Leave it to Mike Pence to turn a question about fair treatment of LGBT Americans into a defense of discriminating against them based on one's religious principles.
Indiana's Christian conservative Republican governor was asked point-blank Thursday whether he believes "gay or transgender people should be able to be fired from their jobs just for that reason only." The questioner at the Kokomo town hall even went out of his way to ask for a "simple 'yes' or 'no' answer."
Cue, uncomfortable pause, then a smattering of supportive claps from the audience. Pence paused—his brain apparently in overdrive, searching for the perfect response—then he began, "It's a great privilege for me to be your governor." Oh my ... prepare yourself for a train wreck. Detailed below by David Badash:
"I don't think anyone should ever be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love. My position as I expressed in my State of the State Address, and did again today, is we are a state with a constitution."
"And as you know, as a pastor, that constitution has very strong safeguards for the freedom of conscience and freedom of religion of Hoosiers," Pence continues. [...]
"And my strong conviction is that, should the General Assembly put legislation on my desk, which they considered this year, and should I continue to be governor and they ever do in the future, it just must be consistent with the constitution. But I will not support legislation that diminishes religious freedom."
Um, sorry Mike, remember that whole "yes" or "no" thing. Yeah, you flunked.
I mean, no one ever expected Mike Pence to suddenly become a champion of LGBT rights after Indiana's epic 2015 meltdown, but he is just stunningly obtuse for a politician. Too bad the questioner didn't go in for a follow-up the way ABC's George Stephanopoulos did. Remember that?
Six times Stephanopoulos asked if, under the law, it would be legal to refuse service to gay customers and six times Pence refused to answer.
That, in fact, was the interview that ended Pence's opening for a potential presidential bid in 2016. During a follow-up press conference last year in defense of his sheer and utter incompetence, Pence proclaimed, "I abhor discrimination."
Thursday, he was given the opportunity to prove that statement. Instead, he gave the green light to Christians across the state to mistreat LGBT people and even fire them in the name of their God if they feel like it. This is what religion looks like in the hands of someone who was taught to read but never learned to think or feel.
Pence has already cost the state as much as $60 million based on enactment of their disastrous "license to discriminate” law. If Hoosier voters re-elect this man-child in November, it'll be a vote for bankrupting the state. God bless 'em, is all I can say.