Political Quotes

“It is reprehensible that the GOP House leadership demanded the removal of the hate crimes provision from the Defense Authorization Act. The provision had solid support in both the Senate and the House. Under the leadership of Senator Warner and Senator Gordon Smith, the Senate approved it as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill in July by the nearly 2-to-1 bipartisan majority of 65 to 33. Eighteen Republicans joined all the Democrats in approving this measure. Last week, by a vote of 213 to 186, the House instructed its conferees to support this provision in the conference report on the bill. The hate crimes provision is an essential response to a serious problem which continues to plague the nation. Since the September 11 attacks, we've had a shameful increase in the number of hate crimes committed in our country against Arabs and Muslims--murders, beatings, arson, attacks on mosques, shootings, and other assaults. In 2001, anti-Muslim incidents were the second highest-reported hate crimes based on religion--second only to anti-Jewish hate crimes. Nevertheless, under current law, the Justice Department has to fight these vicious crimes with one hand tied behind its back.”