HATE CRIME BILL ATTACHED TO DEFENSE SPENDING GETS GOP AMENDMENT
GOP PROVISION PROTECTS KILLERS OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES FROM DEATH PENALTY
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
In one of the most bizarre political tradeoffs in recent history, the current Defense Spending Authorization Act, has undergone a number of transformations. The one getting the most press is the move by Democrats to attach a hate crimes provision meant to protect women and minorities (including gays) from attacks based on their gender, race or sexual orientation.
The provision, allows the Federal government to prosecute hate crimes, such as the brutal murder of Matthew Shepherd, who was dragged behind a pickup truck for miles in Laramie, Wyoming. Michigan Congressman Peter Hoekstra contends that federal prosecutions in hate crimes against women and minorities threatens religious freedom, especially in areas where hatred of homosexuals and control of women is considered a sacrament, such as Utah.
Initial attempts to stop the bill included provisions to include unborn children, down to single cell, and the F-22 Raptor as endangered minorities. At GOP bidding, Democrats agreed to remove provisions applying the death penalty to such prosecutions, no matter how many women or minorities are killed nor under what circumstances, no matter how heinous or disgusting.
For the past 10 years, a comprehensive hate crimes bill has languished. The need for such legislation is based on the assumption that some regions of the country are less than vigilant in defending the Constitutional right to "life" for any group other than white males with little education and few teeth and unborn children, all others "need not apply."
The old tradition in Texas for driving into Houston and cruising Westheimer to shoot "queers" and "Mesickans" may be coming to an end. The old "gang rape" behind the bleachers on football friday’s, often overlooked as part of America’s rural tradition, might now mean a bit of jail time instead of just a little snickering and finger pointing at lunch.
The two biggest irritants to the GOP are the shutting down of the F-22 Raptor, a top issue with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, supporter of the much less expensive and far more advanced F 35 Joint Strike Fighter. The other one, I forget. Actually, I don’t think there was another reason.
The F-35 has an export version, offsetting the cost of development and production, something unavailable with the faster but much less capable F-22.
What any of this has to do with gang rapes, "queer" bashing, lynching or why any normal human being would want to protect anyone who engages in this kind of activity is beyond my understanding.
One of the unique provisions of the negotiations sending this bill through committee was the total turnabout of the GOP on the issue of capital punishment. It seems that ending capital punishment, when there was a certainty that those being executed, though potentially brutal mass murderers, might be white, male and Republican voters, was something worth defending.
Seeing a political party shamelessly pander based on race or sexual orientation is nothing new. The Democrats did it for decades. The clear provision of separate laws for blacks and whites, men and women is nothing new either.
That, in 2009, we have a political party seeking special dispensation from taking responsibility for individuals charged with crimes against humanity, based on their record of voting Republican, is beyond insane. Who, in the name of heaven, would want to keep the people of the United States from punishing brutal murderers just because they killed women or minorities?
Why is this a political issue? Who could have sunk this low? Can someone please drop this on Peter Hoekstra’s desk, written by a constituent, a veteran.
The idea that white male murders need special protection from hate crime legislation is, in fact, one of the most liberal things I have seen in decades.
Senior Editor Gordon Duff is a Marine combat veteran and regular contributor on political and social issues.
Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.
Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.
Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.
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