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Oregon Labor Commish who fined Christian baker $135K just got some sweet justice

It wasn’t just Hillary Clinton that was humiliated on election day. Sure, her devastating loss had the biggest impact because she was running for president, but there is one other person I’m glad suffered the same defeat: Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian.

Most have never heard of him or have already forgotten what he did, but not Aaron and Melissa Klein, the Oregon bakers and owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa. They were the ones who caused liberals’ heads to explode for living out their Christian beliefs and practicing their First Amendment rights. To quickly recap, the Kleins had no problem serving gay customers, but when a lesbian couple wanted a cake to celebrate their commitment ceremony, the Kleins politely declined due to their convictions on traditional marriage. The uproar aimed at their business by angry progressives caused them to have to shutter the doors. Aaron went from business owner to garbage man almost overnight just to make ends meet.

Adding insult to injury, Avakian’s labor bureau seized the Klein’s bank accounts and forced them to pay the lesbian couple $135,000 for “emotional suffering.” It’s important to be reminded of all of this to understand why his defeat is so sweet.

From The Weekly Standard:

Avakian had his eye on higher office. It was very likely the case that Avakian saw the publicity surrounding his draconian treatment of the Kleins as a launching pad for his campaign to become Oregon’s secretary of state. From there it would have been a short hop to governor.

But it didn’t work out that way. Avakian didn’t just lose his race—it was the first statewide victory for a Republican in the now-solidly blue Beaver State in 14 years. A Republican hadn’t been elected secretary of state since 1980. Compounding Avakian’s humiliation, Hillary Clinton won the state by 10 points. Merely having a “D” by his name should have dragged him across the finish line.

But it didn’t. He was put out to pasture not only by a worthy Republican opponent, Dennis Richardson but also thanks to his aggressive liberal tyranny that was solidly rejected by Oregonians. As TWS noted:

The limits of bake-me-a-cake-or-else liberalism have now been revealed. The sooner Democrats come to grips with the unpopularity of their punitive social crusades, the better off their party—and our country—will be.

Most Americans are just fine allowing bakers to run their businesses as they see fit. Christian bakers have the right to refuse to make a cake for a gay wedding just as much as a gay bakery has the right to refuse a cake for a straight marriage. No offense necessary. People have the right to take their business elsewhere. This isn’t something the government should force or penalize; it should be the small business owner’s decision!

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