Is There A Better Way To Take The Focus Off Your Anti-LGBT Laws Than By Talking Basketball?

Uproxx- After North Carolina passed HB2, a law that prevents transgender individuals from using the bathroom of the gender with which they identify, the backlash was immediate across the cultural landscape, including within the sporting world.

There was condemnation from organizations like the Charlotte Hornets, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver publicly considered moving the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte unless changes are made to the law.

Of course, with the All-Star Game less than a year away, the logical continuance of the NBA’s threat is to wonder who will take over. Atlanta has already thrown its hat into the ring:

Obviously, if the 2017 All-Star Game were to be moved, there would be another (presumably hastened) bidding sequence, but Atlanta is trying to get ahead of the game. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory responded not by addressing the important issues at hand, but by taking a shot at Georgia’s NCAA basketball woes:

Say what you want about Governor Pat McCrory, but don't you dare say he doesn't know what it takes to maintain a career in politics. You don't achieve success in the government if you address the controversial issues at hand. That's the easiest way to find yourself in hot water. Why would Pat McCrory's correspondent stand up and talk about the semi-prejudice laws that are still in place in his jurisdiction when he can just point to another jurisdiction's transgressions? Don't make yourself look better, make your opponents look worse. In case you haven't noticed that's all that the current Prudential election has regressed into. It's 2016. Name calling and finger pointing equates to vote getting. Sure, you can't stand up to piss in a woman's bathroom in North Carolina quite yet, but you can't do it in Houston either. Georgia might be LGBT friendly, but I bet you can't catch a quality college basketball game while you're there! 

I know what you're thinking, "what does basketball have to do with this?". The answer is - oh, I don't know - everything? Basketball is North Carolina's strong point, and the issue at hand is keeping a high profile basketball game in North Carolina. Politics are all about emphasizing your best qualities, regardless of whether or not they fit seamlessly into a debate. Why fix your weaknesses when you can just deflect references to them by talking sports? North Carolina is in the Final Four. THE FINAL FOUR! Why choose now to talk about the eight poorly transitioned transgenders that are going to feel uncomfortable emptying their bladder at the NBA All Star Game? I'll support equal rights for the LGBT community, but only after I finish watching basketball. This is March Madness baby! There's no time to be discussing where transexuals can and can't piss. As long as the tournament is ongoing they can be forced to shit in the street for all I care. Pat McCrory is no dummy. He knows that North Carolina has some equality issues they need to work out, but - much like everything else - it can wait until after the games.