North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory Just Can’t Stop Defending His Anti-LGBT Law HB2: Pres. Obama Edition

When It Comes to HB2, Pat McCrory Is His Own Worst Enemy. Well, After the U.S. Constitution.

How many times over the past eight years (yes, even before he was elected) have we heard Republicans lie about all the times President Barack Obama has apologized for America? Feels like a million, right? How many times has Pres. Obama actually apologized for America? According to Politifact, zero. According to CNN, zero.

So consider the irony of today’s events.

The British Government – just days before President Obama was to visit to help celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday – was forced to issue a travel warning to its own citizens about conditions in North Carolina and Mississippi, after both states enacted anti-LGBT laws. 

“The US is an extremely diverse society and attitudes towards LGBT people differ hugely across the country,” the UK government said. “LGBT travellers may be affected by legislation passed recently in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi. Before travelling please read our general travel advice for the LGBT community. You can find more detail on LGBT issues in the US on the website of the Human Rights Campaign.”

President Obama was asked about that warning and conditions in North Carolina and Mississippi today while in London, at a press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron. 

Did President Obama apologize?

No.

At a time when he had every right to apologize for America – or, at least, for our bigoted Americans – he chose to defend both states to an international press corps.

“I want everybody here in the United Kingdom to know that the people in North Carolina and Mississippi are wonderful people, they are hospitable people, they are beautiful states and you are welcome. You should come and enjoy yourselves. I think you’ll be treated with extraordinary hospitality,” he told members of the press. “I also think that the laws that have been passed there are wrong and should be overturned and they’re in response to politics in part and some strong emotions that are generated by people, some of whom are good people but I just disagree with.”

You can watch his video here.

Rather than be embarrassed that he has signed discriminatory and – according to legal experts – unconstitutional legislation into law, rather than ignore the president’s remarks, rather than thank the President for encouraging tourism and defending the Tar Heel state, Republican Gov. Pat McCrory just couldn’t resist another opportunity to take the low road.

He issued yet another press release.

“Governor McCrory agrees with President Obama that all people are welcome to our state and everybody will be treated well with extraordinary hospitality,” the statement reads. “However, the governor respectfully disagrees with the political left’s national agenda to mandate changes to basic, common-sense restroom norms.”

He just couldn’t resist.

It seems the majority of people across the nation – and now, a foreign government – are opposed to Gov. McCrory’s HB2, and rather than work to repeal it, McCrory is going around defending it, at every single opportunity, and in a nasty, senseless, condescending, juvenile, and partisan manner.

So much for “hospitality.”

 

EARLIER:

Pat McCrory Pulls Another Fast One

$875 Million Corp Fleeing South Carolina to Oppose Discrimination and Protect LGBT Employees

WATCH: These 8 North Carolina Trans Citizens Share Their Feelings On HB2 And It May Break Your Heart

 

Image: Screenshot via YouTube