Why Jan Brewer Really Vetoed SB 1062

It seems Jan Brewer and some members of the GOP are already rewriting the story of how and why Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed Arizona's heinous SB 1062 which would have granted Christofascists the special right of ignoring non-discrimination laws and allowing them to discriminate against gays and others at will citing "religious belief" as justification.  There was no altruism in Brewer's action and, frankly, I don't think she gives a damn about gay Arizonans or gay Americans.  Brewer vetoed SB 1062 for two reasons alone: (i) the business community was reading her the riot act and Arizona stood to take a real economic hit, and (ii) the national GOP recognized that this law would be poisonous for the party in November.  Brewer is all for discrimination if it doesn't carry an economic or political price.  Any push back against the Christofascists in the GOP base both in Arizona and across the country was coincidental, although other states may now think twice about such "religious liberty" laws after Arizona's near self-immolation.  A piece in the Virginian Pilot exemplifies the spin being given to Brewer's veto. Here are highlights:

Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer slapped down the right wing of her own party, vetoing a bill pushed by social conservatives that would have allowed people with sincerely held religious beliefs to refuse to serve gays.

The conservative governor said she could not sign a bill that was not only unneeded but would damage the state's improving business environment and divide its citizens.

Senate Bill 1062 had set off a national debate over gay rights, religion and discrimination and subjected Arizona to blistering criticism from major corporations and political leaders from both parties.

Brewer pushed back hard against the GOP conservatives who forced the bill forward by citing examples of religious rights infringements in other states.

"I have not heard one example in Arizona where a business owner's religious liberty has been violated," Brewer said. "The bill is broadly worded and could result in unintended and negative consequences."

And she chastised the GOP-controlled state Legislature for sending her a divisive bill instead of working on a state budget that continues her economic expansion policies or an overhaul of Arizona's broken child welfare system, her top priorities.

Arizona was thrust into the national spotlight last week after both chambers of the state legislature approved it. As the days passed, more and more groups, politicians and average citizens weighed in against Senate Bill 1062. Many took to social media to criticize the bill.

Prominent business groups said it would be another black eye for the state that saw a national backlash over its 2010 immigration-crackdown law, SB1070, and warned that businesses looking to expand into the state may not do so if bill became law.

Companies such as Apple Inc. and American Airlines and politicians including GOP Sen. John McCain and former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney were among those who urged Brewer to veto the legislation. The Hispanic National Bar Association cancelled its 2015 convention in Phoenix.

The lesson for gay rights activists?  Get big business on our side and get prominent corporations to slam the GOP when it prostitutes itself to the Christofascists.  Yes, the Christofascists control much of the GOP grass roots, but big business and its leaders fund GOP campaigns.  Money talks.