Why Is Obama Only Now Pressuring Congress to Pass Hate Crimes Legislation?
Yesterday, President Barack Obama issued a press release where he urged Congress to pass the Matthew Shepard Act, which failed to make it through the Senate in 2007. And everyone is all excited about Obama defending our rights! What nobody seems to be doing? Mentioning the fact that this is the first time — on the eve of Congress’ vote — that Obama has spent anytime trying to get our elected officials to put hate crimes legislation on his desk. In the brief statement released yesterday, Obama says: “This week, the House of Representatives is expected to consider H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance – legislation that will enhance civil rights protections, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association. I also urge the Senate to work with my Administration to fina
