Religious Freedom Restoration and the Iowa Caucuses

Recently we saw a volcanic eruption over the passage of laws by the Indianan and Arkansas state legislatures. These "Religious Freedom Restoration Laws" would allow any business to refuse service to customers who offend the religious principles and beliefs of the company owners.

In examining these laws we find that service would probably not be denied to people with disabilities. Neither would short people, fat people, women, people with a suntan, nor probably blacks and Latino's be refused service. There are specific laws that prohibit racial discrimination.

So, the conclusion is that service would be denied mostly to LGBT - gays and lesbians - because that's the beef some conservative Christians have with behavior that is sinful to them.

The problem is that in 2015 Americans have become more tolerant of gays and lesbians. The other problem is that state (government) intrusion in people's lives is dangerous. Where will it end? Will liberals have their own values that they will impose when in power? Or, are liberals (California) already ramming their principles down the throats of everyone?

So, supporters of this legislation apparently felt that protests against these laws would come from gays and lesbians and that could be dismissed and brushed off.

Indeed, before governor Mike Pence of Indianan signed the bill into law there were protests from the LGBT community and its supporters. In Arkansas these protests started even before governor Asa Hutchinson had signed the bill which he decided to send back to the legislature without a signature. 

BUT, the unexpected eruption of opposition to the law came from the business community. Many large and important corporations and the NCAA expressed their concern. Many even threatened to yank their companies from Indiana and some prohibited travel by their employees to Indiana. In Arkansas the largest company Walmart voiced its concern even before the governor had a chance to sign the bill. (In 2019 California prohibited travel by government employees (including professors) to Iowa because the state removed medical treatment and services for LGBTQ persons.)

So how are IOWA Republicans responding to this challenge? One prominent Republican was  almost HYSTERICAL about the long term consequences to the Republican Party "brand." That reflects the views of Whit Ayres, a Republican political consultant who has been quoted as saying gay rights and same sex marriage is not at the top of the list of issues that most Republicans want to press in 2016. Hes said,  “The biggest issues among candidates will be the ones among voters, which are the economy, health care, education, ISIS, national security and so on.”

In Iowa the owners of Gortz Haus, a florist, gift shop and wedding reception facilty, refused to book same sex weddings because homosexuality is against their faith. HOWEVER, Iowa law prohibits such discrimination. they were interviewed on TV and they clearly would wish Iowa would pass a law such as Indiana and Arkansas. Fourth District Congressman Steve King was also upset that the Governors of Indiana  and Arkansas  decided to amend the laws to prohibit discrimination against gays. He said the people had spoken and members of the House and Senate of both states passed the laws and they should be implemented.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, in Iowa to launch his presidential campaign also strongly supported these laws saying that religious freedom was a funding principle of the United States. Of course it's not clear that if a gay couple walks into a bakery and wants to order a cake they are also forcing the owners of the bakery to endorse homosexuality. They probably just want to buy a cake. On the flip side, if two people of the opposite sex who are not married and are sinful fornicators having extra marital sex come into a flower shop will the owners ask them if they are sinners and refuse service?

Most Republicans running for president supported the laws even before they were signed and then "unsigned" by the two governors. Jeb Bush quickly backpedaled when he saw that conservative, Republican, corporate executives objected to the laws.

Some Republicans believe that these laws are like an IED that is very dangerous for the existing GOP rift between religious and social conservative Republicans who are opposed to gay rights and " ... the pro-business wing of the party that sees economic peril in the fight."

When Walmart says "NO!" and the social conservative wing says "YES!" to this legislation you know there is some serious "thinking" in to be done by the GOP. Give in on your values and yield to growing opinion or stick to your principles?

The 2020 primaries and caucuses will be the most tense but interesting in modern history.

Never has there been a president like Donald Trump. Not since the late 60's has there been such a deep division in the Democratic Party between left and right. Rarely has there been a world in greater threat (climate change) and disruption (the Middle east, North Korea, the Chinese challenge.)

I will follow these events diligently. I have been analyzing American politics since 1969. I have seen a lot. I am scared about what lies ahead for us this time around. The 2020 caucuses, primaries and election in November will be epic. Hopefully in a good way.

Radio celebrity Arnie Arnesen created a huge stir in the Democratic caucuses & primaries. In my interview with her (I do her radio show The Attitude every week) she said that Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders should retire from the 2020 campaign (and retire period!) She also excoriated Sanders for being a "Democrat of convenience" so to speak. He has run as a Dem but after losing the 2016 nomination he abandoned the Democrats, did not encourage his supporters to vote for Clinton, and generally reverted to being a Socialist.