On their Monday evening newscasts, the major broadcast networks kept up their attacks on the State of Indiana for having enacted a religious freedom law that aims to protect individuals from government infringement based on their religious beliefs.
While ABC, CBS, and NBC mentioned that there are those supporting the law, their coverage again veered off in a slanted direction against the law by painting Republicans as being “in damage control mode” while the “avalanche of criticism” continues to grow.
On the CBS Evening News, anchor Scott Pelley noted that “Indiana lawmakers are considering changes to a new law that has set off protests” while correspondent Adriana Diaz promoted how “Indiana Republican leaders were in damage control mode” following “a weekend of protests against the state’s religious freedom law.”
In one question posed to Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R), Diaz wondered if the expected move to “clarify the law just four days after it was enacted” served as “a sign that you are buckling to public pressure.”
While Diaz’s report featured multiple soundbites from those in support of the law, she made sure to mention a litany of those against it in addition to advancing their worst fears about the law:
The mayors of Seattle and San Francisco and the Governor of Connecticut have banned state employee business travel to Indiana. Apple CEO Tim Cook called the law part of a “dangerous” trend and just days before the Final Four here, the Indianapolis-based NCAA said it's concerned about how the law could affect student athletes. Critics fear incidents like this one five years ago when an Indianapolis bakery refused to make rainbow cookies for a college gay pride event.
ABC’s World News Tonight featured more of the same. Both anchor David Muir and correspondent Gio Benitez touted This Week host George Stephanopoulos’s interview with Indiana Republican Governor Mike Pence with Benitez saying that the aforementioned host “press[ed] the Governor” in wanting to know if “he will change the law.”
Also in his report, Benitez promoted the fear among opponents that Indian’s lacking of a law that “prevent[s] discrimination based on sexual orientation” could lead to “business owners” having justification “to deny gays and lesbians service, a wedding cake.”
Moving over to NBC Nightly News, interim anchor Lester Holt told viewers that while lawmakers are considering possible changes, opponents “are prepared to put their money where their mouth is.”
NBC News correspondent Gabe Gutierrez began his report by declaring that “Indiana Republicans rushed to defend the state’s new Religious Freedom Restoration Act” following “relentless backlash.”
Later, Gutierrez reminded viewers of the calls on social media to boycott the Hoosier State as Connecticut approved a measure to ban official state travel to the state:
The firestorm has spread on social media under the hashtag, BoycottIndiana. Late today, Connecticut became the first state to ban state-funded travel to Indiana by its employees. Indiana-based Angie's List has put its $40 million expansion plans on hold.
Both in the case of Guiterrez’s report and the segment by CBS’s Diaz, neither one of them mentioned how Connecticut is one of the 19 other states that have religious freedom laws on the books.
After soundbites from Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle and NCAA President Mark Emmert speaking out against the law, Gutierrez concluded with more spin:
What was once a political fight over a state law has now exploded into a battle between religious freedom and gay rights. Some small businesses are putting up signs in their windows saying “this business serves everyone.” Meanwhile, lawmakers here hope to clarify the language in this law by the end of the week, but more protesters are expected at the city council meeting tonight.
The relevant portions of the transcript from the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley on March 30 can be found below.
CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley
March 30, 2015
6:35 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: Controversial Law]
SCOTT PELLEY: Tonight, Indiana lawmakers are considering changes to a new law that has set off protests. Supporters say the law protects religious freedom. Those opposed say it is a licence to discriminate against gays.
(....)
ADRIANA DIAZ: Indiana Republican leaders were in damage control mode today after a weekend of protests against the state’s religious freedom law. State Senator David Long says the law, which limited government interference with a person’s religious beliefs, just needs to be clarified.
LONG: We don't believe anyone should be discriminated against. We wouldn’t support this law if we thought that was the affect of it.
DIAZ [TO LONG]: The fact that you are considering this legislation that could clarify the law just four days after it was enacted, a sign that you are buckling to public pressure?
LONG: No, I think we’re reacting to an obvious misconception about what the law does.
DIAZ: The mayors of Seattle and San Francisco and the Governor of Connecticut have banned state employee business travel to Indiana. Apple CEO Tim Cook called the law part of a “dangerous” trend and just days before the Final Four here, the Indianapolis-based NCAA said it's concerned about how the law could affect student athletes. Critics fear incidents like this one five years ago when an Indianapolis bakery refused to make rainbow cookies for a college gay pride event.....
A partial transcript of the segment from ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir on March 30 is below.
ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir
March 30, 2015
6:36 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: Under Fire]
DAVID MUIR: And with the Final Four now just days away, the firestorm where the games will take place in Indiana, where the Governor has signed a new religious freedom law. Protesters arguing that law now opens the door to discrimination against gays. On the other side, those who say it simply protects religious rights. In an ABC News exclusive, the Governor, digging in, saying this is about protecting everyone’s beliefs. Our George Stephanopoulos asking the Governor, should it be legal in Indiana to discriminate gays or lesbians? You will see how he answered, ABC’s Gio Benitez in Indianapolis tonight.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Legal Backlash; “Religious Freedom” Law Under Fire]
GIO BENITEZ: Tonight, outrage on both sides of the debate over Indiana’s new law. On one side, the desire to protect religious freedom. On the other, protesters who argue this paves the way for discrimination. More than a dozen states have similar laws in place, but critics here worry Indiana does any state law preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation and they argue the law could protect business owners who want to deny gays and lesbians service, a wedding cake, for example. Tonight, an avalanche of criticism. Apple CEO Tim Cook calling the law “dangerous.” Angie’s List, putting a $40 million expansion project on hold. Even the NCAA, calling it “completely inconsistent” with its values, just before the Final Four is held in Indiana.
(....)
BENITEZ: George, pressing the Governor on This Week, asking: Will he change the law?
The relevant portions of the transcript from March 30's NBC Nightly News are transcribed below.
NBC Nightly News
March 30, 2015
7:06 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: Controversial Law]
LESTER HOLT: There is new fallout tonight over a law signed by the governor of Indiana that critics say is worded in such a way that allows businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Supporters argue that's not the case at all. They say it’s about protecting religious freedom. In the meantime, some of those against it are prepared to put their money where their mouth is. NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez has details.
GABE GUTIERREZ: After relentless backlash, today, Indiana Republicans rushed to defend the state’s new Religious Freedom Restoration Act. [TO INDIANA HOUSE SPEAKER BRIAN BOSMA] Does this law allow businesses to deny services based on religious beliefs?
REPUBLICAN INDIANA HOUSE SPEAKER BRIAN BOSMA: No, it does not.
GUTIERREZ: House Speaker Brian Bosma says lawmakers are trying to add language to clarify the law's intent.
BOSMA: It is to set a standard, a high standard, of when government attempts to impact negatively or burden someone's religious liberty.
GUTIERREZ: Democrats want to repeal the law. Critics say it’s anti-gay. 19 other states have similar laws, but Indiana is different, in part, because there's no statewide non-discrimination law here protecting sexual orientation.
(....)
GUTIERREZ: The firestorm has spread on social media under the hashtag, BoycottIndiana. Late today, Connecticut became the first state to ban state-funded travel to Indiana by its employees. Indiana-based Angie's List has put its $40 million expansion plans on hold.
(....)
GUTIERREZ: What was once a political fight over a state law has now exploded into a battle between religious freedom and gay rights. Some small businesses are putting up signs in their windows saying “this business serves everyone.” Meanwhile, lawmakers here hope to clarify the language in this law by the end of the week, but more protesters are expected at the city council meeting tonight.
