Mike Pence – Hoosier State’ Fiasco.

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(ThyBlackMan.com) Are you familiar with the first law of holes? Just in case you’re not, here it is according to American humorist Will Rogers: “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” The meaning of this truism is well-established in both science and common sense. Simply put, if an individual finds himself or herself in an untenable position, he or she should stop and change course, rather than attempting to carry on or to explain. It’s a simple enough concept, so I’m confused as to why Michael Richard “Mike” Pence – the Republican Governor of Indiana doesn’t get it. Why can’t the Republican Party embrace concepts of inclusion rather than constructs of exclusion? Governor Pence has almost singlehandedly created a national sinkhole for the Grand Old Party. The current fiasco in the “Hoosier State” was entirely avoidable, but it’s getting worse with each passing day because Pence – a good man – refuses to act like he has good sense.

Last week, Mike Pence signed a religious freedom law which would allow businesses throughout Indiana to legally refuse to serve gay and lesbian customers. The legislation the governor signed in private has blown up in his face publicly. To call this so-called religious freedom law controversial would be a vast understatement. Mike Pence is an attorney. Did he actually think he could authorize a law which would all but allow businesses, restaurants, hotels, and florists in Indiana to post “No Gays Allowed” signs and no one notice? Did he think no one would be offended? Did he think at all?

Freedom of speech is no guarantor of institutionalized discrimination.

Naturally, Mike Pence cited the most Republican of excuses – he blames the media for the massive blowback he’s experiencing. He calls it a big misunderstanding. Uh-huh.

I’m not gay – but I take great offense at this law. It is the slipperiest of slopes because if you can legally refuse service to any one group of Americans, who’s next? Today in Indiana, it might be gay people. Next week, it could conceivably be Hispanic people. Next month, it may be black folks. Then women. Then people over 7 feet tall. The point I’m making is once you begin to discriminate, it will be easier and easier over time to do so. Continually, I teach and preach God’s word. God’s word is crystal clear that we should love people, and hate sin.

It takes a lot to make me angry. You really have to go out of your way to achieve it. Any piece of legislation in effect anywhere on God’s green earth which perpetuates hatred and intolerance among God’s people is an abomination – especially when it’s wrapped in the false narrative of religious freedom. There’s nothing religious about hatred or bigotry or persecution. Anyone even attempting to argue otherwise is either ignorant to what faith truly is – or bearing false witness. Both of those are sins, I might add. Religious freedom laws typically aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. Such laws make me angry.

As you might expect, the viral infection is spreading. Days after Indiana passed this preposterous law, other states – including Arkansas and Georgia – are already moving in the same, tone-deaf direction.

Mike Pence used to be considered a rising star in the Republican Party. His name was mentioned as a potential 2016 GOP candidate for president. Mr. Pence, I regret to inform you that this is no longer the case. Your name is now mud, sir. As a direct result of the universal laughingstocks you’ve made of yourself and of the great state of Indiana, you have as much chance of being the President of the United States of America as Elmer Fudd.

If only Pence had a heart. The first-term Republican governor is now desperate to dial down the searing criticism of his state by allegedly ordering fixes to his draconian religious freedom law. How do you explain the inexplicable? How do you defend the indefensible? He can’t stop digging. He won’t stop digging – even though he’s up to his ears in soil.

Meanwhile, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush stands with Pence. Governor Bobby Jindal (Louisiana) stands with Pence. Congressman Marco Rubio (Florida) stands with Pence. Congressman Ted Cruz (Texas) stands with Pence. Mike Pence doesn’t stand for Pence – because he’s too busy running for cover from the very law he signed into effect. These endorsements for foolishness have consequences. Pence has incurred the wrath of the NCAA, the professional sports leagues, large corporations (such as Walmart, Apple, and Salesforce), and musicians. If they make good on their threats to sever business ties to Indiana, the Hoosier State stands to lose millions – if not billions of dollars.

“Was I expecting this kind of backlash? Heavens no,” Mike Pence admitted Tuesday.

Stop digging, Governor Pence. Strike down this discriminatory law. Then – and only then – will your Hoosier State fiasco end.

Staff Writer; Arthur L. Jones, III

This talented brother is a local Minister, weekly featured Democratic Op-Ed columnist, non-profit advisor, and sees the Braves winning it all this fall. Rev. Jones welcomes your comments! Please email him directly at: tcdppress@gmail.com.

Steve says:

April 3, 2015 at 5:38 pm

Peter:

I’m glad that you brought that up. I actually have read the entirety of the law as well as the entirety of the federal version, aka RFRA. The broadening element that you speak of mirrors how the Supreme Court has interpreted the specific meaning of the word “persons”. Minus the objection of Justices Sotomayor and Ginsberg on how the word should be interpreted the courts have majority of the time decided that a person could mean either an individual or corporate entity.
There are public accommodation laws that this law is not designed to cancel. Taking issue with the method in how it was introduced is one thing, and valid. However the larger issue that this addresses is what is getting lost in the fray. At issue is NOT whether someone claiming a religious exemption can discriminate against someone because of their sexuality. What’s really at stake is the ability for a person of faith to make a decision based on their convictions that happens to be separate from the state.
I respectfully disagree that this law is somehow a doomsday device for the LGBT community. They will continue to flourish and thrive. I respectfully disagree that this law will make it easier for bigots to hide behind their faith. I do believe, very strongly, that what many people within the more militant factions of the LGBT movement ultimately want is to eliminate any entity that doesn’t agree with them.

Peter says:

April 3, 2015 at 1:18 pm

Take your own advice, Steve, and read the law.
Actually, this law is- or orignally was- NOT the sam as the Federal version as well as other state laws. The Federal law applied to government action- the Indiana law was broader and extended the application to private citizens. Also, Indiana does not have protections for LGBT,like other states. It was also drafed by a legislator who was upset about previous legislation regarding the LGBT community. It was meant to be discriminatory. Period

Also, look at the signing ceremony- it was done without the media and while a photo was passed out, the Governor’s office refused to identify the people attending. As it turns out, the people standing right next to Pence were people who had strongly advocated anti-gay legislation. The clergy were just window dressing. Normally signing ceremonies are widely publicized and with media coverage. The facts around the signing ceremony underscore the true intent of the bill. Pence did indeed show that he is not ready to run the State of Indiana, much less the United States. His law school should ask for its diploma back.

Steve says:

April 1, 2015 at 11:46 pm

I would strongly suggest that people read the text of the law and find out how it has been adjudicated by the courts before they start to make spurious claims of how it is going to give the green light for bigots to hide behind an expression of their faith. The federal version of this law ALONG with the 20 other states that have also adopted their own versions of it does not give people the right to discriminate. It simply states that the religious rights of a person cannot necessarily be violated by the government simply because the government has a compelling interest in the matter. From a legal standpoint this places the religious views of an individual on equal par with the rights of governmental entities. The courts have not always ruled in favor of or against cases that claim this rule. In other words this is much ado about nothing.
Don’t get caught up in the hype which is often fueled by a very militant and well equipped secular humanists agenda. This law hasn’t nor will it degenerate into de facto Jim Crow.