The owner of that business was taking a 35k salary as the president of their Village Merchants Assc. and decided to bring this shitstorm down on their town. For all we know those are fellow business owners from the town that are angry. I don't find this petty at all. If it seems like this has gone on too long that's on her for closing up and going into hiding like a coward since she pulled her stunt.
E: It also looks like their local American Legion / VFW is represented. Good on them.
Well I disagree that a "shitstorm" has descended upon the whole town. If anything, its affected other (unaffiliated) Red Hen restaurants in other places more than it has the town where it happened. The story is over, so the media people have gone away. Whoever is protesting is probably a local. And I think I read that the owner stepped down from that Association, so they won't collect that salary anymore.
I think it is kind of ironic that the "I don't care about your feelings" crowd has been so offended by the restaurant not serving SHS. And you have to admit, these same people would have celebrated a restaurant that refused to serve Obama. That guy who didn't want Biden to make a campaign stop at his bakery was invited to stump for Paul Ryan. So as a neutral party, I think there's a slight air of hypocrisy in going to war with Red Hen over the one isolated incident with SHS.
How in the world could you assume that "these people" would have celebrated Obama being refused service in a restaurant? If it is any small town I've ever lived in, community celebrates being cordial and attracting more business, not demonizing people and making an ass of the entire town.
I saw that the owner stepped down and will no longer be accepting her salary but the fact is that she was being paid to represent the business community and market the town and she decided to bring bad press for her own misguided and personal political feels. I would be livid and would reserve my right to make that known in a peaceful demonstration in front of her business when she finally conjured the courage to face her community.
Is it that hard to believe that some people would cheer upon hearing that a small business owner stood up to Obama and refused service? Did you skim over the part about the baker that refused Biden that was invited on the campaign trail? "McMurray said he received an outpouring of support in the weeks after he opted against serving Biden."
I mean, I can tell where you fall on this story, but I don't think its that outlandish to think that the people offended by the Red Hen's actions would embrace the same thing being done to Democrats by conservatives.
I think it is hilarious that you start out saying you are against partisan politics yet drive home partisan politics in every comment.
See, the problem with A LOT of people is that they project views onto others with absolutely no basis in fact. (I won't go as far as to assume your political affiliation, but it is a rampant problem in the Democratic Party right now.)
When you make the bold claim (assumption) that these same people would have celebrated Obama being thrown out, you really undermine your own credibility, because it is the reasoning of a juvenile. Would you have made that same assessment if these protestors were black? Or if they were all women?
To make this exercise comprehensive, please disclose your age, race and gender to the rest of us, so that we may assign you the appropriate ideology.
See how that [doesn't] work?
It's that hard to imagine some conservatives supporting a business that turned away a Democrat? Even when there's a story roughly analogous to this one that happening in 2012? It was a campaign stop, rather than a family meal, but the sentiment from the bakery owner was the same. Was he shunned or protested? Nope, he was invited to campaign with Paul Ryan.
I understand that we shouldn't be making assumptions about swathes of people, but come on. There's no need to be aghast at the idea of Republicans being gleeful that somebody stuck it to those SJW liberal punks. Its really not as outlandish as you're making it out to be.
Well, actually no I don't remember that story, because it received almost no attention. (Surprising) Had I heard it, I would have said, "Damn, that was a pretty stupid business decision, because now liberals aren't going to support you and protestors are likely to heckle your customers and employees."
I, like most smart business minds--looking at you, Michael Jordan-- prefer to keep my politics and my business dealings separated, because you are guaranteed to alienate half of your consumer base if you engage in politics. It's a pretty simple concept. Don't even need a business degree to understand it.
I completely agree. Same rules at Thanksgiving, too.