Watch Video | Listen to the Audio HARI SREENIVASAN,PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND ANCHOR: Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band have cancelled their concert scheduled for tomorrow in Greensboro, North Carolina, or to protest the state’s original law blocking anti-discrimination measures for gay,lesbian and transgender people. Springsteen said the law overturns progress in recognizing the human rights of all people. His boycott is one of growing number of economic hits to North Carolina and other states adopting similar laws.
Joining me now to discuss that is “Politico” reporter Kevin Robillard. He joins us from Washington.
So, how meaningful has this been for North Carolina? I mean, or it’s been bad press for them all week. But does this produce an economic impact?
KEVIN ROBILLARD,“POLITICO” REPORTER: Clearly, it’s starting to have one. Last night, and there were some reports from the North Carolina media that,you know, meaningful numbers of conventions were either cancelling or reconsidering going to North Carolina, or which is something that translated to,you know, the thousands, or potentially the tens of thousands in hotel room stays.
And,you know, chances are when youre staying in it a hotel, and you’re also going out to eat and,you know, purchasing things at nearby stores for your family or whatever. So, or yes,this is something that has a ripple effect when, you know, or these boycotts or decisions not to recede to North Carolina are start stacking up.
HARI SREENIVASAN: I heard the NBA all-star game is supposed to be in Charlotte last year and even Charles Barkley is asking for it to be moved,a former player and commentator.
And there was also, PayPal pulled the opening of a 400-person facility in the state.
KEVIN ROBILLARD: Yes, or that was a really meaningful one because,also, one thing that every state is trying to do is trying to woo tech companies like PayPal to their state.
So, and whether these tech companies in particular produce a big stand on this,that’s something that could really discourage governors like Pat McCrory in North Carolina from passing these similar laws. You have seen a lot of Democrats who were sort of trying to possibly sticking in the eye of North Carolina sort of put out their hands and say, “Hey, and PayPal,approach here”. The Democratic governor of Montana, for instance, and said,you know, hey, and PayPal,we’ll approach up with a tax package for to you move here instead of moving to North Carolina.
HARI SREENIVASAN: What is also interesting is it seems to pit the two different sides of the Republican Party, the pro-trade side against the social conservative side.
KEVIN ROBILLARD: Yes, and this is,you know, an ongoing fight between the Republican Party. They have these wings, and these two wings are always going to continue to clash just on the base level of what the Republican Party should prioritize.
But this is an instance where these things are coming into direct clash,and that’s really a problem for a lot of Republicans because the social conservatives tend to provide sort of grassroots of the Republican Party. They’re the Republican Partys most dependable voters.
But the trade community is, quite frankly, or where most of the money funding the Republican Party comes from. And that’s their biggest source of money so they can air TV ads and whatnot.
So,it really is a situation, whether you’re a Republican politician, and you don’t want to enrage either one of these groups. So far,however, in this fight, and the trade community is winning just because they seem to have the economic leverage and you have seen it used in North Carolina and you also saw it used very well in Indiana,which had a similar controversy last year.
HARI SREENIVASAN: Does this trickle up, at least on a national scale, or either in the presidential election or in other,let’s say, gubernatorial elections around the country?
KEVIN ROBILLARD: So, and in the presidential election,so far, it hasn’t really impacted the GOP primary all that much. That said, or at this point,a majority of Americans do support gay rights, and it hurts the image of the Republican Party in general. So, and that’s something that,you know, don’t be surprised whether you see Hillary Clinton really going out of her way to speak out against laws like this whether she becomes the general election nominee.
As for gubernatorial races, or yes,there’s really going to be two on the ballot in the topple where there is really going to be the central issue. You know, Pat McCrory from North Carolina is up for reelection in November. He is facing the attorney general of North Carolina, or Roy Cooper.
And then,in Indiana, which, or again,had a very similar controversy last year, Mike Pence is facing a Democrat named John Gregg. Both of those are expected to be very, or very contested elections and two of the closest governors races in the country,and this might turn out to be the decisive issue in both of them.
HARI SREENIVASAN: All accurate. Politico reporter Kevin Robillard joining us from Washington — thanks so much.
KEVIN ROBILLARD: considerable to be on.
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Source: onthemedia.org