Matt Yglesias has been writing a bit about about these business owners who are whining that the ACA (Obamacare) is just going to destroy their businesses. In particular, he highlighted John Metz, owner of more than 30 Denny’s restaurant franchises, he said he was going to add a 5% “Obamacare surcharge” on all customer bills. Because he’s such a charming motherfucker, he added that the customers could take the surcharge out of the server tip, because after all: they’re “the primary beneficiary of Obamacare.”
These comments didn’t sit too well with the CEO of Denny’s. John Miller had a private meeting with Metz and afterward said that he was “disappointed” in Metz. Yesterday, Metz released a statement that he regretted his remarks. There is a proximate reason for Miller’s swift action, of course: people were talking boycott and were generally pissed off at Denny’s. But I think there’s more to this. So does Yglesias.
Matt Yglesias puts it this way:
I agree with all of this, but I don’t think this is the main issue—or at least this isn’t the way that I would put it. This is all about demographics. If everyone in this country voted, Democrats could win every election by a landslide. Everyone doesn’t vote, of course, so Republicans do okay. But everyone does go out to eat from time to time. What’s more, the people who go out to Denny’s tend toward the poor. These are people who are going to be most hostile to a partisan Republican stunt like blaming part of the cost of the mean on President Obama.
Yglesias is correct, that everything that Metz said is likely to offend everyone—even Republicans. But had he said nothing and just added the surcharge, it might have tickled the 30% of his clientele who are Republican. But the 70% Democrats would find it offensive and perhaps choose another of the similar low-cost dining choices.
But I’m still planning to boycott all Denny’s in Florida just in case the money might go to this fucktard John Metz.
You know, I’ll allow anyone their own perspective, point of view. But some folks really leave me wondering how it is that they got anywhere in life, particularly as the head of anything other than a dick. (OOOOPS! Am I allowed to say that? Sorry! But if you’re that easily offended, phuck you!):)
[quote]Because he’s such a charming motherfucker, he added that the customers could take the surcharge out of the server tip, because after all: they’re "the primary beneficiary of Obamacare."[/quote]
Wow, what a fucking prick. I’ll join your boycott of [i]Denny’s[/i] in Florida too, even though I don’t plan to go to Florida anytime soon and I doubt that I’d eat at [i]Denny’s[/i] in the first place.
Well! I wasn’t expecting any reaction to this article at all. I mean "Republican is a dick" (Yes, you are allowed to say that–especially in articles with "Fucktard" in the titles!) is definitely "dog bites man." But Metz really is amazing. And he isn’t just an owner of these Denny’s. He owns some Dairy Queens and he started his own chain that is apparently very big in Florida. I’m amazed that these guys lose perspective about these things. I’m sure that John Miller is just as much a Republican, put he manages to keep his ideology in his pants.
….maybe this explains why I always got sick after eating at Denny’s after a long & late night of partying. The drugs weren’t the problem after all! WoW! That’s a relief!
@Thrash – Could be. I rather like Denny’s and Dairy Queen. Metz certainly tarnishes the brand. But I do like Miller’s slap down. Of course, it was probably meant to impress people like me.
One good thing about Metz: he provides the opposite of "If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?" In his case, it is, "If you’re so rich, why aren’t you smart?"