North Carolina Dems pan 'keep our state straight' comment

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Rhetorical skirmishes continued today in North Carolina over a law limiting protections for LGBT people, as Democrats criticized a Republican's plea to "keep our state straight" a day after dozens were arrested and dueling demonstrations were held for and against the law.

Police arrested 54 protesters who came to voice opposition to the law late Monday as legislators returned to start their session.

Earlier Monday, at a demonstration by thousands who support the law, the state's Republican nominee for attorney general exhorted the crowd to "keep our state straight."

State Sen. Buck Newton urged the crowd to "tell your friends and family who had to work today what this is all about and how hard we must fight to keep our state straight."

The North Carolina Democratic Party issued a statement today calling the comments hateful and discriminatory toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. They called for Newton, who shepherded the legislation through his chamber, to apologize and for Republican Gov. Pat McCrory to denounce Newton's remarks.