Stupid, not stubborn, as a Missouri mule

The latest in a flood of state Republican lawmakers trying to get in on the election-year culture war against gays and lesbians is one Wayne Wallingford, a Missouri state senator from Cape Girardeau (home of Rush Limbaugh), who has, according to my old hometown newspaper, the Kansas City Star, "filed legislation that would allow Missouri business owners to cite religious beliefs as a legal justification for refusing to provide service."

"We're trying to protect Missourians from attacks on their religious freedom," said Wallingford. "Businesses should be free to practice their religious beliefs," he added.

But here's the kicker, and it almost comically unmasks the abject demagoguery of the state senator's legislation: "Wallingford said he still supports outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace."

How, you might reasonably ask, is it a protection of a Missouri businessman's religious freedom to permit his discrimination against those whom he commercially serves, but not an assault on that same freedom when it comes to mandating non-discrimination in hiring?

If a religious bigot finds catering a gay wedding an unconscionably objectionable act, and he is freed from doing so under legislative cover of Republican lawmakers, why would the same lawmakers require him to genuinely consider hiring the perhaps qualified bridegroom?

The Republican senator's remarks make no sense. But I repeat myself.

 

Comments

[AnneJ]

These laws being bandied about in state houses as of late, allow people to use religion to discriminate against anybody for any reason. The problem with religion is that it is so fluid. Any person can make up a religion just off the top of their head and then cite personal religious beliefs to do any number of things and exempt themselves from any number of laws. In a way, I almost wish one of these governor's would sign one of these bills into law just to show what a monumental clusterfuck religious beliefs clashing with civil law creates

[Peter G]

I've always found it best not to publicly scorn people who are about to make me food. But that's just me.

[japa21]

"Businesses should be free to practice their religious beliefs."

Last I knew, a business does not have a religious belief, only people do. Ooops, I forgot, corporations are people too, my friend.

[merl]

I bet they'd shit bricks if Moslems refused service to christians based on religion