Photo via Chick-fil-A.com
Chick-fil-A President and COO Dan Cathy’s decision to go public with his anti-gay views has led to a tremendous public debate, featuring protests, counter-protests, and even an unofficial ban from the city of Boston.
Although Cathy’s comments have caused an uproar, Chick-fil-A’s opposition to gay rights is not exactly breaking news. The fast food chain donated $5 million to anti-gay organizations between 2003 and 2010, and Cathy himself has donated generously to several politicians who share his opposition to marriage equality.
Here are five politicians who have received substantial donations from Cathy, according to FEC records:
Lynn Westmoreland
Cathy donated $1,000 to Rep. Westmoreland’s first Congressional campaign in 2004. The Georgia Republican is best known for co-sponsoring a bill to place the Ten Commandments in the House of Representatives and the Senate — despite only being able to name three of them — and for referring to Barack and Michelle Obama as “uppity.“
Elizabeth Dole
Cathy has donated $4,000 to former North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole throughout her political career. In her failed re-election campaign, Dole ran a highly criticized ad which suggested that her opponent did not believe in God, in an obvious attempt to pander to religious donors like Cathy.
David Scott
Scott is a rare Democrat who enjoys the conservative Cathy’s financial support; his vocal support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage certainly helped convince Cathy to open his checkbook.
Johnny Isakson
Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson struggled to mount a political career in Georgia until he shifted dramatically to the right on social issues such as abortion, gun rights, and gay marriage. That shift helped him win political office, along with the support of donors such as Cathy (who chipped in $500 to Isakson’s 2003 Senate campaign.)
Herman Cain
Cathy has been a tremendous supporter of his fellow fast food kingpin, former presidential candidate Herman Cain. Despite Cain’s alleged struggles with the “traditional” marriage values, Cathy has supported Cain since the start of his political career (donating $3,000 to Cain’s longshot Senate bid in 2003.)
Photo by Gage Skidmore
