# I Pit HOBBY LOBBY
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [November 28, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335 "2012-11-28T02:45:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/1 "2012-11-28T02:45:24Z")
This is my first Pit, so I hope I am doing this right.
A FB friend of mine posted this today and it sent me on an uncharacteristic tirade
> [@](#):
>
> subject: A letter from Hobby Lobby
> A Letter from Hobby Lobby Stores CEO
> By David Green, the founder and
>
> CEO of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
>
> When my family and I started our company 40 years ago, we were working out of a garage on a $600 bank loan, assembling miniature picture frames. Our first retail store wasn’t much bigger than most people’s living rooms, but we had faith that we would succeed if we lived and worked according to God’s word. From there,Hobby Lobby has become one of the nation’s largest arts and crafts retailers, with more than 500 locations in 41 states. Our children grew up into fine business leaders, and today we run Hobby Lobby together, as a family.
>
> We’re Christians, and we run our business on Christian principles. I’ve always said that the first two goals of our business are (1) to run our business in harmony with God’s laws, and (2) to focus on people more than money. And that’s what we’ve tried to do. We close early so our employees can see their families at night. We keep our stores closed on Sundays, one of the week’s biggest shopping days, so that our workers and their families can enjoy a day of rest. We believe that it is by God’s grace that Hobby Lobby has endured, and he has blessed us and our employees. We’ve not only added jobs in a weak economy, we’ve raised wages for the past four years in a row. Our full-time employees start at 80% above minimum wage.
>
> But now, our government threatens to change all of that. A new government health care mandate says that our family business MUST provide what I believe are abortion-causing drugs as part of our health insurance. Being Christians, we don’t pay for drugs that might cause abortions, which means that we don’t cover emergency contraception, the morning-after pill or the week-after pill. We believe doing so might end a life after the moment of conception, something that is contrary to our most important beliefs. It goes against the Biblical principles on which we have run this company since day one. If we refuse to comply, we could face $1.3 million PER DAY in government fines.
>
> Our government threatens to fine job creators in a bad economy. Our government threatens to fine a company that’s raised wages four years running. Our government threatens to fine a family for running its business according to its beliefs. It’s not right. I know people will say we ought to follow the rules; that it’s the same for everybody. But that’s not true. The government has exempted thousands of companies from this mandate, for reasons of convenience or cost. But it won’t exempt them for reasons of religious belief.
>
> So, Hobby Lobby � and my family � are forced to make a choice. With great reluctance, we filed a lawsuit today, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, asking a federal court to stop this mandate before it hurts our business. We don’t like to go running into court, but we no longer have a choice. We believe people are more important than the bottom line and that honoring God is more important than turning a profit.
>
> My family has lived the American dream. We want to continue growing our company and providing great jobs for thousands of employees, but the government is going to make that much more difficult. The government is forcing us to choose between following our faith and following the law. I say that’s a choice no American � and no American business � should have to make.
> The government cannot force you to follow laws that go against your fundamental religious belief. They have exempted thousands of companies but will not except Christian organizations including the Catholic church.
>
> Since you will not see this covered in any of the liberal media, pass this on to all your contacts.
> Sincerely,
> David Green, CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
I was incensed at the stupidity spewing from this letter. I am offended he would hide behind his supposed Blibical principles when NOTHING in the Bible supports his moronic stance. Plus his utter ignorance about how the morning after pill works also set me off.
Here is what I posted on my friend’s FB page.
> [@](#):
>
> Well being morons you don’t realize those pills you refer to won’t work if a baby has already been conceived. They are contraception pills, not abortion pills. They don’t cause abortion nor are they designed too. Moronic letter, sorry, but it’s the God honest medical Truth.
>
> And NOWHERE in the Bible does it ever say 'And thou shall not take contraception," so his Biblical principles argument does not hold water. Hobby Lobby isn’t telling the real reason it doesn’t want to provide full time employees access to health insurance, it’s greed pure and simple. Providing such would cut into their profits and they don’t want to do that.
This is one of the rare times a FB post has made me this angry. The only other time in recent memory was when a FB friend (who I promptly defriended after several stupid political posts) posted her belief that proceeds from Girl Scout Cookies directly funded abortion services at Planned Parenthood. Where do these idiots get this crap?
---
### Author:  [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/2 "2012-11-28T03:06:53Z")
Oh dear (sigh). See, the only other craft store nearby is Joann, and they’re so crowded and dark and the staff is so grumpy and elusive that I just can’t shop there. So this isn’t going to be as easy to boycott as Chick-Fil-A was.
---
### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/3 "2012-11-28T03:07:59Z")
Just to make you feel better:
> [@](#):
>
> [On November 19, A federal judge rejected Hobby Lobby Stores Inc.'s](http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014311429) request to block part of the federal health care overhaul that requires the arts and craft supply company to provide insurance coverage for the morning-after and week-after birth control pills.
Basically, tell your FB friend that the company has been told to suck it up and obey the law. They are not a church, they are a for-profit business. So they have to behave like one.
If they want to be a church, then they need to do a lot of modifications to their stores.
I hope that secular hobby stores gain a lot of business. (ETA: Even dark crowded grumpy ones)
---
### Author:  [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/4 "2012-11-28T03:19:29Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> Just to make you feel better:
>
> Basically, tell your FB friend that the company has been told to suck it up and obey the law. They are not a church, they are a for-profit business. So they have to behave like one.
>
> If they want to be a church, then they need to do a lot of modifications to their stores.
>
> I hope that secular hobby stores gain a lot of business. (ETA: Even dark crowded grumpy ones)
Thanks! I posted that, but used the link for the same article on Fox news because I strongly suspect she is a Fox viewer and may take that cite more seriously, unfortunately.
---
### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/5 "2012-11-28T03:52:26Z")
> [@April\_R](#):
>
> Thanks! I posted that, but used the link for the same article on Fox news because I strongly suspect she is a Fox viewer and may take that cite more seriously, unfortunately.
Good for you.
Basically, a for-profit company is not a church. Hobby Lobby can follow the law or get stuffed.
---
### Author:  [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/6 "2012-11-28T04:02:39Z")
Huh. I’d only been to a Hobby Lobby for the first time a few weeks ago. This explains the aisles dedicated to pure glurge.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/7 "2012-11-28T04:06:01Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#):
>
> Huh. I’d only been to a Hobby Lobby for the first time a few weeks ago. This explains the aisles dedicated to pure glurge.
Plus the policy of being closed on Sunday. This has led to me inadvertently “boycotting” them as Sunday tends to be my shopping day.
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### Author:  [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/8 "2012-11-28T04:14:15Z")
And the lack of witch items at Halloween. Jack-O-Lanterns as far as the eye could see but nary a Wiccan-American to be found.
I support this pitting, especially as it comes from a Mormon who used the term Moronic irrespective of the Book of Moroni. Well pitted, April.
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### Author:  [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/9 "2012-11-28T06:27:04Z")
I’m a Jew, so I don’t let Christians shop in my store. God set forth his laws and Christians routinely ignore them by eating pork, wearing clothes of mixed fibers, and shopping and working between sundown on Friday and Saturday. I also make sure that my male employees are circumcised and that the women don’t work during their menstrual periods.
None of the above is true of course, but it makes about as much sense as Hobby Lobby.
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### Author:  [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/10 "2012-11-28T06:36:10Z")
I really enjoyed trying to figure out what the topic of this thread was from just the title and the mouse over. I settled on “Hobby Lobby” being the name of a televangelist.
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### Author:  [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/11 "2012-11-28T06:42:58Z")
Hobby Lobby’s ties to Liberty University (home of the Falwell) were enough to cause me to boycott them years ago. The Green family once donated $10 million to help build a law school for Liberty ([fucking source](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/group-blasts-liberty-university-as-extremist-homophobic-intellectually-narrow-petitions-against-expansion-to-ma/)). Additionally, Hobby Lobby donated an 888,000-square-foot building to Thomas Road Baptist Church in 2004. The church then leased it to Liberty for chicken scratch ([fucking source](http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=6268)). Liberty U was also one of the top candidates to receive a 217-acre college campus donation from Hobby Lobby in Massachusetts, although the Greens ended up choosing another Christian university instead after a massive outcry from the local community ([fucking](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/us/possible-campus-donation-to-liberty-university-draws-petition.html?pagewanted=all) [sources](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/its-settled-hobby-lobby-owners-will-donate-20-million-campus-to-this-christian-university/)).
Lastly, and perhaps most offensively, Liberty University’s “Liberty Counsel” is preparing to sue [to prevent conversion therapy from being illegalized in California](http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2012/10/anti-gay-group-threatens-lawsuit-over-californias-ban-on-reparative-therapy/). Fuck Hobby Lobby. With a crucifix, Linda Blair-style.
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### Author:  [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/12 "2012-11-28T07:03:58Z")
Good pit,\*\* April R\*\*. Could’ve used a few swears, but I realize that’s not your style.
Crap, between boycotting Hobby Lobby and Chick Fil A, where am I going to get my junk food and plastic plants? My fake ficus needs a friend.
---
### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/13 "2012-11-28T12:57:35Z")
I have boycotted Hobby Lobby my entire life.
I have no hobbies.
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### Author:  [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/14 "2012-11-28T12:59:42Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> I have boycotted Hobby Lobby my entire life.
>
> I have no hobbies.
And I hate lobbies.
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### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/15 "2012-11-28T14:04:29Z")
[Quote=David Green]
Since you will not see this covered in any of the liberal media, pass this on to all your contacts.
[/Quote]
This alone earns them a boycott, just for adding to the pile of glurgy shit collecting in my inbox.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/16 "2012-11-28T14:09:26Z")
Oh, I never liked Hobby Lobby but never realized they were so Christian. Everybody wants an exemption, everyone wants to be special. Suck it.
Sattua, come visit us - we’ve got Joanne’s, and they’re not grumpy, two Michael’s stores, and an A.C. Moore!
---
### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/17 "2012-11-28T14:11:30Z")
The best thing about Obamacare is that it’s giving me a handy list of businesses to avoid.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/18 "2012-11-28T14:17:06Z")
Well, I’m pissed off at Michael’s for making their small clay plant pots so hard to find.
It’s about the only place I can buy 2-3 inch pots for my cactus seedlings, and I have to wade through all their craft crap to locate them, risking trampling by hefty-sized women hellbent on seizing decorative plastic garbage.
You won’t read about _that_ in the liberal media.
---
### Author:  [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/19 "2012-11-28T14:24:57Z")
Well - I disagree with Green, and I disagree with him on the proper Christian response to the health care law, but I’m not going to boycott him over that any more than I would boycott an athiest store owner who refused to sell Christmas decorations. He’s entitled to believe what he believes, and he’s entitled to file a lawsuit if he wants to. (I’m glad it was thrown out).
I hope he comes to the realization that if his employees want to buy “abortion-causing drugs” that that’s between them and God, and not his responsibility or problem. Health care is part of the compensation that HL provides its employees, just like salary, and presumably any employee can take their HL salary down to the local Planned Parenthood and get an old fashioned abortion that way as well without Mr. Green having a say in it.
I really do understand how repulsive it is for some to feel like they are funding abortions, directly or indirectly. And although I support the law, I’d not be opposed to an exception for religious institutions (and let potential employees decide who they’d rather work for). But no matter how much I respect HL’s commitment to closing early and on Sundays, they are not a religious institution and need to suck it up and follow the law.
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### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335/20 "2012-11-28T14:53:02Z")
Here’s what I’ve never got from this whole “we don’t want to pay for birth control” rigmarole:
If your employees are such sterling Christians, they’re not going to be availing themselves of the evil birth control in the first place, so you won’t be paying for shit. And if one of your sterling Christian employees does avail themselves of birth control, you should do the only proper thing and stone them to death in the public square.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-hobby-lobby/642335.md?page=2)