As the mouthpiece for the God hates fags religious right, Fox News has unabashedly and unapologetically taken the side of those fine Christians who think discriminating against gays is fine because the Bible and, of course, religious freedom. Back in September Fox & Friends, in advancing Jesus loving, homo hating Todd Starnes whine, gave their full support to Christian bakers who closed down rather than be "forced," under Oregon's Equality Act, to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple. This egregious offense to God's chosen heterosexual people was framed as "The Fight for Faith." But in a subsequent piece about another aggrieved Christian baker, who is being "forced" to stop discriminating against gay customers, Elisabeth Hasselbeck framed non-discrimination laws as "The Death of Free Enterprise" and, of course, the suppression of religious freedom. This morning, Elisabeth Hasselbeck welcomed back this same Christian baker for more of the same Christian anti-gay talking points and Fox validation!
As the opening chyron read: "Bake Shop Shakedown, Judge Orders Owner to Bake For Gay Wedding," Elisabeth Hasselbeck wasted no time in promoting the now patented Christian right propaganda talking points: "Well, Colorado is cracking down on religious freedom by forcing [there's that verb again] a Christian cake shop owner to bake for same sex weddings." She added that these poor folks must "undergo sensitivity training" and submit regular compliance reports. She communicated the right wing/Fox message in the form of a question: "Does owning a business mean you're putting your beliefs on the back burner?" What Hasselbeck didn't mention was that a judge has ruled that the Christian baker violated Colorado's non-discrimination law protecting sexual orientation so, yeah, owning a business in Colorado means you can't discriminate against gays even if the Bible says it's fine and dandy.
She introduced her righteous guest, Jack Phillips and his lawyer Nicolle Martin who works for Fox News' favorite homophobic (but very Christian) advocacy group, Alliance Defending Freedom." Hasselbeck described the court's action as "pretty lofty." Martin explained the court decided that Phillips "must give up his religious beliefs" by complying with certain requirements meant to show that he and his staff no longer discriminate against gays.
As the clever chyron noted "Forced Feeding, Court Orders Baker to Sensitivity Training," an indignant looking Hasselbeck whined about how Phillips has been in business for over forty years and asked how his 87 year old mother, who works for him, is reacting to this policy. Phillips said that she will continue to hate fags "will not be reformed." The chyron described the issue as the requisite "controversy" when it is only a controversy on Fox News. Knowing the answer, Hasselbeck asked if Phillips religious freedom is "being violated." In validating the answer, the chyron stated Fox Fact: "Beliefs on Back Burner, Christian Baker Issued Cease& Desist." Phillips asserted that the Constitution gives him the right (to discriminate) because freedom of religion. More Fox agitprop on the chyron: "So Much for Freedom, Bake Shop Owner Forced [that verb again] to Rewrite Policies."
Hasselbeck read a statement from the ACLU about the "right to be treated equally." Martin brayed about freedom of religion being a constitutional right and Colorado "has no business forcing [that verb again] Jack to abandon deeply held convictions..." She characterized the state law as "a new belief system imposed on him. [Jack]." Good Christian homophobe Fox host Hasselbeck thanked them and urged Jack to "keep going strong, there."
As the saying goes, if these Christian bakers can't stand the heat, they should get out of the kitchen?