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

[Giordano Bruno]

He's a good Mormon and he ain't queer
He's a good Mormon and don't drink beer.
He's a good Mormon but it's okay to hate
As long as it's a queer that makes up the bait.

Up in Idaho they're real good folk
Voted Republican ever since James Polk.
They still like to ride in horse and carriage
And everyone there is for defense of marriage.

Giordano

[SupremeIdiot]

Two thumbs up--SI

[progressivepam]

Poor Senator Craig... If he did the right thing, that would show that he has compassion for people. It would also be directly opposite of who he's been being... so, it would look like a confession of his homosexual­ity... which he's already pled guilty to, anyway... So, to "look good" to the RW extremist homophobes (including his very gay self) he green lights haters to go on hating.

[cowboyneok]

Anybody, but me, think Senator Larry Craig looks like that "evil preacher" in "Poltergeist?" I can almost hear him leaving his bathroom stall, turning and shouting, "You're all going to DIE IN HERE!!!!"

[only1Demvoter]

cowboy : At this point... I wouldn't put necrophelia past Lavatory Larry. -ralph

[truthyguy]

Notice how the Republicans, including the ones who support him, will not shake hands with Lavatory Larry.
Why do you think that is?

[SupremeIdiot]

Because they know he doesn't was the, ahem, stickyness from his hands after leaving the bathroom.

[MoeJava]

Somewhat off topic, but listed in the full roll call, I notice McCain has NOT VOTED again.
When will Arizonians get tired of paying this doofus to campaign and NOT represent the people of Arizona? And this guy wants to be president? I wouldnt trust him to babysit my cats.

[SeconLine]

Obama had a ton of stuff scheduled here in NYC, including a rally in Union Square, and national TV appearances.

Nice to see him putting his duty to his country above his campaign.

[SeconLine]

Obama cancelled his NYC stuff to vote.

[GhettoGrapevine]

Now might be the time for Mr. and Ms. Idaho Potatohead to start SERIOUSLY thinking about having a Recall Election.

[MI6troll]

Federal officeholders are not subject to recall elections.

A minority of states allow for recalls, but only for state and local officeholders.

[MoeJava]

Larry Craig is a loathsome creature - certainly not the christian he claims to be. Imagine judging people - isnt that the baby jeezus' job? The more Larry hides the bigger issue this becomes, especially in his re-election bid. Whether or not he's gay, no one votes for intolerant liars..... Ooops, we are talking about Idaho, though. There are plenty of "all hat" cowboys there.

[Leefeller]

A loathsome creature certainly not the christian he claims to be? What does claiming to be a christian have to do with anything, except hypocrisy? Bush claims to be a christian, while murder is acceptable? By my book Bush is worse than this bag of dung.

[JohnJames]

Baby Jeeezus has some surprising powers. He might just pull this one off for Larry.

[dartagnan]

ROTFLMAO!!! I think this is absolutely GREAT!!! Let ol' Wide-Stance Larry hang in there until he's voted out next November, and let America keep getting a good look at Republipuke hypocrisy in action!

[cabgx2]

I bet his wife wakes up every morning and slaps the shit out of him.

[SupremeIdiot]

Nah, she taps the shit out of him.

and he asks for more.

heh...

[click212]

Now those compassionate folks who said that Craig did not commit any crime - get this:

Craig is guilty of self loathing and bringing down with him any sense of decency for himself. His hypocrisies acted over and over again with men, in who knows how many public or private places, is an insult to any thinking person. He insults the voters and the public at large to think that we are so stupid as to believe that he is a "moral standard."

Voting against the Mathew Shepard Act will not redeem him with any one. If he chooses to act against his own self interest is one thing but to deny the rights of another human being to be equal in the eyes of us all is ignoble and cowardly. We know that in the quiet of his heart he can not feel his own humanity for the hatred and fear that lives so deeply rooted in his being.

[SupremeIdiot]

Yeah what you said.


Or he's an asshole.


I forget which.


heh...

[JamesR.]

Think BoBo is recharging his strength by communing with the hair? Where did she go?

[situationcritical]

Oh, Senator Craig, if only you'd go out to a gay restaurant, you'd probably be able to say that "more gay people are starting to think for themselves­."

[SupremeIdiot]

"hey! EmEffer get me more tea!!"

heh...

[princeleo]

90 percent of these comments appear to be from 12-year-olds, or just stupid idiots.

[SupremeIdiot]

Then go away to one of them thar Ay-dolt sights Mr. Mature and leave the kids stuff to those of us well qualified for ridiculing morons.

[jont191]

I'M NOT A FAG! I'M NOT A FAG. I JUST PLAY FOOTSIE IN AIRPORT SHIT HOUSES. I'M NOT A FAG I'M NOT A FAG. Give me a fucking break you repugnican QUEER

[JamesR.]

Settle down psycho.

[barrycourage]

And you aren't a homophobe, either.

[KosmicKat]

Hasn't learned much, has he? Asshole (not in the sexual sense).

[SupremeIdiot]

Why not?

[DELICIOUS]

ANYBODY PLAG FOOTSIE WITH AN UNDERCOVER COP IN A PUBLIC MENS ROOM OVER THE WEEKEND?

[infideltexan]

fags can protect themselves.

[barrycourage]

you mean from people in the justice system who consider them second class citizens to the point of freely calling them "fags"?

in Greenwich Village or Montgomery?