CNN’s Tapper Battles AR Pol: ‘I’m Confused,’ Does This Bill Discriminate or Not?

CNN’s Jake Tapper today grilled the sponsor of Arkansas’ religious freedom bill (currently on hold after the governor asked for clarified language) and asked him multiple times if it allows for discrimination or not. And Tapper expressed his confusion multiple times given all the conflicting messaging from supporters of the bill on the matter.

State Senator Bart Hester insisted the bill is not about discrimination, but the First Amendment does give businesses the right not to do anything that conflicts with their strongly-held faith. For example, he said, “I wouldn’t ask a Jewish baker to put a Nazi swastika on a cake.”

Tapper still said he was confused and tried to nail down whether or not the bill discriminates or not. Hester said that “the First Amendment is not a confusion” and compared the unpopularity of refusing to serve gay people to burning the American flag (both frowned upon but okay under the First Amendment).

So, then, it discriminates? Well, again, no, because, as Hester told Tapper, he doesn’t believe it’s discrimination against individuals, but against a “message” they don’t agree with. Tapper asked if that means he would be fine with a Muslim baker refusing to provide services for any Christians or Jews.

Hester stood by the First Amendment argument.

Watch the video below, via CNN:

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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