Staff Reports
Last week, the Supreme Court made a fantastic decision in the case of Creative LLC v. Elenis. The Court reaffirmed that the government cannot force Americans to express messages that go against their deeply held religious beliefs. This is a huge win for religious freedom and the rights of individuals to live out their faith without fear of punishment from an overreaching government.
Buttigieg Weighs in on the 303 Creative SCOTUS Case and It's Really Something https://t.co/RPUMazxFJi
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 3, 2023
But of course, not everyone is celebrating this victory. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who seems to think he’s the expert on everything, weighed in on the case and claimed that it was “a solution looking for a problem.” Seriously, Pete? Can you be any more out of touch with reality? It’s clear that Buttigieg cares more about pushing his own agenda than he does about protecting the fundamental rights of Americans.
https://twitter.com/KevinTober94/status/1675548280892129280?s=20
There was a major train derailment and Atlanta International is completely FUBAR right now, so of course the transportation Secretary is busying himself with SCOTUS rulings on wedding website case law.
This guy’s resume’ is basically a pothole. https://t.co/NY3UEpZZbk— Brad Slager – Scrubbing Down In a Bloodbath (@MartiniShark) July 2, 2023
Why is the Transportation Secretary being asked about this instead of the FAA's monumental failures over the last couple of weeks? https://t.co/lMCsSSLQ5R
— Kyle Raccio (@kyleraccio) July 2, 2023
Buttigieg went on to suggest that the web designer, Lorie Smith, was just looking to provoke a case like this. Talk about a baseless accusation. There is absolutely no evidence to support Buttigieg’s claim that Smith was intentionally trying to create controversy. It’s clear that Buttigieg is simply grasping at straws in an attempt to undermine the Supreme Court’s decision and push his own radical agenda.
Thankfully, legal experts at the Heritage Foundation have pointed out the truth of the matter. Smith was simply trying to expand her business to include wedding websites, but she was hesitant due to Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act and the treatment of Masterpiece cakeshop owner Jack Phillips by the Colorado Commission on Civil Rights. Smith filed a lawsuit to clarify her rights and protect herself from being forced to create websites for marriages that go against her beliefs.
The public accommodations law in Colorado is a real threat to the freedom of business owners like Smith. Any individual can file a complaint, leading to an extensive hearing process and potentially severe consequences, including fines and mandatory “educational programs.” It’s a clear violation of the First Amendment and the rights of individuals to freely express themselves.
Despite acknowledging that Smith’s website creations were protected under the First Amendment as “pure speech,” the lower courts ruled against her. They claimed that equal access to goods and services was more important than protecting Smith’s right to express her beliefs. Thankfully, Justice Neil Gorsuch and the 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court disagreed.
Gorsuch, writing for the majority, pointed out that the First Amendment not only protects an individual’s right to speak their mind but also prohibits the government from compelling them to express messages they disagree with. This decision is a crucial victory for religious freedom and should be celebrated by all Americans who value their constitutional rights.
Critics of Buttigieg’s remarks have rightfully called him out, suggesting that he should stick to transportation issues. It’s clear that he is out of his depth when it comes to understanding the importance of protecting religious freedom and preserving the rights of individuals like Lorie Smith. Buttigieg’s dismissive attitude towards this important Supreme Court ruling only further highlights his disregard for the Constitution and the values that define our great nation.
