The Senate approved a federal hate crimes measure on Thursday by voice vote after a 63 to 28 procedural vote was needed to allow it on to the defense authorization bill.
While it is particularly bizarre that the Leahy Hate Crimes Amendment was attached to a defense authorization bill, it is even more disturbing that thirteen senators, all Democrats, voted against Senator Brownback’s, (R-KS), amendment which “would ensure that any application of a federal hate crimes measure would not be construed or applied to infringe on First Amendment rights.” This means Senators Akaka (D-HI), Brown (D-OH), Burris (D-IL), Cardin (D-MD), Gillibrand (D-NY), Harkin (D-IA), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Leahy (D-VT), Mikulski (D-MD), Reed (D-RI), Reid (D-NV), Schumer (D-NY), and Whitehouse (D-RI) are more than willing to explicitly have the government censor Americans in exchange for a political agenda. The Brownback Amendment passed 78 to 13.
update: date of voice vote and language of amendment passage.
