Nathan Deal makes a forceful, biblical case against Georgia’s ‘religious liberty’ bill (Atlanta: 2014, home)

[jeoff]

His actual words here are pretty good stuff...
“What the New Testament teaches us is that Jesus reached out to those who were considered the outcasts, the ones that did not conform to the religious societies’ view of the world … We do not have a belief in my way of looking at religion that says we have to discriminate against anybody. If you were to apply those standards to the teaching of Jesus, I don’t think they fit.”
“What that says is we have a belief in forgiveness and that we do not have to discriminate unduly against anyone on the basis of our own religious beliefs. We are not jeopardized, in my opinion, by those who believe differently from us. We are not, in my opinion, put in jeopardy by virtue of those who might hold different beliefs or who may not even agree with what our Supreme Court said the law of the land is on the issue of same-sex marriage. I do not feel threatened by the fact that people who might choose same-sex marriages pursue that route.”

[Hokiehaven]

Something says he's working his way to higher aspirations, if not for his age, he may try a presidential run, otherwise potentially a plum position in the new republican party that will need to form. He sees what's happened and still coming.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by CMMom

After some of the despicable ads he had regarding "the gay agenda" during his campaign, I'm mightily impressed. Maybe he's done some soul-searching.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSRbSnrtOHo

Some of it is the nature of Georgia politics. Remember that when Jimmy Carter ran for governor, he ran to the RIGHT of his opposition, and appealed to white Georgian's racist beliefs and fears.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by jeoff

Some of it is the nature of Georgia politics. Remember that when Jimmy Carter ran for governor, he ran to the RIGHT of his opposition, and appealed to white Georgian's racist beliefs and fears.

At that time, the parties were still early in the process of switching places. The Democrats were actually the more socially conservative party. The Republicans were a northern party and a big business party.

And that even remained true in the south, until well into the 1990's. It was Democratically dominated, and super conservative.

[wilful]

Originally Posted by Georgiafrog

This is remarkable. I'm actually impressed with Nathan Deal.

Frankly, glad he did this, but I just feel like he was doing his job, nothing more nothing less. He was smart enough to know that this bill would have major employers rethinking their commitment to the state and firms thinking about moving here going elsewhere. So this was no profile in courage but an easy decision for any Governor that cares about the economic viability of his State.

Now if he would stop blocking the expansion of Medicaid like most of his other fellow southern Governors than I would give him some real credit - for this not so much. It was a layup.

[Georgiafrog]

Originally Posted by wilful

Frankly, glad he did this, but I just feel like he was doing his job, nothing more nothing less. He was smart enough to know that this bill would have major employers rethinking their commitment to the state and firms thinking about moving here going elsewhere. So this was no profile in courage but an easy decision for any Governor that cares about the economic viability of his State.

Now if he would stop blocking the expansion of Medicaid like most of his other fellow southern Governors than I would give him some real credit - for this not so much. It was a layup.

Point taken.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by primaltech

At that time, the parties were still early in the process of switching places. The Democrats were actually the more socially conservative party. The Republicans were a northern party and a big business party.

And that even remained true in the south, until well into the 1990's. It was Democratically dominated, and super conservative.

Yes, but Carter ran to the right of a DEMOCRAT!--former governor Carl Sanders!

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by jeoff

Yes, but Carter ran to the right of a DEMOCRAT!--former governor Carl Sanders!

Yes, very good point.

Anyway, there's campaigns and then there's actual governing. Nathan Deal has basically been a moderate, at least by our GA standards. Especially when compared with the last idiot Perdue.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Yes, very good point.

Anyway, there's campaigns and then there's actual governing. Nathan Deal has basically been a moderate, at least by our GA standards. Especially when compared with the last idiot Perdue.

Yep.

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by wilful

Frankly, glad he did this, but I just feel like he was doing his job, nothing more nothing less. He was smart enough to know that this bill would have major employers rethinking their commitment to the state and firms thinking about moving here going elsewhere. So this was no profile in courage but an easy decision for any Governor that cares about the economic viability of his State.

Now if he would stop blocking the expansion of Medicaid like most of his other fellow southern Governors than I would give him some real credit - for this not so much. It was a layup.

Well said.