March 31, 2015

Indiana Governor Backs Anti-Discrimination Fix in Self-Pitying Speech About “Religious Freedom” Law

Indiana Governor Backs Anti-Discrimination Fix in Self-Pitying Speech About “Religious Freedom” Law

By Ben Mathis-Lilley

In a press conference that repeatedly blamed the media for “mischaracterization” of the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said he now supports reforming the law in a way that prohibits businesses from denying service to LGBT individuals.

Legal experts have said that the law is in fact written to allow businesses to claim the religious right to deny service, and Pence had said previously that he was not interested in adding anti-discrimination language to the bill. Today, though, he supported such new language and called the suggestion that RFRA enables denials of service a “smear” that is “so offensive to me as a Hoosier.”

Pence repeatedly said that the law is not a “license to discriminate,” blaming the press for asserting otherwise—but during a Sunday appearance on This Week With George Stephanopoulos, it was Pence himself who refused multiple opportunities to dispute the claim that, for example, a florist could cite the law in refusing to work a gay couple’s wedding.

Here’s a transcript of the governor’s prepared remarks on Tuesday:

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http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/03/31/mike_pence_press_conference_supports_rfra_reform_complains_about_media.html?

March 31, 2015

‘Own what you are’: CNN host exposes Indiana law backer as gay conversion therapy promoter

CNN host Chris Cuomo on Tuesday advised the leader of a so-called “pro-family” group to “own” his anti-gay agenda after he supported an Indiana law that would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT people.

“More often than not, what seems to be the momentum for this Indiana law are Christians who are a majority — certainly not a minority in this county — saying that doing business with certain types of people is offensive to their religion,” Cuomo pointed out during an interview with Indiana Family Institute Policy Director Ryan McCann.

“The outcry is coming from organizations like yours that are Christian based with an animus toward the LGBT community,” the CNN host added. “Own who and what you are. There’s nothing wrong with that, you’re allowed to believe it. But you’re not about [fighting against religious discrimination of] Native Americans.”

McCann, however, refused to acknowledge Cuomo’s assertion that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act would be used to discriminate against LGBT people. But he also dodged questions about whether his group would support making sexual orientation a protected class.

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/own-what-you-are-cnn-host-exposes-indiana-law-backer-as-gay-conversion-therapy-promoter/

March 31, 2015

Connecticut governor slams Mike Pence: ‘When you see a bigot, you have to call them on it’

Source: RawStory

Connecticut’s Gov. Dannel Malloy appeared on Tuesday’s edition of Morning Joe to decry Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the state’s Republican Gov. Mike Pence for signing it.

Malloy — who is the incoming chairman of the Democratic Governors’ Association — said that Pence can deny the law’s anti-LGBT thrust all he wants to. It is clear to anyone who is paying attention what the RFRA is about.

“The governor’s not a stupid man, but he’s done stupid things,” said Malloy to Mika Brzezinski, “and signing this law, and, quite frankly, promoting this law, knowing exactly what it was going to do, was an incredibly stupid thing for him to do.”

Pence, Malloy said, “knew exactly what he was doing, and when you see a bigot, you have to call them on it.”

-snip-

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/connecticut-governor-slams-mike-pence-when-you-see-a-bigot-you-have-to-call-them-on-it/

March 31, 2015

Obama Approval Ratings For 7th Year Top George W. Bush's So Far

Mar 30, 2015 8:14 PM EDT

A comparison of Gallup poll numbers shows the current president out-performing his predecessor.

A direct comparison of the Gallup approval ratings between the last two U.S. presidents shows that President Obama has enjoyed significantly higher approval ratings than his predecessor, George W. Bush, at the same juncture in their time in office.

For all of 2007, Bush never saw his approval rating rise above 38 percent, and, for the first three months of that year, received an average Gallup approval rating of 34.75 percent. In January of that year, Bush notched approval ratings of 37, 34, and 36 percent in three separate surveys. In February, he registered approval ratings of 32 and 37 percent, while in March he saw ratings of 33, 35, 34 percent. For the first three months of 2007,

Obama, by comparison, Obama has averaged an approval rating of 46.33 in the first three months of 2015. He received Gallup approval ratings in January of 2015 of 46, 46, 49, and 47 percent. In February, Obama registered the approval of 46, 47, 46, and 45 percent of the voters, and in March he received respective approval ratings of 46, 47, 45, and 46 percent.

While Obama, who averaged an approval rating of 42.6 percent in 2014, has seen his numbers rise since the summer of late, Bush, by and large, watched his own continue to fall throughout much of the last two years of his time in office.



http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-31/obama-approval-ratings-for-7th-year-top-george-w-bush-s-so-far

March 31, 2015

Pence Backs Down, Calls For Clarification Barring Any Kind Of Discrimination

Source: TPM

By DANIEL STRAUSS Published MARCH 31, 2015, 11:32 AM EDT

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) said Tuesday that he wanted to see legislation on his desk this week clarifying that the controversial religious freedom bill he signed into law did not allow businesses to deny service to anyone.

Pence made the announcement at a widely televised press conference the same day that the Indianapolis Star ran a front-page editorial urging state lawmakers to change the legislation.

"After much reflection and in consultation with leadership of the General Assembly, I've come to the conclusion that it would be helpful to move legislation this week that makes it clear that this law does not give businesses the right to deny services to anyone," Pence said at the press conference. "Let me say that again. I think it would be helpful and I'd like to see on my desk before the end of this week legislation that is added to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that makes it clear that this law does not deny services against anyone."

Earlier in the week top Republicans in the state legislature said they would look to add a clarification to the law.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/mike-pence-wants-clarification-law

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Indiana governor insists religious freedom law ‘has been smeared’ — but vows to ‘fix’ it this week

REUTERS
31 MAR 2015 AT 11:54 ET

Indiana Governor Mike Pence said on Tuesday he will “correct” the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act this week to make it clear that businesses cannot use it to deny services to same-sex couples.

Pence, a Republican, said the law he signed last week had been widely misconstrued and mischaracterized, but he said he was calling on the state’s Republican-controlled General Assembly to send a new law to his desk this week to fix it.


“We will fix this and we will move forward,” Pence told reporters at a nationally televised news conference.

“I believe it would be appropriate to make it clear that this law does not give businesses the right to deny services to anyone,” he said.

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/indiana-governor-insists-religious-freedom-law-has-been-smeared-but-vows-to-fix-it-this-week/

March 31, 2015

Keith Olbermann Calls Out NCAA For Not Moving Final Four Out Of Indiana

Source: TPM

ESPN host Keith Olbermann criticized the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Monday for not moving the Final Four games from Indianapolis after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) signed the religious freedom bill that may allow businesses to discriminate against gay people.

Olbermann called on the NCAA to move the Final Four games and the league's headquarters from Indianapolis and use its "moral force" against the law.

"It is presented to this nation in the insidious guise expressed in its title, the ‘Religious Freedom Restoration Act.’ Which is not about freedom, but about the loss of freedom. Which is not about religion, but about discrimination cloaked in religion. Which is not about the restoration of anything, except the hatred and prejudice of 50 or 100 years ago," Olbermann said of Indiana's new law.

NCAA President Mark Emmert released a statement last week saying that while the Final Four will go on in Indiana, the league will "closely examine the implications of this bill and how it might affect future events as well as our workforce."

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/olbermann-ncaa-final-four-indiana

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March 31, 2015

Schumer: Stop Comparing Indiana's Religious Freedom Law To Mine

Source: TPM

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Schumer's full Facebook post is below:

In the uproar over the recently passed Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), defenders of the bill like Indiana Gov. Pence are trying to hide behind the argument that the law "simply mirrors" the federal RFRA Sen. Ted Kennedy wrote and I introduced as a Congressman in 1993. That may be true only if you're using a Funhouse mirror. In reality, it is completely false, and a disingenuous argument to boot; they should cease and desist immediately comparing the federal RFRA of 1993 to their present, misguided law.

There are two simple reasons the comparison does not hold water.

First, the federal RFRA was written narrowly to protect individuals’ religious freedom from government interference unless the government or state had a compelling interest. If ever there was a compelling state interest, it is to prevent discrimination. The federal law was not contemplated to, has never been, and could never be used to justify discrimination against gays and lesbians, in the name of religious freedom or anything else.

Second, the federal RFRA was written to protect individuals’ interests from government interference, but the Indiana RFRA protects private companies and corporations. When a person or company enters the marketplace, they are doing so voluntarily, and the federal RFRA was never intended to apply to them as it would to private individuals.

Because of these significant, legal differences, the Indiana RFRA in no way resembles the intent or application of the federal RFRA. As the signer of the bill, Governor Pence should put a stop to it immediately.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/schumer-religious-freedom-mike-pence

March 31, 2015

Indy Star Bashes Indiana Religious Freedom Law In Blistering Editorial

The Indianapolis Star published a front page editorial on Tuesday morning criticizing the state's new religious freedom law and urging state lawmakers to change the legislation to ensure that it does not permit discrimination against gays and lesbians.

"We are at a critical moment in Indiana's history," the editorial begins. "And much is at stake."

"Our image. Our reputation as a state that embraces people of diverse backgrounds and makes them feel welcome. And our efforts over many years to retool our economy, to attract talented workers and thriving businesses, and to improve the quality of life for millions of Hoosiers," the editorial continues. "All of this is at risk because of a new law, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, that no matter its original intent already has done enormous harm to our state and potentially our economic future."

The editorial urges Indiana leaders to move quickly in fixing the law and to pass legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. "The consequences will only get worse if our state leaders delay in fixing the deep mess created," the editorial says. "Only bold action — action that sends an unmistakable message to the world that our state will not tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens — will be enough to reverse the damage."

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/indy-star-editorial-religious-freedom

March 30, 2015

Subaru Comes Out Against Indiana’s Discriminatory Religious Refusal Act

Source: HRC

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The director of corporate communications for Subaru of America, Inc., Michael McHale, issued the following statement to John Voelcker, editor of Green Car Reports:

"While we recognize that the voters in each State elect their own legislature to decide that State's laws, we at Subaru do not agree with any legislation that allows for discrimination, or any behavior or act that promotes any form of discrimination. Furthermore, we do not allow discrimination in our own operations, including our operations in the state of Indiana. We will certainly continue to take the issue of non-discrimination into consideration as part of our decision-making processes."

Apple CEO Tim Cook, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and local employers, including Alcoa, Cummins, Eli Lilly & Co., and Salesforce, have also spoken out against the new law, warning that it is bad for business.

Earlier today, a number of Indiana's corporate leaders -- including Angie's List, Anthem, Cummins, Dow AgroSciences, Eli Lilly and Co., Emmis Communications, IU Health, Roche Diagnostics and Salesforce Marketing sent the letter to Governor Mike Pence, Senate Pro Tem David Long and House Speaker Brian Bosma -- signed onto a letter in opposition of the act.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/subaru-comes-out-against-indianas-discriminatory-religious-refusal-act

March 30, 2015

Reagan's Speeches Analyzed for Dementia

Source: TDB/NYT

Researchers at Arizona State University have analyzed Ronald Reagan's speech patterns and detected subtle changes that is linked to the onset of dementia before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 1994. The study did not prove Reagan's signs of dementia would have impacted his judgment, as some believed at the time, but showed that early signs of Alzheimer's and other conditions can be detected via speech before significant brain damage occurs. The study also analyzed George H. Bush, but found no sign changes in speaking patterns, while Reagan increasingly used repetitive words and the word "thing" subbed in for nouns.

Read it at The New York Times

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Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/03/30/reagan-s-speeches-analyzed-for-dementia.html