Arizona worried legislation could cost state Super Bowl XLIX

[KeepItReal]

Source: USA Today

With the clock ticking for Gov. Jan Brewer to veto, ignore or sign SB 1062, local business leaders are expressing fear that Super Bowl XLIX may be pulled from Arizona next year.

The controversial bill would allow businesses to use religious beliefs as a basis for refusing service to gays and others without fear of lawsuits.

...

"Our policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other improper standard," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. "We are following the issue in Arizona and will continue to do so should the bill be signed into law, but will decline further comment at this time."

...

The 2015 Super Bowl is currently scheduled to be held in Glendale's University of Phoenix Stadium. The league moved the 1993 Super Bowl to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., after Arizona voters failed to approve a paid state holiday to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in November 1990.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/super/2014/02/25/arizona-super-bowl-xlix-religious-rights-legislation-jan-brewer/5810755/

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Go ahead Arizona...do the wrong thing again.

A possible impromptu Super Bowl in New Orleans is fine with me.

[NastyRiffraff]

1. Okay, this will do it

Arizona won't get that law. Not, of course, because of its intolerance and the fact that it's unconstitutional, but they don't want to lose the Super Bowl.

WTG, Arizona. Stay classy.

[KeepItReal]

6. Pretty messed up that a sporting event would cause them to do the right thing

AZ legislature has some real characters with obviously nothing better to do writing some hateful laws.

[exboyfil]

2. The sports gods have spoken

She will veto it. If it was just common folk wanting to be treated fairly, "Screw them".

[RKP5637]

8. Yep, money talks, peoples civil rights, not so much, they get steam rolled. Cover up a

pig of a place with money and make it smell nice.

[Mike Daniels]

35. Vetoing it also shows contempt for the social conservatives that turn out for the GOP

It tells the GOP base that the party is ultimately motivated by money and would sell out their "family values" platform in a heartbeat in the face of economic punishments.

[louis-t]

3. Because nothing makes RW ideology go away like

money.

[KeepItReal]

10. "Money trumps peace" - George W Bush

At least in terms of war profiteering. Wasn't the RW supposed to be isolationist?

[louis-t]

19. Naw, Libertarians are isolationist.

GOP is a bunch of war mongering, hateful, murderers.

[rhett o rick]

4. Give the Super Bowl to Seattle. Hello, we do exist. nm

[DeSwiss]

24. I'll say!

[GP6971]

27. I'll go with that!!!!!

we have the facilities and infrastructure

[RKP5637]

5. I'd rather go to New Orleans any day than a shit hole like Arizona. n/t

[Liberalboy]

7. Money is their god, plain and simple

[Scuba]

9. There was a "Move the (AllStar) Game" effort when they did the "papers please" law.

Sure, losing events like this is worth it if some bigot can refuse serving Arizona citizens.

[TeamPooka]

11. Buy Bye AZ Super Bowl. The NFL will cave to a boycott in a two minute drill.

[KeepItReal]

12. Word. Gov. Brewer and her ilk would go down in infamy if the Super Bowl bails on AZ

She wouldn't dare sign this garbage legislation

[yuiyoshida]

25. That would be some publicity ....

The kind she would hate... AND...good!

[red dog 1]

13. K&R...Thanks for posting.

This cheers me up!

I love it when Republicans fight amongst themselves.

[PFunk]

15. Yup. Sports and big cash speaks trumps again

Hopefully GA (and others states) leaning this way will get the same message.

[TlalocW]

16. They should take it away now as a matter of principle

Just the fact that the state reps and senators voted for this is enough to say, "Get your shit together, and we'll check on you in a couple of years."

TlalocW

[KeepItReal]

21. That's a great idea

Put clowns like this on notice.

[Dawson Leery]

26. +1

[oldandhappy]

17. super bowl more important than people

Go AZ. Your values are strange.

[Mike Daniels]

36. OTOH, it shows the family values crowd how much their vote is taken for granted

By vetoing the law the GOP would basically be telling the social issues crowd that the party will sell out their "values" over business interests any day of the week.

If the country was lucky business interests trumping 'family values' on such a high profile issue could be the straw that leads to an irreversible schism in the GOP.

[oldandhappy]

38. well said

I was being snarky. You said it clearly. I am on veto watch. Used to go to AZ but no more. First they chased out many of their Hispanics, and now this. It is a beautiful state for camping, but there are other lovely places and I will enjoy those others, smile.

[TheCowsCameHome]

18. Whoa! Let's think this over, fellas.

We don't want to upset the almighty NFL, do we?

[KeepItReal]

20. I can hear those AZ legislators back pedaling all the way here in the Big Easy

Apple, American Airlines already objecting, with the NFL watching and waiting in the wings... Too much pressure to reverse course.

[JoePhilly]

22. I'd move it now and indicate that we didn't trust AZ to not do something else crazy

during super bowl week.

Might make them think longer than the average fart before doing something like this again.

[AAO]

31. I vote for that. Move it to Green Bay. That will teach the mofos.

[Loaded Liberal Dem]

23. People can only stay sane for so long in that heat

[GP6971]

28. I read earlier

and it may have been on DU, that 4 companies considering relocating to AZ have expressed second thoughts if the bill is signed.

[Lifelong Protester]

29. Good!

She'll fold like a cheap card table.

She's just dragging this out so she can be seen as "the center of it all" for a while.

[theHandpuppet]

30. Yep. I'm expecting the veto will come at the last possible moment

I'm sure she's already made up her mind.

[Cha]

32. Interesting take on this, LP

Facing heavy pressure to veto anti-gay bill, Brewer is taking her sweet time

She's been following it ... yet she's not sure what she'll do about it. Sources say Brewer is likely to veto the bill, but her delay is not exactly a profile in courage. A veto would also come after a long list of Republicans, including both of Arizona's United States senators, had urged Brewer to reject the bill, as have many business interests and the host committee of next February's Super Bowl, which will be held in the state.

But heaven forbid Brewer do anything hasty here. Even if she does veto it, she's first pretending that allowing businesses to refuse service to gay people is worth serious consideration over a period of days, rather than a swift "hell, no" right off the bat. Not exactly the strongest rejection of bigotry there.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/25/1280239/-Facing-heavy-pressure-to-veto-anti-gay-bill-Brewer-is-taking-her-sweet-time

[Lifelong Protester]

40. As long as she was 'contemplating' this

she could be the center of attention.
People are talking about MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

What a bigot!


I do think she made her mind up early, but made sure it dragged out for HER benefit.

[Cha]

41. I totally agree! Isn't she going to try to run

for Gov A-gain?

I just saw where she finally Vetoed it.. thank goodness. I'm sure the AZ teabaggers got lots of donations in their coffers for their efforts.

[RoverSuswade]

33. If it becomes law and Michael Sam's team makes the Superbowl

he would have to hitch-hike to the stadium and play on an empty stomach.

[Mike Daniels]

34. NFL needs to come out and say the game will be relocated if the bill is signed

So far, all they've really issued is a statement confirming their policies of inclusion and equal treatment.

Make it apparent that the game will definitely be relocated if Brewer signs the bill and put the GOP on the spot...do they show their loyalty to their social conservative base or do they do what's economically advantageous?

[justabob]

37. good for the NFL and the other businesses bringing pressure

The bill is absurd on many levels. But in the case of the NFL, a side note.... if they are so comfortable making a stand and using the Super Bowl as a weapon, why was there so much controversy and angst over Michael Sam in the first place?

[KeepItReal]

39. The only controversy and angst was from the media

The NFL itself was not involved in the Michael Sam hype.

I think that sports media treated the issue with the respect and attention it deserves. I can't say the same for other non sports media outlets.

[olddad56]

42. Even though she vetoed the bill, I would like to see the NFL move the superbowl anyway..

why let the Arizona legislature off the hook. They still passed the bill and deserve to suffer the consequences. These legislators didn't just wander into office, they were elected. The people of Arizona need to make better choices or pay for the choices that they have made.