[Feiny]

"That's one interpretation. But another interpretation is that gays and transgendered freaks have traditionally gotten the shit kicked out of them by white heterosexual males -- and therefore have cause for needing more protection."

What a load of crap. If there is an assault, then punish it as such. No extra punishment because the victim is gay. That is just stupid. Pretty soon it will be a hate crime to call someone a liberal.

[Bush2000]

What a load of crap. If there is an assault, then punish it as such.

It is punished as such. The difference is that there's an added penalty for people who specifically target others based on hatred.

No extra punishment because the victim is gay.

That's not the way the law works. Prosecutors have to show cause that a defendant was motivated by hatred. Merely asserting that a defendant hates someone isn't enough. There has to be tangible evidence.

That is just stupid. Pretty soon it will be a hate crime to call someone a liberal.

Remind me of the last time you were hauled into court for exercising your First Amendment rights. I'd really like to know. You're on weak ground.