Today, I received this email from Norm Semanko, Idaho Republican Chairman:
From: Norm Semanko, Chairman
To: janabriggs
Date: Mon, May 11, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Subject: Minnick Votes for “Hate Crimes” Bill
Dear Friends,
Last week, Idaho’s First District Congressman, Democrat Walt Minnick voted for the dangerous “Hate Crimes Prevention” bill which grants special privileges to homosexual and transgendered lifestyles. Over time, this bill will make principled opposition to the homosexual agenda a criminal offense.
This vote is consistent with Minnick’s liberal past — like the time he gave money to defeat Idaho’s Marriage Amendment campaign in 2006. By the way, Idaho’s Marriage amendment passed with 63% of Idahoans voting in favor of it.
Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us that Walt voted with Nancy Pelosi, Janet Napolitano and Barney Frank to provide these special protections – and he abandoned the seventeen common sense, fair-minded members of his own party that voted against the bill such as Heath Shuler, Travis Childers and Joe Donnelly.
It seems to me that Minnick doesn’t share Idaho’s values after all.
Norm Semanko, Chairman
Mr. Semanko – I am an Idahoan. I moved here from the Midwest where the hills are green, the corn stalks are monstrous, and the cities flourish in rich cultural diversity. I didn’t move here to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. I didn’t move here to escape crime. I moved here because this state is one of hope. This beautiful state has provided a lot of hope for my family and I. And in that regard, I must question your intent with this email.
I must ask you: where is the link to the bill you reference as the “Hate Crimes Prevention” bill? I managed to dig it up for you. H.R. 1913 cited as ‘Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009‘ serves to enact many things. One of which is to define the very meaning of “hate crime”:
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF HATE CRIME.
In this Act–
(1) the term `crime of violence’ has the meaning given that term in section 16, title 18, United States Code;
(2) the term `hate crime’ has the meaning given such term in section 280003(a) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (28 U.S.C. 994 note); and
(3) the term `local’ means a county, city, town, township, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State.
In a nutshell – it hasn’t changed anything within our U.S. Code other than to define what the term “local” means. The rest of this very short House Resolution, which passed the House of Representatives on April 28th and is now on its way to the Senate, has explicitly more to do with providing funding to local government to aid in the investigation of hate crimes than it has to do with the expansion of “special privileges to homosexual and transgendered” persons as your email suggests. Although, it does provide grant funding for additional resources in the investigation of hate crimes that are…
motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim, or is a violation of the State, local, or tribal hate crime laws.
What’s bad about providing additional funding to our local law enforcement bodies? At the very core of this bill that’s what it provides. It is not setting some perch from which you or I can claim some kind of moral high ground. And it most certainly isn’t poising itself to become the next Proposition 8 which your email also eludes too with the statement…
Idaho’s Marriage amendment passed with 63% of Idahoans voting in favor of it.
Simply put, this bill is attempting to provide our local law enforcement officials with the funding they require to vigorously investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of prejudice in our society. All prejudices, not just convenient scape goats.
So, then is this email more about rallying support for ousting conservative-leaning Congressman Walt Minnick? It would appear to me that at the core of your email that’s what you’re attempting to accomplish. For whom? Bill Sali? I think that elephant has stomped its way out of the circus act.
You failed to mention that Minnick, in addition to the left leaning Democrats you noted above, voted for H.R. 1913 alongside many from your own party. To note: Judy Biggert of Illinois, Mary Bono-Mack of California, Joseph Cao of Louisiana, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Mike Castle of Delaware, Mike Coffman of Colorado, Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Leonard Lance of New Jersey, Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey, Todd Platts of Pennsylvania, Dave Reichert of Washington, Illeana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, and Greg Walden of Oregon. All of whom seem to share the same disease devoid of “common sense” and fair-mindedness.
I urge you to step outside and see the tide that is rising behind you. Idahoans may not be ready for same sex marriage or fair treatment for same sex couples, but I can’t imagine they’d go for popping granny off her scooter on Main Street and getting away with it either.
I recently designed this logo for Tim Hennessey who has founded a great organization to help grow and groom young politicians, the Future Republican Leaders Coalition.
I recently designed and developed the logo and front end for 