The Truth about the “Hate Crimes Bill”

H.R. 1913—the “Hate Crimes Bill”—passed the House of Representatives last week and is up soon in the Senate, even as soon as this week. This “Hate Crimes Bill” would make it illegal to not only commit a hate crime against someone but also “cause” a hate crime through your speech. It protects lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual (LGBT) people along with pedophiles and 30 other sexual orientations from being spoken against in public.

The reasoning for this bill is said to be a “hate epidemic” against LGBT people in America. But is there really a rash of people murdering LGBT people? Let’s examine the facts in the following article put out by this website.

There is no epidemic of hate against LGBT persons in America.

FBI hate crime statistics prove our point: FBI statistics on “hate crimes” against a person’s sexual orientation from 2007 (the latest available) reveal the following: In 2007 there were 1,521 victims of “sexual orientation” bias (Table 7). However, the breakdown of these crimes is listed as:

* 335 were crimes of intimidation (shouting or name-calling)

* 448 were crimes of simple assault (defined as pushing or shoving without physical injury)

* 242 were crimes of aggravated assault (defined as bodily harm)

* 9 bias murders were committed.

(Source: FBI statistics 2007)

In short, there were only 242 crimes against a person’s sexual orientation that could be considered “violent.” And, twenty-seven of these bias crimes were directed against heterosexuals! All together, there were 9,535 victims of bias crimes in 2007. This includes bias against race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity/national origin, disability, or multiple-bias incidents.

The FBI statistics do not indicate how many of these “violent hate crimes” were committed by homosexuals against other homosexuals – or what provoked the violence.

Out of a total number of 855,856 cases of aggravated assault in 2007, only 242 were directed at LGBT individuals. This is only 0.02827578411446785% of all aggravated assaults! This is not an epidemic of hate against LGBT individuals.

So, in a nation of 300 million people, there were only 242 “violent” crimes against homosexuals, bisexuals or drag queens in 2007. This is no epidemic of hate and local law enforcement does not need intrusive federal intervention to deal with such a miniscule number of crimes.

TAKE ACTION: Contact your two U.S. Senators immediately and ask them to vote NO on S. 909 or any variation of H.R. 1913.

Waterboarding Prevented 9/11-style Attack on L.A.

Let me just start by saying that I 100% support waterboarding when necessary. If it’ll help save American lives, I support it. Go ahead. Call me ignorant, a bigot, and uninformed. I know what waterboarding is and how it is used. But like I said, if it saves American lives, I’m all for it.

(CNSNews.com) – The Central Intelligence Agency told CNSNews.com today that it stands by the assertion made in a May 30, 2005 Justice Department memo that the use of “enhanced techniques” of interrogation on al Qaeda leader Khalid Sheik Mohammed (KSM)— including the use of waterboarding—caused KSM to reveal information that allowed the U.S. government to thwart a planned attack on Los Angeles.

Before he was waterboarded, when KSM was asked about planned attacks on the United States, he ominously told his CIA interrogators, “Soon, you will know.”

According to the previously classified May 30, 2005 Justice Department memo that was released by President Barack Obama last week, the thwarted attack—which KSM called the “Second Wave”—planned ” ‘to use East Asian operatives to crash a hijacked airliner into’ a building in Los Angeles.”

KSM was the mastermind of the first “hijacked-airliner” attacks on the United States, which struck the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Northern Virginia on Sept. 11, 2001.

Miss California Stands up for Traditional Marriage

The following is a letter from Ron Prentice, Chairman of the Yes on 8 Campaign in California.

Last night during the Miss USA contest, one of the contest judges, gay gossip blogger Perez Hilton, asked Miss California Carrie Prejean that since Vermont has now legalized gay marriage shouldn’t every state follow suit? Ms. Prejean had the courage to express her views and said, “Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.”

Ms. Prejean’s comments were cheered by the crowd, but a smattering of jeers could be heard in the background by a few who were incensed at her answer. According to FoxNEWS.com, arguments broke out in the lobby of the theater, with one gay man shouting, “I think it’s ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are.” Is there an unwritten rule that Miss USA contestants must hold values in agreement with homosexual activists?

For his own part, Hilton immediately cut a video blog where he ripped Ms. Prejean, calling her a “stupid b***h” and referring to her in language so vile that it can’t even be hinted at by its first letter. Ms. Prejean was named runner-up in the contest and today there was considerable discussion in the blogosphere about whether her answer might have cost her the title. Prejean told FoxNEWS.com that she had “no regrets” and was happy with the answer she gave.

We’re very proud of Ms. Prejean for speaking her mind in support of traditional marriage. She represented the silent majority in America and expressed a point of view that over 7 million California voters also expressed just last November. In fact, in the history of this issue every single state that has voted on it has voted to affirm traditional marriage. The outcry from some activists in the gay community over Ms. Prejean’s comments are indicative of how far they will go to force their same-sex marriage agenda on society.

Miss California is vilified by Perez Hilton in a video blog for respectfully answering his question, and gay men are shouting against her in the theater lobby. Yet we are supposed to take homosexual leaders at face value that if same-sex marriage were legalized they would never force this teaching onto children in the schools.

Thank you, Miss California, for knowing the truth about marriage and standing up for it, even when you knew that your honest answer may hinder your chances for the crown of Miss USA.

Presidential Legal Counsel Sees Pregnancy as Slavery

With [the President's] appointment of Dawn Johnsen, a former NARAL [National Abortion Reproductive Rights Action League] attorney, as the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Legal Counsel, pro-life advocates already know they are getting an abortion advocate in the position. But Johnsen goes further and views pregnancy as slavery.

Johnsen is a professor at the Indiana University School of Law, but she is also a longtime abortion advocate and worked for one of the leading abortion advocacy groups. Johnsen was the legal director for NARAL from 1988-1993.

In an article at National Review, Andrew McCarthy says that Johnsen’s view of pregnancy as slavery wasn’t just an off-the-cuff remark. “It was her considered position in a 1989 brief filed in the Supreme Court,” he explains, and the legal papers she filed concerned a Missouri law banning taxpayer funding of abortions. In the papers, Johnsen said that any restriction that makes abortion less accessible is, in her view, tantamount to “involuntary servitude” because it “requires a woman to provide continuous physical service to the fetus in order to further the state’s asserted interest [in the life of the unborn].”

-LifeNews.com

California’s Pro-Family Legislative Scorecard

Capitol Resource Family Impact is pleased to announce its Legislative Scorecard for the last legislative session, which ran from 2007 to 2008.

“This scorecard is California’s only pro-family tool for tracking how Sacramento legislators vote on social issues,” said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Family Impact. “CRFI salutes nearly 20 elected officials for earning perfect scores over two years of voting.”

In the Assembly, these legislators are Joel Anderson, Chuck DeVore, Michael Duvall, Doug La Malfa, Alan Nakaniski, Jim Silva, Audra Strickland, Michael Villines, and Mimi Walters. The Senate is represented by Dick Ackerman, Roy Ashburn, James Battin, Dave Cogdill, Dave Cox, Bob Dutton, Dennis Hollingsworth, Tom McClintock, and George Runner.

“These men and women stood for timeless family values in an environment that is not always friendly to such convictions,” said Meredith Turney, Legislative Liaison for Capitol Resource Family Impact. “We hear from citizens all around California who are grateful for their work.”

Another 19 assemblymembers and senators came within one vote of receiving perfect scores.

Over half of California’s assemblymembers, however, received scores of 12 percent or lower. In the Senate, more than half received voting scores of 13 percent or less on vital social issues.

“It is our hope that, as CRFI works with new and returning legislators over the next two years, California will benefit from the strong voting records of even more ‘perfect score’ legislators,” England said.

Download the scorecard here.

Southern California Tea Party

All across America citizens are fired up. They’re sick of government tax increases and are raising their voices. The citizens of California are no different. Just a few weeks ago, the California state senate passed a new budget that includes increases in vehicle registration fee, state sales tax, the surcharge on state income taxes, and will cut many state jobs.

As citizens, we cannot stand for this. It is bad enough that our national government is spending our nation into a free-fall, but now Governor Arnold has caught the spending bug. It’s time the good citizens of our land stand up and protest the government’s tax increases. It’s time for all good men and women to come together and tell Washington and Sacramento that we will not take tax hikes any more. America is still a land of the people, by the people, and for the people.

So how can you get involved? If you live in Southern California, we are having an Southern California Party. Why a “tea party”? Because in 1773, the colonists of early America protested Britain’s unbearable taxing by throwing crates of tea into Boston Harbor. While we won’t be destroying crates of tea, we will be showing our leaders that we will not have taxation without honest representation.

The tea party will be held in Lancaster, California, at the Lancaster Courthouse on Saturday, April 11, from 10:00am—11:00am. We will be hearing from guest speakers California State Senator George Runner (who strongly stood against the new tax-filled budget), State Assembleyman Steve Knight (who also refused to pass the new budget), Lancaster Mayor Parris, Lancaster Councilman Ron Smith, and many business owners and citizens.

Come out, bring your signs, and be a part of history in the making. If you’re sick of increased taxes and feel no one is representing you as the hard-working citizen anymore, come be a part and let both Sacramento and Washington know you are sick of paying for their mistakes.

**If you need directions or have any questions, leave me a comment. Also, if you have any slogans for signs, leave them in a comment as well.

CA State Supreme Court Hearing on Prop 8

The California State Supreme Court is now hearing arguments against Proposition 8.

Watch it here: http://tr.im/h3aY

California Legislature Violates Separation of Powers, Passes Anti-Prop 8 Resolutions

Yesterday afternoon the Assembly and Senate passed resolutions stating their opposition to Proposition 8.

Both houses of the state legislature are trying to go on record opposing Proposition 8 prior to the California Supreme Court’s hearing of the lawsuits against Proposition 8 on Thursday. In lengthy floor debates, Democrats passed HR 5 (Ammiano) and SR 7 (Leno), which express the opinion of the legislature that Proposition 8 was an unconstitutional revision and must be ruled invalid. However, the legislature’s passage of HR 5 and SR 7 violates the separation of powers doctrine which clearly instructs the legislature to refrain from influencing the judicial process, particularly pending legal cases.

Many Democrats rose to speak out against Proposition 8, even those from districts that clearly voted in favor of Proposition 8. “How arrogant for these lawmakers to express their personal opposition to Proposition 8 and try to persuade the court when their constituents voted in favor of traditional marriage,” stated Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Institute.

Assemblyman Van Tran eloquently pointed out that HR 5 is an attempt to “retroactively disenfranchise the votes of over 7 million voters” who passed Proposition 8. He explained that HR 5 is also an “illegal ex parte communication with the court.” Tran went on to chastise the Democrats for seeking to unduly influence the judicial review of Proposition 8 after the people had voted, and the legislature is politicizing the judicial process just a few days before the hearing.

Republican assemblymen Chuck DeVore, Ted Gaines, Joel Anderson, Steve Knight, Mike Villines and Dan Logue all rose to speak out against HR 5 and affirm the people’s right to pass Proposition 8.

Joel Anderson called on this fellow lawmakers to refrain from interpreting the law in the legislature, leaving that constitutional duty to the judicial branch.

[Written by Karen England of the Capitol Resource Institute]

For The Generation to Come

I have often been asked, “Why do you care about politics? Why waste your life working in a corrupt system?” So here’s my answer:

“We don’t inherit the world from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”—Ghandiji

I inherited a successful nation from my parents and grandparents. The economy was climbing, technology was advancing, our forces were keeping peace, and America was the land of the free and home of the brave. Problems were few; possibilities endless. But in the short 22 years I have been alive, things have changed.

I’m not one to point out everything wrong with our nation; I’m an optimist. But to ignore the changes taking place in our nation is to accept blind ignorance. Things are changing and it is time for a new group of leaders to rise and take responsiblity in our nation.

I may be young, but I can still make a difference. I may be only one, but I am one. I will do all I can, work as hard as I can, and fight as long as I can so that my children will be able to grow up in a nation of freedom, prosperity, and opportunity. I will not give in to the belief that America is failing. I will not accept this downtime in our nation as permanent.

Call me a blind optimist or an unrealistic dreamer, but I’m not giving up on America. Not yet; not ever.

American First, Republican Second

This is an article R. Patrick Murphy and myself have been working on for a few days. The original post can be read here at TheNextRight.

EDIT: The post can now also be seen on The Dana Report’s blog. Thanks Alan and Ari!

Americans have sent a clear message that must be reflected upon: As Republicans, we are not trusted to lead this country. After the results from eight years of a George Bush Presidency and six years of a Republican Congress, voters decided it was time for change. Who can blame them?

Democrats promised voters they would deliver the essential functions of government, such as a dependable economy and consistent national defense, while acting responsibly and effectively. Their promise of post-partisan politics was appealing as well, considering the growing desire among voters to elect representatives who will work for all Americans, not just a political party.

This remains a center-right nation, ideologically, but the last two election cycles demonstrated that Americans are willing to look past differences on the major issues and take a chance on candidates who have promised to be more productive and competent than their predecessors. This represents a shift in the political landscape, away from ideology and towards pragmatism.

To move this country forward, Republicans and Democrats must work together to develop the best solutions for the serious problems our country faces. Just as Republicans and Democrats allied after the disasters of September 11th, both parties must join together to guarantee America’s  problems are resolved. As Americans, we must demand that our elected representatives cooperate to solve the very serious dilemmas in America right now.

Some question the conservative credentials of Republicans willing to work with Democrats, but it should be stated that the goal is never to dilute conservatism via compromise. Republicans must never acquiesce or waver in defense of our core conservative principles: strong national defense, free market capitalism, freedom and liberty for individuals, decreased tax burden for all taxpayers, and limited waste in government. While Republicans will not win each battle, we must always be prepared to defend and promote our principles. If not, both Americans and Republicans will lose.

Delivering on the promise of good bipartisan government requires that liberal and conservative tenets are represented in every discussion. Unfortunately, when Republicans offered conservative additions to a very liberal stimulus plan, they were swiftly rejected by Congressional Democrats and President Barack Obama. We should all support Republican Congressmen in their fight to protect capitalism and lower taxes on middle and low-income workers.

Regrettably, vocal conservatives derided their actions as traitorous, instead of rallying support. This criticism is not only juxtaposed to the economic interests of the country, but also inhibits Republican efforts to rebuild our damaged credibility. As a party, we cannot afford to become marginalized reactionaries who simply oppose for the sake of opposition. The outcome of such mindless opposition would be legislation without input from Republicans, robbing Americans of conservative principles that will help in these difficult times.

With Democrats controlling the executive and legislative branches of government, they will undoubtedly advance a liberal agenda. Because of such control, Republicans have only two clear choices of action-fight Democrats in futility or collaborate to ensure our conservative principles are represented. But be forewarned, trading insults back and forth will not stall overtly liberal plans.

Once both political parties acknowledge the benefit of collaboration, they will be able to provide the most needed improvements for our nation. Republicans will also receive an invaluable opportunity to reassert credibility and narrow the trust gap with the American people. When this is combined with expanded outreach to young and minority voters, Republicans will enjoy a vastly improved electoral outlook.

In the end, it doesn’t matter to most Americans if something comes from a Democrat or Republican. Everyone desires a government that works. Americans must demand that both Republicans and Democrats place America ahead of partisanship. It’s imperative that we are all Americans first, partisans second.

Lauren is the Head Editor at The New Republicans and a Senior at West Coast Baptist College in Los Angeles. Patrick is the Chairman Emeritus of the Texas Federation of College Republicans and a Sophomore at Collin College in Dallas. Both are experienced campaign staffers.