Bush Pressed on Iraq-Linked Hate Crimes Bill
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Congress attached a contentious hate crimes bill to a must-pass defense spending bill encompassing the Iraq War on Thursday in an attempt to pressure President Bush to pass the amendment.
Supporters of the measure argue it is appropriate to attach it to legislation funding the war because both combat terrorist behavior. However, opponents counter it is inappropriate to delay funds for Iraq – including a pay-raise for troops in wartime – in order to solve a "special interest" bill.
"I think it's shameful we're changing the subject to take care of special interest legislation at a time like this," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), according to The Associated Press.
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The hate crimes measure seeks to add violence against individuals based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability to the list of federal hate crimes. If passed, the federal government would be more involved and have greater power to investigate hate crimes.
At first glance the bill seems harmless, but opponents say it threatens the right of faith leaders and believers to speak out on the sin of homosexuality.
"See, the bill is not about crime prevention or even civil rights," wrote Chuck Colson in a column on the hate crimes legislation. "It's about outlawing peaceful speech – speech that asserts that homosexual behavior is morally wrong."
Colson is founder of Prison Fellowship and former top aide for then President Richard Nixon. He has dubbed the legislation the "Thought Control Act of 2007."
The evangelical leader noted that hate crimes can be defined to include verbal attacks and peaceful speech. He also pointed to hate-crime laws in England, Sweden and Canada where the "Thought Police" have already prosecuted Christians for breaking these laws.
Furthermore, 11 Christians in Pennsylvania were prosecuted under the state hate crimes law shortly after "sexual orientation" was added as a victim category. According to reports, the ten adults and one teenager were singing hymns and carrying signs peacefully at a homosexual celebration in Philadelphia when they were arrested.
"The Hate Crimes Act will be the first step to criminalize our rights as Christians to believe that some behaviors are sinful," Dr. James C. Dobson, founder and chairman of Focus on the Family Action, said in a message for a petition to oppose the bill.
"Pastors preaching from Scripture on homosexuality could be threatened with persecution and prosecution," he noted.
The bill sponsors – Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) – contend that federal involvement is necessary to help local law enforcement officials deal with the amount of hate crimes against homosexuals/transgender.
Focus on the Family, however, said a report by the Traditional Values Coalition "rebuts these claims and uses FBI statistics to show that there's no epidemic of hate against homosexuals, cross-dressers or transsexual."
"In fact, most of the alleged hate crimes against these individuals amounts to name-calling or pushing. This hardly calls for federal legislation," the group wrote in an "action alert" email.
President Bush has vowed in the past to veto the hate crimes amendment. The White House says the bill is not needed because it is redundant of state and local laws.
Despite Bush's veto threat, the Democratic-controlled House passed a similar hate crimes legislation earlier this year.
Senators, however, predict that Bush will not sign the multi-billion dollar Pentagon spending bill with the hate crimes measure.
"The president is not going to agree to this social legislation on the defense authorization bill," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), according to AP. "This bill will get vetoed."
The measure would provide $10 million over two years to help local law enforcement officials to cover the cost of hate crimes prosecutions.
"There may be a time and place for a hate crimes discussion, but it is certainly not now when national security legislation is being held up," said Sen. Republican Conference Chairman Jon Kyl of Arizona. "Forcing a vote on the so-called hate crimes amendment shows an utter lack of seriousness about our national defense."
Christian groups such as Coral Ridge Ministries and Focus on the Family Action have sent petitions to the White House. Coral Ridge sent more than 33,000 petitions against the hate crime legislation to President Bush and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in July while Focus on the Family has gathered more than 100,000 signatures for its "Hate Crimes and ENDA" petition.
ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, has been noted by Dobson as "equally or even more dangerous" than the Hate Crimes Act as it could force non-profit organizations – such as Focus on the Family Action or the Salvation Army – to hire homosexuals or "individuals hostile to our firmly held moral beliefs."
"We cannot remain silent," Dobson stated in a special message to potential petition signers. "It's time for people of faith to draw a line in the sand and say 'Enough is enough!"
