Here are the 30 Republicans who voted for the amendment to the law that would add increased penalties for "hate crimes" against gays, along with a possible explanation for their vote:
Bass (NH) Bass is quite socially liberal, and his district voted for Gore and Kerry.
Biggert (IL) Biggert is, and has always been, a RINO---her district is strongly Republican, and we should work to defeat her in the 2006 primary.
Boehlert (NY) One of the most liberal RINOs in the House; his district is one of the most Republican in Upstate New York, voting for Bush in 2000 and 2004, and conservatives have come close to beating him in past primaries.
Bono (CA) Has a moderate-to-conservative record, pretty well suited to her district, but it's a shame she caved on this issue, as did so many.
Castle (DE) Pretty much a RINO, but Delaware leans a bit Democrat, and Castle is a popular former governor who would be very difficult to beat in a primary.
Dent (PA) Dent is fairly conservative, and his distrist split almost evenly between Bush and Kerry---apparently, hate crime legislation for gays is popular in Southeastern Pennsylvania, since every Congressman from the region voted for the amendment.
Diaz-Balart, Lincoln (FL) The elder Diaz-Balart usually votes conservative on social issues, but may be providing some cover for his younger brother Mario and his neighboring colleague Ros-Lehtinen.
Diaz-Balart, Mario (FL) (t has long been rumored that Mario, who has never married and who has sponsored pro-gay legislation, may be gay himself, which could explain his vote.
Fitzpatrick (PA) The conservative Fitzpatrick is a freshman incumbent in a district carried by Gore and Kerry and where presumably hate crime laws for gays are popular---we should give him some leeway, since it's doubtful that someone with a 100% conservative record could hold the seat.
Foley (FL) Foley is fairly liberal on social issues, especially when it comes to special rights for gays; he was "outed" by a gay newspaper last year and it is safe to assume that he is indeed gay, which would explain his vote.
Gerlach (PA) Another SE PA Republican from a marginal district who voted for the amendment; Gerlach has been disappointing on many votes, and it is arguable that his lack of support among conservatives is what led to his inability to get over 51% in either 2002 or 2004,
Johnson (CT) Johnson may be *the* most liberal RINO in the House, but unfortunately is well entrenched in her Republican-leaning district.
Kelly (NY) Has a fairly liberal record on social issues, so her vote is no surprise; I think a more conservative Republican would be able to hold her basically Republican district.
Kirk (IL) A RINO in a district that gave Gore and Kerry smallish margins---we could do A LOT better in that district. But perhaps gay hate crimes laws are as popular in Illinois as in SE PA, since several more conservative Republicans from IL voted for the amendment as well.
Kolbe (AZ) An openly gay RINO, his vote on the issue was never in doubt. Kolbe sits in a district that gave Bush 53% in 2004, and there's no reason why its congressman should support partial-birth abortion and gay marriage. Conservatives should support Randy Graf in the GOP primary.
LaHood (IL) LaHood has never been a reliable Republican vote, but his vote for a gay hate crimes law surprised me. Perhaps the measure is popular in Illinois (even in LaHood's Republican district), and since the weasely LaHood is running for Governor he may be concerned that RAT Governor Blagojevich would call him "divisive" had he voted against it.
Leach (IA) A popular RINO from a heavily Democrat district (tied with Simmons of CT as the GOP congressman representing the district with the lowest percentage for Bush in 2004: 43%), we can't expect any different from Leach.
LoBiondo (NJ) LoBiondo is conservative on social issues, and this vote may be due to either gay hate crime laws being popular in South Jersey (which is part of the Philly metro area, and would jibe with the votes by SE PA congressmen) or because LoBiondo might run for the Senate next year and doesn't want to alienate RINOs.
McCotter (MI) This vote really puzzles me. McCotter is fairly conservative, and the only other Michigan Republican to vote for the bill is a RINO. His district voted rather narrowly for Bush in 2004, but I don't think he would need to vote for the amendment to ensure his reelection.
Platts (PA) Platts is a conservative Republican from an overwhelmingly Republican district. Could hate crime laws for gays be that popular in the Republican heartland? Or has the region been contaminated by the "Schuylkill Punch" (Philly tap water) that is like an hour away?
Reichert (WA) He is a freshman from a district that voted for Gore and Kerry, so this vote is not surprising.
Ros-Lehtinen (FL) She usually votes conservative on social issues, but has recently voted like a liberal on gay issues, probably because her district now includes South Beach and Key West, both of which have large gay populations.
Saxton (NJ) See LoBiondo (from an adjoining district) above.
Schwarz (MI) Schwarz is a RINO who managed to win the primary in this conservative district only because something like 7 conservatives ran and split the conservative vote. Hopefully, conservatives will coalesce around a single candidate this time (maybe Tim Walberg?).
Shays (CT) A RINO who had a close 2004 race in a district that voted for Gore and Kerry, this vote is par for the course for him. A 100% conservative probably couldn't hold this seat, but we could certainly elect someone better than Shays.
Shimkus (IL) An Illinois conservative, leading credence to the theory that gay hate crime laws are popular in IL.
Simmons (CT) A RINO, but in a district so heavily Democrat that he's the best we can do there.
Walden (OR) He sits in a heavily GOP district, yet sometime casts disappointing votes. It may be time for a primary challenge to keep him honest.
Weldon (PA) Weldon has a conservative voting record despite representing a suburban Philly district that voted for Gore and Kerry---we should give him some leeway.
Weller (IL) A conservative from a marginal district in Illinois, his vote does not come as a surprise.
And here are the 5 conservative Democrats who voted against the amendment; all of them are conservative enough so that they would be welcome additions to the GOP caucus and represent districts that would reelect them even if they switched parties):
Berry (AR)
Boren (OK)
Davis (TN)
Tanner (TN)
Taylor (MS)
I don't care what their reasons are. It doesn't excuse their gutless vote on this amendment. They all need to be called on the carpet.