Hate crimes bill gets Cao's vote (18 Republicans vote for special justice for some)

http://www.nola.com ^ | April 30, 2009 | By Jonathan Tilove

[Maelstorm]

... Cao was one of 18 Republicans to vote for the bill and was one of eight Republicans who co-sponsored the legislation, which is intended to extend hate-crime protections to people who are victims of crimes based on their gender, sexual identity or handicap.

Cao was joined in his support by Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, who cited the strong support of law enforcement groups for the legislation, even as the rest of Louisiana's seven-member congressional delegation, including the lone Democrat, Rep. Charlie Melancon of Napoleonville, voted no. Melancon was one of 17 Democrats to vote no.

To its opponents, the bill is tantamount to making thought a crime, by increasing punishment based on a perpetrator's motive. It is especially anathema to some Christian conservatives, who warn that it could be used as a weapon to silence people who object to homosexuality on religious grounds.

"This legislation unfairly threatens freedom of religion and speech," said Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman. "It increases the possibility that members of religious groups could become the subject of a criminal investigation based on their beliefs."

But Cao and other defenders of the legislation said it would do no such thing and is intended as a tool to fight a particularly pernicious kind of crime.

"Crimes committed against individuals based on their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability are particularly insidious," Cao said.

"I, as a minority, am acutely aware of freedoms and protections offered by the laws of this land and what is expected of my fellow citizens," said Cao, the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress. "This is a nation of acceptance where every individual is protected by the Constitution; this promise enables them to pursue their dreams free of persecution and attack."

...

[Maelstorm]

What is it with the GOP? You turn you head for a moment and they lose their minds. I don't care if offers greater penalties for burning a church or attacking someone based upon their personal sexual behavior. These kind of laws are wrong for a free people. We should prosecute all crimes equally under the law and it is up to the judge and juries to exercise their discretion concerning the heinousness of the crime. It is by the singling out of certain classes for protection that this kind of law guarantees the uneven application of justice. Should a man killed outside of a church be afforded greater protection than a man killed strolling to his car in a dimly lit parking lot? Violent crimes are horrible by definition and this kind of law represents the further corruption of the law. This law could have been written to offer greater protections to all crimes committed with a hateful motivation but instead it was written to intimidate and potentially censor anyone who might might disagree with an individual included in the itemized groups. We only need to look to Canada to see how they have used such laws to prosecute people who have not committed a crime against anyone. They criticized a sexual behavior, they criticized a religious practice, they pointed out a statistic that had a racial or ethnic implication and they found themselves being charged under hate crimes statutes. Cao and others need to learn the difference between intentions and reason. We should be concerned about Justice for all, not special justice for itemized protected groups and behaviors.

[Rosemont]

What about White Protestants? Are they represented on the “hate crimes” bill or is it still ok to hate them?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The whole point of “hate crime” legislation is to lay the groundwork for criminalizing political thought and behavior. Orwell was right.

[Wuli]

The “crime” is the very idea of a “hate crime”, which, by no matter what pretense it is attached to other acts, is a THOUGHT crime; and the very idea of a “thought crime” in a free country IS A CRIME.

One only has to look at how the rationale used to justify “hate crimes” quickly spreads down a slippery slope to any and all forms of speech, completely unattached to any “assault” or other basic crime.

[x1stcav]

Another Republican that goes to Washington and becomes seduced.

Is there a Revolutionary Party out there?

I need a new home.

The republicans died back along about 1998.

[SECURE AMERICA]

Hate crimes bill gets Cao’s vote (18 Republicans vote for special justice for some)

The founders who wrote our Constitution would cry if they saw how their great idea had become so perverted..

Coming soon to your world, special protection for pedophiles. Then special protection for the Islamic Terrorist that they bring into your neighborhood..

[SunkenCiv]

Ping!

[FreepShop1]

"Crimes committed against individuals based on their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability are particularly insidious," Cao said. "I, as a minority, am acutely aware of freedoms and protections offered by the laws of this land and what is expected of my fellow citizens," said Cao, the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress. "This is a nation of acceptance where every individual is protected by the Constitution; this promise enables them to pursue their dreams free of persecution and attack."

I hope Mr. Cao is enjoying his first term as a Congressman. With these words he has ensured it will be his last. Act Blue has already made re-taking his seat their #2 priority (after defeating Bachmann), and now he is siding with them. Unless he intends to switch to Democrat, his days in office will end in January 2011.

[Comparative Advantage]

You are right. He’s a one termer for sure, especially in that district.

[Ol' Sparky]

All 18 need to be defeated in the next GOP primary.

[Clintonfatigued]

Maybe he was once subject to abuse because of his ethnicity and it clouded his judgement. We all make mistakes.

[Tensai]

You are aware of the politics Rep. Cao’s district, right? He is likely voting this way because he would like to stay elected.

[SaraJohnson]

Republican leaership has been moving to the left in primaries for a long time. Rinos have succeeded in taking over the party machinery. Conservatives had to fight for control in the past. They got control of the party and a lot of rionos retired and then conservatives fell asleep at the wheel becoming the party’s status quo, don’s rock the boat head nodders. We even support Swartznegger.

Conservatives stayed silent as the rinos made all sorts of “progress” with the promise of a conservative supreme court justice and protection against global ruling treaties. Other than that we sat by for the huge drug program for the eldery even knowing the other basic benefits were breaking the bank and a Federal takeover of public education called “no child left behind.”

We did not demand any social change and had no agenda for cuts to government size. We did not critize Bush on the war before the surge when things were not going as they should. Conservatives have permitted this in the name of the rinos controlling the Senate.

No surprise rinos are joining socialists to set an order by race tribe to the rule of law... They also support reverse discrimination and shouted “racist” at conservatives when they rose up against it. They also hated Ronald Reagan and the contract with America. They support illegal immigration and they support the public private partnership known as fascism.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Is this the hate crime bill that provides protection to pedophiles?

[fwdude]

I can proudly say that all of the Repubs from my great State of Texas voted Nay. But where was my rep, Grainger? I’ll need an explanation for her not voting. (nearby rep Burgess didn’t vote either???)

[FreepShop1]

You are right. He’s a one termer for sure, especially in that district. He must know it too. Perhaps he wants Obama to name him to the laughable U.S. Commission on Civil Rights after he is defeated in 2010.

[Mmmike]

Ultimately secularism is what makes these abominations possible. It takes the true roots of American jurisprudence off the table for discussion, and instead you get identity politics, which is caveman politics.

[sport]

Are they represented on the “hate crimes” bill or is it still ok to hate them?

2 posted on Saturday, May 02, 2009 6:57:24 PM by Rosemont

You are joking, right? They are the targets of this “legislation”. if I am not mistaken, child molestors are also protected in this “legislation”.

[2harddrive]

A new type of dangerous, pushy minority has now evolved: GAY SUPREMACISTS!

[Maelstorm]

That is a good term. I just call them the gaystapo.