Last night, Jon Stewart covered the news surrounding the anti-gay bill in Arizona, looking at how Fox News helped set the culture of fear for religious conservatives that made them pass such a bill in the first place.



2/24/2014: ANDERSON COOPER: Can you give me a specific example of someone in Arizona who's been forced to do something against their religious belief or successfully sued because of their faith? STATE SEN. AL MELVIN, R-AZ: Again, I think if anything, you — this bill is preemptive. ... ANDERSON COOPER: But you can't cite one example where religious freedom is under attack in Arizona. STATE SEN. AL MELVIN, R-AZ: Not now, no. But how about tomorrow?

"You see, here in Arizona we're all about protecting ourselves from possible futures. It's why I also co-sponsored the Robot Voter ID Bill of 2042. Keep your titanium pinchers off my great-grandkids, ya dirty robot!!"

This is a slam dunk veto. What governor in their right mind would sign this piece of shit?



CNN (2/23/2014): Will Arizona Governor Jan Brewer sign or veto the anti-gay bill on her desk? GOV. JAN BREWER, R-AZ (2/22/2014): I don't have to make a decision until next Friday, so I've got plenty of time. GOV. JAN BREWER, R-AZ (2/25/2014): I have until Friday or Saturday morning to determine that.

2/25/2014: ANDERSON COOPER: Why do you regret your vote? STATE SEN. STEVE PIERCE, R-AZ: It went through really quick. No one really had anything telling me don't do it. We, ah, several of us talked. We thought, you know, this isn't good. It's not good for the state. But, um, no one had said anything. And we thought well, we'll just vote for it. ... We made a mistake.

Hey man, I know how it is, you know. Sitting around, a couple of legislators, it's late at night, and no one's around. The three of you just decide to experiment with intolerance, but you know. (audience laughter) Things go a little too far, and then the next day nobody can make eye contact.

"I mean, it was just one bill! I mean, and I didn't even fucking enjoy passing it! I mean, it doesn't make me a homophobe!" (audience laughter)

Of course they're having second thoughts. Because the bill they passed was morally repugnant. (audience cheering and applause) As I assume everyone now realizes.



FREDRICKA WHITFIELD (2/22/2014): Critics of the bill say it sanctions discrimination, particularly against gay people. But others could be impacted as well. ... A Muslim could refuse to do business with Christians because he might consider them infidels.

SEN. JOHN McCAIN, R-AZ (2/25/2014): I hope that Governor Brewer, who's a good friend of mine, will veto. ... Most importantly, it's the impression that it's creating because it is viewed as discriminatory.

SEN. JOHN McCAIN, R-AZ (2/25/2014): This can affect tourism, it can affect our state's economy and job creation. JAN CRAWFORD, CBS (2/26/2014): The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee says it could jeopardize plans for the state to host next year's game.

None of the reasons that you guys have cited, the fact that while then maybe Muslims could use it against us, or, oh my God, people won't want to do business with us, have nothing to do with morality. But with so many good reasons not to pass the bill, it makes you wonder how it got this far in the first place. Megyn Kelly has a theory.



MEGYN KELLY (2/25/2014): We hear a lot from folks on the religious right who say they feel religion is under attack. And you know, I look at this bill, and I wonder whether this is a reaction — an overreaction — to people who feel under attack.