Another reason to vote for Governor Bobby Jindal to be
our President of the USA
Bobby Jindal: I’m Holding Firm Against Gay Marriage
By BOBBY JINDALAPRIL 23, 2015
BATON ROUGE, La. — THE debate over religious liberty in America presents
conservatives and business leaders with a crucial choice.
In Indiana
and Arkansas, large corporations recently joined left-wing activists to bully
elected officials into backing away from strong protections for
religious liberty. It was disappointing to see conservative leaders so hastily retreat on legislation that would simply allow
for an individual or business to claim a right to free exercise of religion in
a court of law.
Our country
was founded on the principle of religious liberty, enshrined in the Bill of
Rights. Why shouldn’t an individual or business have the right to cite, in a
court proceeding, religious liberty as a reason for not participating in a same-sex marriage ceremony that violates a
sincerely held religious belief?
That is
what Indiana and Arkansas sought to do. That political leaders in both
states quickly cowered amid the shrieks of big business and the radical left
should alarm us all.
As the fight
for religious liberty moves to Louisiana, I have a clear message for any
corporation that contemplates bullying our state: Save your breath.
In 2010,
Louisiana adopted a Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which
prohibits government from unduly burdening a person’s exercise of religion.
However, given the changing positions of politicians, judges and the public in
favor of same-sex marriage, along with the potential for discrimination against
Christian individuals and businesses that comes with these shifts, I plan in
this legislative session to fight for passage of the Marriage and Conscience Act.
The
legislation would prohibit the state from denying a person, company or
nonprofit group a license, accreditation, employment or contract — or taking
other “adverse action” — based on the person or entity’s religious views on the
institution of marriage.
Some
corporations have already contacted me and asked me to oppose this law. I am certain that
other companies, under pressure from radical liberals, will do the same. They
are free to voice their opinions, but they will not deter me. As a nation we
would not compel a priest, minister or rabbi to violate his conscience and
perform a same-sex wedding ceremony. But a great many Americans who are not
members of the clergy feel just as called to live their faith through their
businesses. That’s why we should ensure that musicians, caterers, photographers
and others should be immune from government coercion on deeply held religious
convictions.
The bill
does not, as opponents assert, create a right to discriminate against,
or generally refuse service to, gay men or lesbians. The bill does not change
anything as it relates to the law in terms of discrimination suits between
private parties. It merely makes our constitutional freedom so well defined
that no judge can miss it.
I hold the
view that has been the consensus in our country for over two centuries: that
marriage is between one man and one woman. Polls indicate that the American
consensus is changing — but like many other believers, I will not change my
faith-driven view on this matter, even if it becomes a minority opinion.
A
pluralistic and diverse society like ours can exist only if we all tolerate
people who disagree with us. That’s why religious freedom laws matter — and why
it is critical for conservatives and business leaders to unite in this debate.
If we, as
conservatives, are to succeed in advancing the cause of freedom and free
enterprise, the business community must stand shoulder to shoulder with those
fighting for religious liberty. The left-wing ideologues who oppose religious
freedom are the same ones who seek to tax and regulate businesses out of
existence. The same people who think that profit making is vulgar believe that
religiosity is folly. The fight against this misguided, government-dictating
ideology is one fight, not two. Conservative leaders cannot sit idly by and
allow large corporations to rip our coalition in half.
Since I became governor in 2008, Louisiana has become one
of the best places to do business in America. I made it a priority to cut
taxes, reform our ethics laws, invigorate our schools with bold merit-based
changes and parental choice, and completely revamp work-force training to
better suit businesses.
Our reforms
worked because they were driven by our belief in freedom. We know that a nation
in which individuals, and companies, are protected from the onerous impulses of
government is one that will thrive and grow. That’s the intellectual underpinning
of America, and in Louisiana we defend it relentlessly.
Conservatism
faces many challenges in today’s America. Hollywood and the media elite are
hostile to our values and they tip the scales to our liberal opponents at every
opportunity. Yet the left has lost repeatedly in state elections all over
America. Republicans control 31 governorships. We control nearly 70 percent of
state legislative chambers, the highest proportion since at least 1900.
Liberals
have decided that if they can’t win at the ballot box, they will win in the
boardroom. It’s a deliberate strategy. And it’s time for corporate America to
make a decision.
Those who
believe in freedom must stick together: If it’s not freedom for all, it’s not
freedom at all. This strategy requires populist social conservatives to ally
with the business community on economic matters and corporate titans to side
with social conservatives on cultural matters. This is the grand bargain that
makes freedom’s defense possible.
Bobby Jindal,
a Republican, is the governor of Louisiana.
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