Ben Carson: Gay Rights Aren't Civil Rights Because There Aren't Gay Water Fountains

CNN reports:

Ben Carson said Wednesday night that he was "irritated" by the comparison between the fight for same-sex marriage rights and the Civil Rights Movement because there's no overt segregation against gays. Speaking on Fox News' "Special Report", Carson elaborated on his remarks on CNN in March that he believes being gay is a choice because people "go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay." The GOP presidential contender told host Brett Baier that he "shouldn't have allowed my emotions" into the conversation, but was reacting to CNN host Chris Cuomo's line of questioning on the issue.

"I was a little bit irritated that he was equating the whole [gay marriage] issue with the Civil Rights movement. Because, quite frankly, I didn't remember any times when there were signs up that says, you know, 'everybody else here and gay people have to drink at this fountain,'" he said. But on Wednesday night, Carson expressed satisfaction with how the controversy played out. "They saw that as the opportunity to finally knock this guy out -- and they thought that they had done it. Stick a fork in him, he's gone. They were jubilant," he said of critics. "And now they're saying, I can't believe this guy's still here, are you kidding me?

At this writing Carson is live on CNN where he is refusing to speak further on last night's comments. I'll have that video shortly. The clip below recaps the above-linked report.

Chris Cuomo Takes Down Indiana Hater

Mediaite sets up the clip:

New Day host Chris Cuomo, who’s become a one-man wrecking ball over Indiana’s just-passed “religious liberty” bill, confronted Ryan McCann, Policy Director of the Indiana Family Institute, Tuesday morning for his third contentious interview on the subject in the past 24 hours. McCann argued that the bill only ensures protections for religious minorities, something Cuomo said was belied by the presence of anti-LGBT figures at the bill’s signing. McCann said that the statements Cuomo was alluding to had been passed around the internet “by the left.” Things got personal when Cuomo demanded McCann account for the real motives behind the bill, which was supported by “groups like yours, that are Christian-based, with an animus toward the LGBT community. Own who and what you are. There’s nothing wrong with that you’re allowed to believe it but you’re not about Native Americans or people who want liver transplants, right?”

Note that Cuomo has been well-informed on the identities of the haters who stood behind Pence during the bill's signing. As someone said on one of my listservs yesterday, "Chris Cuomo for grand marshal of all the gay pride parades everywhere!"

CNN's Chris Cuomo Eviscerates FRC Hater Peter Sprigg Over Indiana's New Law

Mediaite recaps this morning's epic takedown:

"There is a picture that’s circulating around of the governor as he signed [the bill],” Cuomo said. “Several of the people in the picture are outspoken critics of gay existence. Now, that’s not a coincidence. It’s not a coincidence why you’re against it. Let me ask you, why do so many Christians these days believe that the exercise of their faith requires exclusion and judgment of others?” “Some people have a sincere, conscientious belief that marriage is defined as the union between a man and a woman,” Sprigg replied. “In fact the majority of Americans believe that.”

“Popularity is not the ultimate arbiter of what is right and wrong if protecting rights under the Constitution,” Cuomo said. “The question then goes to: why do you need this? What is it about someone being gay or someone wanting to marry someone of the same sex — what is there in that that is keeping you from being the Christian you want to be?…If I said, Mr. Sprigg, you must go marry a man right now, you can say, no, that’s a violation of my faith. Maybe that, you would be able clear this burden. But how is wanting to judge others somehow stopping you from practicing your faith?”

Watch every minute of this and enjoy!

CNN's Chris Cuomo Battles Judge Roy Moore In Blistering 25-Minute Interview

Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was interviewed this morning by CNN's Chris Cuomo, who attacked Moore relentlessly over his position on same-sex marriage. While some of the interview devolved into back-and-forth bickering, Cuomo landed blow after blow, at one point telling Moore that he was merely spewing "word salad." For his part, Moore repeatedly demanded that Cuomo say whether he would have enforced Plessy v Ferguson or Dred Scott, had he been a jurist at that time. Because gay marriage is exactly like slavery. Several times Moore retreated to familiar Christianist talking points about secular laws being based on the word of God, after which Cuomo went ballistic. The clip below is long but every minute is worth watching.

Bill Donohue: There Are No Examples Of Gays Being Discriminated Against

Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue melted down over Arizona this morning on CNN.

Donohue began by accusing President Barack Obama’s administration of “encroaching on the rights of people of faith” in a variety of areas. “Gays as individuals, I’m with you on that Chris, let’s protect them in the workplace, let’s protect them as individuals,” Donohue insisted. “What my concern is, and I think I speak for a lot of people of faith, is the institution of marriage. That’s a separate issue altogether.” “Where are the examples of gays being discriminated against?” Donohue asked. “If they’re being discriminated against, how come they make more money than straight people on average?” “Is somebody being denied at Applebee’s getting a hamburger? Where are these examples?” he followed up. “Under the law in Arizona, there is no special protection of the LGBT community, so a business member, if he or she wanted to or she wanted to, could discriminate without violation,” Como said. “That’s why the law was unnecessary. Do you get that?”

Chris Cuomo is becoming my favorite news host.

Hate Group Defends Arizona Bill: People Are Lying About This Legislation

Alliance Defending Freedom is one of the co-authors of Arizona's hate bill. CNN reports:

Today on New Day, CNN's Chris Cuomo spoke with Kellie Fiedorek, a lawyer for the Alliance Defending Freedom which helped draft Arizona’s controversial bill that would allow business owners, as long as they assert their religious beliefs, to deny service to gay and lesbian customers. In the interview, Fiedorek defends the bill, telling Cuomo “there’s been a lot of lies and misinformation spread about the bill.” She said the law was protection from “forcing someone to use their creative ability to create a message to support an event, to support an idea that goes against their beliefs.” She went on to say “for example, we would not force a Muslim to participate in a Koran-burning ceremony. We wouldn't ask a black photographer and force them to go take a picture of KKK event. This is America and America we should be able to live freely and not be forced to endorse ideas.”

Cuomo does a great job with this asshat, who has testified before state legislatures against LGBT rights.

Chris Cuomo Vs Bill Donohue

CNN host Chris Cuomo really got into it with Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue today, calling Donohue out on his history of defending the Catholic Church's pedophilia scandals. Cuomo: "The pope is giving you a different message. He's saying: 'Don't make these statements about the homosexuals. Don't make these statements about the Jews. Get back to the what your church is about. Jesus wasn't about what you are doing right now.' Are you going to hear that message or not?" And Donohue goes off in typical style. You might want to watch both clips, if you can bear it.