I was just forwarded the following e-mail alert that makes me madder than hell. The Senate has once again defied logic by attaching an unrelated amendment to an appropriations bill. Amendment 2067 includes the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. The vote on this amendment was not even a recorded vote! It was passed by unanimous consent! Therefore, there is no way to hold any one accountable for this stupidity!
The e-mail alert printed below gives the details.
Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is at it again. He's taken the Hate Crimes bill – which will create a two-tier justice system by valuing some victims more than others – and attached it to the Defense Authorization Bill as an amendment.
Kennedy's move is clever. By attaching Hate Crimes to the Defense spending bill, he unconscionably forces the Senate and the President to choose between the safety of our troops and standing up for the principle that the hate crimes bill is un-American and unconstitutional.
This legislation is unconscionable, unnecessary and specifically creates inequality under the law. Right now, crimes are punished regardless of who the victim is; if this bill passes, some victims will be valued higher based on their sexual behavior. Those victims not included in these special protections will become second-class victims!
Even more disturbing is the potential for freedom of speech to become a victim of this legislation as well. By tying in with federal "aiding and abetting" statutes, it's possible that any speech that incites violence against a member of a protected class will be prosecuted just like the actual crime. That means it's possible a pastor who preaches about the biblical view of homosexuality could be arrested for inciting a hate crime because of his sermon. (End of alert)
I am, also, highly agitated because when I tried to research this vote congress.org, the Thomas Library of Congress web site, and C-Span Vote Search had very limited information. None, that is zero, of these sites had any mention of the vote.
Whether you agree with the legislation or not is certainly not the issue . THE ISSUE IS THE PROCESS! SENATE RULES SHOULD NOT ALLOW AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED THAT ARE NOT GERMANE TO THE ORIGINAL BILL! Fairness dictates that the Hate Crimes Bill should be debated and voted upon as a stand alone bill. Once again Sen. Kennedy and his cronies in the Senate have hoodwinked the American people. I call on Senator Kennedy to be bound by openness, honesty, and fairness when proposing legislation that tampers with the rights of the American people.
I, also. call upon the United States Senate to act in such a manner that is characterized by common sense, transparency and repect for all United States citizens. No one can dispute that Congress has clearly earned its low ratings. STOP THE NONSENSE! SHAME ON US IF WE ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE!