Breaking in Indiana: Right Center (right) Indy Star Editorial: Fix this law Now. [View all]

[salin]

Indystar is a Gannett paper. It leans right - but gives some voice to center and to center left. It is more sympathetic to business than to teaparty factions of the GOP. This Editorial takes a strong imperative tone (albeit some diplomatic/concilliatory face-saving parts for the GOP) but it is ground breaking. This is not an opinion columnist, this is the Editorial Board - that is notoriously delibrative. They work not to over-reach to hit a news cycle. They had to work fast on this one as events have unfolded quickly over the past 4-5 days.

http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/2015/03/30/editorial-gov-pence-fix-religious-freedom-law-now/70698802/

Editorial: Gov. Pence, fix ‘religious freedom’ law now

We are at a critical moment in Indiana’s history.

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.

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.

more at above link.

The Editorial breaks through the Gov.s claim (echoed by rwing media) that this is the same as other laws in 20 states - in very clear language. Points out that the protections not provided in this law (but in the other states' laws) have been in place in Indianapolis for a decade.

I am going to cheat here and add a few more lines - because this is ground breaking per a Star editorial and per these quickly unfolding events:

We urge Gov. Pence and lawmakers to stop clinging to arguments about whether RFRA really does what critics fear; to stop clinging to ideology or personal preferences; to focus instead on fixing this.

Governor, Indiana is in a state of crisis. It is worse than you seem to understand.

Wow.

A few days ago I didn't intend to spend hours monitoring developments and sharing them on this front. But events started moving so quickly. And for once I had the space of time to keep checking and sharing. I think this is possibly momentous on a number of fronts (not necessarily the end result, which we don't yet know, - but the dynamics of the change in political climate even when it looked inhospitable, in how those dynamics between state events - national reactions - and the ongoing dynamic between the two - and the very strong actions taken by different players today that suddenly weaken the position of a dominant party (with presidential aspirations) the state house.

When this plays out - I will write about all of these interesting dynamics and how they have turned a super majority intent on not listening to the will of the state - into proverbial whipping boys. But for now I will try to keep finding and sharing each signal that the tidal wave of back lash (local and national) grows larger.

Peace,

salin