Evangelical Christians fear losing right to incite murder

[JackBeck]

John Aravosis (DC) · 1/17/2009 09:47:00 PM ET

http://www.visionamericaaction.us/rsr-11309/#preaching">From our dear friends in the religious right:

The Hate Crimes bill re-introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee will add homosexuals as a protected group to existing hate crime legislation. The bill will make it a federal crime for pastors to use the Bible to speak out against homosexuality if in response to that teaching someone commits an act of violence against a homosexual. This will effectively stifle the ability of pastors to preach the Word of God without fear of prosecution. Vision America has a plan to stop this Bill.

Inspiring someone to commit murder either is or isn't a crime already. The hate crimes bill has nothing to do with the spoken word - it has to deal with people dragging you behind their truck for a mile, or tying to you to a fence and pistol-whipping you in the head. I shouldn't be surprised, but still I am. Whining about your fear that you'll lose the right to incite murder. Only in America.

Needless to say, the Hate Crimes bill doesn't deal with speech. And in fact, America has had a hate crimes law for decades now, and no one has gone to jail for dissing blacks or whites, or people of faith, all of whom are already protected under the existing hate crimes laws. But somehow adding gays to a law that is already on the books, will magically make the law outlaw speech. Right. Evangelical bigots have a serious aversion to the truth. (H/t reader Sherril)

http://www.americablog.com/2009/01/evangelical-christians-fear-losing.html

Couldn't agree more with John's reaction. I've said it numerous times before as well. Where was all the outrage over the last few decades for the existing hate crimes statutes? Why is it only when the LGBT community asks for equal protection under the law that people in this country start parsing established law, in order to deny a minority a place at the table?

[Windy]

1. I truly believe that the majority of americans are sick and tired of these hateful people.

time will tell, but I'm encouraged. I listened to a "christian" talk show on the radio here in Detroit the other day and the host, Bob Dutko, was practically apoplectic in his assertions that he didn't hate Obama, but that he only disagreed with him on some issues. I think he has seen his rating fall off...

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. I think you're right

They're already looking silly. They have no one to bash, and the whole world has caught on to what an asshole murderer their hero, Chimpy Fucknuts, has been.

They got nothing, and they're unable to lay a finger on Obama, whose moves are far too smart and sophisticated for them.

Plus, and I hope we're both right, I think people are tired of the anger and the hate. They're tired of the fight and the anger. Look how quickly Ann Coulter disappeared with her newest - what do you call it when it's not a book, really? - act of desperation to get attention - she was in the news because of the Today show cancellation, but that all dried up very fast, faster than in the past.

The hard-core haters will always be there, but now it's going to be hard for those blustering, blathering idiots to make their usual level of ugly noise because the people are behind Obama. We all want him to succeed, because if he succeeds, so do we.

God, Windy, I hope we're right...................

:toast: