Senate Passes Hate Crimes Bill; Larry Craig Opposes

Moments ago, the Senate voted 60-39 to end debate on the Matthew Shepard Act, which expands federal hate crimes laws to include violence based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender, disability, and other factors. The AP reports:

The Senate attached hate crimes legislation to a must-pass Pentagon spending bill Thursday, but opponents predicted it ultimately would fail.

"The president is not going to agree to this social legislation on the defense authorization bill," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "This bill will get vetoed." [...]

The Democratic-controlled House passed the same hate crimes legislation as a stand-alone bill earlier this year despite Bush's veto threat. That makes a repeat of 2004, when the Senate passed a similar amendment to the same bill only to see it stripped out during negotiations with the Republican-led House, less likely this time around. President Bush, who says the bill is not needed, could then be faced with vetoing the vast defense authorization bill containing the same provision.

The White House had no immediate comment Thursday.

Notably, Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) voted against the legislation.

UPDATE: See the full roll call here.

Comments

[mommadona]

"I AM NASTY AND I AM NAUGHTY, BUT I AM NOT A HOMOSEXUAL­".......
~Larry "pass the paper, please" Craig

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

He's like a gift to the Dems!

Hope he stays ...

[white mende man]

well Mr. Senator, I guess you could say: "I just stuck it to the Homosexuals and I didn't do it in a toilet stall, I did it among my peers."

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

The best part was his over sell!

"I am not gay ... and I have "never" been gay!

"never" ... lofl

[Podewumun]

MommaD~ Did you notice that they've actually done something half-assed right by tying this to the "war" funding bill? NOW WE'RE TALKING.

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

"Craig Votes Against Bill To Protect Homosexuals"
__________­__________­__________­__________­__

LOFL

This fool is the face of the current GOP!

That's why Mitt "the flip" Romney said todays current republican party is nothing more than comical fodder for Jay Leno!

[mommadona]

Mitt better watch out too.
Word's getting out about his ties to the Marriott Hotel "Pay for Porn" business and it's links to the Mormon church heirarchy.

[Ramirez]

Does the Marriott have pay-for-view adult movies? I hadn't heard that. That can't be good.

[TimmySlagle]

mommadona writes: "Word's getting out about his ties to the Marriott Hotel "Pay for Porn" business and it's links to the Mormon church heirarchy.­"

Link please.

The only thing I could find was an article on Kooz from two years ago. Is that's what you call "Word... getting out?"

[visadeclined]

Why are republicans coddling criminals? Thats how republicans would describe the situation if it were reversed.
Funny how republicans are consistent in their support of laws that increase penalties for all crimes except when the victim is gay or the accused is a corporate executive.
Maybe they should amend the bill to only cover self-hating christian gays and see how many republican votes it gets.

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

"Why are republicans coddling criminals? "

Because that's what they are ... criminals!

[mommadona]

Yep.

Big Business - have you ever known a law they embraced? HA!

[anIndependent]

They should have video in the Senate and House restrooms.­..I can't even begin to imagine the things that have gone on in there over-the-years. Just imagine the snort, pills, and sex those walls have seen....If only walls could talk.

[Ramirez]

Yes. We need more video surveillance in private places. Imagine the things we could find.

[forpeace]

*

"Ramirez
Yes. We need more video surveillance in private places. Imagine the things we could find."
==========­==========­======

.......may be some in the White House!

*

[Qbear]

"The president is not going to agree to this social legislation on the defense authorization bill," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

QUEER Lindsey Graham....­you are OUT

[anIndependent]

It would really be a good time for those folks who claim they had bathroom sex with Craig over-the-years to come forward. For two reasons: One, to face this idiot for what he most likely is (an Idahomo); and second, so that the accusers may get the help they need to develop the self respect they obviously lack and display by entertaining and having bathroom sex.

[Ramirez]

You're compassionate. That's good.

[HotheadPaisen]

I'm not sure even Larry Flynts $$ would coax someone to admit they had sex with that slimy Craig... I'd love to see it happen, but doubt it will. Don't you think it would've already?

[Advocate123]

I'm serious when I say this:

Can someone please articulate a sound argument why Hate Crime Legislation is a good thing?

[Qbear]

Hate Crimes involve victims SPECIFICLY Hunted down because of who they are.
The brutality of most of these crimes is DISGUSTING, being pistol whipped kicked in the head and left to die of exposure on a Wyoming fence.
These crimes are also meant to TERRORIZE an entire group of Americans.

[Advocate123]

Okay:

So why don't we punish them for the act and not what they thought while they did it?

[Qbear]

Thank you Congress for getting the Hate Crimes Bill passed.
It is heinous closeted members of Congress attempted to block this bill...EAC­H will be dealt with by the LGBT community and our friends and family....­GUARANTEED­!

[wry]

Hi, Q Bear!
Why don't you take this ball and run with it? Sounds like you've found your voice on this issue.

[Qbear]

Thanks I'm doing my best, and so will other LGBT members

[ReelBusy]

Craig made that vote under duress. I'm sure he will withdraw it later.

[rras]

I don't care how he votes, I my eyes I know what he is and the name is hard for me to type.

[JustADumbFireman]

HAAAA!!!!! Good one!!!!

[ReelBusy]

Thank you

[BlueLogic]

So Larry "Lavatory" Craig and Lindsay "Lightloafers" Graham are AGAINST hate crimes laws to protect gays?? What madness and self hate is that?

[Ramirez]

Is Graham gay? I didn't know that.

[BlueLogic]

Rumors have dogged him for years. Other than that he's persistently single despite being over 50. I think he's said he "just hasn't met the right girl yet" which he paid copyright dues to Clay Aiken for usage.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

What an absolute douche bag.

[Tom95134]

Maybe foot tapping Craig needs to get seriously hassled by one of his "down-low" boys to make him understand what hate crimes are all about.

[Ramirez]

What's a "down-low" boy?

[JamesR.]

hmmmm Gives a shout out to BJClinton and JonQpsycho. You there gurls?

[serialcoma]

Craig is a hypocritical piece of shit. But that's obvious isn't it...

republicans are a threat to the United States and george bush is pure filth.

[whitewaterwillie]

Why do republicans (in this case, Craig) always vote against their self-interests?

[only1Demvoter]

willie : In order to appeal to their perceived base ?? -ralph

[CaliforniaMike]

Because the only interest that matters to a Republican is money. They'll vote against everything else, as long as they keep hearing, "Cha-ching!"

[Gordon]

Why do democrats want to shred the constitution just to help themselves with their base?

[hehehe]

If Larry Craig gets his ass kicked in a public toilet one day, I hope the person beating him keeps shouting " This is because you are not gay, you have never been gay".

I wouldn't want the assailant to be guilty of a hate-crime.

[ManipulatedByMedia]

And you love your wife! Don't leave THAT out....

[CaliforniaMike]

Remember the great Bobcat Goldthwait joke about gay bashing:

"I'm hitting you because you're gay, because you're queer, because you're a fag ... because you're kind of cute."

[ornery]

Hating Repiglicans is not a crime.