Christians Pushing Arizona Anti-Gay Bill Likened to Islamic Terrorists by Former Bush Adviser

President George W. Bush’s former chief strategist Matthew Dowd on Sunday likened Christians in Arizona who are using religion to discriminate against LGBT people to Islamic terrorists.

Last week, Arizona’s legislature passed a bill that would allow business owners to assert religious beliefs as an excuse to discriminate against gay and lesbian customers.

On Sunday, ABC’s Martha Raddatz asked Dowd to predict if Gov. Jan Brewer (R) would sign the bill into law.

“I think, in the end, Gov. Brewer is probably going to veto this because it seems like an easy veto for her to do because of everything that’s going in the business economy there,” Dowd explained.

“This is one of those problems when people use religion as a way to sort of enforce discriminatory practices,” he continued. “People used religion back in the 1860s when they defended slavery. They used religion to defend slavery.”

“We’ve used religion to go to war. People have criticized Islam because they use religion to fight people and kill people. This is the problem with that [bill].”

Ben_Reilly wrote:Could you provide a link?

Raggamuffin wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:Could you provide a link?

https://newsfix.niceboard.com/t2708-arizona-business-community-says-governor-should-scrap-anti-gay-bill

heavenly father wrote:yes they are so like islamic terrorists, they have been blowing people up...  

Ben_Reilly wrote:

heavenly father wrote:yes they are so like islamic terrorists, they have been blowing people up...  

No, they're using their religion as a justification to treat people poorly.

heavenly father wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

heavenly father wrote:yes they are so like islamic terrorists, they have been blowing people up...  

No, they're using their religion as a justification to treat people poorly.

they are asking for equal rights, that's all..they are not murdering anyone..

Ben_Reilly wrote:

heavenly father wrote:

they are asking for equal rights, that's all..they are not murdering anyone..

They're asking for special rights -- the special right to discriminate against people who they have a problem with because of religion. A Christian should be expected to be able to shop at a store run by an atheist without being discriminated against on the basis of their religious faith.

heavenly father wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

heavenly father wrote:

they are asking for equal rights, that's all..they are not murdering anyone..

They're asking for special rights -- the special right to discriminate against people who they have a problem with because of religion. A Christian should be expected to be able to shop at a store run by an atheist without being discriminated against on the basis of their religious faith.

they are asking for the right to sell their good and services to whom ever they wish, why isn't that equality..

heavenly father wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

No, they're using their religion as a justification to treat people poorly.

they are asking for equal rights, that's all..they are not murdering anyone..

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

https://newsfix.niceboard.com/t2708-arizona-business-community-says-governor-should-scrap-anti-gay-bill

That's a related story, but not the same story. That story doesn't contain the commentary from this prominent Bush adviser, and this story doesn't quote the business community -- it's another perspective on the story.

heavenly father wrote:they should have the right to refuse sale or service, that is equality..

Raggamuffin wrote:

heavenly father wrote:they should have the right to refuse sale or service, that is equality..

Well then there should be a law which says that anyone can refuse sales or service based on any reason at all.

heavenly father wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Well then there should be a law which says that anyone can refuse sales or service based on any reason at all.

I agree there should if equality mattered...  

heavenly father wrote:
they should have the right to refuse sale or service, that is equality..

Raggamuffin wrote:

heavenly father wrote:

I agree there should if equality mattered...  

I mean, why do they need that law? Does that mean if a gay bloke went into a small shop to buy a can of drink, the shopkeeper can tell him to bog off because he's gay? What kind of idiot would do that anyway?

heaveniy father wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I mean, why do they need that law? Does that mean if a gay bloke went into a small shop to buy a can of drink, the shopkeeper can tell him to bog off because he's gay? What kind of idiot would do that anyway?

i said that when it came up before as  a rule shops want to sell it  keeps them open but if they find someone threatening or what ever the right to refuse should be available to them ..

Raggamuffin wrote:

heaveniy father wrote:

i said that when it came up before as  a rule shops want to sell it  keeps them open but if they find someone threatening or what ever the right to refuse should be available to them ..

Yes, and that could apply to anyone, whether they were gay or not. If gay people are going around being threatening, I could understand it, but is that the case?

heaveniy father wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Yes, and that could apply to anyone, whether they were gay or not. If gay people are going around being threatening, I could understand it, but is that the case?

absolutely and to be honest how would the shop owner know they were gay...it all something and nothing really but shops should be able to refuse just as their basic rights..

Raggamuffin wrote:

heavenly father wrote:

I agree there should if equality mattered...  

I mean, why do they need that law? Does that mean if a gay bloke went into a small shop to buy a can of drink, the shopkeeper can tell him to bog off because he's gay? What kind of idiot would do that anyway?

Beekeeper wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I mean, why do they need that law? Does that mean if a gay bloke went into a small shop to buy a can of drink, the shopkeeper can tell him to bog off because he's gay? What kind of idiot would do that anyway?

  

I CAN only assume that you were born after the introduction of anti-discrimination laws, Ragamuffin...

IN which case, I would refer you back to the anti-"black" restrictions that were allowed in the USA and Australia up until the 1960s, and South Africa into the 1980s..

There were plenty of such "idiots" ho supported such discrimination back then !     

heaveniy father wrote:
....................................

i said that when it came up before as a rule shops want to sell it keeps them open but if they find someone threatening or what ever the right to refuse should be available to them ..

Beekeeper wrote:

heaveniy father wrote:
....................................

i said that when it came up before as a rule shops want to sell it keeps them open but if they find someone threatening or what ever the right to refuse should be available to them ..

  

THE hell you did, heavenly father !!!

Now you're changing your own quotes on the run..

That's even more ridiculous than trying to redefine the word "equality" !    :-:bravo:-: 

heaveniy father wrote:
you could just as easily say, i'm sorry they are out of stock or what ever reason you would like  to give and refuse that way, it really is a fuss about nothing.

heaveniy father wrote:
you could just as easily say, i'm sorry they are out of stock or what ever reason you would like  to give and refuse that way, it really is a fuss about nothing.

heaveniy father wrote:there are many ways they could refuse sale without showing their was any issue with, sexuality, colour or what ever,...  

Hotwired wrote:I wonder, if this were a Muslim group pushing for this, would the response of some of you be the same??? Always about those crazy Christians.  Seems if you are a Muslim you can do just about anything you damn please in this country.

 Beyond me how any American can feel in  a free country anyone should have the right to tell any privately owned business who they have to service or sell to. No matter what the reason. I have been in Yacht Clubs where you have to have a card to get in. Dined in Restaurants where I need a suit and tie to sit.  So what is the difference here? Some people do not want gays in their place of business and others do not want junkies in theirs.  Bottom line is, once the business decision is made, the free market will dictate if it was in fact a good business move or poor.  I know Joey Venuto of Geno’s Steaks didn't let the government dictate to him. Made him millions. That is the way it should be.. Oh BTW.. I have a family member who is gay. He said he doesn't give a crap what they say, his money spends good anywhere and they are making to much of this. He said a Muslim refused to buy a car from him because he was gay. Should he be able to force him into buying the car?

Hotwired wrote:I wonder, if this were a Muslim group pushing for this, would the response of some of you be the same??? Always about those crazy Christians.  Seems if you are a Muslim you can do just about anything you damn please in this country.

 Beyond me how any American can feel in  a free country anyone should have the right to tell any privately owned business who they have to service or sell to. No matter what the reason. I have been in Yacht Clubs where you have to have a card to get in. Dined in Restaurants where I need a suit and tie to sit.  So what is the difference here? Some people do not want gays in their place of business and others do not want junkies in theirs.  Bottom line is, once the business decision is made, the free market will dictate if it was in fact a good business move or poor.  I know Joey Venuto of Geno’s Steaks didn't let the government dictate to him. Made him millions. That is the way it should be.. Oh BTW.. I have a family member who is gay. He said he doesn't give a crap what they say, his money spends good anywhere and they are making to much of this. He said a Muslim refused to buy a car from him because he was gay. Should he be able to force him into buying the car?