The American Spectator

S.L. Toddard| 10.23.09 @ 12:27PM

"Here's the catch: the Democratic leadership attached the measure to a $680 billion defense appropriation bill, which includes additional funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. So, essentially, Reid and his cohorts dared conservative lawmakers to vote against the defense funding by including the hate-crimes bunk."

If they were "conservatives" they would have taken them up on that dare, and shot down the liberal boondoggles in Iraq and Afghanistan along with the liberal thought-crime legislation.

But they aren't.

Toddard is an Idiot| 10.23.09 @ 1:16PM

SLT doesn't even need to read something he just makes variations on his moronic theme.

Eric Cartman| 10.23.09 @ 12:37PM

I hate Liberals - is that a hate crime?

ncatty| 10.23.09 @ 1:45PM

I was trying to compose a witty response but the whole subject of "hate" crimes is too depressing. You are probably safe for the time being.

Eric Cartman| 10.23.09 @ 3:35PM

Thanks. I thought it was too long.

Dollface| 10.23.09 @ 8:00PM

It is now.

Eric Cartman| 10.24.09 @ 10:48AM

What is?

David Hart| 10.23.09 @ 1:57PM

What you want MORE dishonest debate from Louie Gommert and Virginia Foxx? You want the Christian Conservatives who have hijacked the GOP to have even more opportunities to bash gay people, argue that gays are pedophiles and falsely claim that this bill compromises religious freedom.

The matter was fully debated. Homophobia was in full bloom by the usual suspects. Goldwater is turning over in his grave.

The first thing you should do is to determine if the
GOP is the party of limited government or the dominion of Christian fundamentalism. Hey, you could call it "The Party of God." Oh, wait, that's what Hezbollah means.

SoCon| 10.23.09 @ 2:50PM

It's just a matter of time before our clergy are frog marched off to jail for their Sunday sermons.

Of course, anal sex trumps "RELIGIOUS FREEDOM," right, David? You're just a loud and proud member of the American Homosexual Taliban.

David Hart| 10.23.09 @ 3:00PM

Utter nonsense. Have you had sufficient curiosity to actually read the bill? When did the First Amendment get nullified? Hate crimes laws have existed for decades. This just adds sexual orientation/identity. Where are the hate crime prosecutions against, say, Christian Identity preachers?

"Homosexual Taliban?" The Taliban, like some Christian conservatives, embraces the idea that gays should be executed.

Tim| 10.23.09 @ 4:01PM

Which Christian Conservatives embrace execution for gays??

RainDrops| 10.23.09 @ 4:02PM

David H wrote, ""Homosexual Taliban?"

Yes, Mr. Hart, there is a "homosexual taliban," and it consists of those who want to silence people who do nothing more than disagree with homoexuality.

Some of these "homosexual talbian" types are in the main stream media, and they work in Hollywood, injecting a pro homosexual agenda into their televised sit coms, movies, etc.

Please note that I count among the "homosexal taliban" straight people who are very liberal who aid in the homosexual quest to try and main stream homosexuality.

David H wrote, "The Taliban, like some Christian conservatives, embraces the idea that gays should be executed"

Please cite news stories and links to prove that incredible accusation.

Even the quack who uses religious-sounding language and who acts in a way contrary to the teachings of Christianity's founder, Westboro's own Fred Phelps, doesn't go that far.

Phelps merely states that God supposedly 'hates fags' and will send them to Hell. I don't recall even that Phelps charlatan saying he wants homosexuals to be "executed."

Being dishonest about your opponents, as you were doing here, and in a most reprehensible manner, is not going to help you convince people your beliefs are right or true.

I already question your intellectual honesty - I mean really, claiming that thousands and thousands upon Christians want to "execute" Christians is disgusting and far fetched.

RainDrops| 10.23.09 @ 4:04PM

Correction,my previous post should have read,
"that thousands and thousands upon Christians want to "execute" homosexuals is disgusting."
I wish this blog had an edit button.

SoCon| 10.23.09 @ 5:28PM

Mr. Hart, Liberal "Hate Crimes" legislation seeks to squelch free speech: Leftists such as you are members of the Thought Police Taliban.

The only hatred I see on this thread is yours. Have you looked in the mirror lately?

Johnno| 10.23.09 @ 10:37PM

This crappy legislation is a threefer for the liberal-bully morons; it helps them attain more power, money and control--the three things liberals love most.

victor| 10.23.09 @ 11:17PM

Dear Daid, you would do better to run into one of US Christians as we would tell you where you would go if you die unrepentant in your sin:
1 Cor 6:9:
"have ye not known that the unrighteous the reign of God shall not inherit? be not led astray; neither whoremongers, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites."
We would tell you that God would mete out your punishment.
Muslims on the other hand would kill you to hurry you along to your Maker.
Under this law you could file a complaint and have us arrested and sent to jail.
Ironic, isn't it?
You flout God's law and go free, at least on this earth.
We go to jail, but for telling you truth, we would be the ones going to be with Jesus.
It's your choice.

Dean| 10.23.09 @ 1:58PM

The whole idea of a hate crime is stupid. By their very nature all crimes, particularly violent ones, have an element of hate in them. I mean, c'mon, is there such thing as an "I Like You" crime?

Warrior| 10.23.09 @ 5:35PM

Yes, just ask NAMBLA.

Conservative Bob| 10.23.09 @ 2:54PM

Hate Crimes legislation is a violation of the equal protection guaranteed in the constitution. It establishes members of defined groups as more protected.
Criminal A kills victim B it is vicious and premeditated… guilty verdict yields life without parole or death depending on the jurisdiction.
Victim B is gay and criminal A left a convenient note saying she was going to kill B because of his being gay do you execute A twice?
What if in addition to being gay B is a member of another listed protected group do you execute a third time?
Criminal C kills viciously kills victim D all the while denigrating the victims Northern European ancestry, maybe even going so far as to carve ‘Viking Pig’ in the chest of the victim. Is the victim less protected than in the prior case even though the killers in their vicious rage attacked the group to which the victim belonged because D’s group wasn’t yet listed?

victor| 10.23.09 @ 10:54PM

So, we have four murder victims lying on the ground oozing blood and are now deceased.
Question for Mr. David Hart,
which of these four is more dead than the others?
Neither, they are all DEAD and no punishment is going to bring them back.
What Mr david Hart is saying is that his life as a Homo sexual is worth more than yours Bob as a heterosexual.
Face it, they have just put price tags on human lives and yours has been marked down, way down.

Nick| 10.23.09 @ 5:26PM

"As we learned in the civil rights era, sometimes communities need assistance and resources from the federal government when they have to confront the most emotional and dangerous kinds of crimes."
Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet.

Thanks, Senator, that sums up the situation for me too.

Matthew Shepard, the deadly evil conducted on you has brought the fruits of good humanity. Rest in true peace now.

SoCon| 10.23.09 @ 5:39PM

Yes, a terrible crime was perpetrated against Matthew Shepard and his assailants have been punished. Would this dangerous piece of legislation punish them even more?

Only a fool or a deceitful fellow would answer yes.

Hate Crimes legislation is about control, and it's a tool of the Left to gain more power. You have to be stopped.

victor| 10.23.09 @ 10:57PM

Would you tell that to Jesse Dirkhisings parents as well.
His murderers were homocidal homosexuals so I doubt that you would feel the same way towards a 13 year old murder victim.
Since Matthew Shepherd was most likely an unrepentant homosexual, he is most likely burning in Hell.
Care to join him?

BillF| 10.23.09 @ 7:41PM

Just another congressional move to line the pockets of their loyal lawyers, just like their refusal to take on tort reform as a means to reduce healthcare costs. The more laws they create the more trials they can take on, and the more difficult the charge is to prove, the more hours they can bill.

Liberal Reader| 10.24.09 @ 7:19PM

Hate crimes laws like this one are not "bones" being throne to this or that minority.

When a crime is committed against the individual that is expressly motivated by that individual's race, ethnicity, gender, etc., then punishing the person for the act alone does NOT account for the full scope of the crime.

Consider vandalism of a synagogue in which perpetrators spray paint swastikas on doors and windows.

Are you trying to tell me that this crime is the SAME as vandalism that simply included a vandal spray painting -- say -- his girlfriend's name on the door of a synagogue?

The MESSAGE of the crime -- "Be afraid Jews; we are outlaws and we mean you ill" -- IS a crime. It constitutes a threat and a disturbance of the peace. It deserves punishment.

Furthermore, the state has a legitimate INTEREST in maintaining order between majority and minority populations. There can be no democratic process without order and a reasonable expectation of security.

I'm surprised that conservatives have so thoroughly abandoned their "law and order" roots for this sort of weird libertarian and very adolescent pose on this issue.

SoCon| 10.25.09 @ 6:10AM

LibReader/Jeremiah: Just another liberal storm-trooper in the Democrat's Nazi Thought Police Force.

Sieg Heil, Mao! Right, Jeremiah?

Ran| 10.25.09 @ 2:53PM

"Consider vandalism of a synagogue in which perpetrators spray paint swastikas on doors and windows.

Are you trying to tell me that this crime is the SAME as vandalism that simply included a vandal spray painting -- say -- his girlfriend's name on the door of a synagogue? "

Yes. Exactly. Damn, but you're quick to catch on!

JimE| 10.25.09 @ 11:58PM

Lib reader retard, Another example of you bright shinning ignorance. Like you, this law is a scam, designed only to assist liberals in persuit of of unending victimhood.