Pizza Chain's Obamacare Stance Spurs Dueling Protests

Hoping to replicate the success of Chick-fil-A after it was boycotted over gay rights, conservatives are staging a pro-pizza day to counter protests against Papa John's Obamacare stance.

At issue is Papa John owner John Schnatter's announcement that he would raise prices and slice employee hours to pay for costs associated with the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

As liberals began organizing boycotts of the pizza chain, Papa John's supporters created a Facebook page to promote National Papa John's Appreciation Day on Friday.

"Papa Johns has been targeted by the left for a boycott, for simply articulating that ObamaCare would hurt profits and force cutbacks in employee hours," the Facebook page says. "Stand up to this nonsensical and illogical action and support Papa John's this Friday."

The pro-Papa event is reminiscent of Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, which saw droves of people nationwide patronize the fast-food chain after its CEO came under fire for criticizing gay marriage.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the pepperoni fence, anti-Papa forces have urged people to switch to local pizza joints this week. "Papa John's owner has decided to combat the Affordable Healthcare Act by increasing his prices, threatening terminations and lowering employee hours - simply to avoid and protest employee health benefits," said one pro-boycott invitation.

A story at Forbes.com says Papa John's will see a 0.4 to 0.7 percent increase in healthcare costs for employees working 30 or more hours a week under the new law.

Will you buy or boycott Papa John's? Tell us in the comments.