Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) argued that opponents of a pair of controversial religious freedom laws had been waging a jihad against those proposals.
“We look at the jihad that is being waged right now in Indiana and Arkansas going after people of faith who respect the biblical teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman,” Cruz said during a panel moderated by conservative radio host Steve Deace on Thursday. “We need to bring people together to the religious liberty values that built this country.”
Cruz’s comments come after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) was forced to clarify a controversial religious freedom law aimed at allowing businesses to refuse to serve same-sex individuals based on religious objections. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison (R), sent similar legislation back to his state’s legislature in response to national criticism as well.
Cruz, and most of the likely 2016 Republican presidential candidates, have expressed strong support for both laws. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) recently threw his support behind similar legislation that in certain ways is broader than the Indiana or Arkansas bills.
Cruz added that “it wasn’t long ago when this was an area of bipartisan agreement.”
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