Congress Passes Gay Rights Bill

Congress has passed a gay rights bill that, "Extends hate crime protections to gays." It also includes crimes, "Based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Republicans were concerned and rightfully so, that said bill would attempt to regulate speech regarding gays and violate people's Constitutional right to freedom of religion and freedom of speech, as homosexuals have attempted to use existing legislation, to unlawfully silence those that peacefully disagree with their lifestyle choices.

It was stated, "At the urging of Republicans the bill was changed to strengthen free speech protections to assure that a religious leader or any other person cannot be prosecuted on the basis of his or her speech, beliefs or association."

Congress extends hate crime protections to gays

WASHINGTON — Physical attacks on people based on their sexual orientation will join the list of federal hate crimes in a major expansion of the civil rights-era law Congress approved Thursday and sent to President Barack Obama.

A priority of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., that had been on the congressional agenda for a decade, the measure expands current law to include crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The measure is named for Matthew Shepard, the gay Wyoming college student murdered 11 years ago.

To assure its passage after years of frustrated efforts, Democratic supporters attached the measure to a must-pass $680 billion defense policy bill the Senate approved 68-29. The House passed the defense bill earlier this month.

Many Republicans, normally staunch supporters of defense bills, voted against the bill because of the hate crimes provision. All the no votes were Republicans except for Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., who supported the hate crimes provision but opposes what he says is the open-ended military commitment in Afghanistan.

"The inclusion of the controversial language of the hate crimes legislation, which is unrelated to our national defense, is deeply troubling," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala...

The FBI says more than half of reported hate crimes are motivated by racial bias. Next most frequent are crimes based on religious bias, at around 18 percent, and sexual orientation, at 16 percent.

At the urging of Republicans the bill was changed to strengthen free speech protections to assure that a religious leader or any other person cannot be prosecuted on the basis of his or her speech, beliefs or association.

"Nothing in this legislation diminishes an American's freedom of religion, freedom of speech or press or the freedom to assemble," said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. "Let me be clear. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act targets acts, not speech."

That didn't convince Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who said the bill was a "dangerous step" toward thought crimes. He asked whether the bill would "serve as a warning to people not to speak out too loudly about their religious views."

Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, said the measure was "part of a radical social agenda that could ultimately silence Christians and use the force of government to marginalize anyone whose faith is at odds with homosexuality."

The defense bill is H.R. 2647.

On the Net: Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov

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Obama's Change Of Heart

U.S. President Barack Obama and Sasha Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama has backed away from a few of his public initiatives, some of which I think is regrettable. The President needs to stand firm on some issues.

Yes, he needs to listen to the American people, who are his constituents, but it is not everything that causes debate that he should cave in on, as it will unintentionally set up an image that people can run roughshod over him.

For example, the call for students to help Obama was not an unreasonable request. There is nothing wrong with serving one's country.

National healthcare is one thing, as it can prove tricky and costly at a time the nation is in financial straits, but helping your country is free of cost, as all that is required is to show up, willing to donate your time.

Was it not Kennedy who said "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." There's nothing wrong with community service and charity work. People need a helping hand and those able to do so should volunteer. Society has never been made worse for it.

I would encourage people, no matter what country they live in, to give of your time and help others. The rewards are greater than you could ever imagine.

WH withdraws call for students to 'help' Obama

UPDATED: - President Obama's plan to inspire the nation's schoolchildren with a video address next week erupted into controversy Wednesday, forcing the White House to pull out its eraser and rewrite a government recommendation that teachers nationwide assign students a paper on how to "help the president."

Presidential aides acknowledged the White House helped the U.S. Education Department craft the proposal, which immediately was met by fierce criticism from Republicans and conservative organizations who accused Mr. Obama of trying to politicize the education system.

White House aides said the language was an honest misunderstanding in what was supposed to be a inspirational, pro-education message to America's youths.

Among the activities the government initially suggested for pre-kindergarten to sixth-grade students: that they "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." Another task recommended for students immediately after listening to the speech: to engage in a discussion about what "the president wants us to do."

The novel curriculum plan brought sharp criticism from conservatives, including some who complained that classrooms were being used to spread political propaganda. In response, the White House last night confirmed they were revising the lesson plan that was distributed last week by the U.S. Department of Education.

"We're clarifying that language," White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said...

http://www.washingtontimes.com

The FBI And National Security

Sibel Edmonds

Why does the FBI keep trying to block the testimony of whistleblower, Sibel Edmonds. What happened to Freedom of Speech. Why is she not allowed to speak? Because she knows some of your dirty secrets.

During the 3 years I have covered the FBI in my widely read columns, I have witnessed astonishing lapses in national security, financial impropriety and absolute moral failure on the part of the Bureau.

My columns hinted at problems in the financial sector, where individuals were running ponzi schemes not, "Providing a true service not based in fraud, theft or speculation" and “trading what amounts to nothing.” Shortly after, Madoff and Stanford were indicted for ponzi schemes the FBI knew of for 10 years, but let fester to the detriment of taxpaying Americans and global citizens that invest in good faith.

The FBI’s chronic acts of criminal negligence, are a threat to national security and the prosperity of the United States and its allies in the world. If the FBI fails to correct its conduct, America will be left open to new terror attacks, centered on cities such as New York and Los Angeles, to name a few, famed for their wealth and architecture that symbolize Americana, which terrorists hate.

Furthermore, if the FBI cannot control a crazy pop star, stopping her from breaking the law, as they are constitutionally obligated to do, how are they going to control Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

The agency under Robert S. Mueller is ineffective, incompetent and weak. The FBI needs to be closed, with the U.S. Congress starting over with a new federal law enforcement agency. Time shall show it.

The FBI has been nothing but a taxpayer draining, unmitigated failure and embarrassment from day one. They left Martin Luther King Jr. to die and they left 9/11 victims to die (stonewalling their agents from an investigation that would have prevented the attack). They haven’t changed since the Civil Rights era. There is something very wrong there.

I don’t believe the FBI has foiled any real terrorists, who keep hinting through released tapes and videos that something terrible is coming. I think this is the quiet before the storm and sadly America’s first line of defense is Barney Fife:

FBI Director, Robert Mueller

DoJ Pressures Ohio Election Commission to Block Edmonds Testimony

8/7/2009 8:06PM - Long-gagged FBI whistleblower re-iterates request for citizen media in D.C. to show up at Saturday morning deposition...

The DoJ is now jumping into action, at least on behalf of covering the FBI's rear, if not yet to issue any "states secrets" claims to stop the scheduled testimony of FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds in D.C. tomorrow morning in the Ohio Election Commission (OEC) case of Schmidt v. Krikorian...

http://www.bradblog.com