The Big Lie The Media Tells About Indiana’s New ‘Religious Freedom’ Law

On Friday, the Washington Post published an article titled “19 states that have ‘religious freedom’ laws like Indiana’s that no one is boycotting.” The article snarks about organizations like the NCAA that have protested Indiana’s law, noting “the NCAA didn’t say it was concerned over how athletes and employees would be affected by Kentucky’s RFRA when games were played there last week.” The piece concludes “Indiana might be treated as if it’s the only state with a bill like this, but it’s not.” The piece has been shared over 75,000 times on Facebook.

The Washington Post article largely mirrors the argument advanced by Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Pence claimed “Then state-Sen. Barack Obama voted for [the Religious Freedom Restoration Act]. The very same language.”
The same argument is parroted on Fox News and elsewhere.

It’s not true. READ MORE

Mike Pence Spends 20 Minutes Lying To ABC News About His Anti-Gay Discrimination Law

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) on Sunday insisted that people on the Internet had conspired to create a "misunderstanding" that a so-called "religious freedom" law was about denying services to LGBT people. But at the same time, he repeatedly refused to answer if it effectively gave Christians a legal defense for discriminating against same-sex couples.

"I understand that there's been a tremendous amount of misinformation and misunderstanding around this bill, and I'm just determined -- and I appreciate the time on your program -- I'm just determined to clarify this," Pence told ABC's George Stephanopolous.

"So this is a yes or no question," the ABC host noted. "Is Advance America right when they say a florist in Indiana can now refuse to serve a gay couple without fear of punishment?"

Pence, however said that the purpose of the bill that he signed was to "empower" religious people.
And this was a pattern that would be repeated over the next 20 minutes: Stephanopolous asking if the bill allowed anti-LGBT discrimination, followed by Pence dodging the question.

"And so yes or no, if a florist in Indiana refuses to serve a gay couple at their wedding, is that legal now in Indiana?" Stephanopolous asked. "Yes or no?" READ MORE

Mike Pence... Job Creator

Credit: DonkeyHotey

Republish Reprint

If Indiana Gov. Mike Pence decides to throw his hat into the 2016 GOP clown car, he'll definitely be able to claim that he was a "job creator." Just not in his state. As we already discussed here, the leaders of the Disciples of Christ church sent a letter to Pence telling him they would be forced to reconsider holding their 2017 convention in Indianapolis if he signed the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law. Now that he's signed it, the hits just keep on coming.

Thousands turned out to protest the law in Indiana over the weekend.

The popular local business review and search site Angie's List is canceling its expansion plans in response to Indiana's "religious freedom" law.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is banning city-funded travel to Indiana. He plans to sign an executive order next week.

And former NBA star Charles Barkley released a statement saying wants the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to yank its March Madness Final Four tournament out of Indiana.
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