McDonald’s Flies Flag Half-Mast on Obama’s Reelection: Sales Down First Time Since 2003

A McDonald's restaurant in Follansbee, West Virginia, hosted the national flag upside down at half-mast after Tuesday's Presidential Elections. The flag being flown at half-mast usually indicates a circumstance of distress and danger or tragedy.

However, the owner of the McDonald's in Follansbee, Karen Mezan, told WTOV, that the incident had nothing to do with any political statement, but rather was a sincere mistake. Initially, when employees at the restaurant were contacted regarding the incident, the employees told media that they were instructed to fly the flag as such by the owner.

The McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain, along with other restaurant franchises have been vocal regarding their disapproval of President Barrack Obama, particularly because of his Affordable Health Care legislation.

Obama's Affordable Health Care Act, which will go into effect from 2014 (www.healthcare.gov) requires a company which staffs more than 50 employees to offer health care coverage or pay a fine, which starts at $2,000.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the new law will add an annual cost between $10,000-$30,000 for the McDonalds franchise. Others such as Burger King, Quiznos, Dunkin Donuts, will also face an increase in their annual expenses as a result of the healthcare mandate.

According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the Big Mac franchise reported a drop in its sales nation-wide by 1.8 percent during the month of October. The company has not experienced a fall in sales since March 2003, according to the Huffington Post. The company's shares have also been down 61 cents, currently $86.23 in premarket trading.

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