H.R. 1585 Hate Crime Bill Married To Iraqi War Funding - No Joke
Legislation expanding hate crime laws to attacks on gays died in the House Thursday.
National Defense Appropriations Act, H.R. 1585, with hate bill attached.
Senate conferees have dropped their insistence on including a hate-crimes provision in the final fiscal 2008 Defense authorization bill, paving the way for the conference report to be signed Thursday.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy, was widely supported by Democrats and even some moderate Senate Republicans. But because it was attached to a major defense policy bill that would have authorized more money for the Iraq war, many anti-war Democrats said they would oppose it.
“We don’t have the votes,” said one House Democratic aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because conference negotiations on the defense bill were ongoing. “We’re about 40 votes short, not four or six.”
The development is a blow to civil rights groups which say that broadening federal laws are necessary to address a rise in crimes motivated by hate based upon a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
“At a time when our ideals are under attack by terrorists in other lands, it is more important than ever to demonstrate that we practice what we preach, and that we are doing all we can to root out the bigotry and prejudice in our own country that leads to similar violence here at home,” the Senators Kennedy and Carl Levin said.
HR1585
- Legislation would have defined attacks on gay individuals as a hate crime
- Measure was attached to a defense policy bill
- Democrats refused to vote for bill because it provided funds for Iraq war
Well, this is how it works. You have a righteous bill on the docket, you make special deals with your opponent and they get to add their less desirable attachments. Washington is built on this . Voters always wonder how nasty stuff slips by, like ‘PORK’ and sneaky Bush tidbits. Our elected representatives have staff that is supposed to read and analyze every word, then, alert their boss to all the hank panky attached to their hard fought bills. Its all compromise and water down. Each bill should have stood alone for the vote. But, alas, each bill is multi-tasked so each side can brag and claim victory for passage. Wave that flag, no matter how dirty it is. Someone had to take a stand. The Democrats were torn between standing against continued war funding and Hate Crime repair. Split along party lines, this time the marriage of agendas got a divorce!
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December 6th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
No surprises here. The Klanservatives are in power because of their successful hatemongering in 2004. Looks like they’re going to milk it for all it’s worth.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Well it is how it works and its god damned disgusting. Literally blackmail - the same thing happened with the college loan - Kennedy higher Education bill. It was attached i think to S chips which the murderous fuckwit greed mongers , neos junta puppet Veteoed. The only thing these people want is WAR - they do not care if they destroy this country in the process. ..Grand Old Profiteers…thats what they are. Cynically wrangling Evangelicals into their clutches to vote. Pitting one group of people against the other..fostering hate..all for the convenience of WAR. WAR WAR…and an ownership society - read redistributing wealth to a few power elite.
Well i am TG , and fankly i will wait for my civil rights UNTIL sanity is restored to this country. Why should my community have to be used as a bargaining chiip. The Congress is dispiscable. What they should be doing is IMPEACHING. Nothing will be right in this country for a long time,anyhow, it certainly will not be right in government if we continue business as usual. The Neo plan which Hillary and perhaps Obama as well will continue is to be in Iraq forever. FOREVER. 14 perm bases , the worlds largest embassy - this is the root of the problem.
I am so disgusted with Washington it isn’t funny. In the meantime , we gotta fight on a state level individually for more lgbt education, lobbying , and civil rights protections. Grrrrrrr.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:40 am
so lets see,that higher education loans, childrens health care, and now basic civil rights protections for the gay community..some america , the chimp’s legacy ? = hate.
December 7th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I am so sick of the haters that attack people because of their beliefs, color, gender or sexual orientation.
The, excuse my french, fuckwit Rethugs managed to create wedge issues during the last two presidential elections that are still alive and well today.
When will the normal folks among us rise up and vote these bastards out of office? When will the normal folks take a stand against hatred because of the reasons I listed above?
Its a rhetorical question..sadly I know the answer..when hell freezes over.
December 7th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Dusty:
What makes it even more disgusting is playing with peoples lives to get their freaking Iraq money passes.
Congress is truly a piece of crap!
The republicans have trashed every step the democrats take forward. Let them all stick by Bush their lying sack of shit leader. The elections are coming up and they will be unemployed.
December 7th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
ProudP:
In a nut shell Republicans can give a crap about any American who is not in the 1% group. So I guess the other 99% can go get f***ed
December 7th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Well, amen to both your comments above me NYtexan!
Your preaching to the choir 
December 9th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
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December 10th, 2007 at 7:56 am
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November 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Hey! I like your post “85 Hate Crime Bill Married To Iraqi Funding - No Joke | BlueBloggin” so well that I like to ask you whether I should translate into German and linking back. Answer welcome. Greetings Kroatien
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Thank you Kroatien, Feel free to use any post, just credit the author and link to the site.