Posted on 02/05/2007 1:48:42 PM PST by tfelice
Newest 'Hate Crime' Bill Violates Constitution: Attempts End-Run Around Free Speech
Lancaster, PA: The Constitution Party, the country's third largest political party in terms of voter registration, warns Americans that the latest federal 'hate-crime' bill introduced in the House of Representatives is a dangerous threat to Constitutionally protected rights.
H.R. 254, introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, is another version of proposed legislation passed by the House in 2005 and the Senate in 2004. Only strong public outcry and a Republican controlled Congress kept this type of legislation from becoming law. Now that Democrats are in charge there's a tough fight ahead to keep this dangerous bill from passing. H.R. 254 would make certain types of speech a federal offense. So-called 'hate crimes' legislation is dangerous for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the blatant unconstitutionality of such laws. 'Hate crime' laws would allow federal "thought police" to interfere in the law enforcement authority of states and localities - something our founders were clear was NOT to be allowed.
H.R. 254 would require every state to pass and enforce 'anti-hate' laws. It would outlaw stating a "bias" against certain 'federally protected' groups such as homosexuals.
Constitution Party National Chairman Jim Clymer warned "So-called 'hate crime' laws could mean the Bible would be considered 'hate literature' and preaching from it would be 'hate speech' because of references to religious teachings on homosexuality or other behaviors. The Orwellian implications of these types of laws mean Bible-believing Christians could become criminals simply because they spoke out about their beliefs."
Citing a 2004 case in Philadelphia, where 11 Christians were charged under a 'hate-crimes' statute for peacefully protesting at a gay rights rally, Mr. Clymer, a practicing attorney, said "Law-abiding Americans became criminals because they exercised a right our forebears fought and died for".
"By introducing the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) federal 'hate crime' bill into Congress for the second time, Rep. Jackson-Lee shows she's bound and determined to stifle your First Amendment Rights no matter how many times she has to make a run at it", noted Constitution Party Communication Director Mary Starrett who added: "The Constitution Party condemns H.R. 254 as an affront to our liberty. Today, ADL-inspired 'thought crime' laws are stripping nations of free speech.
"In Canada and many European countries, it is a crime to use the internet to criticize 'federally protected' groups, such as homosexuals and Muslims. In England, two men who called Islam 'wicked' were indicted under Britain's 'hate crime' law and now face seven years in prison. Those horrors do not belong in America!"
Referring to the group behind this bill, Clymer noted: "Congresswoman Jackson-Lee's H.R. 254 is being pushed by the same group, ADL, responsible for the British law that says truth cannot be used as a defense in court. only the complaints by members of specially protected groups who say their feelings have been hurt are being allowed. The reality of what these types of laws are doing and have done to people across the world should be a chilling reminder to Americans to oppose these laws while we still can" warned Clymer.
"the British law that says truth cannot be used as a defense in court."
The effective repeal of this thousand year old common law principle was the beginning of the end for British justice.
Is this THE CLYMER???
By that I am referring to the one that our fine President called an A-hole.
If you want to make people angry, lie to them.
If you want to make them absolutely livid, then tell 'em the truth.
No, that's Adam Clymer. This is Jim Clymer.
Thanks for the clarification KIH, greatly appreciated.
...whose district includes NASA.
I hate "hate crime" legislation. Is that a crime?
That was the Vice President warning the President that Adam Clymer is a Clymer.
We already have McCain Feingold and we sit on our butts and let it exist. One or two more of these and there will be another Boston Tea Party and I hope it won't be anything more than tea floating in the harbor.
A few years ago, many Canadians, including legislators, were clamoring to have the Pope arrested if, during his visit to Canada, he criticized gays and other perverts...
No further commentis necessary.
That was Adam Clymer of the NYTimes
No, this is the principled JIM Clymer that got something like 5% of the vote in the past Senate race vs. Specter and some Demoncrat. He got my vote - I will not vote for a pro-abortion candidate no matter the letter behind his name.
Sheila Jackson Lee writing a hate law, Bwahaaha, there isnt anyone in Congress more filled with hate than this bigot. Perhaps there used to be when Cynbthia McKinney was there, but now she is probabaly the Queen of hate.
Hate laws only count against whites as proven in California this week when 4 blacks, part of a gang of 30 blacks, were convicted of brutally beating a 2 white girls and got probation.
But this has not silenced all Christians in Canada and some have refused to pay the fines.
Homosexuals have brought the charges to the HRC's and have recieved the fines as payments for their lose of rights. ie the damages done to them personally by these hate crimes.
Be not deceived. The Democrat Party of the United States is the modern incarnation of the National Democratic Socialist Workers Party. This party, now thankfully defunct, is better known to history as the Nazis. Be afraid, be very afraid.
And, OBTW, did you vote on Nov 6th? And for whom did you vote? What did you do to persuade your clueless neighbors, friends, and associates that their way of life was being threatened?
Hate laws only count against whites as proven in California this week when 4 blacks, part of a gang of 30 blacks, were convicted of brutally beating a 2 white girls and got probation.
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I am surprised they weren't sent on a golfing tour to find the "real" perpetrators.
dangerous threat to Constitutionally protected rights.
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Is there any such thing as a Constitutinally protected right in this country any longer? Don't answer, it is obviously a rhetorical question, anyone who still believes the answer is yes is probably eagerly anticipating a visit from the Easter bunny.
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