Posted on 02/26/2014 9:18:20 AM PST by lbryce
CNN host Anderson Cooper battled with Arizona state Sen. Al Melvin (R) on Monday night over the fate of a state bill that would allow businesses to refuse service to lesbian and gay customers.
Melvin is a candidate for governor who voted for the SB 1062 legislation and is urging Gov. Jan Brewer (R) to sign it. Melvin and other proponents of the bill argue it is a protection of religious freedom for individuals whose beliefs condemn homosexuality. However, Melvin had trouble defending the bill to Cooper and struggled when the CNN host asked him to describe an example where religious people had suffered persecution as a result of being prevented from discriminating against gays and lesbians.
"You can't give me one example of this actually happening?" Cooper said.
"No, I can't," Melvin said. "But we've seen it in other states, and we don't want it to happen here."
"No, I can't," Melvin said. "But we've seen it in other states, and we don't want it to happen here."
"But you can't cite one example where religious freedom is under attack in Arizona," said Cooper.
"Not now, no, but how about tomorrow?" Melvin responded.
Cooper took exception to this line of argument.
"Well I dont understand what that means," he said. "I mean, if you can't cite in the entire history of Arizona, one case where religious freedom has been under attack or even in the last year where it's been under attack is this really the most important thing for you to be working on?"
Later in the interview, Melvin insisted that he didn't know anybody in Arizona who would discriminate against a "fellow human being."
"Really? Discrimination doesn't exist in Arizona?" Cooper asked incredulously.
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(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Does a black photographer have a right to refuse to take pictures at KKK rally?
Does a homosexual photographer have a right to refuse to take pictures at a Westboro Baptist protest?
Does an animal rights activist that is a photographer have the right to refuse to take pictures at a meat slaughterhouse?
ROTFLMAO!! Are you a troll? Care to define "Hate Speech"?
Those who engage in homosexual sex are not a separate species; there is no scientific basis for the claim that there are 'gay beings' among us that have been unjustly oppressed by society. The 'gay being' canard comes from the same place that global warming comes from -leftist propagandists.
The difference would be that the few Gays are seeking Extraconstitutional rights form themselves while destroying the First Amendment Rights of all Christians.
The Indians and the handicapped have never wanted Extraconstitutional rights and have never wanted to deny Christians of their First Amendment Rights.
We should keep a big long list going.
His point was that no such threats have ever been made in Arizona, nor could they possibly be made under existing law in Arizona. Colorado and Oregon define gays as a protected class for purposes of public-accommodation civil rights laws; Arizona doesn't.
Hate speech is not illegal in the U.S.; the Supreme Court held that even cross-burning is protected by the First Amendment. R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, 505 U.S. 377 (1992).
Supposing a single mother or a divorced woman wanted service- should someone have the right to refuse?
To refute the statement rebutting him, that Christians generally certainly do not discriminate against such persons. Cooper continued. He then threw in the statement at least twice, that Jesus was against divorce. Thus trying to tie in those that followed Jesus, could then withhold service.
Hypothetical questions could be used against Cooper. He could have been asked that if he needed a blood transfusion, would he willingly accept blood from a homosexual donor?
No doubt Cooper would dismiss such a question because the situation had not occurred.
I am confident that any law that FORCES someone to do business with another person, when that customer has another choice, would be ruled unconstitutional.
The bakery could just put up one of these in the future - ad problem solved
No need to give a reason
Correct. But my point was/is , that right already exists in Arizona. There is no law requiring businesses to take part in anything or service anyone. Businesses already have this standing by way of exclusion in the law.
This comes across as grandstanding and makes the GOP look like hate mongering idiots and they don’t need the help. It’s a colossal waste of time and money to codify something that already exists within the law.
Basically, those same people who, fairly illegally, dont want to serve gays can (and should) very legally be refused (nonesesential) service for being prejudiced against gays.
...please rewrite this sentence; your prose has completely obscured your point...
I would say that anderson’s well worn and high mileage arse was kicked well and not the State Senator’s.
You may be right but someone in the AZ legislature doesn't think so. One woman from AZ described it as a "process law." I don't know what that means but she said it only had to do with giving a businessman standing in court. Sorry, that's not very illuminating but it was the best attempt I've heard or read at explaining the purpose of the law.
Another state rep from AZ was on Fox News this morning and said that originally this law had nothing to do with homosexuals but that it has been made to look that way by the press. It's not hard to believe that but he didn't have time to give explanatory details.
No, it wouldn't solve the problem in states where laws existing protecting homosexuals from "discrimination" like New Mexico and Colorado.
"Anti-discrimination" laws trump "right to refuse".
How can someones behavior be a protected “class”?
Anderson Goofer, the sub-human who brought you the Sandy Hook Hoax! You can rely on his judgment in all matters!
Gee, i had the strangest feeling Giurato’s eyes were gazing at my crotch as I typed this. Anyone else have a severe GAYDAR Alert!?
That’s easy. Cooper would marry the gay store owner and then the two of them would beat beat the KKK guy to death. Problem solved!
So a Democrat gay marxist muslim amputee transgendered pedophile abortion doctor walks into a bar .and the bartender says ...
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