Come On, Do Any Senators REALLY Support Hate Crimes?

Hatred & bigotry are alive and well among North Carolina leaders

It's always difficult assigning motivations to other people and I for one can't read their minds... but I can read their votes and their records. Are Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Richard Burr (R-NC), for example, die-hard bigots? You'd have to be delusional to think otherwise. Whatever they may say, Republicans have gone out of their way to defeat the hate crimes bill ever since Matthew Shephard was found crucified in blood-red Wyoming, murdered by two vicious homophobic right-wing fanatics. The Republican-dominated Wyoming legislature, of course, refused to pass hate crimes legislation after the brutal murder. Still in control of Congress in 1999, the Republicans in the House defeated President Clinton's attempt to pass federal anti-hate crimes legislation and although it did pass in 2000, it was stripped out in a conference committee, President Bush vowing to veto it if it passed. It did pass in 2007-- in both Houses-- and, true to his threats, was one of Bush's few vetoes.

Although 15 virulently homophobic Blue Dogs-- Dan Boren (OK), Chris Carney (PA), Travis Childers (MS), Joe Donnelly (IN), Brad Ellsworth (IN), Parker Griffith (AL), Baron Hill (IN), Frank Kratovil (MD), Mike McIntyre (NC), Walt Minnick (ID), Heath Shuler (NC), Gene Taylor (MS), Charlie Melancon (LA), Lincoln Davis (TN) and Mike Ross (AR)-- and every single voting Republican in the House joined North Carolina psychotic Republican hate-monger Virginia Foxx in a ritualized spitting on Matthew Shepard's grave on April 29 of this year, the bill passed 234-190. (Three Republicans and five Democrats didn't vote.) Even the most blatant Republican closet queens-- the ones "everyone" knows about-- like David Dreier (R-CA), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) voted against the legislation.

Yesterday it not only passed in the Senate, the KKK Caucus could only muster a sad, motley and disheveled 28 Republicans to vote against it. It passed as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill 63-28. Not a single Democrat broke ranks in the Senate-- not even reactionaries Ben Nelson, Evan Bayh or Blanche Lincoln-- and several Republicans absented themselves from the chamber rather than vote at all, including the gayest Republican in the Senate, Lindsey Graham. (Miss McConnell and John Barrasso, ironically a gay blade from Wyoming, voted no.)

When Blue America endorsed Jeff Merkley for his successful Senate run last year, we asked him if he would support the anti-hate crimes legislation and he said he would support it and work for its passage. Today he sent us the following statement:

“For too long, hate crimes have fragmented and isolated our communities. I am proud that the Senate has voted to protect those who are victimized simply for who they are. Hate crime prevention begins at the local level and this amendment provides our police officers and state troopers with additional federal support to better prevent and respond to allegations of hate crimes. Senator Kennedy has championed this legislation for over a decade and its passage is a direct result of his tireless efforts. All Americans, no matter their background, identity, or disability, deserve to live without fear and be treated with respect.”

Promise kept. President Obama, who voted for the bill when he was a senator, has vowed to sign it. Now let's get busy abolishing the disgraceful and barbaric persecution of gay men and women in the military once and for all, by ending Don't Ask Don't Tell.