Senate Democrats know the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) faces long odds, but they’re moving forward on the pending legislation anyway. Aside from a modicum of moderate Republican support, the bill appears to have no realistic shot of success anytime soon.
Or does it? NBC’s David Gregory asked Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus if he believes “gays and lesbians in America deserve equal rights.” His response was unexpected (via Tim Murphy).
For those who can’t watch clips online, Priebus specifically said, “I think they deserve equal rights in regard to, say, discrimination in the workplace.”
Rachel made the case last week that the RNC chair may not be especially good at his job, and this clearly reinforces the thesis. Republicans overwhelmingly oppose giving gays and lesbians equal rights with regards to discrimination in the workplace, and yet Reince Priebus, hoping to find evidence of his party’s elusive tolerance, said the opposite. I suspect the RNC will walk this back quickly, if it hasn’t already, but I also imagine congressional Democrats will use this going forward. After all, how often does the RNC chair inadvertently endorse the progressive line on a gay rights issue on national television?
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