Rainbow bLAWg

SB 1062, the Arizona legislation that would have allowed discrimination based on religious beliefs contradicts American’s core values. Religious persecution was what our forefathers sought to leave behind when they founded this country. To parse our religious differences in legislation goes against everything they stood and fought for.

Who’s behind the religious freedom push?

Since tolerance has been such an issue for Republicans among women, minorities, independents and younger voters, GOP strategists were quick to applaud Brewer for a move that shows that Republicans are listening and adapting to changing times — and changing their views on gay rights. But if we have learned anything in recent years, when leading GOP establishment figures say one thing, vocal voices in the tea party and social conservative movement will urge another — and try to punish those who disagree.

There are a lot of conservative Christian groups who believe they are “under attack” by government policies. They are having a difficult time as they watch their “rational” arguments – that children are harmed by same-sex parents, or that their own marriages are being threatened — have, one by one, been weighed in courts and rejected.

So, what will come next?

“Freedom nationally, values personally,’ is where the GOP is going,” said GOP strategist Alex Castellanos. “We are learning that futile gestures that have only symbolic impact do the GOP cause more harm than good.”

Empathy is not their strong point. It’s too bad they couldn’t have foreseen the harm the that would have come to the families of same-sex partners if they had been successful.

It is time for the right wingers to fire their lobbyists and quietly retreat back into to the realm of faith, where there is no obligation to provide argument, but only to demonstrate sincerity of belief. But that’s not likely.

They have tasted power and power is a thirst that can never be quenched.

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Carrie Stone