The defense spending bill (S 1390) up for vote, and tied to is the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act. Gods know we need hate crime legislation; it creates a foundation to move forward with ENDA, DOMA, DADT, as well as protecting a minority’s rights.  When any minority is denied their rights, all minorites suffer (and basically we’re all minorities in some way). But we also need to slow down war spending with its all human, national, global and economic repercussions.

Attaching hate crimes to defense spending really shows the ugly, bald face of politics. It is really sad to think that S. 909, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, couldn’t pass on it own. Hate crime legislation seems like such a basic simple "duh of course" to pass: No one likes a bully–unless you’re the bully and think some people are less than. Actually you’d think enough congresspeople would be sick of their constituents getting killed and maimed they might rethink the war funding.

Tying these together creates a poison pill for both sides–it not bipartisanship; it’s manipulation.

BUT WAIT! Maybe this is actually a way to stop defense spending? To use the rightwing conservative religious wingnuts’ frothing fear of homosexuals (the wingnuts’ preferred term, not mine) in order to stop defense appropriations dead in its tracks?

And if the goal is to end defense spending–own it! Shout it loud:

We’re taking one for the team, we’re taking one for America, and so, macho douche bag soldier boy then next time you want to bash a faggot, realize the reason you’re not being shipped out to some shit hole is because the hate crimes bill didn’t pass.

Here’s what Doug Carlson, Southern Baptist Convention, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission had to say, and it’s mind boggling in its hate (emphasis mine):

The years-long battle over hate crimes legislation is entering its most critical hour. Both the House and Senate have passed such bills, which threaten to criminalize thought against homosexuality, while granting homosexual victims of violent crimes a preferred place under the law. Now congressional liberals, armed with the homosexual lobby, are hoping to prevail with final negotiations and votes necessary to send the dangerous measure to the White House for a signing victory.

The last chance to stop hate crimes legislation-a grave threat to the religious speech of Christians-from becoming the law of the land is upon us.

This week, a House-Senate conference committee is expected to hammer out differences on a military-funding authorization bill, with liberals intent on including the hate crimes measure as part of the package.

The potential erosion of religious liberty and the special protected status conferred under a hate crimes law demands our every effort to press for the bill’s defeat. That hour is now. If you agree, please urge your representative and senators to oppose the Defense Authorization bill if it includes hate crimes legislation.