YOU BLEW IT, KASICH, MOVE ASIDE by Matt Barber

Many thanks to Hugh Hewitt for asking the question. In a campaign where the noise of myriad, and in many cases less critical, issues has drowned out the single greatest threat to God-fearing Americans’ individual liberties – the secular left’s tireless efforts to end our constitutional religious free exercise and freedom of conscience – Hewitt exposed John Kasich as an avowed enemy to the First Amendment and a devoted ally of Democratic sexual change agents.

In one exchange, Hewitt said, “Senator Cruz mentioned the issue that keeps me up at night, which is religious liberty.” He later added, “Governor Kasich, back to religious liberty. You’ve been a little bit less emphatic. You’ve said, same-sex couple approaches a cupcake maker, sell them a cupcake. Can we trust you as much on religious liberty as the rest of these people?”

Kasich went off the rails. The New York Times summarized his response thusly: “Mr. Kasich went further than any of his rivals in dismissing – even belittling – the idea that businesses should be able to claim religious freedom and allow them not to cater to gay and lesbian couples.”

“Religious institutions should be able to practice the religion that they believe in …” he said, “but, look, the court has ruled and I’ve moved on. And what I’ve said, Hugh, is that, look, where does it end? …

“I mean, if you’re in the business of commerce, conduct commerce. That’s my view. And if you don’t agree with their lifestyle, say a prayer for them when they leave and hope they change their behavior.

“But when it comes to the religious institutions, they are inviolate in my mind, and I would fight for those religious institutions,” he concluded.