Polls show that laws like this are not supported by independents, women, minorities or Americans between 18 and 29. Nor are they supported by big business, as evidenced by NASCAR, the NBA and Wal-Mart’s public, vocal opposition.
Those businesses are doing the right thing, but they have also done the math. As a party, we need to take a similarly realistic look. Indiana’s politicians clearly didn’t expect the response the law received, but it is heartening to see that they’ve taken steps in the right direction, just as it is reassuring to see that Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas listened to the outrage over Indiana and decided to veto a similar law. But I want to be absolutely certain that all of my fellow Republicans everywhere got the message. What happened in Indiana should be a teachable moment for us.
If the Republican Party wants the next generation of voters to listen to our ideas and solutions to real problems, we must be an inclusive and open party, not a party of divisions. We must be the party of limited government, not the party that legislates love. We must be the party that stands for equality and against discrimination in any form.
We must be the party that originally attracted this young Austrian immigrant.”
— Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticizing Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act in an op-ed he wrote for the Washington Post
VampDC
Amazingly said Arnold.
As a 22 year old – who often has more republic views, but will never categorize myself as a party, I will never give a vote to someone who doesn’t stand up for basic human rights.
The republic party loses a lot of votes each year on basic human right issues.
Hillers
While I’m sure that was written for him, it’s still a pretty astonishing sentiment from someone who once supported legislation denying same-sex marriage.
crowebobby
Ya, you really have to wait till you have more power before you start building the concentration camps. Not that I don’t them built; just wait till you’re sure we can get away with it.
crowebobby
crowebobby: “want” them built.. P.S. It’s sarcasm.
martinbakman
I live in Cali and don’t care much for him. He vetoed legislation that allowed same sex marriage, and was generally did his best to serve the rich.
gaym50ish
He also praised the court order that struck down Proposition 8. But he had previously vetoed not just one bill but TWO bills that had been passed by the California Assembly legalizing same-sex marriage.
I suppose, like Obama and Clinton, he was still “evolving” on the issue. But at least Bill Clinton announced that he had changed his mind and apologized for signing the Defense of Marriage Act. I don’t think we ever heard such an apology from Governor Arnie.
gaym50ish
Arnold says Republicans “must be an inclusive and open party, not a party of divisions.”
In order to do that, they must first shake off the influence of the evangelical Christians, who have had a stranglehold on the party ever since Nixon cozied up to Billy Graham and Reagan discovered that he could get votes by being a devout Christian.
If they continue to be a party of the religious right, they will lose an even bigger constituency — the business community. That is evident by the reactions to discriminatory legislation by Fortune 500 corporations.
Giancarlo85
“I believe same sex marriage is between a man and a woman”. LOL. Yeah, Arnold… while what you have said here is better than that, I don’t give two flying fucks about you. You nearly drove California to the brink of complete bankruptcy and default.
Well said or not, the republican party is DEAD.
And in California, I hope gone for good. The republican party, including Schwarzenegger, have given us nothing but lies and bad fortune. And please stay away from the house keeper next time.
I can’t tell you how awful this guy was for California’s government. Nothing he says should be celebrated.
onthemark
@gaym50ish: That always puzzled me. He was never all that popular with the right wing anyway, so who was he trying to “impress” with those vetoes? If I remember right (?), the second time was in his second term (after he wasn’t running again) so he wouldn’t have been risking anything politically.
dvlaries
Polite, measured applause for yet another Republican who ‘sees the light’ once there’s no more political capital to risk.
jimontp
There are no “teachable moments,” for the GOP. Arnold never learned a thing while he was governor, just slightly less antigay rhetorically than the rest of his party. But on the national scene, the GOP has become even more anti-gay. They don’t learn. In fact, the GOP Senators and Congressman are much more a cheerleading group for religious bigots and Bibi’s Isreal than they are for American citizens and our rights.
AtticusBennett
North Dakota Republicans overwhelmingly reject a bill that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.
thus far, all of the GOP 2016 presidential candidates have come out in defence of these anti-gay and utterly-unneeded “religious freedom” bills.
6 Republican senators and 51 members of the House have signed a brief urging the US Supreme Court to uphold State bans against marriage equality.
Republican Bobby Jindal states “Businesses who won’t serve gays are the real victims of discrimination. Now that evangelical Christians are the ones that are being discriminated against, the left does not want to accommodate them in the same way. What’s really underneath all of this is the left preaches tolerance and diversity and openness, and that’s true, unless you disagree with them. They don’t want to discriminate anybody unless you happen to be a conservative, or in this case, an evangelical Christian, and that’s the hypocrisy in this.”
((nuance please – the “disagreement” is that LGBT people should be treated just like everyone else. we’re “intolerant” for not tolerating your demand to treat us as inferior to you? we’re not “open” to the “diversity” that is your exclusionary and bigoted and closed-off excuses to be prejudiced??))
Texas Republicans vote to shift $3-million from HIV and other STD prevention programs into abstinence education, despite the factual reality that Texas receives the most federal abstinence dollars of any state, but has the third-most HIV/AIDS cases and the fifth-highest teen pregnancy rate.
Also in Texas, the Texas GOP has set a record – for the highest number of anti-LGBT bills introduced in the history of *any* State.
Georgia. Indiana. Arkansas. and more and more, States trying to find a way to codify prejudice and bigotry just like the Jim Crow South.
Giancarlo85
@jimontp: Arnold was a good example of the republican party on a national scale. I still can’t believe California voters elected him. The guy was an absolute disaster. He left our state in shambles in every way. Jerry Brown had to come in and clean up the mess left by an amateur.
1EqualityUSA
Atticus Bennett said, “((nuance please – the “disagreement” is that LGBT people should be treated just like everyone else. we’re “intolerant” for not tolerating your demand to treat us as inferior to you? we’re not “open” to the “diversity” that is your exclusionary and bigoted and closed-off excuses to be prejudiced??))”
So, so perfect. Thanks for this
1EqualityUSA
Arnold Schwarzenegger, go away!
jwtraveler
He’s more articulate without the accent.
jason smeds
As a male in his 20’s, Arnold was freakishly hot. As a man in his 60’s, he is very eloquent and articulate. Wish Hillary would have stood up for us in the way Arnold has. Where art thou, Ms Clinton?
NoCagada
Unfortunately he, as governor, with his republican ideas left California in a horrible mess.
1EqualityUSA
jason smeds, ew. Just, ew.
Giancarlo85
@jason smeds: You’re so full of shit. Arnold has never stood up for the gay community. When he was in office he was consistently agaisnt us. And as one who lives in California, I can’t tell you the disgusting damage he’s done to this state. “Gay marriage is between a man and a woman” – yeah isn’t that eloquent?
We’ve spent years fixing his mess.
Hillary Clinton has consistently stood in favor of gay marriage and the LGBTQQI community for years now. Arnold has not. There is your answer.
1EqualityUSA
Giancarlo85, Joe Walsh said it best, “You can’t argue with a sick mind.”
Giancarlo85
@1EqualityUSA: I know I shouldn’t try to argue with that idiot. But when someone says something so damn stupid about the state I live in… I just have to say something.
balddude13
It was too long ago that out “beloved” President Obama did not support same-sex marriage. Remember?
balddude13
I’m sorry. I meant to say not too long ago that Obama did not support same-sex marriage.
Giancarlo85
Obama has done more for the community than any sitting President in history. I think he has done a lot, and not just for same sex marriage. And he has came out in favor before just about any republican has.
balddude13
@Giancarlo
Sure as soon as his staff placed the flame under his a**, he started supporting same sex marriage. Oh of course he supported the LGBTQ community just as long as we didn’t marry. I’m not starting an argument Giancarlo. I have liked what you have said so far.
Giancarlo85
@balddude13: I don’t know if he really was against same sex marriage to begin with. He was quiet on the subject prior to that. And personally I like Obama and consider him a decent President. I’ll certainly take him over the republican party. It just kinda irritates me when people say “well he didn’t support it before and Biden forced him to support it”. I don’t agree with that… but whatever. Live goes on.
I’ll accept his support.
By the way, I take it you’re not happy with the recent WSJ Poll showing 59% of Americans support same sex marriage. The same poll said 30% supported it in 2004 I believe. So the 29% who switched should just go away because they aren’t allowed to become supportive? Bad logic I think!
Stop living in the past.
Giancarlo85
So if someone changes their mind and decides to support LGBTQQI people… is that a bad thing? Answer that.
So what is the point of bringing up whether Obama was or was not in favor of it?
balddude13
@Giancarlo
I like you. But don’t assume I am living in the past. I wasn’t for marriage at all in any way or form. But I lived in the closet. I am an older man who is finally happy and blessed to be living in his own skin. I have always been gay but yes I am happy that we are living in a time and in a country when not too long ago, African-Americans and Caucasian couldn’t drink out of the same water fountain. It is wonderful that our President is now supporting the LGBTQ community. Let’s hope that our next President will follow suit. If you want to know more about me then please contact me but don’t judge or assume I’m of a certain mindset.
Giancarlo85
@balddude13: He is the first sitting President that has actively supported us. And if a Republican gets elected in 2016 (chances are looking more and more remote), we won’t have that kind of support. I think Obama is a decent President, but one who should have been more aggressive with Republicans. Republicans cannot be negotiated or compromised with. We learned that the hard way in California. We had to put them out of power and relevance completely. Our state is better off without them.
balddude13
@Giancarlo85
If the Republican Party wants any kind of support, especially in 2016, then they better change their tune as far as LGBT rights go. Ultra conservatives and The Tea Party will be the death of the Republican Party. You wait. With the Indiana and Kentucky religious right laws in tow, the Republican Party will be running scared.
Realitycheck
I am just amazed how the wind has finally turned around, 2 months ago a republican warned the party NOT to run on anti gay marriage platform or they would loose the elections.
What we are seeing now is more of that new wave of pro gay american thinking,
most people are finally OK or do not have any negative feeling toward gay
people.
I suspect over the next few months we are going to see more victories for
the LGTB community, we are now in the everyday media and TV programming and many powerful businesses are behind us.
Be ready for a victory in the supreme court on gay marriage and a change of
heart in the majority of states armoring new religious laws.
More importantly, any antigay rant makes conservatives look like they
are out of touch with today reality and trying to go back to the days of
blacks sitting back in the bus.
Giancarlo85
I think the republican party is stuck in a time warp though of the 1980s and I don’t think they’ll be catching up anytime soon. And in 2016, they will NOT have a candidate that supports same sex marriage or even rights (such as employment protections). I suspect they’ll be reactionary and push a conservative candidate. Republicans still argue about how conservative they are among each other.
balddude13
Did I say Kentucky? I’m sorry, I meant Arkansas.
Bob LaBlah
Anyone else get the impression he is vying for a prime speaking position at next years Republican National Convention as a “moderate” to take a bit of the attention away from the fire-breathing right winger who might be the nominee?
Giancarlo85
@balddude13: The supposed top candidates in the republican party STILL argue about who is more conservative and they often attack each other for not being conservative enough. I’m happy they aren’t trying to catch up. I don’t want them in power. There is no such thing as a republican moderate. Arnold Schwarzenegger might be welcomed by his party though… they like cheaters.
jwtraveler
Frankly, I hope that the GOP doesn’t learn a thing. I want them to stay just as intransigent as ever and continue to alienate immigrants, non-white people, LGBTs, the working class and young Americans with their bigotry and stupidity until they become completely irrelevant and disappear.
1EqualityUSA
Then the conservatives may wipe up this social issue for the Republicans before 2016. Always ask yourselves, who would the Republicans want for the Supreme Court, a life-time gig.
Giuseppe
The reason his son Patrick was using the last name Shriver for a while recently wasn’t due to his fathers affair, it was his coming out and the fact that his father was NOT pleased. Maybe Arnold has finally seen the light and decided to do the right thing. Oh, and Miley…all for show to the public.
balddude13
@Giusepe
And how did you find these delicious little tidbit out?