Senate Passes Federal Hate Crime Bill, End of Free Speech?

Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:36 am » by **jetxvii**

I know this sounds nice, they are passing it off as against gays. if you read into it a bit its also a handful of other related topics including race. could this be a scale tipper against free speech?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 04689.html

Senate passes measure that would protect gays
Obama is expected to sign legislation on hate crimes

The Senate cleared a historic hate crimes bill Thursday for President Obama's signature, approving new federal penalties for attacks on gay men and lesbians.

The legislation, which was attached to the conference report for the bill outlining the Pentagon's budget, marks the culmination of a years-long fight by civil rights groups to codify the expanded protections.

The measure would extend the current definition of federal hate crimes -- which covers attacks motivated by race, color, religion or national origin -- to include those based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It also would make it a federal crime to attack U.S. military personnel because of their service.

The measure was approved, 68 to 29, with a majority of Republicans voting against it. The House passed the same bill Oct. 8, also with most Republicans opposed.

Gay rights groups praised the Senate's action.

"We look forward to President Obama signing it into law: our nation's first major piece of civil rights legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. "Too many in our community have been devastated by hate violence. We now can begin the important steps to erasing hate in our country."

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), who helped ensure that the hate crimes measure was added to the defense bill, said: "I am proud that Congress has come together to show that violence against members of any group because of who they are will not be tolerated in this country."

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is named for Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student who was murdered in 1998, and Byrd, a black man who was dragged to death behind a pickup truck in Texas in 1998. Shepard's family founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which helped lobby for the measure. Offered repeatedly by the late senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), the bill had stalled previously in the Senate, and President George W. Bush vowed to veto it if it reached his desk.

But Obama said he plans to sign the measure, a key moment for a president who has been subject to criticism from some gay and lesbian activists who say he has not pushed hard enough for their agenda. Obama has vowed to do so, and said he will repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Social conservatives said the hate crimes bill would violate the First Amendment, and would be a step toward a larger gay rights agenda they oppose.

"Expanding hate crimes puts America in lock step with the stated agenda of homosexual activists who will turn next to the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act, followed by the repeal of the ban on homosexuality in the military and then the Defense of Marriage Act," the Family Research Council warned on its Web site.

Religious groups have also complained that the measure could criminalize the act of criticizing or preaching against homosexuality, but the bill's backers and the administration contend that is a misinterpretation of the legislation.

Separately, congressional Republicans objected to the process used to move the bill, saying that Democrats attached the hate crimes language to the defense authorization measure as a ploy to dare them to vote against it.

"It's a shame that this piece of legislation was added to a bill that's supposed to be about supporting our troops," said Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.).

The Defense measure outlines a $680 billion budget for the Pentagon in fiscal 2010, including $130 billion for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:40 am » by **Domdabears**

I honestly use the word "fag" as meaning someone is stupid to me.
Stupid meaning, your an idiot.
I dont use it to "hate" against gay people.
I do hang out with gay people sometimes.
Kind of a contradiction but, It's kind of slang now a days.
I also like to use the word cunt.

Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:46 am » by **jetxvii**

domdabears wrote:I honestly use the word "fag" as meaning someone is stupid to me.
Stupid meaning, your an idiot.
I dont use it to "hate" against gay people.
I do hang out with gay people sometimes.
Kind of a contradiction but, It's kind of slang now a days.
I also like to use the word cunt.

so can I be black and white about this and say you think this is a violation against free speech?

IM ROOTING FOR YOU MAN DON'T LET ME DOWN!!!

Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:52 am » by **Domdabears**

jetxvii wrote:
domdabears wrote:I honestly use the word "fag" as meaning someone is stupid to me.
Stupid meaning, your an idiot.
I dont use it to "hate" against gay people.
I do hang out with gay people sometimes.
Kind of a contradiction but, It's kind of slang now a days.
I also like to use the word cunt.

so can I be black and white about this and say you think this is a violation against free speech?

IM ROOTING FOR YOU MAN DON'T LET ME DOWN!!!

Oh man...
I feel everyone has the right to say what they want.
Words are fuckin words and no more.
It's a sound that comes out of my body.
It never made sense to me.
Just like the middle finger.
What makes the middle finger so bad!!???
Who had the right to say, sticking your middle finger in the air is a bad thing!
I just dont get it.
Actions are obviously one thing, but words and body gestures are nothing but made up bullshit.
Say what you please, but dont be surprised when the other person wants to defend themselves too.

Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:03 am » by **jetxvii**

domdabears wrote:
jetxvii wrote:
domdabears wrote:I honestly use the word "fag" as meaning someone is stupid to me.
Stupid meaning, your an idiot.
I dont use it to "hate" against gay people.
I do hang out with gay people sometimes.
Kind of a contradiction but, It's kind of slang now a days.
I also like to use the word cunt.

so can I be black and white about this and say you think this is a violation against free speech?

IM ROOTING FOR YOU MAN DON'T LET ME DOWN!!!

Oh man...
I feel everyone has the right to say what they want.
Words are fuckin words and no more.
It's a sound that comes out of my body.
It never made sense to me.
Just like the middle finger.
What makes the middle finger so bad!!???
Who had the right to say, sticking your middle finger in the air is a bad thing!
I just dont get it.
Actions are obviously one thing, but words and body gestures are nothing but made up bullshit.
Say what you please, but dont be surprised when the other person wants to defend themselves too.

Alright then I give a double clapper to that one.

:clapper:

completely agree.

Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:14 am » by **Domdabears**

I know you gotta live in one of these cities:
Elgin
South Elgin
Schaumberg
Hoffman Estates
Rolling Meadows
Streamwood
Bartlett
Hanover Park
Carol Stream
Carpentersville
East, West Dundee
Algonquin
Addison
West Chicago
St. Charles
Geneva
Batavia
Naperville
and I think that covers the NW Chicago area
Gotta love the burbs
Oh... maybe woodstock
Hampshire
Crystal Lake
Cary
Barrington
South Barrington (lucky)
Aurora

Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:18 am » by **jetxvii**

domdabears wrote:I know you gotta live in one of these cities:
Elgin
South Elgin
Schaumberg
Hoffman Estates
Rolling Meadows
Streamwood
Bartlett
Hanover Park
Carol Stream
Carpentersville
East, West Dundee
Algonquin
Addison
West Chicago
St. Charles
Geneva
Batavia
Naperville
and I think that covers the NW Chicago area
Gotta love the burbs
Oh... maybe woodstock
Hampshire
Crystal Lake
Cary
Barrington
South Barrington (lucky)

not even listed... but you were very close with this one.

Crystal Lake

Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:21 am » by **Domdabears**

Ah. your up by the chain of lakes.
Lake zurick
Waucanda
Lake in the hills
McHenrry (loneqqwolf is from)
Grayslake

Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:22 am » by **Domdabears**

Then your North Chicago area.
I'd be north west.

Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:25 am » by **jetxvii**

domdabears wrote:Ah. your up by the chain of lakes.
Lake zurick
Waucanda
Lake in the hills
McHenrry (loneqqwolf is from)
Grayslake

yeah I was originally from Minnesota... for 15 years , Originally born in California. lost my job in Minnesota (construction) ( start of economic collapse), moved to Milwaukee for a year and a half.... lost my job again ( THE CRASH)... met a girl and now live in Mchenry. all I know is it is by Chicago which fucking rocks. thats cool that another member is from the same town... maybe I have seen him before that is crazy.