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

[doinaheckofajob]

The real crime here is Larry Craig. Don't you just hate hime?

[lornejl]

"President Bush, who says the bill is not needed, could then be faced with vetoing the vast defense authorization bill containing the same provision."

To me, thats the real story, the dems will keep writing checks to dumbya instead of shutting this god damn war down, bastards.

[MissingAmerica]

In looking at the roll call, it appears that seven Republican Senators voted for this. Good on them! Every person voting against it is Republican. If they feel they have the corner on Religion, it's no wonder we have so many people who are not interested in religion! I've never seen a more hateful, self-serving bunch than the current crop of GOP.

[Nephi]

Larry Craig is a fuck!!!!

[MI6troll]

From the police reports, Larry Craig is a fuckee wanabee.

[only1Demvoter]

Nephi : That's the stance his stalwart Neocon trollmates assume... -ralph

[pangardenguru]

there are at least a million other good reasons not to be interested in religion. we could start with the FACT that ALL religions are man made, totally the invention of man. we can go from there.

[MissingAmerica]

The hypocrisy here is suffocating, but I'm so glad it passed. It ain't over, though. It still has to go to King George, and we all know how he loves to veto legislation! Once he learned what a veto was, he never stopped using it to destroy our country.

I find it amazing that those who voted against this call themselves Christians. Christ accepted all. He didn't discriminate against anyone for any reason. To promote hate in the name of God is counter to everything they claim they stand for. They need to get a grip on reality. They're so far off track it's pathetic.

[Nephi]

Hey, you folks from Idaho, your silence is deafening! Or maybe you Idahoans are just as perverted as your Senator Larry Craig. Grow a pair and do something, Idahoans, or sleep in the same bed as the Craigster.

[leftLibertarian]

Larry, dude! Just admit that you're totally gay and deal with it!

[ownsthepodium]

Admit? Admit he's gay? Should he brought before a tribunal, of progressives of course, to make his confession?
And then what would you do with him?

[MI6troll]

Put him in the treehouse with you BJ and Neo, Porta.

[BWonka]

"And then what would you do with him? "

Make him live with you 24/7.

[Purple Girl]

What an absolute idiot. This is what will cause him to burn in hell- not his sexual preferences.He needs an auditorium to laugh at him too, and if he still doesn't get it, maybe alone straped to a fence post in Wyoming may bring him some enlightnment

[mari2JJ]

What a sad state of affairs. That Larry Craig is caught in the cross hairs of his own bigotry. I am unimpressed with the "sting" operation in the bathroom and God help me if anything important of mine ever falls into the next stall in a public bathroom. All that is secondary to the facts in this case. There is a history that precedes this arrest and if true, he is of all people most miserable. He has not come to terms with his sexuality and will never be whole again until he does just that. He can rant and rant about his anti-homosexual stand but it does NOT ring true. Poor thing is to be pitied.

[SeconLine]

I'd pity him, if he only didn't support bigotry at taxpayer expense.

[BicycleRepairman]

'Twas on the good ship Venus,
By Christ you should have seen us,
The figurehead was Ann Coulter, dead,
With a great big hairy penis.

Chorus:

We're pirates, we're stoners,
We're gay skull and boners,
We jolly rodger with glee.
we set booty above duty
And try not to look too fruity
As we put party before country you see.

Seaman Craig, first name Larry,
All questions he did parry.
When it was said he, in the head,
Played footsie with Dirty Harry.

The chaplain's name was Haggard.
He really was a laggard.
He jumped the bones of seaman Jones
The two-faced horny bastard.

The first mate's name was Vitter,
A really perverted old critter
His diapers wet he liked to get.
The whole crew was atwitter

The boatswain's name was Allen
Who set the tongues awaggin'
When last ashore. he did implore
A wary cop to shag him.

The chef's name was Mark Foley
He really wasn't holy.
The cabin boy, he did enjoy,
While making guacamole.

A sailor, name of Murphy,
Had thoughts extremely earthy.
He gave the mate head while asleep in his bed
Then rogered him without any mercy

So now we end this serial,
Though there's much, much more material,
We wish you luck and freedom from
All diseases venereal.

[only1Demvoter]

PRICELESS !!

Well said BicycleRepairman !! -ralph

[JamesR.]

Ha!

[MrTorrance]

Hay!

[woodro]

wow, when did the Village People get back together again.

[OSIRISZ]

what a hypocrite!! this guy is such a disgrace

[RichardD]

It is just so heart warming how this discussion reflects the true America of today.
Even John Stewart's cast of characters could make it up.

[BLOGGINGBITCH]

George Voinovich ran the Senate Ethics Committee.

There are no rules of conduct.

[BLOGGINGBITCH]

Senate is getting ready to vote on raising the Debt Limit another $850,000,000,000.

I'm sure it's nothing.

.

[only1Demvoter]

BB : Shit... I'll be long buried before that becomes anything more than scratches on paper.

( It's my kid's future (s) that's making me vocal right now. )

More to follow. -ralph

[BLOGGINGBITCH]

I'd rather have men soliciting anonymous sex in public bathrooms than Hillary, Obama and Edwards claiming that Bush is obviously doing the best he can in Iraq.

They want to stay too.

.

[mddragon]

Edwards is not saying that.

[BicycleRepairman]

When Senator Craig cries "Oh God, I'm coming!"
It's in an airport washroom he's slumming.
It just indicates
That he's found some new mates
Equipped with identical plumbing.

[only1Demvoter]

BikeRepair : YOU are on a roll this evening !! -ralph

[MI6troll]

Off-topic, but since it is breaking news:

Prosecutor won't seek adult trial
9/27/2007, 6:29 p.m. CDT
By DOUG SIMPSON
The Associated Press

JENA, La. (AP) — Supporters of a black teenager once charged with the attempted murder of a white classmate waited outside a courthouse for his release Thursday after a prosecutor confirmed he would not try him as an adult.

Bail was set at $45,000 for Mychal Bell, one of the group known as the Jena Six, according to a spokeswoman for a local bail bonding service. Court officials would not release information on Bell's case since it is now a juvenile court matter.

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/base/national-93/1190899810226190.xml&storylist=national

[SupremeIdiot]

The prosecutor in this case was given the opportunity to write an Op/Ed in the Dallas Morning News today. Did you read it?

If what he said was true, that Bell attacked this other student and only an intevening student stopped him from doing even more damage, then I cannot sympathize with this kid.

I still wonder why all the protesters aren't protesting the fact that the blacks and whites in town don't interact much. That's the real problem. If they had more contact then each side would see the other as human beings.

[MI6troll]

Haven't gotten to the Morning Snooze yet.

Usually save it for bedtime. Always puts me to sleep.

[Prolix247]

Did the Article mention the white kid who pulled a shotgun on the Bell and his friends? I doubt it. I feel sorry for this city. They will destroy themselves over the color of skin.

[cowboyneok]

Poltergeist Reverent or Senator Larry Craig?

http://www.hollywood-north.net/jbeck.jpg