Thomas Daschle: “Hatred and violence are not traditional values and they are not American values. Vicious crimes tear at the very fabric…”

“Hatred and violence are not traditional values and they are not American values. Vicious crimes tear at the very fabric of our society and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Sixty-five Senators--including 18 Republican Senators--voted today to expand hate crimes protection to all Americans. The overwhelming support for the hate crimes amendment is a victory for basic fairness and for victims' rights. This bipartisan amendment provides more help for local law enforcement--and tougher penalties for people who commit hate crimes. It also expands hate crimes protections to include gender, sexual orientation and disability. These are all reasonable changes that are supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans and by law enforcement agencies across the country. Those who say these protections are unnecessary because they protect only a small number of people miss the point. Even one beating, one murder, or one assault is unacceptable. Hate crimes diminish all Americans.”