WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE HATE BILL?
By Rev. Ted Pike
13 Jun 07
After overwhelming passage of the federal anti-hate bill in the
House on May 3, 2007, it seemed the Senate version, S. 1105, would
as quickly move forward to a vote. Yet S. 1105 has been held back
in the Senate Judiciary Committee by other legislative priorities,
including difficult issues of immigration, war in Iraq, etc. Very
probably, the delay is also due to the need of organized national
Jewry to mobilize pressure on President Bush not to veto it. (See,
Jews Pressure Bush to Sign Hate Bill)
What’s next? Yesterday I put that question to staffers of
Senators Kennedy and Smith, the bill’s sponsors.
Kennedy’s office told me they intend to move the hate bill
out of Judiciary and onto the floor of the Senate as soon as possible.
Their spokesperson claimed they have the necessary 60 votes for passage.
Smith’s office agreed that, although the bill is under the
cloud of a threatened Presidential veto, it is straightforward legislation
that is not being held back by that threat but will move forward
rapidly as soon as space in the docket allows.
Smith’s spokesperson indicated that criticism of the bill
as a threat to free speech has been severe but that such objections
have been neutralized by an amendment to it which stipulates that
nothing in the hate bill could ever threaten guarantees of free speech.
This source indicated that a filibuster from the Republicans is expected
but voiced the hope that the pro-hate bill majority could invoke
cloture. This would limit further debate and pass the bill with only
the 51 votes necessary under the cloture rule.
I was also informed that hate bill leaders do not want Judiciary
hearings, claiming that hearings in previous sessions of Congress
adequately explored and dismissed possible dangers of the hate bill.
Clearly, the pro-hate bill forces are afraid of a repeat of the drama
and polarization which happened in the House Judiciary Committee
earlier.
What if the hate bill passes in the Senate, yet is vetoed by President
Bush? These spokesmen told me emphatically that the hate bill would
be immediately referred back to the House and Senate and a concerted
effort made to pass it by a two-thirds majority, overcoming the Presidential
veto. If that fails, I was told, overtures by Smith, Kennedy, and
others to the President will be proposed in an effort to craft a
compromised hate bill. Senator Smith’s staffer was very familiar
with Pres. Bush’s first-term promise to pass a “modified” hate
bill. In case of veto, this is a light at the end of the tunnel for
the pro-hate bill forces.
My conversations with these staffers indicate that the federal
hate bill could spring to life at any time and move forward very
rapidly, perhaps as a rider to larger "must pass" legislation.
Be assured that when it comes out of Judiciary, headed for a vote
in the Senate, it will only be because its backers are confident
they have the votes to pass it. When that happens, lovers of truth
and free speech must be just as instant to bombard members of the
Senate with protests more intense than ever. The National Prayer
Network will remain on guard and alert you as soon as this need arises.
Until that time, it is an excellent use of your time to keep calling, first
the members of the Senate from your district and state but also all Senators
who might possibly be dissuaded from support of the hate bill. These are listed
at here at truthtellers.org.
The issue of immigration amnesty has inspired an avalanche of protest
from heartland America, protest which seems to have resulted in another
victory for America. Yet, we must not forget the hate bill threat.
Let your senators know that you are deeply concerned and that if
they vote for it you and your friends will never vote for them again
and will do everything in your power to make sure they never return
to Congress.
When the people get angry enough, politicians will learn there's
a new kind of survivor on Capitol Hill, not one who cuts backroom
deals with pressure groups like ADL but one who listens to the will
of the constituents and does what they say.
Rev. Ted Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative
watch dog organization.
Let the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith teach you how they
have saddled 45 states with hate laws capable of persecuting Christians: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp.
Learn how ADL took away free speech in Canada and wants to steal
it now in the U.S. Congress. Watch Rev. Ted Pike's Hate
Laws: Making Criminals of Christians at video.google.com. Purchase
this gripping documentary to show at church. Order online at www.truthtellers.org for
$24.90, DVD or VHS, by calling 503-853-3688, or at the address below.
TALK SHOW HOSTS: Interview Rev. Ted Pike on this
topic. Call (503) 631-3808.
National Prayer Network, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas,
OR 97015
