- Despite compelling and passionate testimony by House
Republicans, the federal hate crimes bill, HR 1913, passed today in the
House of Representatives by a vote of 249 to 175.
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- In what Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R, VA) called "an atrocity,"
the House Rules Committee on Tuesday imposed a "closed rule"
on debate and amendments, limiting debate to 120 minutes. However, contest
of the rule was permitted between both sides for one hour, giving Republicans
a preliminary opportunity to lay out objections to the hate bill. They
failed in their attempt to lengthen the debate, and the original 120 minutes
of debate ensued.
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- Here are highlights of the Republican opposition:
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- Rep. Virginia Foxx (R, NC) said HR 1913 will open a new
category of "thought crimes" in America, moving us "down
a slippery slope" to loss of freedom. She said such has happened
under hate laws in Canada and Europe.
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- Rep. Trent Franks (R, AZ) warned HR 1913 will end equality
in America, giving special rights to federally favored groups such as homosexuals.
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- Rep. Roy Blount (R, MO) echoed Foxx's admonition that
hate laws have taken away free speech in Canada and Europe.
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- Rep. Steve King (R, IA) repeated the warning of his amendment
in Judiciary last week, saying pedophiles and many other deviants will
obtain special rights and protection under HR 1913.
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- Rep. Mary Fallin (R, OK) referenced loss of free speech
in Canada and Great Britain but also how the "Philly 11" Christians
were persecuted under Pennsylvania's hate law.
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- Rep. Foxx returned, saying a federal hate law would preempt
the 10th Amendment which delegates most law enforcement to the states.
She said the claim that Matt Sheppard was murdered because he was a homosexual
was a "hoax;" he was killed, she said as the victim of a robbery.
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- Rep. Louie Gohmert (R, TX) charged HR 1913 will divide
America into groups of more favored versus less. He again cited USC Title
18, Section 2a, the foundation of HR 1913, which says anyone who through
speech "induces" commission of a violent hate crime "will
be tried as a principal" alongside the active offender. He said there
is no "epidemic" of hate in America.
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- Rep. King cited the American Psychiatric Association
which lists 547 different kinds of paraphilia, or sexual deviancies. King
said all of these would merit special federal protection under the class
"sexual orientation" enshrined in HR 1913.
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- Rep. Foxx testified, "This bill itself will spread
fear and intimidation." She was referring primarily to Christian/conservative
critics of homosexuality, Islam, illegal immigrants, etc. Such critics
from the pulpit or airwaves would be increasingly silenced under the hate
law's chill on free speech.
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- Rep. Hastings (D, FL), a proponent of the hate bill,
brazenly agreed that HR 1913 would give a galaxy of sexual perverts special
protection. He said that under hate bill protection they will not "live
in fear because of who they are."
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- One particularly striking argument was made by Rep. Randy
Forbes (R, VA). He said if Miss California had slapped the homosexual
judge who derided her on the stage (and across the internet) under HR 1913
she could be indicted as a "violent hate criminal," facing a
possible 10 years in prison. But, Forbes said, if the homosexual judge
had slapped her, she would have had no special protection under HR 1913.
His act would have been simple assault, a misdemeanor.
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- The testimony of Rep. Todd Akins (R, MO) was also unique.
He said HR 1913 would actually increase hate in America. He said the American
people, including young people, recognizing that they are now second-class
citizens, with homosexuals receiving special federal rights, can only resent
(hate?) those who have rights and privileges above them. He also said
that with the legal system already backed up, the federal hate law will
create havoc within our legal system, requiring judges to also become "psychologists,"
divining motives of offenders.
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- Rep. Mike Pence (R, IN) said the FBI statistics show
that, far from hate crimes increasing, they have steadily declined over
the past 10 years. There is also no evidence that states are lax
in hate law enforcement.
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- Democrat testimony concluded with a special entry, followed
by CSPAN camera, of Rep. Barney Frank (D, MA). He pooh-poohed the arrest
of the Philly 11 Christians in 2004, saying that, although it was unjust,
Republicans were irresponsible in not pointing out that the Christians
were acquitted. Fortunately, Rep. Gohmert had the last word, indicating
that the very fact that persons can and have been arrested for speech under
state laws has a chilling effect on free speech.
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- Gohmert tried to send the hate bill back to Judiciary
for amendments but was overridden.
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- It is now time for all who love freedom to turn their
full attention to defeat of the hate bill in the Senate, where Sen. Edward
Kennedy just yesterday introduced his federal hate bill, S. 909, which
is certain to be moving rapidly to a vote.
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- Call 1-877-851-6437 toll free or 1-202-225-3121 toll.
Names of Senate Judiciary members are posted <http://www.truthtellers.org/actionplan.html>here
at www.truthtellers.org.
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- Tell all members of the Senate: "Please don't vote
for the pedophile-protecting federal hate crimes bill, S. 909. Please
insist on Judiciary hearings to debate this very dangerous, freedom-threatening
legislation."
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- Watch the dynamic 10-minute educational video How to
Kill the Hate Bills at <http://www.truthtellers.org/>www.truthtellers.org
which explains how the hate bill, HR1913, ends freedom. Please tell the
offices of members of Congress to watch it! Also at <http://www.truthtellers.org>www.truthtellers.org,
watch our gripping 82-minute documentary <http://www.truthtellers.org/alerts/watchpikesvideosgoogle.htm>Hate
Laws: Making Criminals of Christians.
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- Let the Anti-Defamation League teach you how they have
saddled 45 states with hate laws capable of persecuting Christians, and
spearhead attempts to pass the federal hate crimes bill: <http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp>http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp.
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- TALK SHOW HOSTS: Interview Rev. Ted Pike on this subject.
Call (503) 631-3808.
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- NATIONAL PRAYER NETWORK, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas, OR
97015
- www.truthtellers.org
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