It was gratifying to learn that Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer
vetoed a toxic antigay piece of legislation known as Senate Bill 1062. This proposed measure would have allowed businesses to choose not to serve gay clientele so that their proprietors could honor their religious beliefs. A similar bill was recently vetoed in Kansas.
Apparently, the same dynamic is repeating itself in several states that have created similarly abhorrent bills. Antigay measures, justified by "defense of religious freedom" are being advanced, but then they crash, often by dint of a gubernatorial veto. Why? Because such legislation is bad for business.
It's good to know that legalized gay-bashing isn't going to see the light of day, even in the reddest of the red states. Yet I can't help being cynical. Non-Tea Party Republicans like Arizona Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake both declared their opposition to SB 1062. Good for them. But I don't get the sense that they or any other prominent Republicans opposed such legislation because they thought that it was morally repugnant and inhuman. Just bad for business!
Am I being too harsh?
I think you are being a bit harsh re: McCain. Over the years I have detected some honest humanity in him, despite his largely Republican Party adherence. In politics, as you know, ya gotta dance with the one that brung ya!
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