Newsflash: Jeb Bush has finally weighed in on the plight of anti-gay Christian wedding vendors.
In an interview with David Brody for "The Brody File," a Christian Broadcasting Network program, Brody asked Bush about so-called religious freedom laws. Specifically, he asked if Bush was O.K. with vendors like florists and bakers refusing to serve a same-sex couple if serving said couple violated their religious beliefs.
"This shouldn't be this complicated, but gosh it is right now," Bush responded.
Well, Amen to that! I totally agree. Well, almost. I mean, I agree that it shouldn't be so complicated. The question, "Can I tell homos to get lost because I don't like homos?" has a simple answer: "Nope."
Of course, that's not Bush's answer.
His answer was, "Yeah, absolutely, if it's based on a religious belief."
In other words, it's okay to tell same-sex couples, "Sorry, hets only," so long as you blame it on Jesus (or some other non-Christian religion, but let's be serious here about whom Republicans are interested in protecting).
"A big country — a tolerant country — ought to be able to figure out the difference between discriminating against someone because of their sexual orientation and forcing someone to participate in a wedding that they find goes against their moral beliefs. We should be able to figure this out. This shouldn't be this complicated, but gosh it is right now."
It should be noted that "big" and "tolerant" are not the same thing. I think he's trying to apply the GOP's "Big Tent" idea to the entire country. And we've seen how well that "Big Tent" strategy has worked for them. Everybody's supposedly welcome inside, but only the straight, white, male and Christian folks get the real power.
Also, Bush is setting up a false comparison here which makes same-sex couples the "bad guys." If the idea of making a cake or putting together some bouquets that will be used when two people of the same sex pledge their love for each other in front of their friends and family makes you so sick and/or is so offensive to whatever Sky God you worship that you can't even, then you are the one with the problem.
So go ahead and tell the couple, "Nope. Can't. Gross." But then don't act surprised when you end up having to pack up shop because you've either violated the law (and, lucky you, it's not illegal everywhere!) or because your business suffers once the word gets out that you're a hateful human being. Because you're clearly in the wrong business if the idea of bringing any joy to a same-sex couple's life is too much for you.
Oh, and no surprise, Bush doesn't think same-sex couples should even be allowed to get married in the first place.
This is the same guy who told Fox News that he would totally invade Iraq all over again if given the chance, so he is full of great ideas!
Sadly, he didn't weigh in on the morality of invading another country based on complete bullshit. My guess is that his feelings on that issue are, um, complicated.
