See Anderson Cooper stump an Arizona politician

CNN’s Anderson Cooper had asked a simple question of Arizona State Senator Al Melvin.

Could the Republican lawmaker, who is running for governor of his state, think of a single example where the controversial SB 1062 bill has been needed in  Arizona?

The bill, if signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer, would make it legal for businesses to discriminate against anyone – including LGBTI people – if they say it is for religious reasons.

Melvin, who voted in favor of the anti-gay discrimination bill last week, came up empty.

Here is the exchange that occurred Monday night on Anderson Cooper 360:

Cooper: You say it’s all about protecting people of faith in Arizona. Can you give me a specific example of someone in Arizona who’s been forced to do something against their religious belief or [been] successfully sued because of their faith?

Melvin: Again, I think if anything, this bill is preemptive: to protect priests —

Cooper: You can’t give me one example of this actually happening?

Melvin: No I can’t, but we’ve seen it in other states and we don’t want it to happen here. [...]

Cooper: You can’t cite one example of where religious freedom is under attack in Arizona.

Melvin: Not now, no, but how about tomorrow?