. They often focus on densely populated areas that are deemed less desirable for other major chains.

If you find yourself standing at a Church's Chicken, you are most likely in a poor, urban, illiterate, high crime neighborhood. voter apathy and even lack of political awareness runs rampant.

[Babs]

lol @ whole foods.

[LA Ute]

Cracker Barrel and Chick-fil-a are farther right than any other two chains on that chart.

Yes, but "known for their racism and homophobia?" I know Cracker Barrel had a civil rights lawsuit settlement a few years ago, but Chick-fil-A is a good company. Only its owner's views have come under fire. And to call the guy "homophobic?"

[DU Ute]

Yes, but "known for their racism and homophobia?" I know Cracker Barrel had a civil rights lawsuit settlement a few years ago, but Chick-fil-A is a good company. Only its owner's views have come under fire. And to call the guy "homophobic?"

Right or wrong, CFA will probably be seen as anti-gay going forward. Maybe homophobic was a poor choice. As for CB, the first thing I associate with it is racism. Maybe I'm in the minority.

[TripletDaddy]

Even the name "Cracker Barrel" has a white supremacist vibe to it.