06 April 21
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FOCUS: Charles Pierce | In Terms of Culture-War Holy-Shit Moments, This Is Right Up There
Charles Pierce, Esquire
Pierce writes: "Well, in this week of famous buzzer-beaters, Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson nailed one like U.S. Reed did against Louisville in 1981."
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson will take some heat from his base for this, but credit where it's due.
redit where it’s due. Last Thursday, in our semi-regular weekly survey of what’s goin’ down in the several states, we took note of Arkansas’ HB 1570, a horrific piece of legislation that would prohibit healthcare providers from administering gender transition treatments, which can include surgery and hormone therapy, to people under 18. Well, in this week of famous buzzer-beaters, Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson nailed one like U.S. Reed did against Louisville in 1981.
In a news conference after vetoing the bill, Hutchinson spoke with an uncommon humanity for a Republican governor, at least for one who’s already signed an anti-trans bill involving women’s sports, and also a bill allowing physicians to refuse to treat patients if the doctors have a religious objection, a provision that makes LGBTQ Arkansans nervous. But, on this one, Hutchinson took the risk of alienating his fundy base.
We are creating new standards of legislating interference for physicians and parents as they deal with some of the most complex and sensitive matters involving young people…House Bill 1570 would put the state as the definitive oracle of medical care overriding parents, patients, and healthcare experts. While in some instances the state must act to protect life, the state should not presume to jump into the middle of every medical, human, and ethical issue. This would be, and is, a vast government overreach.
There was general outrage over the provisions of this bill, which should be understandable to any sentient primate. And, for myself, I have no doubt that Hutchinson looked at what’s happening in Georgia over voting rights and decided that there was enough light on this issue that something similar might happen to Arkansas if he signed this particular sliver of authoritarianism. His remarks at his press conference would lead you to that conclusion as well.
I was told this week the nation is looking to Arkansas because I have on my desk another bill passed by the general assembly that is a product of the cultural war in America. I don’t shy away from the battle when it is necessary and defensible. But the most recent action of the general assembly, while well intended, is off course. And I must veto House Bill 1570.
In terms of culture-war Holy-Shit Moments, this ranks right up there with Mississippi’s beating a Personhood initiative a few years back. No doubt Hutchinson will take considerable heat from people he’s generally counted as supporters. He will be accused of bowing to pressure from out-of-state agitators, and to woke interest groups, and to cancel culture, and all the other new conjuring words beloved by the right. The legislature can override his veto with a simple majority. The nation needs to keep looking at Arkansas for a while yet.
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