[GSWarrior]

A crime is a crime.

The only allowance I'd make for any kind of hate crime legislation is under a circumstance where a judge would rule something to the effect of "since the victim was (fill in your favorite victim group) I can understand why the perpetrator attacked him. He gets a light sentence."

And that rarely happens, doesn't it?

[Glutton]

This issue is a walk on the razor's edge for this young Republican senator. Smith has to broaden his appeal to Oregon's Democratic mainstream, and this is likely why he positions himself here.

It's not a stance I would expect from him otherwise.