Tony Cook

tony.cook@indystar.com

Senate candidate J.D. Ford wanted to make a simple point during a recent political forum: If a business benefits from public services, then it shouldn't be allowed to discriminate against any member of the public.

But that's not quite what Ford said when he responded to a question about whether businesses should be allowed to refuse services to customers for religious reasons.

"I think if that's the case, then those businesses need to hire their own private security," Ford said. "I think those businesses need to have a pail for water to put out their own fire."

Those comments drew sharp criticism from social conservatives, who quickly called attention to a video clip of Ford's comments during an Oct. 21 candidates forum sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council.

"I ask, Mr. Ford, if a Jewish printer doesn't want to print signs for a gay rights rally that promotes behavior contrary to the Hebrew Scriptures (what Christians call the Old Testament), his or her business should burn if it catches fire?" Curt Smith, president of the conservative Indiana Family Institute, said in a blog post.

Ford, a Democrat, dismissed the criticism, calling it a "desperate attempt" to distort the meaning of his comments.

"I don't think businesses should discriminate based on race, gender or sexual orientation," he said. "Public services do not discriminate. I was trying make that comparison there."

Ford, who is gay, is locked in a competitive race with state Sen. Mike Delph, a Carmel Republican and one of the legislature's most outspoken opponents of gay marriage.

"I was saddened to hear him express such intolerance for those of us that hold deep religious conviction," Delph told The Star. "Religious liberty is a fundamental American ideal."

Earlier this year, Delph pushed hard to get an measure on the November ballot that would have banned same-sex marriage in Indiana's constitution. That effort failed.

The U.S. Supreme Court later rejected an appeal of a lower-court ruling that legalized gay marriage in Indiana and several other states. That decision rendered the constitutional amendment moot.

Now, some conservative advocacy groups want lawmakers to pass legislation during the upcoming session that would protect businesses that deny services to same-sex couples or others for religious reasons.

Delph said he couldn't comment on legislation he hasn't seen. But he said "people of faith should not have their conscience coerced by government."

Chris Paulsen, president of Indiana Equality Action, said her group would oppose such a measure. She defended Ford's comments.

"The video has been replayed and was kind of chopped up and used by Indiana Family Institute to say something different than what was meant," Paulsen said.

"A public business should not discriminate against anyone," she said. "I don't think services should be withheld from anyone. Equal is equal."

The controversy surrounding Ford's comments created an interesting role reversal in the race for Senate District 29, which includes portions of Carmel and Zionsville, as well as Wayne and Pike townships in Indianapolis.

Ford has hammered Delph for controversial statements on social issues, including a social media filibuster on Feb. 13 following Delph's failure to advance the gay marriage ban to voters.

In more than 200 posts to his Twitter account over the course of several hours, Delph sparred with critics, slammed Republican leaders, criticized several churches, and decried a "culture and the hypocrisy of modern political correctness."

Call Star reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter: @indystartony.

Controversy in context

Here is the full question and Senate candidate J.D. Ford's response:

Moderator Amos Brown: "There is talk about the introduction of a 'Religious Freedom Act' in the upcoming session. Under what circumstances should someone (or a business) reasonably be allowed to refuse service to an individual on the basis of 'religious freedom?' For example, if someone claims that their religion prohibits divorce, should that person be able to refuse to do business with or hire someone who is divorced?"

J.D. Ford: "It's interesting, you just heard my opponent, he's always talking about Judeo Christian and pushing it on to you and all of a sudden he's backing away from this particular issue. I think if that's the case, then those businesses need to hire their own private security. I think those businesses need to have a pail for water to put out their own fire. So, those are public resources that we provide to those businesses. So I would not be in support of that."