To everyone who took part in “Chick-fil-A” day, CONGRATULATIONS! I believe we sent a message that will reverberate for a good while.

In its normal fashion, the Tampa Bay Times distorted what it was all about in the “news” article they printed. You can read it here. It’s also interesting to note that the headline in the online version is different than the headline in the print version and the online version doesn’t have the subhead I’m objecting to.

The print headline reads: “Fans flock to area Chick-fil-A’s” and the subhead says: “It is part of an effort nationwide to back the chain’s opposition to same-sex marriage.”

The phrase “the chain’s opposition to same-sex marriage” is a blatant misrepresentation.

This whole issue boiled up because the President of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, said on the “The Ken Coleman Radio Show” that those advocating for same-sex marriage will in turn bring “God’s judgment” upon us.

“I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,’” Cathy said. “I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about.”

While Dan Cathy has his personal opinion and voiced it, the position of the company – which consists of 1,600 franchises owned by other people, is clearly posted on their website. Their official statement can be read on their website by clicking here.

The Times effort to make this an issue with Chick-fil-A rather than with Dan Cathy personally is a blatant example of the liberal left using every opportunity to bully and intimidate companies that embrace Judeo-Christian values.

I’ve decided it’s time to take the Times to task for their distortions and misrepresentations.

Will you help me by forwarding this to your friends and sharing it when it comes to your Facebook page?

Here’s the letter to the editor I sent in this morning.

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August 2, 2012

Editor – Tampa Bay Times

Re: “Fans flock to area Chick-fil-A’s” 8/1/12

Dear Editor,

It’s time that someone called you on your distortion of the facts!

Yesterday I wrote a letter about your Pledge editorial and pointed out the inaccuracies in that article. Today it’s your story on Chick-fil-A.

This one is simple. You state incorrectly in your subhead, “It is part of an effort nationwide to back chain’s opposition to same-sex marriage.”

The truth is that while Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy has stated his personal opinion, the chain has taken no position on same-sex marriage.

Their official Chick-fil-A statement on the issue is available on their website. Anyone with any journalistic integrity would have gone there first and not misrepresented the company’s position.

Their official position is, and has been, “The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our Restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 Restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”

As an independent business the Times has the right to be as liberal as you want.

As a major local news source you don’t have the right to mischaracterize issues in order to further your liberal agenda and then present them as if they were true.

Sincerely,

Terry Kemple

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Please let me know what you think, and write your own letter if you feel inclined to do so. Feel free to contact me if you want to:  813-368-9077.

Together we can make a difference!

God bless you!

Terry