A Sad Day

Filed under: Politik

The U.S. Congress dropped the hate crimes bill on Thursday.

:-(

Posted: Dec 6, 2007 at 7:11 pm / Email this »

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282 comments to “A Sad Day”

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Cindy says – reply to this

1

Good. Let's enforce the laws we have. I thought all crimes were HATE based.
nyheart13 says – reply to this

2

What the hell? Who in the hell voted these morons into office? Certainly not me!
Leah says – reply to this

3

They suck.
Jessica says – reply to this

4

I JUST read this article! It's so sad…
jj says – reply to this

5

bo
first says – reply to this

6

first!
emobacca says – reply to this

7

congress did something good for once
asdf says – reply to this

8

good
Leanne says – reply to this

9

I think that is really disappointing for Americans as a whole. It's really sad that people are still so biased against sexual orientation, gender and disability in the twenty-first century.
Ash says – reply to this

10

Ugh, this is tragic.
Carly says – reply to this

11

That is a large jump backwards in supporting and helping the glbt community. Very disappointing.
wow says – reply to this

12

that suckz
amber says – reply to this

13

:-(
first?!
adf says – reply to this

14

1st!
stacy says – reply to this

15

first!
Crissie says – reply to this

16

First… maybe wow im gettingbetter at this… oooh nooo the world is going downthe shitter really!
Oefff says – reply to this

17

SHAME
Lori C. says – reply to this

18

GOOD FOR THEM! A person that commits a crime should be punished for THEIR CRIME, not their INTENTIONS for the crime! Breaking the law is breaking the law, no matter what the intent behind it. GOOD FOR THEM; GREAT DECISION. Makes me less inclined to GIVE UP on our government!
kelsey says – reply to this

19

cunts
Emily says – reply to this

20

=(
SAD says – reply to this

21

SAD TO SAY BUT OUR US CONGRESS SUPPORTS HATE CRIMES.
Theresa says – reply to this

22

Totally, inexcusable. This is a crime in and of itself. There should be no tolerance anywhere in this world for hate crimes, especially supposedly the most enlightened nation in the world. I am once again shamed by our Congress. May God forgive them and may they all hope that they or someone they love is never a victim of a hate crime.
Jennifer says – reply to this

23

Sorry Perez, but here in America, we have freedom of religion, press and expression. We can only be punished for what we do, not for what we think.

Making juries decide what people were thinking is definitely crossing into dangerous, 1984-type territory.

Thank goodness the hate crime bill was struck down- it's definitely not constitutional.
crissie says – reply to this

24

haha il just keep commenting.. too bad its not for a happy post!…
KG says – reply to this

25

Boo!
crissie says – reply to this

26

haha il just keep commenting.. too bad its not for a happy post!…
UKer says – reply to this

27

AMERICA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ITSELF.
SAD DAY INDEED PEREZ
common sense says – reply to this

28

That's very good news. Any assault or crime against another person involves hatred at the very core of it. Why should certain races or classes receive preferred status as suggested with the concept of a "hate crime".
Hey says – reply to this

29

what?! why is this?
first? says – reply to this

30

so sad. I hate that so many issues are tacked on to one bill– which leads to problems like getting this through congress.
Lori C. says – reply to this

31

Gosh, for the life of me, I cannot figure out why you would have a in response to this. CRIME IS CRIME. BREAKING THE LAW is BREAKING THE LAW. If I shot someone randomly and killed them and/or if I shot someone because I hate their color/religion/lifestyle, it's the same: I SHOT AND KILLED SOMEONE! Punish me no matter what my "intent" or "thoughts prior"!!!!!!!!!!! C'mon, Where the fuck is America????? So very, very sad.
danielle says – reply to this

32

=(
Danny says – reply to this

33

That sux. I'm gay and I believe that is such bull—-. Anyhow I hope Hilary gets office that would be awesome.
Lori C. says – reply to this

34

Gosh, for the life of me, I cannot figure out why you would have a in response to this. CRIME IS CRIME. BREAKING BREAKING THE LAW is BREAKING THE LAW. If I shot someone randomly and killed them and/or if I shot someone because I hate their color/religion/lifestyle, it's the same: I SHOT AND KILLED SOMEONE! Punish me no matter what my "intent" or "thoughts prior"!!!!!!!!!!! C'mon, Where the fuck is America????? So very, very sad.
Theresa says – reply to this

35

Re: Lori C. – Just how would you feel about that if say the newest intolerance craze and hate was for, let's say, blue eyed people. And you had a friend, or child or sibling with blue eyes and some monster took that person you loved and beat them and tied them to a tree for 3 days to die and when your family found them they were braindead and you had to make the choice to pull the plug. Would you be so cavalier about hate crimes then?
foxie says – reply to this

36

Good. Crimes are crimes, why give special treatment to minority victims? Crimes deemed as "hate" crimes are done so out of opinion. Usually an extremely BIASED opinion.
mooreperfect says – reply to this

37

This sucks….I hope you dont make it too 2008 dong
mika says – reply to this

38

33rd
becki says – reply to this

39

Re: Cindy – You couldnt be more right!! F this bill…and good ridence
BEcca says – reply to this

40

all crimes are hate crimes
timo says – reply to this

41

Re: Jennifer –
hey dumb bitch, we also have the right to the pursuit of happiness and liberty and while your values may not match mine, beating the shit out of me is in no way constitutionally protected. i hope someone kicks your ass for being a fat dumb bitch.
Erik says – reply to this

42

I love the US, but sometimes I'm just really not that impressed. Too bad.

This is my first Perezhilton comment… your site is a lot of fun, love it.
Jaime says – reply to this

43

Maybe our liberal congress (which has an 11% approval rating, by the way) shouldn't have tried attaching it to a defense bill! Wow, they are such MORONS!!!! And to people who think that the bill was shot down because the country doesn't care about gays…. get a clue. It was shot down because… IT WAS TIED TO A BILL FUNDING THE WAR!! Ted Kennedy is such a douche. And a lush. Oh, and a murderer, let's not forget that.
foxie says – reply to this

44

Re: Leanne – People are allowed to think what they want about who they want. It's the ACTION that is illegal, not the thought. You can't punish opinion here, this isn't a communist state.
Beck says – reply to this

45

YES…just reading the most of these comments so far…Your reading audience is SMART!! The bill was a waste, and its great that it didnt pass
Jen says – reply to this

46

The hate crimes bill was attached to a larger bill approving billions of dollars in spending for the Iraq war. As a result, many Representatives who support the hate crimes bill but oppose the continuation of the war were forced to withdraw their support.

The fight's not over - and although I wholeheartedly support the hate crimes legislation, we can't pretend that Representatives didn't have good reasons for this. Let's just try to get the bill back up on its own.
teri says – reply to this

47

the US is effed… move to Canada, Perez!!
Tim Steed says – reply to this

48

Here is what I got from that:
Republicans = HATE THE LGBT COMMUNITY
Democrats = Want to help the LGBT Community

Get active with the Democratic Party TODAY
www.youngdems.org
www.yda.org
www.dnc.org

Tim Steed, President
California Young Democrats
Dumb says – reply to this

49

Come on people, it was attatched to a bill that funded the war… if they passed the hate crime bill it ALL would have to have been passed.. that would mean billions lost to this fucking war..

Read into it Dumbasses..
LOVE THE RICH WHITE MEN says – reply to this

50

THESE PIECES OF SHIT. I WROTE MY CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS IN UTAHARD TO VOTE FOR IT. These rich white men should be hated against because theY'RE rich white men, and they make laws to protect big business. People for the people by the people you sons of bitches. AMERICA FUCK YEAH!!!! AMERICA FUCK YEAH!!!! AMERICA FUCK YEAH!!!! AMERICA FUCK YEAH!!!! AMERICA FUCK YEAH!!!! AMERICA FUCK YEAH!!!! OOOH SUCH DETEST.
Asheville Pete says – reply to this

51

This is good news, if you look at the big picture
If someone does bodily harm to you, it's a crime
If someone calls you a name, it is not a crime, just not very nice

We have so many many laws, that we cant/wont enforce, why in Gods name would we add another

IM sure that John Edwards and lawyers everywhere are unhappy, but they should be the only ones who are

As Americans we have rights, there on the books, stop being a victim, get off your fat ass and stand up for yourselves
Niki says – reply to this

52

I don't understand how someone can be hated because of who they sleep with, so hated that would physically attack someone you don't even know. When will this world learn that it doesnt matter what color your skin is or who you sleep with, we are all equal.
Pro Peace.
foxie says – reply to this

53

Re: timo – Duh, it's illegal to beat you up. It's not illegal for someone to hate you though. Sorry pal.
Justin Timberlake says – reply to this

54

About Time. Wow — so when is a murder more important when a gay person gets killed or someone else who is not gay gets killed…. It's all the same you idiots. Its a crime and they should both be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Peace Out, I banged Brittany — before she turned more psycho
brigitte says – reply to this

55

i think this is a great move for our society. murder is a hate crime itself. does it matter if youre a women, man, gay, indian, etc? hurting anyone no matter what they are is a horrible act and the criminals should be thrown in jail!
heather says – reply to this

56

… this is why america is the most foolish governed (and run) country in the world … i have no respect
justjak says – reply to this

57

THIS DEVELOPMENT IS DISGUSTING !!! THESE POLITICIAN'S REPRESENT NO ONE BUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR GREEDY SELF INTERESTS. Re: common sense – AND ATTITUDES LIKE YOURS ASSHOLE ARE THE PRIMARY REASON THEY GET AWAY WITH IT…IT IS ABSOLUTELY NO WONDER AT ALL WHY THE REST OF THE WORLD HOLDS OUR RIDICULOUS NATION IN SUCH CONTEMPT. SHAME ON THE CONGRESS…SHAME ON AMERICA !!!
OOh poopie says – reply to this

58

Re: ddddddd – thought the jews ran the U.S.?
Daniel says – reply to this

59

I agree with everyone who posted about the silliness of hate crimes. Ideas should not be put on trial. Just enforce the laws we already have.
foxie says – reply to this

60

Re: Tim Steed – Hey, that's discriminatory. And according to your train of thought, that should be punishable by law. Hate Crime laws are stupid… get it yet?
Katie says – reply to this

61

All crimes are hate crimes. Please don't segregate yourself further. If everyone wants to be equal, crimes have to be, too. Same consequence for same crime no matter what race, gender, religion, or sexual preference. I am REALLY sick of people saying they want to be treated the same and then come up with this shitty idea. Come on Perez, you HAVE to be smarter than this.
LISTEN says – reply to this

62

that's bullshit. so that basically says that if i got beat up for being black it's a hate crime, but if i'm gay then it's not. fucking BULLSHIT.
yEP says – reply to this

63

A crime is a crime and this one was not necessary. Instead of being proud and flamboyent and shouting to the world about your sexual preference, try being low-key like most staright people do. I for one would respect you more and apprieciate if you wouldn't flaunt yourself in front of young children. The world is crazzy enough without adding sexual preference confusion into it. Keep it behind closed doors and everything will be just fine.
Sweet! says – reply to this

64

Wooohoo no thought crimes bill.

Bout time they got something right!
Fuchsia says – reply to this

65

Democrats suck. It's no wonder their approval rating is lower than any previous congress in the history of polling.

Vote Democrat? Ha! Only morons do that. Look where it got you!!! Nowhere fast!!
toast says – reply to this

66

THIS is why I'm glad I moved to Canada… and so much more.
foxie says – reply to this

67

PEREZ, I'm disappointed. Divinding people's rights further and giving certain groups special treatment is NOT the way to equality in the heart of America. Treating people as legal EQUALS is the way to equality.
I Love Jesus says – reply to this

68

Aaaaw, that's so sad!! Why is our government filled with monsters?? Gays are people too, and the bill also included disabled people! Come now, the gay issue is one thing but a disabled person?? Someone who is physically challenged who probably has absolutely no chance to fight back. Now that is just sick…well sick-ER. Round up all the bigots and send them to Antarctica or something. They can talk about how superior they are and smell each others farts while bashing anything that's different.
OMG ARE YOU KIDDING ME? says – reply to this

69

Re: justjak – Dear justjakov - Please name for me ONE other country on the globe, with people LITERALLY DYING to get into.

You know this "Ridiculous nation"…the one with all those people who hate us…lying cheating stealing and killing to GET INTO!

I'll wait……

Fucktard
Average Jane says – reply to this

70

W H A T ! ! ? ?

OMG, I hate Bush.
Lori C. says – reply to this

71

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>52 - Tim Steed says –
Here is what I got from that:
Republicans = HATE THE LGBT COMMUNITY
Democrats = Want to help the LGBT Community
Get active with the Democratic Party TODAY
www.youngdems.org>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

HATE CRIMES. You seriously think that because someone commits a crime, no matter what they did or did not hate, judge, etc. that their penalty should be more harsh???? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE???!!!!! Punishing someone for their ACTIONS is more than reasonable. Punishing someone for their thoughts, my GOD, what are we coming to??!!! THAT IS SADNESS, so very sad.
tmacc says – reply to this

72

treating crimes diferently from each other makes no sence at all and having tougher laws for people who kill some one because that person is gay is a form a discrimantion that's just a fact. Just because a bunch you agree with it dosent make it right. Open you eyes people. If you want to be treated like "every one else" STOP FIGHTING FOR LAWS THAT SINGLE YOU OUT YOU GODDAMN FOOLS
Jenny says – reply to this

73

You know what? This makes me absolutely furious. If the people who hold the "real" power can't even come together to make something that is needed happen, then what hope do we have? As a senior in college this has only deepened my concern for how much hate and anger we still continue to see everyday.
Leila says – reply to this

74

Re: toast –

That bill was was a bundled package that included giving more money to support the war in Iraq. Why waste even MORE money when our dollar is already in a wicked nose-dive?? I`m glad you moved to Canada too honey! Good riddance.
GAYS GO TO HELL! says – reply to this

75

WHO CARES????????????????????????????

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM….

ONLY GAYS LIKE PEREZ…………………….
justjak says – reply to this

76

Re: OMG ARE YOU KIDDING ME? – You know what FUCK HEAD…Go eat shit…and while your at it…dig up hitler and suck his rotted dick. You MUST BE a middle american WHITE christian with the mental capacity of a DEAD chicken, because you SO desperately want to believe a total Crock of HORSESHIT. America IS NOT a great nation anymore, ASSWIPE, it is instead a GLOBAL JOKE. This nation STOPPED being great when TOTAL TURDS LIKE YOU allowed The American Nazi (republicans) Party to take over and installed a MENTALLY RETARDED president and TOTALLY EVIL vice president to DESTROY America's global credibility. People may be dying to get into this country, you pee-brained shit-eater, but I'm sure MOST realize their mistake once they get here.
Marci says – reply to this

77

This isn't right anyway. I mean if my neighbor killed me because they were pissed that i had parked my car on thier front lawn would that mean they don't deserve as much time in the slammer as the person that killed his or her neighbor because they were gay or black?
Nicole Kidman's Mother says – reply to this

78

Re: justjak – You are SO correct sir. We here in Australia just gave the boot to ,HOWARD, Geaorge Bush's personal Ass Licker, and we desperately hope that you American's wise up, and toss out every single one of you vile republican (for what it's worth, we consider them to be NAZIS too) congressional representatives. America IS a global joke, but it doesn't have to be. Just follow our Australian lead.
wendy says – reply to this

79

Good. It's a load of crap. No one in this country should be considered more important than another solely because of race, gender, etc. Last I heard it was called "equal protection under the law" NOT "special protection under the law".
Branday-Hey-Ho! says – reply to this

80

"But because it was attached to a major defense policy bill that would have authorized more money for the Iraq war, many anti-war Democrats said they would oppose it."

^^^ HELLO. Do you even read these political articles you link to? Wow, you're a douchebag x100000
Mrs Trent Lott says – reply to this

81

Re: DONG – You are SO FULL OF SHIT, you cowardly little retard…the only thing you're going to be doing tonight is sitting in the airport toilet hoping your HERO Larry Craig shows up.
BRING BACK THE LAW! says – reply to this

82

A HATE CRIME IS NOT JUST A COMMON CRIME! IT GOES BEYOND THE ACT BECAUSE IT IS MOTIVATED BY HATE, WAR IS A HATE CRIME, GAY BASHING IS A HATE CRIME, A KILLING MOTIVATED BY RACISM IS A HATE CRIME!!!

Hate crimes (also known as bias motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her membership in a certain social group, usually defined by race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, or political affiliation.[1] Hate crimes differ from conventional crime because they are not directed simply at an individual, but are meant to cause fear and intimidation in an entire group or class of people.
SICK SICK SICK!!!! says – reply to this

83

And the Congress is made up of mostly Democrats??? Wait a effing minute….after Bush I swore I was was going to Democrat. This is screwy!
addie says – reply to this

84

while the nondiscrimination towards homosexuals in the military part of te bill was good, the bill would have also sent more money to the war in iraq. someone needs to draft a better bill that doesn't attach nondiscrimination with war funding.
addie says – reply to this

85

while the nondiscrimination towards homosexuals in the military part of te bill was good, the bill would have also sent more money to the war in iraq. someone needs to draft a better bill that doesn't attach nondiscrimination with war funding.
Tom says – reply to this

86

Well that's gay.
Krysie says – reply to this

87

NObody will read this, but I think that it's important to note that it didnt pass because of the military spending bill that it was attached to.-end of story.
Noelle says – reply to this

88

Our government makes me sick.
bee says – reply to this

89

CONGRESS = Dirty Fucking Liars.
Favourite Axe says – reply to this

90

Re: justjak –
Whining, shouting and cursing on a message board. You are a pathetic child.
Justin says – reply to this

91

I have been brought to tears
bee says – reply to this

92

Maybe if the American Public got more involved in POLITIC'S, But the vast majority doesn't. Even on their local scale, i.e. city council, and such. So don't get into a fucking tizzy when things don't go your way. If people got involved more in their community, instead of raising property values, then maybe things would be different. But until the American people can get up and be proactive, nothing will 'change', DUH…..
joe says – reply to this

93

Haven't read this on other sites. Thanks for keeping us up to date.
bee says – reply to this

94

GAY isn't the only 'hate crime' fuckers….
Renee says – reply to this

95

Think people all these laws define the difference between us. WAKE UP
I know says – reply to this

96

Those damn Democrats AGAIN!!
Stephers says – reply to this

97

My question is: why is it attached to another bill that is in no way similar and would be highly opposed? Is that the idea all along? How irritating.
Amy says – reply to this

98

Re: Krysie – I read it. Thank you Krysie =) It would of been nice of Perez to mention that also.
Get Off Yer Frilly Pedestal says – reply to this

99

By the way, this is NOT celebrity gossip. It does not belong on this site.
Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus says – reply to this

100

i have renewed hope in america now!!! the fruitcakes and carpet munchers will do nothing to stop and try to get minority status…go to some country accepting of your lifestyle and stop forcing the rest of us NORMAL people to accept your filthy disgusting lifestyle!! i hear france has plenty of room…or canada