North Carolina Republicans are now issuing truly bonkers statements about HB2

When the Charlotte City Council voted on Monday to repeal much of the city’s non-discrimination ordinance, they did so on the assurance that Republicans in the Legislature would follow suit and repeal the state’s transphobic HB2 “bathroom bill.” This begs the question, have they met these guys?

A statement released by the state Republican party at 1 a.m. Wednesday morning blasted the compromise, which is scheduled to be taken up later today in a special session of the North Carolina General Assembly. The statement, which at times reads like a high school drama monologue, accuses the Charlotte council and Democratic Governor-elect Roy Cooper of lying and also something about blood? It reads in part:

Governor McCrory called a special session for repeal, based on good faith when Roy Cooper and Charlotte democrats announced to the world a full repeal of the Charlotte ordinance.

However they lied.

The HB2 blood is now stain soaked on their hands and theirs alone. What a dishonest, disgraceful shame by Roy Cooper and Charlotte Democrats.

I’m not sure you can “stain soak” something in blood, certainly not if you want to prevent water damage.

Republicans are upset because the full text of the resolution repealing Charlotte’s non-discrimination ordinance shows the city did not strike the law in its entirety—just the portions affected by HB2 concerning bathroom access according to gender identity. That still leaves bans against discrimination for city contractors and vehicles for hire:

It is the policy of the city not to enter into a contract with any business firm that has discriminated in the solicitation, selection, hiring or treatment of vendors, suppliers, subcontractors or commercial customers 1 [] on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability…

So this is the “blood” the state Republicans are upset about? That companies doing business with the city and taxi drivers can’t legally discriminate? Do they have nothing better to do at 1 a.m. on Tuesday? HGTV does an early morning marathon of House Hunters if they’re looking for suggestions.

We’ll find out how upset they really are about Charlotte’s decision not to repeal the full ordinance later today, when the special session meets to consider the HB2 repeal.