Hate Crimes Amendment will Face More Hurdles after Passing Senate in Late-Night Vote

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Hate Crimes Amendment will Face More Hurdles after Passing Senate in Late-Night Vote

Contact: Liberty Counsel Public Relations Department, 800-671-1776

WASHINGTON, July 17 /Standard Newswire/ -- Senator Harry Reid's bullying tactics paved the way for the Senate to pass the so-called Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill. The cloture vote taken late last night was 63-28, with every Democrat voting for the amendment, except Senators Byrd (WV) and Kennedy (MA), who were not present. Approval of the cloture motion meant that the hate crimes amendment was adopted.

The hate crimes amendment will not become law unless the $680 billion Defense Authorization bill passes and the amendment is reconciled with the version of the hate crimes bill passed by the House. The Senate Defense Authorization bill includes funding for F-22 jets. President Obama has threatened to veto the Defense bill if it funds the F-22.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) filed an amendment to the hate crimes amendment to strengthen the protections for free speech and religious exercise. The Brownback amendment, which passed by a vote of 78-13, states that the hate crimes law shall not be "applied ... in a manner that infringes" First Amendment rights or that "substantially burdens any exercise of religion ... speech, expression, [or] association, if such exercise of religion, speech, expression, or association was not intended to ... plan or prepare for an act of physical violence; or ... incite an imminent act of physical violence against another."

Language designed to protect speech and religion notwithstanding, the hate crimes amendment discriminates against some classes of crime victims and gives special rights based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," including sexual fetishes and philias. The name of the bill itself is telling. Matthew Shepard is touted by homosexual advocates as a hate crime victim, but the evidence now shows he was not targeted because he was homosexual, but was killed because of a drug deal. If ultimately it survives the Senate and the House and is signed by the President, homosexual advocates will use the hate crimes amendment to push for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to existing employment nondiscrimination laws.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: "In six months President Obama and the Democratic-led Congress have forced on the American people the most radical and immoral agenda of any prior administration. The administration and the Democratic-led Congress are out of touch with the mainstream. They represent the most fringe extreme elements of America. They will not be able to continue their efforts to undermine moral values, socialize the economy, and trash American pride and heritage. The people will not remain silent forever."