White House Opposes Hate Crime Bill (Issues a Veto Threat)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 3, 2007
Filed at 11:03 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House issued a veto threat Thursday against legislation that would expand federal hate crime law to include attacks motivated by the victims' gender or sexual orientation.

The hate crimes bill, with strong Democratic backing, is expected to pass the House Thursday. Similar legislation is moving through the Senate.

But the legislation, which also would increase the penalties for bias-based violence, has met outspoken resistance from conservative groups and their Republican allies in Congress, who warn that it undermines freedom of speech, religious expression and equal protection under the law.

The White House, in a statement, said state and local criminal laws already provide penalties for the crimes defined by the bill and ''there has been no persuasive demonstration of any need to federalize such a potentially large range of violent crime enforcement.''



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Hate-Crimes.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. Don't want the hate coming from the pulpit to be called hate

That just wouldn't be patriotc. And we have to ensure that preachers are free and tax free to spread that conservative value of hate unimpeded. I stopped going to church a few years back because each Sunday all I heard about was who to hate this week.

[Duer 157099]

2. Ah, another trifecta! War, Pestilence and Hatred. Mission accomplished

Bush is pro-death (Iraq), pro-disease (stem cell) and pro-hatred (hate crimes bill)

As if that's any surprise.

[SpiralHawk]

46. Bush republcion White House supports Hate

That's how the headline should read...

[AndyA]

3. Would someone care to explain to me just how in the hell

making it a crime to beat the hell out of someone just because they're gay "undermines freedom of speech, religious expression and equal protection under the law"?

Their God must be so proud of them.

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[Atman]

5. Isn't it already a crime to beat the hell out of ANYBODY for no good reason?

:shrug:

.

[MasterDarkNinja]

15. Yes, but beating the hell out of someone for a hate crime carries harsher punishments

Besides that the stupid hating repukes fail to realize that the bill is about solely violent hate crimes, not hate speech. The senate version of this bill that they're working on even bears the name of a person who got beaten to death just because they were gay.

I stopped going to church a few years back because each Sunday all I heard about was who to hate this week.

Yeah, same here, I used to be a bit religious (partially from having a really religious brother) but all the hate talk against others being justified by religion helped me lose what little faith I had and stop going to church all together.

[Oglethorpe]

19. Should it?

Lets say a gang of white kids decide to beat the hell out of another white kid because he was weaker, smaller, and just because they were thugs and punks. Basically, for kicks.

Now suppose this same gang of white kids decided to beat the hell out of African American kid just because he was African American.

Both kids were equally injured.

Does one of these crimes warrant a worse punishment than the other?

[FreeState]

24. Motive

The difference is motive - just like in murder cases there are 1st degree murder and 2nd degree murder - both based on motive and planning. Any hate crime includes a motive to send a message to a community - like lynching or bombing gay bars.

Also the proposed law says "sexual orientation". SO it covers everyone equally since everyone has an orientation. I
Also its interesting to note that religion is already covered under the Federal Hate Crimes laws. You don't see bush asking for that to be done away with.

[Malikshah]

43. The fact that folks cannot see the difference is disgusting.

eom

[never cry wolf]

12. Washington Journal had a segment on this this morning

Apparently their argument is that if a preacher says gay sex is bad and one of the parishioners then commits a hate crime against a gay the preacher can be held liable or at least be investigated.

Look for "Wade Henderson & Ceobishop H. Jackson" on this page: http://www.c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,

[MotorCityMan]

32. As they should be, dammit!!!!!!!!!

Words have consequences, dammit!!!!! If these preachers want to pour out all that hate (in Jesus' name, of course) against homosexuals, and one of the preacher's flock takes it to heart and "kills a fag for Christ", than the preacher SHOULD be charged!!

I have fucking HAD it with these people!! Take some damn responsibilty for your actions and their results!!!

I can't marry my partner, I have to be careful a LOT, I pay my fair share of taxes, and I am STILL a second class citizen!!!!

[never cry wolf]

36. I agree with you, and it is a false argument

They claim it will affect the preacher's right to free speech but of course that is BS, they just don't like anything that protects or benefits anyone with a different gender orientation than them.

[xultar]

4. Those compassionatie conservatives are such a fuckin hoot.

:rofl:

[wordpix]

29. they're so compassionate they think it's OK to commit violent crimes against LGBT

Yeah, what a hoot. :sarcasm:

What would Jesus do?

[xultar]

47. Apparently Jesus would buss a cap in someone's ass.

[napi21]

6. Gee! Shrub got that new veto pen and is really enamoured with it huh?

He must have really gotten a rush from signing that veto yesterday and wants to keep on doing it!

I wonder if he now feels bad it took him 6 1/2 years to find out just how great that darn veto thing really is!!!

[Greeby]

7. He only vetoes now because he's too chickenshit to use signing statements anymore

Yanno, a Congressional committee might actually call him on it now

[Triana]

8. Oh yea. Let's protect the closet mysogenists who harass women on the web...

...AND condone the epidemic proportions of violence against women in society, which is another reason we NEED a hate crimes bill that deals SPECIFICALLY with gender-based harrassment and violence.

Of course, since bu$hit and CONservatives are woman-hating pigs, I'd expect them to not support anything that would curtail THEIR own activities - and those of their oppressive, woman-controlling friends. THEY are part of the PROBLEM.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

9. Quite the legacy,

Veto's to Stem Cells, Peace and laws against violence,

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. You know what? I hope he DOES veto it!

His record for veto under the Con majority was exactly: 1. And that was the stem-cell bill. Red meat for the Falwell Followers.

Another veto will simply further expose him and he'll get weaker and weaker with every one of them. He'll be giving the Cons an excuse to run from him so fast that Karl's head will explode and Bush will be left with 19 or 20 loyalists.

The Cons will be peeling off toward the "anti-war left" a lot sooner than September if he keeps this crap up!

[underpants]

11. Hey Dick you miserable hump-YOUR DAUGHTER IS GAY!!

For crying out loud.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Can't you feel all that conservative compassion?

[damntexdem]

14. Finally, some truth from the WH: they stand up for hate!

"No need to federalize"! After all they have federalized, this is total b.s. Of course, they have feralized all they have federalized. ;-) And they want nothing that might make the country less feral.

[DrDan]

16. what has come this this administration that was not based on hate

they hate Arabs
they hate homosexuals
they hate liberals
they hate environmentalists
they hate the French
they hate Cindy Sheehan
they hate the poor
they hate those on social security, welfare, medicare, medicaid
they hate public schools

hate hate hate

they cannot get enough of it

[rodeodance]

17. The bill is H.R. 1592------On the Net:

The bill is H.R. 1592

On the Net:

Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov/

[rodeodance]

18. would extend the hate crimes category to include sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disa

Hate crimes under current federal law apply to acts of violence against individuals on the basis of race, religion, color, or national original. Federal prosecutors have jurisdiction only if the victim is engaged in a specific federally protected activity such as enrolling in school, voting or traveling between states.

The House bill would extend the hate crimes category to include sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.

[alfredo]

20. Aren't Christian groups against bullying laws because it would

protect gays?

[spanone]

21. That's faux-christian groups

:hi:

[alfredo]

34. I stand corrected. Still, they need to have a sign or lapel pin

maybe a propeller beanie that will help us tell the difference. They all claim they represent the one true god. One says he is the prince of peace, the other says he is a warrior. So confusing.

[paparush]

22. Why Does Bush Hate Hate Crime Bills?

[ddbaj]

23. I want to barf.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

We need to abolish god.

[Lasher]

25. Veto away, Junior

People are taking notes.

[Placebo]

26. All Bush has left is the damn veto.

And it looks like he's going to use it to stop a lot of good the new Democratic Congress is doing dead in its tracks.

January 2009 can't come soon enough!

[Auggie]

33. Yeah, but what ammunition it gives the Democrats next year. Does the GOP know

how much shrub is hurting them?

[DemSoccerMom]

27. Of course . . .

. . . legislation that "would increase the penalties for bias-based violence" is being undermined by Republicans. As a whole, Republicans are probably the most blatant "bias-based" haters out there. Just look at their track record:

Are you gay? Hate you.
Are you female? Hate you.
Are you a minority? Hate you.
Do you call your God Allah or some other variation thereof? Hate you.
Do you speak broken English, or worse yet, NO English? Hate you.
Do you think that YOU should have a say over your own body (if you're a woman)? Hate you.
Do you refuse to be a Republican lemming? Hate you.
Do you believe in the United States Constitution, including the part about all men being created equal? Hate you

So imagine my surprise that the bill has "met outspoken resistance from conservative groups" and that a Republican president wants to veto this legislation.

[Deep13]

28. "United States Constitution, including the part about all men being created equal?"

Geez, you're making such a good argument I hesitate to point this out. The Declaration of Independence has the part about all men being created equal, not the Constitution. Sorry.

[Deep13]

30. wrong place

[DemSoccerMom]

39. Oops . . .

Yeah, sometimes I get so worked up about things that I don't think straight. My bad. But you got the jist. :O)

[humbled_opinion]

40. The Constitution gurantees equal protection under the law. n/t

[Deep13]

31. Bush also opposes the Federal Love and Happiness Act.

:eyes: Has this asshole done anything right? I don't just mean as "president" but in his whole life? He is a bastard-covered bastard with bastard filling.

[Idioteque]

35. I oppose hate crime laws but as long as they do exist they should include GLBT. nt

[queerart]

37. Will The Log Cabins Now Stop Their Support Of This Whitehouse?

Not Even.........

[alfredo]

38. The Iraq war is a hate crime.

[hayu_lol]

41. NPR here in south central Oregon has been running 'quotes' from...

a strange assortment of cracker and redneck preechermen who are protesting that it would be govt. interference with their vitriol from the pulpit.

The holy hater gang is alive and well.

[alfredo]

42. It's their god given right to find a scapegoat to enhance their power

and fill their collection plate.

[EndElectoral]

44. So the pubs are now Pro-Hate?

[Deep13]

48. Why, is that a change for them?

:shrug:

[VegasWolf]

45. The Holy Bible says its okay to hate gays and religions hate menstrual blood and

the birth canal. Gods and demi-gods are always born of virgin birth.