With “The Nightly Show” back from vacation on Monday, host Larry Wilmore had a lot of news to catch up on, first and foremost the saga of Indiana’s so-called “religious freedom” law.
“We’re not gonna change the law, okay?” said Gov. Mike Pence (R) in an interview last week, when challenged on its possible allowance of discrimination against gays and lesbian couples.
“Okay,” Wilmore said defensively, before looking at how Pence’s resolve worked out for him.
Of course, the governor reversed his position and called for the legislature to offer a clarifying amendment to the law that would bar the potential for discrimination against gay and lesbian individuals.
“Reversed? Wow. So I guess you could say Gov. Mike Pence swings both ways,” Wilmore said.
Still, Wilmore couldn’t understand what caused Pence to go back on his word.
“I mean he had very strong conviction about protecting religious freedom,” the host said. “I mean, what’s more powerful than God?”
Wilmore cut to a news clip revealing the wave of pressure from businesses to change the law, including Indianapolis-based Angie’s List halting a $40 million expansion project.
“Oh, money!” Wilmore said, pointing out that putting state’s commerce in jeopardy is a classic civil rights move.
“You don’t have to get them to feel sorry for you, or feel bad about your plight,” he said. “You just have to get them to hate the fact that they’re losing money.”
Watch the clip:
Well, Larry, we’ll get to see your take on Louisiana’s law soon too!