The broadcast networks complain loudly about real or perceived offenses committed by conservatives [1]. But when they are faced with violence committed by those they agree with, they downplay [2] or even bury such behavior. The silence of the networks regarding the vandalism of multiple Chick-fil-A restaurants is only the latest example of destruction committed by the left and ignored by the media.
Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy ran afoul of gay marriage advocates when he dared to praise “the biblical definition of the family unit” in an interview with the Baptist Press [3] and declare in a radio interview [4]: “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.’” The controversy his remarks sparked was intense; the media slammed him [5] for his remarks.
Others proved to be more active in their criticism of Chick-fil-A. Three separate Chick-fil-As have been vandalized – one in California [6], one in Missouri [7], and one in Maryland [8]. The vandalism of the Maryland Chick-fil-A comes at a particularly newsworthy time; Maryland is preparing to vote on same-sex marriage this November [9].
Artist Manny Castro admitted [10] that he vandalized the Chick-fil-A in California, claiming [11]: “I didn’t use violence. I used paint. Artists for centuries have expressed their opinions through this medium and I am no different. The word "FAG" spray painted on anything has never garnered the media attention that my cow with a paintbrush did. And that’s unfortunate.” Castro later claimed he would pay for the damage. He has since been arrested, according to news reports [12].
But the networks did not report on Castro’s expression of his opinion – or on the other two instances of vandalism, for that matter. The broadcast networks buried the three instances of vandalism altogether; not a single mention of vandalism at any of the three Chick-fil-A locations was reported by ABC, CBS, or NBC.
This fits in with the networks’ narrative to ignore the misdeeds [13] of those they happen to agree with, such as pro-abortion advocates [14] – and to complain about the supposedly destructive behavior of those they disagree with.