Targeting minorities

by | Apr 1, 2015 | Economic Development, Editor's Blog, LGBT Rights | 9 comments

The so-called religious freedom bill in Indiana has blown up in Republicans’ faces. In response, defenders claim either the bill does not really discriminate against gay people or that it mirrors a federal law passed in 1993 and signed by Democrat Bill Clinton. Neither point matters.

Even if the bill lacks the teeth to do anything, the purpose of the bill was to send a message to social conservatives that it’s okay to treat LGBT people as second class citizens. It’s not anymore, but Indiana Governor Mike Pence and the Republicans who passed the bill missed the rapid shift in public opinion that’s taken place in the past few years. Businesses quickly let them know that their actions could cost the state money and jobs.

Republicans keep passing legislation designed to harm specific segments of society instead of helping the greatest number of people. Their voter suppression laws clearly target African-American and younger voters by making it more difficult for them to vote. Just like the religious freedom bills, Republicans deny the purpose of the laws.

Again, it doesn’t matter. Nobody believes that the voter suppression laws were intended to protect “the integrity” of elections. And nobody believes that the religious freedom bills are not aimed at insulting LGBT people. The GOP is building a smaller tent, not a bigger one. As the country, and the state, get more diverse and tolerant, Republicans are going to pay a price.

North Carolina House Speaker give up our chance at an auto plant in order to mollify part of the GOP base?

The state has no business sanctioning discrimination against anyone for any reason.

9 Comments

  1. wafranklin

    I do not see them dying beside the road just yet, and the Christian Taliban just keeps pushing harder and harder. So, I am not willing to say they will pay some price, defined or not. So far they are getting away with shenanigans straight out of the Democrats play book from 1900 to 1980. Remember all that Dixiecrat crap? They wrote the book.

  2. Neal F. Rattican

    Apparently, some legislators are of a mind that changing the color of the lipstick actually makes a difference.

  3. Tom

    Because the SCOTUS majority loves egregious things when it comes to democracy. Remember Bush v Gore ? Two members of the majority on that one had family working in the Bush campaign and a third said the afternoon of the elections “if Gore wins, that will be terrible.” To her credit she has since semi-apologized for her vote.

  4. tarheel conservative

    If Voter ID was so egregious then why did the Supreme Court allow Wisconsin’s law to stand?

    • Pam Williamson

      Because the Supreme Court is also egregious.

    • Nortley

      The United States Supreme Court is a political institution, not a legal one.

  5. Dianne Moorefield

    They just keep digging their own political graves, don’t they! Absurd.

    • Scott

      But conservatives across the nation KEEP voting for them! Even when the Repubs don’t serve the Conservative voters best interests!! Appalling and just plain dumb.

      • Marvin Ellis

        I agree, Republicans often reap wide support from people who vote against their self-interest.

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