Peter LaBarbera has nothing to worry about. President Bush’s staffers are telling him to veto the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3685):
H.R. 3685 would extend existing employment-discrimination provisions of Federal law, including those in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to establish “a comprehensive Federal prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.” The bill raises concerns on constitutional and policy grounds, and if H.R. 3685 were presented to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.
…
The Act prohibits the Federal Government from substantially burdening the free exercise of religion except for compelling reasons, and then only in the least restrictive manner possible. H.R. 3685 does not meet this standard. For instance, schools that are owned by or directed toward a particular religion are exempted by the bill; but those that emphasize religious principles broadly will find their religious liberties burdened by H.R. 3685.
Question: can liberties be religious? We thought they were civil.
Rt. Rev. Dr. RES
This is the neocon strategy. Suggest compromise on principle to the DLC neocons and then when they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, you veto the legislation anyway.
The Theocon base wants nothing but the recriminalisation of sodomy and the removal of any and all rights mirroring marriage. The DLC wants to permanently enshrine you in second class status, and more, wants you to like it and shut up.
ajax
If we, as a society, accept that discrimination is un-American and, in this American society, religious institutions want the freedom to discriminate, does that make religious insitutions un-American? Additionally, if we make it illegal to discriminate against the LGBT community, are we actually prohibiting the behavior, or are we saying there are consequences for the behavior – like fines. Aren’t neocons all about accepting the consequences for your behavior?
Jason
Did we expect anything less? Looks like it won’t have a shot in hell in passing until Hillary assumes the POTUS. Fuck Bush and his staff, they are all crooks and liars and I expect shit like this from them.
DOFEK
The fucking Bush, who is happen to be the USA worst IDIOT president ever. Where is the “TALIBAN” when you need them. AdamHomo