Normally, I wouldn’t waste your time by covering a story like this. It’s a ridiculous wedge issue that extremist Rightwingers are trying to mainstream, and the bill that allows for their hoped for discrimination against gay people in Arizona (which is already allowable under existing law in AZ) is probably going to be vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer (R) anyway, if reports today are reliable and if she has any interest in taking the advice of some of the most powerful and influential Republicans from the state. Even three of the Republican state Senators who voted for the bill are now asking Brewer to veto it. [Update 2/26/1: Brewer has now vetoed the bill, as expected.]
But given that three-term state Sen. Al Melvin (R) is also running for Governor of AZ in 2014, I suppose it’s important to help folks understand how extreme and — mostly — stupid this clown really is.
I’d normally ignore this story even on that basis, on the premise that this guy is obviously too stupid to be elected to any office, much less governor of the state.
However, Arizona is also the state that, remarkably, managed to re-elect the similarly daft Jan Brewer as the state’s chief executive. So, I suppose anyone who gives too much credit to the voters of AZ to save themselves (or to have the ability to oversee their own election results determined by computer tabulators instead of human beings) does so at their own peril.
With all of that in mind, please watch the video of his interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper (who deserves credit here) and take note of how unapologetically dumb state Sen. Al Melvin — candidate for Governor of AZ — actually is. The only defense I can manufacture in his favor: if he’s not incredibly stupid, he’s just indescribably dishonest. So, take your pick…
I got to this story from Facebook. The link from the box on the right of this screen goes to BRB, 10513. #whatadifferenceonenumbermakes
On the other hand, duh! Of course it would be 10514. #nobigmystery
Urgh. Thanks for catching that, Barbara! #Fixed #StillSufferingFromRoadBuzz
FWIW. Brewer just vetoed the bill.
I don’t think he’s incredibly stupid or dishonest. He is incredibly self centered. He does not seem to be able to empathize with another point of view. He seemed determined to say only his religious freedom talking points, and refused to acknowledge that one person’s religious freedom is another person’s civil rights infringement.
Anderson Cooper could have mentioned that unwed mothers are to be stoned according to the old testament. Arizona is not saying there should be stoning but if the “good book” tells us to kill someone for such a slight, why should it not be possible for a person to refuse to do business with an “unclean” or immoral person such as a unwed mother or a divorcee. Melvin like many of these hard right conservatives have such unyielding conviction that they are correct in their interpretation of the “good book” that they do not see that their interpretation could have a down side for someone else. It’s their way or the highway. I think as many businesses in Arizona should get on the highway and move to another state.
If you have a problem with someone’s life choices to that extreme you are clearly a terrible person. What ever happened to only god has the right to judge?