Posted on 05/03/2007 12:13:40 PM PDT by fabrizio
(CNSNews.com) - President Bush looks likely to veto a "hate crimes" bill under debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday if it is approved by Congress. Conservatives quickly responded by thanking the president for upholding "our nation's constitutional tradition of equal protection under the law."
"The administration favors strong criminal penalties for violent crime, including crime based on personal characteristics, such as race, color, religion or national origin," according to a statement released by the Executive Office of the President.
"However, the administration believes that H.R. 1592 is unnecessary and constitutionally questionable," the release stated. "If H.R. 1592 were presented to the president, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill." The sentence containing the veto reference was underlined in the statement.
"State and local criminal laws already provide criminal penalties for the violence addressed by the new federal crime defined in section 7 of H.R. 1592, and many of these laws carry stricter penalties (including mandatory minimums and the death penalty) than the proposed language in H.R. 1592," the statement said.
In addition, "state and local law enforcement agencies and courts have the capability to enforce those penalties and are doing so effectively."
"There has been no persuasive demonstration of any need to federalize such a potentially large range of violent crime enforcement, and doing so is inconsistent with the proper allocation of criminal enforcement responsibilities between the different levels of government," the office said.
"In addition, almost every state in the country can actively prosecute hate crimes under the state's own hate crimes law."
Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues with Concerned Women for America, was quick to praise the statement.
"We thank President Bush for honoring our nation's constitutional tradition of equal protection under the law," said Barber in a statement.
Barber told Cybercast News Service Thursday that according to his sources in the White House, the president is inclined to follow his advisors' recommendations to veto the bill if passed.
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson also welcomed the undertaking.
"We applaud the president's courage in standing up for the constitution and the principle of equal protection under the law," he said in a statement. "The American justice system should never create second-class victims and it is a first-class act of wisdom and fairness for the president to pledge to veto this unnecessary bill."
Hey Nancy - how’s that “LAME DUCK” thing work again???
Yeah, well those State Hate Crimes Bills are Unconstitutional as well.
The sign is still getting carried by Jose and Pedro.
He hates these cans!
I just wish he would have used it more often before as well, especially to force Congress to trim pork.
The Dems can’t even pass a minimum wage bill. Wouldn’t be surprising if this bill gets bottled up in Congress as well. Even if they somehow manage to pass it, it’s dead on arrival when it reaches the President’s desk.
The Dems can’t even pass a minimum wage bill. Wouldn’t be surprising if this bill gets bottled up in Congress as well. Even if they somehow manage to pass it, it’s dead on arrival when it reaches the President’s desk.
The Dems can’t even pass a minimum wage bill. Wouldn’t be surprising if this bill gets bottled up in Congress as well. Even if they somehow manage to pass it, it’s dead on arrival when it reaches the President’s desk.
There has been a surge in rare triples lately. Is it because of baseball season?
VETO mania with less than two years left to go. On a roll!
I guess we can kiss the fag vote goodbye :)
“There has been a surge in rare triples lately. Is it because of baseball season?”
lol You guessed it!
I have never heard about a lame duck President who has such a power to stop anything his enemies want, have you? I have never seen a lame duck President who has been so hated by his enemy and drive them crazy in every minute of their lives? Have you?
Exactly right.
“Lame Duck”?????
That’s “Mobility-Challenged Fowl”, you, you HATER!;))
No, it is worth repeating :)
Thanks dude!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.