ACLU, HRC At Odds Over Senate Version of Hate Crimes Bill
source: http://lezgetreal.com/?p=18561
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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) are apparently at odds over the Matthew Shepard Act, which was attached to the Defense Reauthorization Bill. The ACLU insists the Senate's version (but not the House's, which it supports) doesn't go far enough in guaranteeing First Amendment protections. An ACLU spokesperson issued a statement objecting to the Senate version of the hate crimes bill because it lacked strong language protecting freedom of speech. This, of course, recalls the various objections that many Conservative groups have to the hate crimes bill.
But the HRC counters: that's not true. Both the Senate and House's bills provide adequate protections, insists HRC. (Interestingly, the Senate also passed an amendment via cloture for the sole purpose of indicating the bill does not violate the First Amendment.)
While the ACLU may be more interested in protecting the rights of individuals, many of the Conservatives speaking out on this issue regard this as being more about preventing the bill from passing. (And speaking of conservatives, the Log Cabin Republicans "applaud" the Senate's passage of the bill.)
But the HRC counters: that's not true. Both the Senate and House's bills provide adequate protections, insists HRC. (Interestingly, the Senate also passed an amendment via cloture for the sole purpose of indicating the bill does not violate the First Amendment.)
While the ACLU may be more interested in protecting the rights of individuals, many of the Conservatives speaking out on this issue regard this as being more about preventing the bill from passing. (And speaking of conservatives, the Log Cabin Republicans "applaud" the Senate's passage of the bill.)
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- Senate, House, Freedom of Speech, ACLU, 5 more
