House Republicans have objected to a Senate initiative to strengthen and expand the federal hate crimes law, probably dooming prospects for its passage this year as part of the 2005 defense authorization bill. - Wash PostThe GOP is using the hate crimes bill, and their opposition to it, to drum up religious right votes. Mel Martinez, the GOP Senate candidate in Florida, criticized adding sexual orientation to the hate crimes bill as support for the "radical gay agenda." This in spite of the fact that two top staffers on Martinez' campaign are openly-gay - his chief finance guy (who has a long-term partner) and a top strategist. And this beside the fact that one of Martinez' top supporter, GOP congressman Mark Foley of Florida is also gay (and reportedly has a long-term partner).
Ah, you know you've matured as a movement when you can be out and proud of who you are, but still stick a knife in the back of your own people AND even your own spouse.
