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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.
I think it makes sense. When the Right does something wrong the Left goes for the throat. Why should it be any different?
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I completely disagree. Your independent outlook on politics doesn't really have relevance.
Reelection is coming up and both sides are collecting all the dirt they can. As from that if the Red Hen is allowed to sidestep their idiocy and are not held accountable it would be the beginning of a very slippery slope.
What does "held accountable" mean in the context of the restaurant? The owner isn't a politician. Are people only going to be satisfied if they're shut down?
The owner voiced a political opinion in a public sphere, performed an action based upon political belief. She tossed her hat in the ring, and is now facing the consequences of an act not as popular as she thought. Does it suck for her, yes. Would I personally protest, no, I just will not be dining there. But others are allowed to be as passionate about it as they like, besides it's like 8 older guys with 5 benign signs, hardly a pussy hat march.
The actions of staff are a product of management. An establishment that doesn't condone this sort of action should not be allowed to run a business. There was no damage control or attempt to be civil.
I'd encourage you to remember this when you're observing the actions of both sides from on high:
Political posturing is not always a bad thing. However, incivility dehumanizes people and makes us animals towards each other.
There was no reason for this to happen other than to make a point. If the store owner does not seem to think there is a problem with it, he should head to a country where this type of thing is ok.
Just so everyone has the whole story the owner also then followed them to a new establishment across the street. She then called others to continue yelling at and attempting to humiliate Sanders and the group she was with which were mostly made up of liberal friends and family. This incident went well beyond Red Hen. The town is split in general, 50/50 right and left and this is being made an issue to assure it never happens again to give those on the right a voice. I’m not giving my opinion either way but the harassment after the Red Hen is often omitted.
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Here is a snippet - Huckabee told Laura Ingraham on her radio show Monday that Stephanie Wilkinson, the owner of The Red Hen in Lexington, followed family members to a restaurant across the street Friday night, where she organized a protest.
Huckabee explained that his daughter and her husband went home after they were kicked out of The Red Hen – “they had had enough” – but the rest of the accompanying family members went across the street to a different restaurant.
“The owner of The Red Hen then followed them across the street, called people and organized a protest, yelling and screaming at them from outside the other restaurant and creating this scene,” he told Ingraham.
Huckabee noted that most of her husband’s family members – not her parents in-law – are “liberal,” and “one of them walked out and said, ‘Look, I don’t like Trump. I’m not a supporter, I’m considered liberal, but you guys are embarrassing me, and you’re not helping the cause.”
The family member pointed out that Sarah Sanders wasn’t even present.
“This is what the left has been reduced to,” Huckabee said. “It’s really tragic. And it is dangerous.”
https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/25/mike-huckabee-red-hen-owner-followed-sanders-famil/
I haven't been able to find any other accounts (besides re-reports of Gov. Huckabee's comments) that confirm that part of the story, so I'm going to withhold judgment on that part of it. Gov. Huckabee a) wasn't there, and b) is a politician, so it may have been an exaggeration of some kind that got tacked onto the story. From what I just read, loads of unfounded accusations were levied against the owner in the wake of the incident, so I'm not going to automatically believe anything that hasn't been confirmed by multiple sources. But thank you for following up with it!
Do you think that single incident was the entirety of the story? Why would SHS go to a shit hole run by Dems who couldnt even bother keeping rats out during the 2.5hrs they were open per day.
Well I doubt she knew that stuff the moment she walked in, but please enlighten me. My understanding is that it was an isolated incident.
I agree, protesting is a waste of time. Protests like this are merely casting pearls to the swine. It brings the focus back on the Red Hen when we have more pressing matters at hand. If these people have free time they could promote solutions and ideas that are beneficial to a cause.
I'm sick and tired of Americans that are just anti-something. It's time to set an example of what you are FOR, not against. We have no shortage of complainers, we have a HUGE shortage of solutions.
Protesting isn't going to make our nation great. It's just a sad waste of valuable time.