It’s a win for the LGBT community that I fully support.
The Senate approved legislation Thursday to expand hate crimes to include attacks based on a person's gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, sending the bill to President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law.
The Senate's 68-29 vote in favor of a $680 billion defense spending bill, which includes the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, came after the House approved the bill earlier this month.
"The answer to hate and bigotry has to be ultimately found in increased respect and tolerance for all our citizens," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "In the meantime, strengthening our hate crimes legislation to give law enforcement the tools they need is a necessary step."
Republicans contend that an expansion of the hate crimes definition should not be included in a defense spending bill. The bill allocates $130 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq for the fiscal year 2010, which began Oct. 1.
"Democrats have done a great disservice to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces today by using them as leverage to pass radical social policy," said House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio after the House passed the bill…
Inserted from <San Francisco Chronicle>
I will admit that I complained loudly when the GOP regime attached unrelated amendments to ‘must pass’ bills, so I’m not going to say that it’s OK now. But Boner’s hypocrisy amazes me, considering that the GOP regime was notorious for the same tactic. That said, I could not be more pleased for my LGBT friends that it passed and that they will finally get the legal protection that they and all Americans deserve.
But there is another side to this story. Thirty four Republican Senators are so filled with hatred and intolerance for LGBT people that they filibustered defense spending and voted to deprive our troops of what they need rather than extend basic human rights to worthy citizens.
Here are the names of these GOP bigots:
Lamar Alexander, John Barrasso, Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Bob Corker, John Cornyn, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Mike Johanns, Jon Kyl, George Lemieux, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, James Risch, Pat Roberts, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, John Thune, David Vitter, Roger Wicker
What’s next? Sheets and hoods?
9 comments:
When did having your brain sucked out become a prerequisite for being a conservative?
Can't go along with you on this one, TomCat.
All crimes are hate crimes. Think of the hate crime of bombing tribal Pashtuns whom they label as Al Quaeda.
I don't think gayness should be equated with aristocracy, special status.
The truth is always couched in humour, something you won't be able to use after the the hate crime bill is passed.
Once it is passed, I can't relate the the story of trhe mendacious, newly knighted gay who sneers, "Why, my ancestors were already homosexual while yours were still in the trees."
The Senate should expand that bill even further to include banning the Republican Party, hate-ridden, intolerant, and obstructive body that it has become. If only it were that easy! Love that new anti-GOP slogan/logo!!!
Mark, I think it happened when the party was taken over by the Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld set and the American Taliban.
Ivan, I appreciate your point of view. Here in the US, it's necessary, because local authorities, especially in red states, often choose to ignore violent crimes against minorities, including the LGBT community. This legislation gives the federal government authority to prosecute such cases.
Jack, that's rich. The logo is one I've used for years. Feel free to grab it. Congrats on being visitor #9,000.
This country needs some de-Nazification, like West Germany got after WWII.
Votes like these make it easy to identify the "leaders" in need of some de-Nazifying.
So, being the Defense budget and all, where was the dissolution of Don't Ask-Don't Tell? Obama could get rid of this loathesome thing with an executive order, yet he chooses to wait for Congress. This would have been the perfect opportunity to do just that.
Or is that in the Hate Crimes act? It would be cool if it is.
I am interested in reading the reasoning behind any vote against the measure, much like the Franken bill...
These republican jokers use any excuse they can to pander to their base of bigots, homophobes and idiots. Just as they tried to spin Frankens anti gang rape bill into an attack on freedom and business, these clowns will also try and tell it's just good Americans excersizing their free speech rights when attacking those of a different orientation.
Mr. Jodell is correct that we should ban the republican party. It has been hijacked by the race baiting neocons and is only a force for greed and that which would further erode the economic vitality of Working Americans.
JR, we have an excellent tool for de-Nazification. It's called an election. :-)
Marva, he can refuse to enforce DADT, but if he does, that gives Congress an excuse to duck the issue. The only way to end it, once and for all, is for Congress to change the law Congress passed.
Oso, I agree in principal, but the defense budget covers far more than war funding.
Kevin, when asked why they voted against it, they refused to answer.
Welcome Truth. As attractive as that idea is, I could not support it. Allowing any party to be banned is an invitation for an opponent to ban your party. They're putting themselves out of business without our help.
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