Andrea Mitchell on Arizona Bill: 'States Cannot Take These Kinds of Actions and Expect to Do it With Impunity'

Talking to Democratic Senator Patty Murray during her noontime MSNBC show on Thursday, host Andrea Mitchell gloated over Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoing a proposed religious freedom law in the state: "Clearly she was responding to some heavy pressure, economic interests, national economic interests, major corporations, the Super Bowl, Major League Baseball. States cannot take these kinds of actions and expect to do it with impunity." [Listen to the audio [1]]

Before making that declaration, Mitchell asserted that the GOP had already been damaged by the nonexistent law: "The vetoing of the anti-gay bill by the Arizona governor. I'm not sure why she waited as long as she did because it's now become an issue for the Republican Party, having dragged it out so many days."

Responding to Mitchell's "impunity" remark, Murray affirmed: "I think that's right. And I think what it shows is that when you discriminate against anyone, there is an economic cost to that."

On Thursday, TVNewser wondered [2] if slanted media coverage of the Arizona bill had inspired Brewer's veto.

Here is a transcript of Mitchell's February 27 exchange with Murray:

12:12 PM ET

ANDREA MITCHELL: And I'm joined now by Senator Patty Murray, speaking of west coast senators, chair of the Senate Budget Committee and a member of the Committee on Veterans Benefits. Senator, thank you very much for being with us at our new noon hour.

Let's talk first about Arizona, because we know what happened last night. The vetoing of the anti-gay bill by the Arizona governor. I'm not sure why she waited as long as she did because it's now become an issue for the Republican Party, having dragged it out so many days.

Clearly she was responding to some heavy pressure, economic interests, national economic interests, major corporations, the Super Bowl, Major League Baseball. States cannot take these kinds of actions and expect to do it with impunity.

SEN. PATTY MURRAY: I think that's right. And I think what it shows is that when you discriminate against anyone, there is an economic cost to that. And in this case, businesses are stepping up to the recognition of that and I think that's very important.

(...)