The usual voices have weighed in against the monstrous bill in Arizona that would allow business owners to refuse service to LGBT people on religious grounds. Well, on Saturday afternoon one of the last people I expected to speak out against this monstrosity did so. Namely, Arizona's junior Senator, Jeff Flake. With a seven-word tweet, Flake spoke volumes.
Wow. To call this a shock would be putting it mildly--unless the Arizonans here say otherwise. You don't expect a guy with a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 98 to come out against this bill. Additionally, Flake is a self-described libertarian, and libertarians have been among this bill's strongest supporters.
Then again, looking more into Flake's background, this may be more in character. He was executive director of the Goldwater Institute before going to Washington--and for all of his faults, Barry Goldwater sounded almost like a Kossack on social issues.
Granted, Flake may be a stopped clock. But if he's coming out against this, it could be a sign of a civil war in the Arizona GOP.
(h/t to LGBTQ Nation)
11:31 AM PT: Several commenters have pointed out that Flake must have realized this bill is an economic and legal catastrophe waiting to happen. Still, you don't expect a guy with an ACU rating of 98 to have a moment of sanity--at least one this public.
3:37 PM PT: Per Kestrel in the comments, one of Flake's cousins is openly gay, and knows personally that Flake is no homophobe.