McDonald's Owner Won't Turn Off Fox News; Customer Not 'Lovin' It'
A customer who learned the hard way this weekend that McDonald's has no policy on what its franchise owners show on their restaurant televisions speaks out against the corporation.
Craig Lechner visited the Fair Lawn McDonald's this weekend to reward his 3-year-old daughter with a Happy Meal. He left concerned the trip may have done more harm than good after the owner insisted on keeping the restaurant's television tuned to Fox News.
"A man shot himself in the head live on Fox two weeks ago," said Lechner, a Fair Lawn resident with two young children. "If we were [at McDonald's], I would be explaining that to my kids."
Lechner, a self-described liberal, said his opposition to showing Fox News on the restaurant's television is not a political issue, but rather one of keeping his young children blind to the world's harsh realities.
"I intend to keep my kids innocent for as long as possible," he said. "So of all places, why is McDonald's putting me into a position where I have to explain to my son what a 'serial killer' is or why people on TV are arguing about the meaning of 'rape?'"
Lechner said when he asked the restaurant owner, Sebastian Lentini, to change the channel, his request was denied.
"He said 'No. That’s my decision. I'm enjoying it,'" Lechner said. "He wouldn't even do it when I asked him nicely."
Outraged, the father of two whipped out his phone and videotaped the exchange, alternating between shots of an impassive Lentini denying his request to change the channel and Fox News blaring on the restaurant television.
Lentini declined comment on the incident, offering only that he displays a variety of news programming at his restaurant, not only Fox.
The restaurant's manager, Martha DeLeon, said she was in the kitchen during the altercation between Lechner and Lentini, but confirmed that it happened. DeLeon said McDonald's does not have a policy on the television programming its restaurants show, but that the restaurant had never previously received a customer complaint about its programming.
A representative from McDonald's corporate confirmed that the company does not regulate the programming its franchise restaurant owners show.
While she said she'd never heard of a franchise McDonald's owner playing R-rated or graphic material on his restaurant television, it is not technically against company policy.
If a customer takes issue with programming, McDonald's documents the complaint and sends it over to the franchise owner's organization to take care of it, she said.
Lechner, who also spoke with a McDonald's corporate rep and regional manager, said he was also told that the company had no restrictions on what its franchise owners show on their TVs.
"What if they showed porn?" Lechner said, taking the issue a step further. "You’d think with McDonald's that if you asked and complained that they’d comply and have some kind of policy about it... This is Fair Lawn, New Jersey. These are kids here."
Lechner said when he pressed a McDonald's representative on whether franchise owners could show pornography, he was amazed to learn that it was up to the individual owner.
Sex, however, is not Lechner's concern. He said he'd rather his young kids be exposed to sex than violence.
"This is about us as a society being so desensitized to violent images that we have no problem showing the violent, bloody news in a kids' restaurant to 3-year-olds," he said. "I don't want my kids to lose their innocence during a Happy Meal."
Update: McDonald's customer Craig Lechner has issued a statement explaining his decision to go public with his run-in with the restaurant's owner.
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marilyn manson
3:45 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Get a life Craig Lechner. Next time go and eat in your car. You can try to shield your kids all you want and they'll grow up to be a whiney d-bag like yourself, grow a set pal.
(0)
3:56 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
wow- marilyn manson reads the fiar lawn patch! kind of weird that he is interested in Fair Lawn news but i guess it's kind of neat !
JoMama
7:27 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Yet another flaming liberal who is trying to push his views on the rest of the world. Go find a place to eat where they serve tofu and play communist news network aka CNN.
ash
11:48 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Yes yes Marilyn we all know you cut your children's eyelids off and force them to watch porno and demo-derbies...
mallia jordan
12:45 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
marilyn manson - get a new name! u r probably ugly like the real one!
Mallia Jordan
sorah dubitsky
1:01 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Obviously you're an idiot who has no kids.
Jenne
3:54 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
It does seem odd for a liberal to be complaining about what he might have to explain to his kids. But so many people like watching rowdy television it's the chance you take when you take your kids anywhere that has tvs.
(What's still odder is to see anti-liberals supporting the restaurant owner. *grin*)
Free Craig Lechner
5:20 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Any other advice, Antichrist Superstar? I'm sure violence is excellent for kids.
Donny
9:57 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I agree ,Lechner is an idiot.He is being political and its not about his kids, that's a ruse.Fox is the number one news cable station today .They have the largest audience during the debates.Finally a customer can make a decision to eat there or not.If you don't like something about a business don't go there , otherwise shut up.
Daniel D.
12:00 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
If you take your kids out in public, they may be exposed to public things. Like television. If you want to "shelter" your kids from the harsh reality of the real world, then don't take them out in public. It is not the publics job to sheild the real world environment from your kids. Daniel, proud father of a 6yo boy. Wooster, OH
Alex J
3:55 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Any one who takes their kid to McDonalds has already exposed their kid to some harsh stuff. Their GMO, high calorie, non-organic processed food is much worse for a young child than seeing a man fall over from a self inflicted shot to the head where no blood is seen. That food injured his kid's health, the image was behind her comprehension level.
ash
11:52 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
No Alex, the image wasn't "behind her comprehension level" (which makes no sense), it wasn't even beyond her comprehension level. The customers argument is that news portrays graphic imagery all the time and that he doesn't want his 3 year old exposed to it. The random trip to McDonalds isn't nearly as bad for a kid's body as you think it is. But flashing images of rape and murder and the constant portrayal of celebrities fuels a depraved culture. It sounds like he's got his kids diets in mind, on a more important level than you do.
Good Dad, way to go!
mallia jordan
12:47 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Yes, Alex J, I am afraid the world is toxic - and McDonald's selling out to corporate greed is the lowest
BAD BUSINESS
4:16 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
while i believe he is free to put whatever he wants on the tv's at his store i think it is a bad business move for Lentini. at mcdonalds you get customers of all ages, backgrounds, religious and political beliefs. just think its kind of a stupid move to have fox news on (id say the same about a liberal news outlet).
also think Lechner is over reacting a bit and if i was in his situation and offended by what was on the t.v. i would just never buy anything from there again
keirsten
4:26 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
wow, i am shocked at the comments. maybe none of you have small children. the owner should have just changed the show.
Alex J
4:47 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
My twins are 4 years old, if either of them saw FoxNews on TV, they would ask for Nick Jr or Disney Jr so fast it wouldn't even be funny. There is no way that they would have been able to comprehend that a man committed suicide.
Craig is raising his kid(s) on top of a toxic spill, paying well below average property taxes, and has the nerve to complain about a rare mistake Fox made in showing a suicide from 5,000 feet on a restaurant's TV? Its not like they intended to do it, or looped it. This clown is just looking for an excuse to shut up an organization that he disagrees with. I remember a time when being a liberal meant supporting people's right to speak.
marilyn manson
4:55 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Why should he change the show? Obviously, 'Craig's' parenting skills suck otherwise he'd be able to keep his children's attention and they wouldn't be watching a news program at McDonald's. The only people that pay attention to the TV are the older people. Do you actually think a kid is going to be absorbed in watching TV if they have an attentive, caring parent with them?
walnuts82
11:21 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Right on Keirsten! Someone with some common sense in the conversation.
mallia jordan
12:49 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I AGREE, WE NEED MORE MEN WHO STAND UP FOR THEIR CONVICTION
Harry Uberti
4:32 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
I have raised small children, and my feeling is that if you don't like it, go eat somewhere else
Diane Thomas
8:41 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I agree with Harry. If one doesn't like a particular McDonald's franchise, then you are certainly free to visit another which I am sure is not far away. Better yet, stay home and make your own burgers which would be the healthy alternative.
Phil Jonas
4:34 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Craig Lechner, you have the last laugh. You can sue Mr Lentini when your kids get fat for eating that food! Then you can sue for emotional distress! Win/win. Or, you can just crawl back in a hole.
mallia jordan
12:51 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Looks like Phil Jonas crawled out of his whole..please crawl back Mr. Jonas!
Hannah
11:51 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Wow, such hostility toward a man protecting his kids! Have you heard of what goes around comes around? You just wished some nasty karma upon yourself, loser.
Jared Thule
5:07 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Being the parent of a toddler, I absolutely wouldn't want any news station pushing their political agenda or graphic stories to my child, regardless if it's FOX or CNN. I feel that it's completely inappropriate in a place that is supposed to cater to children. Sure, the demographic McDonald's targets has been swaying from children to fat people, and going to a McDonalds is a problem in of itself, but this issue is a lot more widespread than Fairlawn. After a quick google search I found a number of links that touch down on the subject. Here's a few:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/15/1054871/-Is-McDonald-s-in-bed-with-Fox-News
http://uppitywis.org/blogarticle/mcdonalds-and-fox-junk-food-and-junk-news
http://www.change.org/petitions/mcdonald-s-turn-off-fox-news
http://m.facebook.com/pages/40709-Against-McDonalds-Prop-of-Fox-News-Propaganda-A-t2P-Protest/271571602941862?id=271571602941862&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch&_rdr
Chris
8:45 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Funny how you liberals want to everyone to be tolerant of your socialist agenda but you have no tolerence of anyone else. Ps.. Do a search on CNN, MSNBC and you'll see their talking points are aligned directly with the White House and this is one of the reasons I watch FOX News. They have a brain in their head and don't take direction from the White House. Also, If you do more research you'll find liberals and liberal organizations attached to hundreds of establishments that we all visit on a daily basis but I bet you'll never complain about that. Stop spewing your liberal agenda. We're not buying it!
1
11:34 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Very interesting these articles point out what's being played on TV across the states at Mc Donalds. I wonder if FOX is paying them to sell sponge burgers and infest the playland. I don't think TVs in Mc Donalds are suitable anyway. What happened to the Playland? But yet a lady with a PHD did research on its maintenance and cleaning and found needles, bacteria, and blood pathogens. My prediction is this: the next thing FOX airs will be about Mc Donalds and somebody eating a needle.
Phil Jonas
5:34 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
I found another great page:
http://www.getalife.com/iamaloser
Donny
10:46 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Getalife is a liberal attack machine.He is an Obama ZOMBIE.
Julia Enerson
6:40 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
I suppose if a fellow diner was having a discussion about a taboo subject to Mr. Lechner, he would probably pop a cork trying to get that other diner to "change his channel". I think it's a form of child abuse to take your child to Mickie D's for a "meal". How about a more healthy alternative or perhaps a small, family-owned & run eatery in Fair Lawn?
Go Figure
6:55 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
A couple of thoughts...for one, the suicide did not happen that day and his kids did not view it. 2nd, maybe 99% of the other patrons do like FOX news, so why do they have to have it shut off because he doesn't. Self centeredness rules in this persons life.
Free Craig Lechner
5:23 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
You should be teaching a course at a Big University somewhere.
Go Figure
6:56 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
My guess is that this self described liberal did not want to see FOX and he really could care less about his kids watching anything
delgado
8:29 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
With the double dipping fair lawn republican mayor and the double dipping deputy mayor who is also the bergen county Adminstrator, then add in Faux News, and fair lawn has its issues with all the corrupt bergen republicans... Add McDonald's fair lawn to my boycott list, but even better I will goto the IHOP next store and park in the McDonald's parking lot...
John Jones
8:50 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
That Mcdonald's has its own tow truck & you would have to pay $300 to get your car back.
Chris
9:17 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Delgado, Seriously?? Your hate speech is so typical of you leftist liberals. If you want to talk corruption, you’d better start with our ex-Dem Gov Corzine who stole (or in his words "lost") billions of his customers dollars but yet is somehow getting away with it because the Dems in DC aren’t pursuing it. Talk about politics! I can go on and on about Democratic failures including the last 4 years of failed policies coming out of DC. As for IHOP, you’d better call them first to make sure they’re not Republican owned. I wouldn’t want you to get sick….
Phil Jonas
8:41 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Does religion have anything to do with this?
John Jones
8:54 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
At least, he didn't take his kid to the new one in Paterson.
Jenne
3:57 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Um, why not take your kid to the new McDonald's in Paterson? It's clean, the service is ok, and they were playing cartoons on the tv. :)
Lisa Ciolino Ambrose
9:22 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Um, let's see...Mr. Lechner provides an example of a news story he saw on Fox two weeks earlier, not DURING his visit. He has a problem with what he MIGHT have to explain to his kids. He picks a fight for no GOOD reason with the manager. PLEASE find something else to do with your time, Mr. Lechner. However, I do appreciate what you've done because it does provide good fodder for those of us who find this story at once both pathetic and hilarious. P.S. I have a kid. P.P.S. Nice work on the article title, Zak Koeske.
walnuts82
11:37 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Did you even read the article Lisa?
Lisa Ciolino Ambrose
1:04 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Yes, "walnuts82," I did.
Deleted because of harassment
10:01 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
The guy who owns the McDonalds is an ass, who tows cars as if it's the inner city and wages war against all the other businesses in the neighborhood. The restaurant, with the fenced lawn and warning signs every few feet is not a desirable atmosphere; it's like an armed encampment, and we have ceased to patronize it when the owner started towing. Does not surprise me one bit that he insists on putting Fox on in his dining room - just surprises me anyone still bothers to go there at all.
Stuart Pace
12:21 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I'm with MJM...this is news?
Chris
8:31 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
As noted in the article, Lechner is a Liberal. His actions come as no surprise. A liberal is a liberal is a liberal. There spots don’t change. I don't believe for one minute that his request to have the channel changed had anything to do with violence on TV. It does however; have everything to do with Lechner's exposed hate for FOX News. I bet if the channel was CNN or MSNBC, we wouldn’t even be reading this article. I work from home and watch FOX News often. They show no more violence than any other news outlet. Mr. Lechner, here's a clue – shielding your kids from violence does more damage than good and does not prepare them for the real world. If you want to shield your kids from violence and keep them as innocent as you can for as long as you can, keep them home, lock your doors, pull your blinds down and don't expose them to the real world.
walnuts82
11:36 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
What nonsense.
Chris. You say Fox News shows "no more violence than any other news outlet." But then claim Lechner's argument is faulty because "a liberal is a liberal is a liberal" and you "bet if the channel was CNN or MSNBC, we wouldn't even be reading the article."
Lechner wants the channel changed from the "news" because it has graphic imagery which he doesn't want his very young child exposed to yet. He's not raising a "bubble boy" who's 13 and never set foot outside like your strawman argument tries to point out. He's got a 3 year old. In a restaurant for kids.
Pull your head out of your ***.
Walnuts
mallia jordan
12:56 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
A CONSERVATIVE, IS A CONSERVATIVE IS AN ASSHOLE!
LOOK MCDONALD'S IS IN BED WITH FOX NEWS - AND WE WILL GET THE WORD OUT ACROSS THE NATION TO BOYCOTT FOX NEWS AND OH BOY CHRIS, YOUR WORDS OF WISDOM
Barnegat Ray
2:26 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I agree...shield a child, weaken a child...got to Wendy's in F.L. Lechner...healthier food, and no TV...
Barnegat Ray
2:31 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Mallia...try the b
oycott thing...didn't work for Chick-Fil-A...and if it does work, all the better...I won't have to sit with liberals...lol...
Free Craig Lechner
5:30 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Let me say what you've said back to you: "I should expose my child to violence as a form of good parenting." The logic found in all of your posts follows a similar course, and can be safely ignored.
Me
8:45 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The only problem I am having with McDonalds is that it's too damn hard to get the Monopoly pieces I need to win anything. I NEED BROADWAY!
ILW
11:48 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Your comment is the most honest - - and funniest! The rest of these folks should just eat elsewhere. This daddy could have just packed up those happy meal and his child and go to his car. Explaining THAT to his kid would have been more a problem than watching the TV. Frankly, I don't know why these fast food places have TVs anyway. If you're eating alone, bring along something to read.
Richard DeLorenzo
8:47 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I go to this McD sometimes. I didn't even notice there was a TV set there.
Larry Wilson
9:49 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
This seems to be more about customer service than politics. Why not change the channel for the 20 minutes the customer is there. Is the programming there for the owner or the customers?
Chris
10:28 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Sorry Larry! I disagree. If it's about customer service then Mr. Lentini would be sitting there all day changing the channel to please his customers and would wind up pleasing some and not others. Clearly, Mr. Lechner had an agenda or he wouldn't have used his phone video to record the scene. In the end he only made himself look like an ass.
walnuts82
11:30 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Agreed +1
BellairBerdan
12:06 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
That's right Chris! Asking him to change the channel is so inconvenient! That's like asking someone to cook a hamburger and bring it to you on one of those fancy Liberal trays! Who do these people think they are asking for service?
Barnegat Ray
2:34 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
In Modern Bagel, I just get up and change the channel myself if I want something different...nobody ever seems to care...
Phil Jonas
10:37 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Mr Lechner, this is POPPYCOCK!
1
11:21 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Honestly, I believe that he made a great point by pointing out the content that is being watched on TV while dining at Mc Donalds or it could be dining at any restaurant. You wouldn't want to visit the hospital and everyone in the hospital is watching a recording of your surgery or wife having your kid. So it's the content and place of nature. We also have to think about the simplicity and root of customer service. If something needs to be done to better their stay, the company or business must make certain their request is honored.
walnuts82
11:28 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
This is about age inappropriate content being played in a dining room. The right of a restaurant owner to decide what goes on in his restaurant ended with The Civil Rights Act. News is all blood and gore no matter which channel it is and in a public venue content should be regulated to the public in that venue. Mr. Lechner wasn't asking him to change the channel to MSNBC, he was asking him to change it to anything but what it was. The author throws in a bit about him being a "self-described liberal" and suddenly the conversation is about Left vs Right and not about what actually happened.
The customer had every reason to ask the manager to change the channel. He had every right to record the exchange. He has every right to never visit that McDonald's again.
McDonald's markets itself as a place to bring kids, literally putting a gigantic playground in the middle of the dining room, to then turn around and say "we can and will show mainstream news content (aka blood, gore and hype) regardless of what our customers request," is disingenuous to their brand and their customers.
You stood up for a world you believe should exist, good sir. A world where we are not so de-sensitized to chaos and violence that we play it in HD on big screens in the middle of the playground. Anyone who doesn't get that can go **** themselves.
-Walnuts
Chris
12:00 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Walnuts - Your liberal nonsense is so typical as is your liberal comment that "anyone who doesn't get it can go **** themselves". To you liberals, it's either your way or the highway. YOU sir are the one that needs to pull your head out of your ass.. The customer had the right to get up and leave the restaurant and never come back. He did not have the right to demand the channel be changed as witnessed in the video. What else will you liberals want policed??? Go to any Dentist or Dr's office in North Jersey and all they have on is CNN or MSNBC. These stations show the same content and there are always kids sitting in the waiting room. Not once have I heard a parent ask that the channel be changed nor would I. I also have to sit through CNN while getting my hair cut in Ridgewood and again, there are always kids sitting in the waiting room. STOP trying to police establishments. It's the parent’s responsibility to remove the child from a situation if they feel it's not appropriate. That's how this country works. As for McDonalds in Fair Lawn, it’s not a “Kid’s” establishment. There are just as many adults, eating there if not more. I will continue to frequent that establishment and I will enjoy watching whatever they have on their flat screen TV in HD…..
ash
12:29 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The best comment.
Anyone who is making this conversation about Left vs Right is taking away the wrong thing. The blame for that falls on the author who unnecessarily threw that "liberal" line in there.
This convo is about service. But following the links above it looks like McDonald's has some special interests it would like to serve more than it's own customers.
If the customer knew it was company policy to play FOX news in the dining room then he probably wouldn't have bothered in the first place.
Lisa Ciolino Ambrose
1:10 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Who determines what is "age appropriate" TV in this case? If Nick Jr. were playing, would that be considered "age appropriate" for the patrons who were over the age of 10 (and even using the age of 10 is arbitrary)? As you said, this customer has every right to do everything he did, but the manager also had every right to do what he did as well. The bottom line is, additional choices the customer opted not to do were: Move to another table, get the food to go, OR perhaps engage in conversation with his kids so they didn't look up at the TV!!! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go **** myself.
Dan
11:33 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Taking small kids to eat at McDonalds is a really bad idea. I just can't understand why he would expose them to all the pesticides and growth hormones in McDonald's meals. Instead of arguing over Fox News, this guy should actually spend some time cooking for his children.
ash
11:59 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Dan. Come on. I cook organic for my kids 28 days out of the month. But we've swung by a McDonald's before. You're trying to make the customer sound like a fast food slave that's got no understanding of what's going on. Get off your high horse, if you wanted to join the conversation enough to comment then put some thought into it.
Sara
12:18 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I'm sorry Ash,I find it very difficult to believe a person would cook organic 28 days of the month and on the last day ,bring the family to Mc Donalds. Hahaha
ash
12:31 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do Sara :P
Pete Mock
11:45 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Sara, why does it have to be all or nothing? We eat healthy and try to buy and cook organic foods, especially for the kids, but we hit McDonalds every couple months.
John C
12:26 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Why don't you cook for them at home and you can watch whatever liberal news show you want. I you want to take your children talk to them about their day rather than let them watch any TV. Kids watch to much as it is. You always have the right to leave.
kristine
12:27 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
What ridiculous comments...its a place that caters to children. graphic images should not be on their t.v. It is by the way the worst Mc Donalds in the area...people shouldn't go anyway!!!!
Chris
12:58 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Kristine, Saying that McDonalds is a "kids" establishment is a ridiculous comment. I have no kids and know of many others that have no kids and yet we all love to go to McDonald's to enjoy junk food every now and then. It's a "Food" establishment. Yes they have kid's meals and kids toys but everything else on the menu is geared towards adults. It's simple, if you don't want to frquent the Fair Lawn McDonald's - then don't however; whether you think it's right or wrong, NO ONE has the right to police what the franchise owner plays on his TV's. Again, If you don't like it - DON'T GO!!!! Kudos to the owner for not changing the channel. Kids should be eating NOT watching TV... The TV's are there for the adults anyway.....
John Trigoli
1:33 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
chris- the tv's are there for adults anyway, that is one of the dumbest comments ive ever heard. if a kid sees a tv they are going to watch it. it's not a kids establishment but its not an adults establishment either, its for everyone. they welcome kids and kids are always there so they shouldnt have a news station (liberal or conservative) that shows all the disgusting things that go on in the world.
the owner is a poor business man if he thinks having fox news on is good for business. if you own a place why alienate a good chunk of customers by pushing your political views. put on some game shows, a station that plays classic music, or kids shows because none of that will offend anyone. dont get me wrong i strongly believe the owner is free to play what he wants at his store, he just shuldnt be suprised if he starts to lose customers
Chris
1:48 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
John, McDonald’s will NEVER lose customers so you can shut that thought process down right now. My whole point is that no one has the right to police an establishment. Parent's DO have the right to leave the establishment and never return if they so choose. Is Mr. Lentini supposed to sit there all day and change the channel at customer’s requests because they don't like something or is he supposed to run his business. Parents need to shoulder some of the responsibility here. This country is turning into a bunch of pussies! In the 60's, I watched the Vietnam War on TV or saw it on the front page of the newspaper when I went to the candy store. My parents didn’t call the new networks or ask the candy store owner to turn the papers face down. My parent's didn't try to hide reality from me. They explained to me what was going on and in turn, although I saw horrible things, I had a greater understanding of what was going on in the world and my coping mechanism was strengthened. You people are going to have a bunch of wussies on you hand that can't cope with life because they don't understand anything.. Good luck with that one….
John C
3:57 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
the article did not say that there was graphic material on Fox News but that two weeks ago there was. Since when is the news considered graphic. Oh thats right only when the liberal masses want it to be. Would there have been a problem if it was MSNBC or CNN or another liberal news channel. There are plenty of violent things on TV that children watch but I guess Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles are ok because they are pretend. Well wake up America we live in a violent world (The Middle East)
Sasha
12:42 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Exactly Ash and Walnuts.It's not a matter of being right or wrong, left or right. The guy went it, like millions of people do all around the world, just to enjoy his meal with his kids. That's what you go to Mcdonalds for- the food, the ambiance that is associated with "fun"-it's kid friendly, family oriented, casual place to take your kids for a nice time. You don't go to Mcdonald's to watch the news. This guy was right to point out something he felt was out of place. Just recently a guy committed suicide LIVE on Fox News! Imagine just even accidently glancing at that while you're trying to enjoy a happy meal with your kids. Sure its not about what you might have to explain to your kids (though it's good to start imagining that since it seems it's the way of the future), it's about being forced to deal with it.I'm not saying he was implanted in front of the tv, but if the man wants to go in, sit down and enjoy his time-he's now bound to look over and suddenly, and most likely, see something disturbing/ or unneccessary. It's like when I wait in line at the grocery store,I could care less about celebrity news.I don't even mean to look at the magazine, but just being in line I read (just by glancing!)or saw something I didn't want to care about. Now I know the news can be very informative and good to a certain extent, but there's a time and place for everything. That's really the point to what Craig was saying. He's right to state it and he's smart to remind us! Way to go!
Chris
1:11 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Sasha, Stop the drama... The McDonald's you are referring to must be in Utopia. I've never experienced any of what you just referenced. It's FAST FOOD. It's not a high end restaurant...You shuffle the kids in get them to eat and stay in their seat and then shuffle them out. You sound as if they're sitting they're sitting around relaxing with a glass of wine... Get real... Mr. Lechner knew very well what he was doing. If he was so disturbed, why didn’t he make sure his kids sat with their backs to the TV. I don’t buy his story for one minute. If this has nothing to do with politics then why did Mr. Lechner make it known that he was a “liberal”? Why did that even have to enter the story???? Clearly an agenda on Mr. Lechner’s part….
Sasha
1:57 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Then we must go to a different McDonalds. I'm a professional nanny and we make a field trip out of it when we go (not that we make a habit of it!). I never said I was relaxing, but for the kids itsso much fun...so I'm happy. If I were a parent, I'd say something too. It's easy to let it slide...just like everything else...and then we all complain how badly we're progressing and we talk about "the better days"...yet when someone stands up for it we think he's a moron and just someone who complains about everything. I think its safe to say I'm not the only one with the "drama"...
Also...was anyone ever taught to turn off the tv when they ate at home?...There was a reason for that you know...
guy
12:59 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
the dude is probably grinding 80+ hours a week like the rest us sick as shit that he's not getting to spend any time with his munchkins and getting to hold them and teach them how to do do all sorts of cool stuff.
he gets 1 day off and wants to go to a fun place for his kids so he can watch them laugh and run and he can scarf a burger at the same time - and he's thinking - the news is on, i don't want my kids to look at that if another guy commits suicide, i will ask them to change it.
seems like a reasonable request from a guy in your store. america used to be about service and industry. now it's just about being a greedy dick.
Charlie Ganes
1:05 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Wow, did everyone read the same article as me? This is clearly about customer service. I'm sure if it was CNN or any other news station, it would still be a problem. I don't let my kids watch the news because I agree that it's totally inappropriate for young children. It seems like a lot of the negative feedback this is getting is from angry conservatives who choose to make this a political issue. These people are obviously not competent enough to realize how something like this can effect children. (And either don't or probably shouldn't have children) Good job standing up for what you believe in!
Mark Ruckhaus
10:47 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
From the "Better Late Than Never" department...
Thanks, Charlie, for one of the few people on this thread to talk sense.
If I go out to eat, even to a McDonald's, I'm not going there to watch TV. Hell, I stopped for gas on the Mass Pike (because I haven't stopped on the NJ one for ages) and there's a TV at the gas pump spitting out news and ads.
Are we that attached to this stuff that we can't get away from it? What happened to simple peace and quiet--going out to eat and actually holding a conversation with someone rather than having noise that isn't part of the restaurant in the background? I understand that, if you go to a bar (or a restaurant with one) you'll likely see at least one TV. But, it seems you can't get away from this stuff. Why are we being force-fed this stuff?
I can hear the replies now... "If you don't like it, don't go." And I'll reply, "Can't you get away from this stuff for even the few minutes it takes to eat at a fast food joint? Do you need this stuff everywhere you go? Can you detach yourself from the TV, the I-Phone, whatever, for even a little bit?"
Makes me want to go live in a cabin in the woods somewhere.
sorah dubitsky
1:06 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Fox News in bed with McDonald's. Fox News: further dumbing down America!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/15/1054871/-Is-McDonald-s-in-bed-with-Fox-News
http://uppitywis.org/blogarticle/mcdonalds-and-fox-junk-food-and-junk-news
http://www.change.org/petitions/mcdonald-s-turn-off-fox-news
http://m.facebook.com/pages/40709-Against-McDonalds-Prop-of-Fox-News-Propaganda-A-t2P-Protest/271571602941862?id=271571602941862&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch&_rdr
John Trigoli
1:25 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
man a lot of you posters have some serious problems and free time. you people realize the extreme hatred from both sides does nothing but hurt our country?
if you took away the word "liberal" and fox news out from this article and the article said a man asked a manager to turn off the news because he didnt think the content was appropriatte for his kids i bet no one would be making these nasty posts. once any of the fox news nut job hears the word "liberal" they attack like a shark smelling blood.
this owner sounds like an idiot, if a paying customer asks for the channel to be changed i dont see why it is a big deal, if you want change it back once the customer leaves. whatever happened to the customers always right. shouldnt this guy be supervising his store instead of watching fox news anyway.
always suprised by the amounts of crazys out there trolling patch, then again i think its safe to assume they are low lives with too much time on there hands and putting others down behind a fake name make them feel better about themselves.
Chris
1:35 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Really Sorah?!?!? You can post all the links you want about McDonald’s however; most other news organizations and companies (e.g. General Electric) are in bed with the current administration. That's a far more dangerous liaison.
http://stevenbirnspeaks.com/2011/01/22/general-electric-in-bed-with-obama-administration/
http://www.examiner.com/article/by-putting-nbc-news-bed-with-obama-is-ge-pandering-for-payback
The difference between the two - McDonald's is the largest corporate contributor in the country for children for over 38 years. Ever hear of McDonald House?????????
http://rmhc.org/who-we-are/our-relationship-with-mcdonald-s/
The White House is the contributor of nothing - talk about the dumbing down of America. Do you post comments about the disaster in DC?? McDonald’s is the least of your worries…
Ronald Alan
2:14 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
For the record, Chris: GE is a corporate crook — long receiving corporate welfare from ALL recent administrations (pays no taxes, gets REFUNDS) — and its most famous CEO Jack Welch is a huge right-winger who attacked Obama last week, claiming the he got the Bureau of Labor Statistics to fake the September jobs number. GE is hardly in bed with "liberals".
patrick cool
1:42 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
McDonalds franchises may be run by the individual owner, but the franchise has a corporate responsibility to it's shareholders to address behavoir that is bad business. I suggest Mr. Lechner organize a protest to boycott that particular store and invite other news agencies to weigh in. With pink slime still fresh in our heads, do we need another reason to eat somewhere else? The customer is always right, obviously does not apply at the Golden Arches. Turning the channel to appease a man and his family doesn't seem to be a lot to ask.
Ronald Alan
2:03 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Sasha and Craig Lechner are right – oops – I mean “correct”. The problem with this entire thread (and the Patch's article) is that it misses the point by over-emphasizing, what else, politics. This has nothing to do with Left/Right; FoxNews/MSNBC; Socialism/Capitalism; (Or nutrition.) The Patch could not resist going for the political punch, however, and set the stage for this "debate". Too bad. The story here is about common sense/decency/courtesy… and perhaps corporate policy/responsibility. Why expose 3 and 6 year olds to ANY 24-Hour Cable News (Mr. Lechner’s point)—with all the arguing, anger, hot air, sex, violence, and even the occasional live TV suicide? It’s hard to argue FOR that—Yet I see so many have. And since Sesame Street and Big Bird are now also political, let me suggest a channel we can all (?) agree on: The Cartoon Network.
Ron
NYC
John C
5:16 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Read the article it clarly says in the second paragraph "Lechner, a self-described liberal". He put politics into this not any of the people commenting. Part of the problem is that liberal only read and see what they want rather than reading and understanding what is in Black and white. Lechner started the political mudslinging over something that might come on the news. For all we know they were broadcasting a Joe Biden Speech, which is at best comical not offensive or violent.
guy
5:47 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
John C - the reporter probably asked him what his politics were... i doubt the guy started the interview with "i'm a liberal and I want fox news turned off"...
Zak Koeske injected the politics into the article to give it an edge... otherwise the title would have read "customer asks manager to change the channel" lol
buh duh duh duh duhhhhh i'm lovin it
John C
7:24 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Guy, I'm sure that is the case but the last time I checked the press does not just show up at your house to do a story. He called them and when that question was posed to him he could have said my political affiliation is now what is at had here or simply say no comment.
Now as to your second statement yes it does make it more news worthy as you can see from the divided people just within two towns. He could have just said well you lost my business and walked out but NOOOO he wanted press.
As for your last comment I wont even comment it just shows the class between a liberal and a conservative. Hey good luck next month.
Brian McCarthy
2:21 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
This is ridiculous. I am so shocked that McDonalds is playing Fox news in any of their establishments, and also shocked with many of these comments. We go in to McDonalds for our kids to enjoy a "happy" meal and I completely agree with Craig, that for them to be subjected to a bunch of fear mongering and biased politics is totally out of place. Sure, we can say the individual franchise owner has the right to play whatever he wants. But I think it's very important to let all franchise owners know that we don't want any of this media to be playing in front of our children.
Barnegat Ray
2:38 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
We? Speak for yourself...
Chris
2:57 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I suggest that those of you who think this is not political go back and do your homework. The video clearly shows Mr. Lechner trying to insight a situation. He does not mention anything about anyone shooting themselves in the head. He talks about what’s on TV – WAR and people getting killed. He also says something VERY telling “I CAN’T WAIT TO PUT THIS VIDEO ON THE HUFFINGTON POST.” For those of you who do not know what Huff Po is, it’s a liberal news organization website. No need to take my word for it, do your own research about the Huffington Post. You’ll find that the Huffington Post is the liberal rag of the Democratic Party. My question is - if this was such and innocent altercation, why did Mr. Lechner even mention the Huffington Post??? Have an agenda there Mr. Lechner??? Obviously, by some of these posts, you can fool some people but you certainly can’t fool those of us with a brain in our head..
guy
5:36 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
lol yeah right chris.
the huffington post? lol he could have said youtube and it would mean the same thing. you are just crazy bro.
Free Craig Lechner
5:48 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
It's all a conspiracy, Chris. Obama probably cooked up the job numbers at that very McDonald's. Then he turned the TV to Fox to cover his tracks. What can you do? The man's against you at every turn. Wait . . . Am I liberal operative or a conservative operative? I can't read my badge number anymore. I think I've gone rogue. Save me, Chris. You're my only hope.
BellairBerdan
3:00 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I think a boycott is a great idea, mainly because it will force the Conservatives to band together and eat at McDonalds in protest. They'll spend their time driving back and forth between there and Chick-Fil-A and eventually look like the franchise owner in the video. Then, when they are lil' rascalling themselves into self-extinction from obesity related illness, and here is the most ironic part, other Conservatives will berate them for not having health insurance and not being responsible for their own health.
Chris
3:12 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Oh BellairBerdan - Spoken like a true leftist liberal wingnut!!!
John Jones
6:49 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
That owner also owns the McDonalds in Paramus Park. He just hangs out in Fair Lawn so he can watch the IHOP & drive his tow truck.
Walter Weglein
3:13 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Gee whiz, doesn't anybody have a life anymore?? (I read only a little of this sparkling commentary)
Stuart Pace
3:16 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I would be more afraid of my kid reading this thread.............
Chris
3:18 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
We conservatives will welcome the chance to stand up for McDonald's. Just like with Chick-Fil-A, you may be surprised at how many of us turn out to kick your liberal butts. You will lose yet again....
BellairBerdan
6:21 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Chris, don't forget to have a giant soda too, just to get even with w RINO.
Dani Michaeli
7:09 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Fairly certain McDonalds has no corporate policy regarding showing Fox News at their franchises and this is more a case of one McDonalds manager exercising free speech at a totally inappropriate time and place. I didn't let my daughter watch the news at that age, not Fox or CNN because TV news is in the business of selling entertainment in the package of information and the most sensational version of it to boot.
Larry Wilson
3:22 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Agree wholeheartedly Ron. I always pay attention to who is in my establishment and adjust the programming as needed. Just smart business in my opinion.
Chris
3:34 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Ron, GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt is the lead economic advisor under Obama. You can’t possibly tell me that there is no insider dealing going on. There have been several GE plants shut down in the US under Obama and jobs sent to China where light bulbs are now being manufactured. Obama expanded the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in order to bail out GE. " In addition to TARP money, GE also received stimulus money.
Michael Agosta
3:37 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Romney is a liar! His lies threw off Obama during the debate. Coupled with the high altitude in Denver, it is no wonder the president performed so poorly!
Oh, and Lechner, go get a life.
Cornell Christianson
3:55 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
86 comments, is this the record? Way to go Zak, you know how to pick a story.
Dave Bower
4:04 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Why do they even have a TV at McDonalds? Aren't they supposed to be pushing their crappy food? I'm glad that Craig made a stink about it.
Walter Weglein
4:32 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
HAH!
Ciao
5:01 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Considering that McDonalds is geared to kids, (Ronald McDonald, Happy Meals etc)
I completely agree that Fox News (FAUX News) shouldn't be on. Kids really want to see a bunch of right winged idiots yelling, arguing and misleading the public!!!
And another thing that bothers me about this McD's. The TOW TRUCK sitting there just waiting to tow you away. LIke a bunch of vultures waiting, sitting in the car hoping you park there are go to IHOP. Now you wonder why the owner watches FAUX news????
John C
5:19 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Yeah because there is nothing on the menu for adults. WOW. Keep drinking the cool aid
Daniel Pudelek
6:13 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I know Craig and I believe he was only trying to protect his children. What is wrong with that?
Dani Michaeli
7:01 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I have a 9 year old and have been careful about what she is exposed to media-wise. Others may have different policies but I always appreciated getting respect from a business owners for the means and ways of child rearing I preferred. A business like McDonalds, that reaches out specifically to kids should be sensitive to a parents' choices.
tony lagouranis
7:44 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Craig I support the right of the owner to show whatever he pleases in his restaurant but applaud you for your protest. Fox news is horrible and is probably more toxic to adults than kids as you can see clearly from reading some of these comments. I really appreciate you throwing your voice into this. Don't be cowed. You were right to confront the owner.
Free Craig Lechner
5:04 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Exposing children to McDonald's is almost as bad as exposing them to Fox News.
Stevil
11:59 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012
I know Craig and asked him to comment on this situation. Here is the statement he sent:
"How I vote in elections, did not effect my decision to confront the manager, and my reason would have been identical If they were playing CNN, MSNBC, or any content clearly not meant for children. What you see on the video is an angry Dad, confronting a McDonald's owner for breaking his promise. I asked nicely several times for him to turn off the channel (or perhaps change it) to something appropriate for kids. Moments before the video, the owner assured me he would turn off the TV if violent material came on, but when explicit content came on, the owner refused to turn it off and then mocked me by saying he " enjoyed it". I got angry and you can see the result.
I did not go into McDonalds to get into a fight. I wasn't looking for a "gotcha" moment. My kids like the place and so do I on occasion. I did lose my temper and I acknowledge I am not a perfect parent. But I am not also an idealoge or an activist nor have not asked for boycott of Fox News or McDonalds. I seek no fame. What you see is a Dad protecting his kids. Those who wish to make this a partisan issue fail to see the point. This is a commonsense issue that has to do with playing age appropriate material at a kid's restaurant."
-Craig Lechner
Linda
2:49 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Well ok Stevil, what would Mr. Lechner have done if there were other's in there and they wanted that channel on? This is nonsense! Perhaps he should have just left. I am sure McDonald's is not the only game in town. He should have changed his behavior and not expect someone else to change theirs.
p
7:23 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Its not about politics at the customers request he should have changed the channel. This guy is a jerk and I will never but from him again
Lola
10:12 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
No, what he should of done is put a channel on that appeases to everyone. If someone complains about a channel then you change it. I think it is so funny that all the right is coming out and bashing this person and name calling. What if it was a religious channel on (the right probably would love that- see I can do it too), or the hunting channel, would all of you haters still be on this guy about complaining about changing the channel, probably not. Plain and simple the owner is an a*****e for not listening to the customer. Especially if it offends someone.
Wally Van Riper
8:07 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
He wants to shield his kid from the ugliness of life, yet he feeds him that crap at McDonald's?
Linda
2:41 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Another Lib inflicting his beliefs on everyone else, looking yet for his 15 minutes of fame with yet another "cause"! I am sick to death of the socialist agenda. I have some advice for him, go to another restaurant! McDonalds is not just for kids anymore! Another parent looking for the tv to entertain his children! Try some conversation with them buddy! I guess that would interfer with his texting time or Words with Friends! Shut your mouth and stop trying to change this Country! America needs to vote personal freedoms back in November!
Fred Garvin
9:59 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I guess he's one of those tolerant liberals. Go back to watching the Khardashians.
Lola
10:01 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Faux News is not a real news channel anyway. They shouldn't put on any tv channel that might offend anyone. I personally wouldn't go back to any place that refuses to change the channel that offends a customer. Afterall, Faux news did win a lawsuit to be able to misinform the public. It amazes me the amount of lies that they spew in a news story..funny, yet frightening at the same time. Also, why would anyone judge this person? You have no idea how often they take their child there, or anything about this person. I see this has ruffled some of the rights feathers! This person must be another socialist, muslim, who hates Christmas and who also wants to take your guns away...just like Obama! LOL!
Linda
2:04 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
How do you explain the FACT Fox News is the most watch news? Spin this the best you can Lib! Cnn and MSNBC combined do not have as many viewers? Can you really say with a straight face that MSNBC is news? Now that is laughable. The owner of that restaurant has a right to do as he pleases in his restaurant and the patrons have the right NOT to patronize him! Try this one Lola, we have INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS or does that not fit in your socialize agenda?
Mark Ruckhaus
8:53 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Linda,
Your statement certainly explains the type of people who watch Fox News.
"...the most watch news" ... "socialize agenda" I'm sure you mean "most watched news" and "Socialist agenda." But, I guess your fingers were just burning up the keyboard because you couldn't wait to rip a liberal or your IQ is right in the middle of the Fox demographic--somewhere around 50.
Linda
1:39 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Mark is this the best you got? lmao at you! So typical. You got me, I didn't proof read! What would we do with out bafoons like you? You typed your response to me later, so I am sure when you were doing your spell check you meant to say "I,m sure you meant"! Get my drift bright one? Fox News is still #1 in the ratings for news, and not even a programed bot can change that fact! Oh another fact to drive you nuttier than you already are, Fox views were also deemed more intelligent!
Linda
2:04 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
*programmed, Oh no Mark, another typo! Oh what to do?????
Mark Ruckhaus
9:46 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Linda, poor Linda.
"Meant" might have been a better choice. But, "mean" is acceptable, too.
"Without" is one word. And it's "buffoon." And there are others, like "programmed."
And, just because something is rated number one doesn't mean it's the best. It just means the most people watch it. Matter of fact, as most television deals with "lowest common denominator," especially when it comes to the networks and news outlets, people like you watching Fox News proves that point.
And, "Fox views are deemed more intelligent?" By who? By you? That means a whole lot to me. Please cite me an UNBIASED source for that comment, please. Better yet, as no story should go to press or air without two such sources, make it two sources please. I'll bet you can't find even one.
And, you go "lmao" at people like me while you go around flashing your intelligence. I'm not "lmao" at you because I feel pity for you. I'm sorry that you were doing other things in school besides learning, like maybe hanging out in the bathroom with your girlfriends smoking. And, if you're "lmao," I think the "a" might be the most intelligent part of you. So, if you laugh it off, I'd suggest you run and chase it down, lest you lose it and then have nothing.
BHINNJ
10:37 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
WOW! To you intolerant liberals, have you forgotten about freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free enterprise? This guy owns this business and paid a large sum of money for it. He is free to run it as he sees fit. If you dont like what is on HIS TV, go home and watch your own. No one forced you to go there. Once a week, I eat at a local pizzeria in my town. The owner ALWAYS has CNN on. I am a diehard conservative and do not like CNN. I do not ask him to change the channel. I love his pizza and respect HIS RIGHT to have HIS preferred channel on HIS TV. I go there to eat pizza not to see what is on HIS TV. When I am done eating, I go home and put MY TV on to FOX. I can do that since I worked and paid for MY HOUSE and MY TV.
Barnegat Ray
11:00 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Thank you...
BellairBerdan
11:42 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
If you had a young child with you while you were eating your pizza and violent content came on and you asked the owner to change the channel for a few minutes, do you think he would? After all, you're there once a week as a loyal paying customer and it is a benign request.
BHINNJ
12:40 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Bellair, I would never have asked him to change the channel. I would simply turn the child around with his/her back to the TV while I got up and asked the owner for a bag or box to put our food in to take home. After that, It is my choice to either go back there or find another pizzeria that I like as much. We DO have choices in life. Mine is to 'live and let live' without imposing my views,wants and must haves on others. Last I checked, this was still a free country, although, I am not sure for how much longer.
BellairBerdan
12:45 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I asked if you did ask him what his response would have been. I think we both know the answer.
BHINNJ
12:51 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Bellair, I honestly do not know. I am not personal friends with him. Ours is strictly a business relationship. My point is - it is his business and not my business to ask him. I am free to not patronize him in the future if I choose to. You are expecting the business owner to give in to your demands and insinuating that he has no rights and must give into yours. There goes that ENTITLEMENT CRAP AGAIN!
BellairBerdan
1:33 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
You're probably not in business, are you? You don't have to be friends with the pizza guy. He knows you come in often. The point is it is a simple request, it isn't taking away any rights. It has nothing to do with entitlements. It's smart business to accommodate a customer. It costs nothing. You're overreacting. Do you do the same to your spouse when they ask you to change the channel in your house?
BHINNJ
5:04 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Bellair, no I am not in business and I am not overreacting. If I were in business, I would have done the same thing as the McDonald's owner. BTW, if I do not like what my spouse is watching, I go into another room and put something on that I like to watch. I don't force him to bow to my requests. No need to get mad at one another. He also has rights and we have more than one TV. I am not going to get angry because he does not want to watch the same thing as I do, unlike the guy that started this whole thing. .
BellairBerdan
6:33 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Well BHINNJ you are overreacting and if you ran your business like that you would not be in business long. That's probably why he bought a franchise, because he couldn't make it on his own. The problem with many of you Conservatives is that you have lost your compassion and sense of human decency. I truly feel sorry for you.
Concerned4Society
10:38 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I see both sides of this story. The manager definitely has the right to have on whatever channel he chooses in his restaurant...however, McDonald's is geared toward kids and some news is just too gory for them to see, so a little common sense should prevail. Perhaps the answer would be to have a second TV, out of sight from customers, that the manager could watch. As to the irate father...I hope that his efforts to protect his children does NOT include keeping them ignorant as to what to do if someone tries to abduct them...children need to know this at a very early age with all the child abduction cases we hear about these days. As for myself...I can't help but wonder why TVs are necessary in restaurants, to begin with. They discourage conversation while dining and can lead to bad service, if your server is interested in whatever is being talked about at the moment. I prefer peace when dining...and that includes not hearing a blaring TV.
BellairBerdan
10:44 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Isn't it ironic that all these FOX supporters have unknowingly turned themselves into what they claim Michelle Obama does, telling a man how and what to feed his child. They're pressing their views on someone else while arguing no one should be pressing their views on others.
Makes you wonder about their sincerity, doesn't it?
GeorgeRiver
12:07 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
There is a world of difference between the government using force to get you to do something vs free people advocating for others to voluntarily do something. Surely you can see the distinction.
BellairBerdan
12:42 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Bu Michelle Obama is not the government. She was neither elected nor appointed to any government agency, yet you all personalize her in your criticism. Surely you can see the hypocrisy.
Linda
2:16 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
"Let's Move". gov ?
Concerned4Society
6:58 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Hi, BellairBerdan...I not only wonder about sincerity...I wonder if it exists at all in society today. It seems to be "every man for himself" and gets tiresome. Whatever happened to common sense? I was in a record store in the mall recently and they had a rap song blaring out...full of the "F" word. I said to the manager, "You do realize there are kids in the store, don't you? Do you really think that music is appropriate?" He just looked at me like I had two heads and walked away. I know it's become an every day word...but is it a word we really want to hear every two seconds? Guess I'm old-fashioned, but I'd like to see a little more respect come back to society. There are plenty of rap songs that aren't peppered with that particular word...so, if rap is his favorite genre, why couldn't he just choose a more suitable song? Gotta go and brush the cobwebs off myself now, LOL.
BellairBerdan
7:46 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I agree with you Concerned. Even if they don't have the common sense to know what is appropriate for ALL their customers, a little common courtesy goes a long way. If the manager flipped the channel only until you left the store, it would have made you feel better and you could pass on a positive experience about your visit to their establishment instead of a negative one.
BHINNJ
11:15 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I really hate to say this, but I will. All you people wanting to change the channel are part of the problem in this country, - the ENTITLEMENT mentality, I, ME, MINE, I CAN, YOU SHOULD, YOU MUST, YOU CAN'T .
Barnegat Ray
11:19 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Thank you...
Mark Ruckhaus
9:01 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Assuming someone asks nicely (which Lechner may or may not have done), is asking someone to change the channel a part of the "entitlement" mentality?
Looks like you might be over-reacting just a wee bit.
BHINNJ
8:11 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
I am not the one overreacting. That was Lechner!
Mark Ruckhaus
9:34 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
BHINNJ,
I'm not overreacting. He is! The CAPS! The exclamation point! Grow up.
Concerned4Society
12:23 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
It really all comes down to this...the person who owns the business has every right to have whatever channel he wants on the TV, but I still wonder why a TV is necessary at all in a McDonald's? Shouldn't there be a time when a family can come together, enjoy a meal and actually talk to one another, rather than all having their eyes glued to a screen? Since TV does invade restaurants, if the chosen restaurant is showing something you don't like, you are free to walk out the door and take your food elsewhere to eat it. Better yet...use the drive-thru! When the music store I mentioned earlier kept playing the song with the "F" word, that's exactly what I did...walked out without buying anything. There's always amazon.com!
Jill
11:27 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Let me get this straight. Mr. Lechner was upset because two weeks prior to his visit to Mickey D's, Fox news showed some guy shooting himself in the head. His child didn't witness that particular broadcast but he was concerned that she MIGHT see something similar if Fox news was left on while they were enjoying their McFatty Meals, is that correct?
They also MIGHT be gunned down in mid-munch by a nut with an attack rifle and an unlimited supply of ammunition purchased on the internet.
A flaming piece of space debris MIGHT crash through the roof and squash Mr. Lechner and his darling daughter like bugs.
Clearly, the world is so rife with potential danger that no halfway decent parent should allow their children to leave home. Ever.
BHINNJ
11:30 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Amen Jill. Well said!
Jill
11:36 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
To carry this line of reasoning one step further, no person with a shred of concern for children should ever have children in the first place because the world is a horrid place full of sex, violence and hand-wringing Liberals and Neandrethal Conservatives and children's precious innocence is ultimately doomed to be corrupted anyway.
Tee Smyth
1:33 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Stop saying free speech. You're invoking it incorrectly.
BHINNJ
5:07 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Oh right! I apologize. It is only freedom of speech and freedom of expression when it is something you want to say or something you want done or something you do not want someone else to do!
Richard Sorce
3:16 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ugh to McDonald's, and a triple Ugh with a side order of lard to Fox.
Ricky
3:26 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
>>Lechner, a self-described liberal, said his opposition to showing Fox News on the restaurant's television is not a political issue, but rather one of keeping his young children blind to the world's harsh realities.<<
Of course Fox network is right wing/ Republican party supporter but to be upset that his young children are exposed to it IS the silliest thing I've heard yet. And that's coming from someone who can't stand watching Fox.
ed crowley
3:34 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
How many people have memories from the age of three?
Concerned4Society
12:26 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Actually, I do...many of them!
Lorraine
3:38 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I think the unhealthy meals at McDonald's would do more harm to Mr. Lechner's children than a chance glance at Fox News.
Concerned4Society
12:27 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Thank you, Lorraine...I knew that somewhere the voice of sanity would prevail!!!
Opin Ionated
5:23 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I used to be a frequent of that McDonald's, and I am acquainted with Lentini as a result of complaint's I have made myself (Health & Sanitation -- roaches by the soda machine, strands of hair in cups, etc.). He was always receptive to my input, and I don't hate the guy, but from experience dealing with him, I know he has absolutely no customer service etiquette. He can definitely be a massive, massive d-bag.
Note: I hate Fox News, but I don't really care that it was on.
JenE
5:40 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I would be much more concerned if Sponge Bob were playing, but you probably allow your child to watch that! The news is the news, and I seriously doubt a young child would really pay any attention to it, except if their parent were standing there making a big deal about it. I will let my children watch FOX news over Sponge Bob any day!
Tee Smyth
9:22 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
@BHINNJ: "Congress shall make no law....." I'm going to start you there. Figure out the rest and why I stated that freedom of speech is being invoked incorrectly. Good day.
Jessica
10:31 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
ANY channel could have had that happen! Even newsbreaks during saturday morning programming for kids...get a life and get over yourself! Maybe you shouldn't feed your kids that garbage, and homeschool them, so you can shelter them from the reality of life in general. Oh the HORROR of it all......WHAT IF? LOLOL I can't believe that he even went there.....what a LOSER!!!
Car14
10:52 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
This is a free country with free speech. God bless America. The owner can do whatever he wants to do. If you do not approve go somewhere else. America is still a free country. This man has the right to speak out as does this business owner who has the right to put on whatever channel he wants. Why are you giving your child McDonalds anyway?? what about nutritious home cooked food...lol
U-Make-U
11:26 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Innocence? A kid in my son's second grade class told my son that if his parents didn't vote for Obama then that means we, our family, hates God. . I don't think that kid got that from Fox News or CNN. Maybe parents???? Leave your kids out of your political diarrhea and yes, let them be innocent you idiot. Distract them with the happy meal toy, hopefully it's not a Mitt Romney bobble head. Ohh I know, let's "OCCUPY" McDonalds and record everything hoping for a big lawsuit payout. Guess what, there is some good in this. That manager did you and your kids a favor by teaching your kids that whining and complaining does not get you what you want in life. As a dad I agree we do our best for our kids but once the manager said NO to you, it is your responsibility to do the right thing for your kids.
BHINNJ
8:14 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
YES!
Ricky
3:41 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
>>A kid in my son's second grade class told my son that if his parents didn't vote for Obama then that means we, our family, hates God.<<
If you think for a split second that I actually buy this, I've got news for you, I know a troll when I see one LOL
Skip Wade
7:53 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
If you don't like it don't go there... simple as that. I'm just tired of Liberals pushing their beliefs on the rest of us, i.e.
if a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one... if a liberal doesn't like guns, they want them banned.
if a conservative doesn't like a news organization or media outlet they don't watch... if a liberal doesn't like them they want them off the air.
These are two examples but I could go on. I'm just saying if you don't like McDonalds policies just don't go there, simple as that.
BHINNJ
8:14 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
GREAT REPLY SKIP!
BellairBerdan
8:54 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Asking someone to change the channel isn't exactly pushing their beliefs on someone. To the contrary is seems the owner was doing just that. It appears from the followup that there was an agreement. The owner agreed to change the channel if any violence came on. When it did he went back on his agreement and refused. I doubt father will be going there again, and I suspect the owner lost more than one customer because of this.
But please, let's do continue with your examples. I'll add some for you:
If a Conservative doesn't like Social Security, he doesn't just contribute more to a 401K, he wants to end it.
If a Conservative doesn't like Medicare he wants to end it.
If a Conservative doesn't want to marry someone of the same sex he wants to change the Constitution to prevent anyone from doing so.
If a Conservative becomes enamored of a foreign born governor he wants to change the Constitution so Arnold can run for president
If a Conservative doesn't want an abortion he forbids anyone to have one and wants to change the Constitution
If a Conservative doesn't want to take birth control he forbids anyone to have it.
Remember all that when you all go to vote.
BHINNJ
8:59 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Bellair - give it a rest. You are really being ridiculous. Skip is 100% right and you are 100% wrong. I dont care if you take birth control, just pay for it yourself. I paid for mine. Why should I have to pay for yours? Get a life, get a job and take responsibility for yourself and this country will be better off!
BellairBerdan
9:49 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
BHINNJ, It's amazing that someone so concerned about the Right to Free Speech would be trying to suppress mine. You just don't get it, do you?
Everyone should remember this when they vote. Do not allow extremists like BHINNJ any more power.
Concerned4Society
12:29 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Thank you, Skip...you really make too much sense to be on this board, LOL!
Tee Smyth
9:04 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
I'm really upset that this customer service article has devolved into this. People incorrectly invoking First Amendment protection, arguing about FOX or CNN's superiority. Newsflash: they are different sides of the same coin. One is no better than the other.
Lola
9:38 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Bellair...The only voice of reason. BHINNJ- wow, you republicans love to talk about birth control. I pay MY premium, (a boat load of money) I expect MY insurance pay for MY birthcontrol with my money (premium) that I paid for. (once again taxpayers do not pay for this- actually look into this before you sound like a moron). Why is it okay for insurance to cover viagra and not birth control?????? What makes you thinik Bellair doesn't have a job? @ Linda- You are a nutjob, plain and simple. I can go into details on why i think that, but I will take the high road. I will say that it is hilarious to me that Faux won lawsuit to misinform all of you watchers, but you STILL watch them!! DUH! It is like how you all love Ryan...even though all he does is lie. 24 LIES in 40 minutes! LOL! It is just incredible! Ohh and btw....I personally do not get my news from MSNBC as you so nicely pointed out. I actually like to watch the BBC and other countries media outlets b/c they are not biased. The point is this was never political, it was simply about a father not wanting his child to watch something that he deemed inappropriate.
U-Make-U
12:11 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
@ricky. For all of our sake I wish u were right about me being a lying troll about a 2nd grader making that comment. This is real. Yes, I also could not believe it. I talked to my son and explained what it could mean and how to cope with the real world and overcome. I ended our talk and asked my son, "Where do we go every Sunday morning"? He laughed as he responded church. Ricky do what you have to do with this story to maintain your beliefs. Doesn't matter to me. I promise I am not trying to create a new conspiracy of 7 year old liberal hostiles.
Rona
6:03 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Just send a message and go to Wendy's.
Turd Ferguson
2:12 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012
Craig Lechner is a loser, and his kids will be spineless losers, just like theirdad.
jerry
8:40 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2013
Mcdonalds owner sebastian lentini is up tight cause his wife haven't touch him for over 25 yrs. The only sex he gets is from his secretary(claire) which he has a daughter with an won't man up to it. And he has to pay her for sex. His sisters is taking him to court cause he ripped them off