Political Insider

No matter what happens to SB 129, religious liberty fight will rage on

031715 ATLANTA: Audrey "Mayour" Martin holds a sign in the air during a rally at the Capitol against SB 129, the "license to discriminate" legislation pushed by Sen. Josh McKoon and Rep. Sam Teasley on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at Liberty Plaza in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com Audrey "Mayour" Martin holds a sign in the air during a Tuesday rally at the Capitol against SB 129, “religious liberty” legislation authored by state Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus. Opponents argue that it would give protection to those who would discriminate against gay couples. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
031715 ATLANTA: Audrey "Mayour" Martin holds a sign in the air during a rally at the Capitol against SB 129, the "license to discriminate" legislation pushed by Sen. Josh McKoon and Rep. Sam Teasley on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at Liberty Plaza in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com Audrey "Mayour" Martin holds a sign in the air during a Tuesday rally at the Capitol against SB 129, “religious liberty” legislation authored by state Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus. Opponents argue that it would give protection to those who would discriminate against gay couples. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
By Jim Galloway
April 1, 2015

It is worth remembering that decades ago, before Jerry Falwell brought them into the GOP fold, Southern Baptists were a standoffish people.

As a denomination, they kept themselves separate. Baptists eschewed not just politics, but most ecumenical alliances – because of the compromise that collaboration could require.

They personified the unscriptural phrase, “I’d rather be right than president.” And while today Southern Baptists are major players in national Republican politics, at bottom they haven’t changed much.

Today, they’d rather be right than elect a president. And if you’re a Republican with an eye on the White House, that’s a problem.

It would be the height of folly to write off SB 129, Georgia’s religious liberty bill, as dead before state lawmakers abandon Atlanta on Thursday.

Regardless, the issue will live on. Because….

About the Author

Jim Galloway, the newspaper’s former political columnist, was a writer and editor at the AJC for four decades.

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