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Kennedy, Smith succeed in tying 'hate crimes' measure to DoD bill

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September 27, 2007 09:23 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
February 24, 2007
Jim Brown OneNewsNow.comSeptember 27, 2007 sen_ted_Kennedy_d-ma.jpg

A pro-family activist in Washington, DC, is decrying the Senate's passage earlier today of a bill that would federalize the prosecution of so-called "hate crimes."

By a 60-39 vote, the Senate passed a controversial amendment to the Defense Authorization bill sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts). The Kennedy amendment expands hate crime law to include crimes motivated by gender, "sexual orientation," or disability of victims.

Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues at Concerned Women for America (CWA), argues that Kennedy's legislation is not germane to a bill funding the Iraq war -- and that it demonstrates the senator's "disdain" for the U.S. military.

It angers Barber that the Massachusetts lawmaker "would hold our soldiers hostage" with the defense spending bill by attaching what he describes as a "totally unrelated, dangerous" hate crimes amendment. "[He's trying] to force President Bush's hand," says the CWA spokesman, "and the president has signaled that he will veto this bill because they are trying to attach this very dangerous amendment."

Calling it "a sad day in the Senate," Barber explains the legislation creates a two-tiered justice system that elevates one class of citizens based on their chosen sexual behavior. "That is, on its face, a violation of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the laws," he notes.

Secondly, he believes, the amendment puts America on the "slippery slope." "Similar laws have been applied ... around the world as a hammer really against the First Amendment, against free speech," Barber says, "and this sets the table and creates a situation where Americans' [right to] free speech and freedom of religious expression is in harm's way."

Senators Kennedy and Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) argued the amendment would help "fight terrorism at home." Opponents such as Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) argued the measure was "constitutionally dubious" at best. A similar "hate crimes" measure passed the House in May.

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September 27, 2007 09:32 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
June 16, 2007

Have to side with "the decider" on vetoing this one.



CITIZEN OF TEXAS....."GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!"- Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
September 27, 2007 09:45 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
May 22, 2007

Didn't Hate Crimes legislation fail in the House earlier?  Now the Senate has attached it to DOD appropriations.  That means it will have to come back to the House again, doesn't it.

 

 



GET CONGRESS ATTENTION! CHANGE YOUR W-4 AT WORK AND CLAIM 10 DEPENDENTS SO NO TAXES WILL BE TAKEN FROM YOUR PAYCHECK. WHEN THE MONEY STOPS COMING IN MAYBE THEY WILL REMEMBER THEY ARE SERVANTS TO WE THE PEOPLE.
September 27, 2007 09:52 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
February 16, 2007
This is complicated.  Will it go back to the House, and then on to signing? All of this attaching and changing around is so confusing.  Kennedy is up to the same old thing--attaching his name to everything.
September 27, 2007 09:56 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
May 22, 2007

I believe the House will just have to vote whether to accept the Senate amendment.  If they do, it will go to the President.  If they don't accept the Senate Amendment, I am not sure if the Senate will have to vote again on the bill without the amendment.

Doesn't this have to be a done deal by September 30?

 

 



GET CONGRESS ATTENTION! CHANGE YOUR W-4 AT WORK AND CLAIM 10 DEPENDENTS SO NO TAXES WILL BE TAKEN FROM YOUR PAYCHECK. WHEN THE MONEY STOPS COMING IN MAYBE THEY WILL REMEMBER THEY ARE SERVANTS TO WE THE PEOPLE.
September 27, 2007 10:01 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
May 22, 2007
Comment updated September 27, 2007 10:03 PM

I rather think it is just a game to let the special interests know they are trying to do something special for them.

IMO it is all unconstitutional.  ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

Remember when that handicapped golfer wanted (and got) an exception to use a golf cart on the PGA tour when PGA rules say players have to walk?

He did not have to give up his handicapped parking priviledges though.

 

 

 



GET CONGRESS ATTENTION! CHANGE YOUR W-4 AT WORK AND CLAIM 10 DEPENDENTS SO NO TAXES WILL BE TAKEN FROM YOUR PAYCHECK. WHEN THE MONEY STOPS COMING IN MAYBE THEY WILL REMEMBER THEY ARE SERVANTS TO WE THE PEOPLE.
September 27, 2007 10:10 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
June 16, 2007

Here's more on it from WorldNet Daily:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57872



CITIZEN OF TEXAS....."GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!"- Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
September 27, 2007 10:18 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
June 16, 2007
Comment updated September 27, 2007 10:34 PM

Unless you're by the TV all day, its hard to catch when they will try to sneak these inappropriate amendments into what should be stand alone bills.  I contacted Sens. Cornyn and Hutchison about opposing this and I see Cornyn did, but I have yet to check on Hutchison.

Ok Hutchison opposed it as well, it was actually a cloture motion with that 60-39 vote.  The amendment was agreed to on a voice vote.



CITIZEN OF TEXAS....."GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!"- Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
September 27, 2007 10:21 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
August 22, 2007

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