Rahm Emanuel - Opposing Gay Marriage Isn't Chicago Values, But Anti-Semitism Is Just Fine

As I mentioned yesterday, the popular restaurant chain known as Chick-fil-A is being denied building permits in Chicago and other cities solely because the company's president is on record as opposing homosexual marriage.

Chick-fil-A's president Dan Cathy never said he would bar or refuse to serve same sex couples, merely that he is against legalizing such unions as marriages, which actually conforms to Illinois law at the time of writing.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel let it be known that he fully supports this:

"Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values," the mayor said in a statement when asked about [Alderman] Moreno's decision. "They disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents. This would be a bad investment, since it would be empty."

Of course, unless the City of Chicago is planning on subsidizing the proposed restaurant and paying all of the costs and fees involved, they're not 'investing' in anything, and this is yet another example of how Obama's attitude towards business resonates with many Democrats.

But that aside, let's take a look at what Mayor Emanuel feels are Chicago values:

Ignoring Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan’s history of anti-Semitic remarks, Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday welcomed the army of men dispatched to the streets by Farrakhan to stop the violence in Chicago neighborhoods.

“People of faith have a role to play and community leaders have a role to play in helping to protect our neighborhoods and our citizens. You cannot get there on just one piece of an anti-crime strategy,” the mayor said.

“The police have a role to play. Tearing down abandoned buildings has a role to play. Shutting liquor stores that are a cancer in the community have a role to play. Community leaders have a role to play. Pastors have a role to play. Principals have a role to play. And most importantly, parents have roles to play. They have decided, the Nation of Islam, to help protect the community. And that’s an important ingredient, like all the other aspects of protecting a neighborhood.”

For the last two Mondays, black men in dress suits and bow ties fanned out across violence-plagued Chicago neighborhoods — first Auburn-Gresham, then South Shore — to form a human wall of protection against any sudden outbreak of gunfire.

The army of men, know as the Fruit of Islam, were led by Farrakhan, who ordered the show of force in response to last month’s brutal murder of seven-year-old Heaven Sutton.

Emanuel’s decision to steer clear of Farrakhan’s history of anti-Semitic remarks is a far cry from the 1994 controversy that followed former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s private meeting with Farrkakhan.

During the meeting, Daley prodded Farrakhan to work out his differences with Jewish leaders in talks arranged by the Commission on Human Relations. Daley even hinted that if those conversations did not take place, the Nation of Islam would have trouble winning the city approval needed for its planned development along the 79th Street commercial strip.

So, let's parse this...by definition, according to Chicago values, a Christian who merely supports the traditional definition of marriage is unwelcome to do business there. But the racist, anti-semitic leader of the Nation of Islam is a valued partner and is legitimized by the mayor's support in having the NOI's personal security thugs acting as police.

Not only that, but rest assured that the Nation is going to use this to increase their street cred and as an excuse to proselytize with every gang banger they come into contact with.

By the way, I wonder if the mayor realizes how Louis Farrakhan and the NOI feel about homosexuals, let along same sex marriage?

If he does, is he going to call for the revocation of business licenses and permits for all the fish houses, markets, bakeries, laundromats and other businesses the Nation owns in Chicago?

You bet he won't.

So let's recap. Christian people of faith, not part of Chicago values. Anti-Semitic, racist and anti-gay Muslim people of faith, just fine.

Chicago values, you understand.Everything depends on who you are and who you know.