Author Topic: Exclusive: SunTrust Cuts Business Ties With Benham Brothers After Conservative Views Attacked (Read 1658 times)

flowers · « **on:** May 16, 2014, 04:23:45 pm »

http://dailycaller.com/2014/05/16/exclusive-suntrust-cuts-business-ties-with-benham-brothers-after-conservative-views-attacked/#ixzz31tOSY1v3

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First they lost their television show. Now the Benham brothers say they are losing their business.

SunTrust Banks is cutting ties with would-be reality stars David and Jason Benham after liberal activists attacked them for their conservative views on abortion and gay marriage, The Daily Caller has learned.

In a statement provided first to TheDC on Friday, the Benham brothers confirmed that SunTrust Banks has pulled all of its listed properties with the Benham brothers’ bank-owned property business, which includes several franchisees across four states.

The move comes just a week after HGTV announced it was canceling a planned home renovation show hosted by the brothers.

“If our faith costs us our HGTV show and our business, then so be it,” said Jason Benham on Friday.

“We were caught off-guard with this one,” David Benham said of SunTrust’s actions. “Keeping us off television wasn’t enough, now this agenda to silence wants us out of the marketplace.”

The Benhams, in their statement, said the news came “without warning or explanation from SunTrust and took place over a 15 minute period” on Thursday. The Brothers said they have had a “mutually productive working relationship with SunTrust for many years” and hold a ”preferred broker” status with the bank.

The brothers said they contacted SunTrust, but bank employees declined to explain the reasoning for what happened.

Reached for comment by TheDC on Friday, SunTrust corporate spokesman Mike McCoy would not say whether the Benhams’ political views impacted their decision.

“We continuously review our supplier relationships and changes to the list of companies we rely on for services is a natural part of our business, however we do not publicly comment on specific vender relationships,” McCoy told TheDC.

In their statement, the Benhams said they “recognize SunTrust’s right to hire or fire any real estate broker they choose but do not support the decision” to fire independent franchisees that are associated with them. Many of these franchisees, they said, “do not hold the same beliefs” they do.

“As Americans we find ourselves at a crossroads and are forced with a decision to either stand up or sit down,” David Benham said. “Evidently, SunTrust’s longstanding commitment to diversity must not include our historic Christian values.”

One such franchisee is Joel Morimanno of Benham Real Estate of SW Florida.

“I believe SunTrust has requested a blanket reassignment of all Benham Brother listings across the nation because of their Christian beliefs,” Morimanno said in a statement to TheDC.

“The success of my business is based on my performance,” he said. “I work hard to maintain a Preferred Status with all my clients. It appears that SunTrust simply reassigned the listing based on other external factors.”

DCPatriot · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2014, 04:29:21 pm »

This is getting out of hand.....and it's not even Summer yet.

....it's going to explode.

Millee · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2014, 05:03:23 pm »

All Christians should close their accounts out with them.

SouthTexas · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2014, 05:04:04 pm »

Quote from: DCPatriot on May 16, 2014, 04:29:21 pm

This is getting out of hand.....and it's not even Summer yet.

....it's going to explode.

It is continuously said that we should not fight fire with fire because it drops us to their level, but when our values become nothing, what will be the point?

mountaineer · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2014, 06:13:13 pm »

I suspect these young men are happy to read Matthew 5:11-12: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

DCPatriot · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2014, 06:18:28 pm »

As Realtor over 35 years, I can tell you that there's absolutely NO way a bank can deny credit based upon race, creed, etc..

They are opening themselves up for a gigantic lawsuit....unless the brothers no longer qualify because of 'income' requirements.

IOW...it's like a person in the middle of an application for a mortgage who suddenly loses his job before settlement.

If they had what's called "blanket" mortgages....where numerous properties together become the collateral...then maybe it's kosher.

Oceander · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2014, 06:23:04 pm »

They should sue, just as the queers have been suing bakers and etc for refusing to make wedding cakes for their "marriage" ceremonies. If a faggot (yes, I'm being intentionally offensive) can sue a Christian baker for refusing to bake that queer a cake, and win, then these two gents should be able to sue SunTrust for violating their human rights by refusing to do business with them on account of their religious beliefs.

flowers · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2014, 06:26:35 pm »

Statement from the Benham Brothers Website:

SunTrust Statement

David and Jason Benham today confirm that SunTrust Bank® has pulled all of its listed properties with the Benham brothers and several franchisees across the US. This came without warning or explanation from SunTrust and took place over a 15 minute period on May 15, 2014. The Benhams, as well as several of their franchisees, have enjoyed a mutually productive working relationship with SunTrust for many years, even holding “preferred broker” status. SunTrust was contacted but declined to explain why they fired these brokers.

David Benham explained, “We were caught off-guard with this one. Keeping us off television wasn’t enough, now this agenda to silence wants us out of the marketplace.”

The Benham’s recognize SunTrust’s right to hire or fire any real estate broker they choose, but do not support the decision of SunTrust to fire independent franchisees that are associated with the brothers, many of which do not hold the same beliefs the brothers do.

David went on to say, “As Americans we find ourselves at a crossroads and are forced with a decision to either stand up or sit down. Evidently, SunTrust’s longstanding commitment to diversity must not include our historic Christian values. ”

Jason Benham added, “If our faith costs us our HGTV show and our business, then so be it.”

###

Benham Real Estate is a full service real estate company that specializes in selling bank owned properties. The real estate division, Benham REO Group, has about 100 offices in 35 states across the US.

SunTrust, Member FDIC, is a federally registered service mark of SunTrust Banks, Inc.

http://benhambrothers.com/suntrust/

truth_seeker · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2014, 06:37:10 pm »

Quote from: DCPatriot on May 16, 2014, 06:18:28 pm

As Realtor over 35 years, I can tell you that there's absolutely NO way a bank can deny credit based upon race, creed, etc..

It is NOT about approving loans to the brothers.

It IS about cancelling the listings the brothers have, to dispose of REO listings.

At least that is my understanding of the circumstances.

This reinforces the age old adage, to keep religion and politics out of certain areas.

Those who do otherwise risk paying the price.

We don't discuss religion or politics at my real estate office, or initiate same with our clients.

Oceander · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2014, 06:38:40 pm »

Quote

The Benham’s recognize SunTrust’s right to hire or fire any real estate broker they choose, but do not support the decision of SunTrust to fire independent franchisees that are associated with the brothers, many of which do not hold the same beliefs the brothers do.

Seriously? They tarred others by association and terminated them because of their associations?

These guys have been wronged and while I respect their grown-up attitude toward it - an attitude that stands in sharp contrast to the childish, asinine reactions of bleep and queers (yes, I'm being intentionally offensive) to similar slights - now is not the time to just turn the other cheek; now is the time to step forward and defend themselves on the same terms the left has now established. They should sue, and it sounds like it should be a class action that includes those associated brokers that were also fired.

Rivergirl · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2014, 06:57:18 pm »

Perhaps suntrust would like to hear from us. Real Americans.

sinkspur · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2014, 07:09:59 pm »

I've been reading about these Benham brothers for a couple of weeks and must confess that I have never heard of them.

Don't even know all the circumstances but it would seem the better part of discretion to not bring up religious issues in the context of discussing real estate.

jmyrlefuller · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2014, 08:02:58 pm »

Quote from: sinkspur on May 16, 2014, 07:09:59 pm

I've been reading about these Benham brothers for a couple of weeks and must confess that I have never heard of them.

Don't even know all the circumstances but it would seem the better part of discretion to not bring up religious issues in the context of discussing real estate.

They weren't even the ones that had brought it up. They had basically signed to do a show for HGTV that would have dealt with house-flipping (their line of work), but with a charitable angle. It was the left who dredged up the Benham family history and demanded they be cut off.

speekinout · « **Reply #13 on:** May 16, 2014, 08:13:05 pm »

This is getting ridiculous. We used to be able to have private lives separate from our jobs or public lives (if we were in the public view). Remember JFK & his private life that we only heard about years later? Remember all of the movie stars from years ago that had hidden private lives? We never knew who was gay or who was carrying on an extramarital affair - or even who was a Christian. And so on.
Now we have to know all the details about everyone's life, and worse yet, we have to judge them by their private lives, and not by how good they are at their jobs.

I suppose the best thing to be these days is a LBGT drug using atheist in a marriage to a thing of a different species?

Rivergirl · « **Reply #14 on:** May 16, 2014, 08:14:05 pm »

Some folks just criticize without all the facts. They are good guys and are doing good things for others.

flowers · « **Reply #15 on:** May 16, 2014, 10:29:19 pm »

SunTrust Reverses Decision On Conservative Benham Brothers

http://dailycaller.com/2014/05/16/suntrust-reverses-decision-on-conservative-benham-brothers/

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After an uproar from conservative customers, SunTrust Banks announced Friday afternoon that the decision to end its relationship with real estate entrepreneurs David and Jason Benham had been reversed.

Earlier Friday, The Daily Caller reported that SunTrust Banks had pulled all of its listed properties with the Benham brothers’ bank-owned property business.

The move came just a week after HGTV announced it was canceling a planned home renovation show hosted by the Benhams because of their conservative views on abortion and gay marriage.

By Friday afternoon, SunTrust released a statement saying the decision had been reversed. The bank didn’t go into detail about why they originally cut ties with the Benham brothers, though SunTrust said the decision was made by a third party vendor. TheDC reported earlier Friday that the vendor had told a Benham Brothers franchisee that the bank itself made the decision.

“We clarified our policies with our vendor and they have reinstated the listings with Benham Real Estate,” SunTrust spokeswoman Beth McKenna said.

Rivergirl · « **Reply #16 on:** May 16, 2014, 11:11:33 pm »

Mealy mouthed weasels didn't expect the backlash.

SPQR · « **Reply #17 on:** May 16, 2014, 11:43:55 pm »

Suntrust has just reversed itself

SPQR · « **Reply #18 on:** May 16, 2014, 11:46:15 pm »

Atlanta-based SunTrust Banks Inc. reinstated the property listings of reality show brothers David and Jason Benham, who recently lost their reality television show on HGTV.

Conservative news website The Daily Caller reported the Benhams' confirmed SunTrust (NYSE: STI) “pulled all of its listed properties with the Benham brothers’ bank-owned property business, which includes several franchisees across four states.”

Last week, HGTV pulled the plug on the brothers’ show“Flip It Forward” after liberal activists pressured the network to fire the brothers for their Christian conservative beliefs, particularly their stance against gay marriage.

SunTrust’s move surprised the duo.

“The Benhams, in their statement, said the news came ‘without warning or explanation from SunTrust and took place over a 15 minute period’ on Thursday,” The Daily Caller reported. “The brothers said they have had a ‘mutually productive working relationship with SunTrust for many years’ and hold a ‘preferred broker’ status with the bank.”

SunTrust would not disclose its reason for severing ties with the Benhams.

“We continuously review our supplier relationships and changes to the list of companies we rely on for services is a natural part of our business, however we do not publicly comment on specific vender relationships,” SunTrust spokesman Mike McCoy told The Daily Caller. More here.

On Friday evening, SunTrust put out a statement:

SunTrust supports the rights of all Americans to fully exercise their freedoms granted under the Constitution, including those with respect to free speech and freedom of religion.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2014/05/16/report-suntrust-ends-relationship-with.html