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.

Seattle police, businesses prepped for May Day violence

Mayhem! Violence! Riots! And Donald Trump is nowhere near Seattle!
The media forgets.
When the demonstrators blocked Trump in California the media said "Well, it's his fault. He has been spewing divisive language and attacking immigrants."
What did the City of Seattle do to deserve the May 1 demonstrations?

• Globalization. 
• Racism.
• Corporate America.
• LGBTQ discrimination.
• Micro aggression.

Dr Politics - CTV News Channel 'The race goes on' U S primary CTV News

How Bush Super PAC Frittered Away All the Money.

Read this article. My focus groups said, "Now voters can truly say, "Thank GOD Bush dropped out! If this is how his people think money should be spent then think of how they would have spent taxpayer money!"

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/23/us/politics/jeb-bush-campaign.html

$88,000 on "branding" Mr. Bush. These brilliant people used JEB! with that exclamation point as the original "brand." Had they ever heard of the last candidate who tried an exclamation mark and a red and black checkered shirt as his brand. You can look that up and see how well he did. (Oh, all right. It was LAMAR! Alexander Senator from Tennessee. Ever hear of President Alexander? It was made fun of and because a huge JOKE! Why the hell would Bush's people go there?

94,000.00 "clubbing" to rise money.  "Instead of spending last winter on the hustings of Iowa and New Hampshire, Mr. Bush held off, using the first half of 2015 to raise money in places like New York, Chicago, Texas and Florida." HELLO! Ever hear of the "ground game?"

$8.3 Million  - ".. he and the group supporting him built one of the largest organizations of any candidate in either party."   ... "Parasites no doubt!" as I heard a famous consultant shout on a talk show.

#10 million on consultants. "his team paid consulting fees to around 140 different companies or individuals,"How'd that work out? These people get paid, lose and then move on, get paid and lose again. I read somewhere that it was the same folks who got Mitt Romney elected to the White House .. Oh wait!!

NPR January 29 2016

We are on NPR today for a long segment Here & Now (starts at 1pm Iowa Public radio) HOUR 2, 20 past the hour. Listen to a passionate show.

Most media has been shallow and sensational. I bitched to NPR about that.

Other media have covered minutia that NO ONE CARES ABOUT!

My Lecture at the Clinton Presidential Library

The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service selected Dr. Steffen Schmidt, University Professor in Iowa State’s political science department, to speak as a William J. Clinton Distinguished Lecturer in their upcoming focus on the Iowa Caucus.

Schmidt, also known as “Dr. Politics,” was selected based on his international reputation as an expert in American politics, especially the caucus process. He joins other distinguished lecturers such as President Paul Kagame of Rwanda; former Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell; former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger; Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer; civil rights icon Ruby Bridges; Nobel Laureates Muhammad Yunus, Wangari Maathai; and Leymah Gbowee; presidential advisers Harriett Miers; Karl Rove; and President and Secretary Clinton.

“When I received the invitation to speak at the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas,” said Schmidt, “I thought – any time I get a gig where Karl Rove, James Carville, Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger have previously talked, I know I’ve died and went to Political Science Heaven!”

The first school in the nation to offer a Master of Public Service (MPS) degree, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service gives students the knowledge and experience to further their careers in the areas of nonprofit, governmental, volunteer or private sector service.

In addition to being recognized as a foremost expert on Iowa caucuses, Schmidt is also a global expert on politics. Dr. Schmidt regularly reports on American politics for the largest Venezuelan newspaper, is contracted by Turner Broadcasting for regular election commentary for CNN en Espanol, and consults international media such as Agence France; Press, EFE, the largest news agency in Spain; the BBC; and Deutsche Welle radio. He is also Chief Political Correspondent for InsiderIowa.com and maintains multiple blogs.

Schmidt coauthored American Government and Politics Today, which became the most widely adopted American Government college textbook in the United States. Now in its 18th edition, it was one of the first e-books on American government, and soon expanded to include Internet toolkits for students and instructors.

Integrating online technology and research in distance education strategies, Dr. Schmidt launched the first ISU Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), about the Iowa Presidential Caucuses, on Sept. 1, 2015. The course analyzes Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus presidential candidate selection process, the role of the media, and the future of Iowa Presidential Caucus.

JOIN me in my free, online course on the Iowa caucuses. http://www.iowacaucusesmooc.org

Dr Politics. Neil Cavuto Fox interview