Spokesman ducks 'hate crimes' question

The official spokesman for President Obama ducked a question over a measure approved by the U.S. House and pending in the Senate that many opponents fear can be used to criminalize Christian thought and words.

The First Amendment question was raised by Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House, over H.R. 1913, approved just days ago 249-175 by the U.S. House. Opponents say it creates a special privileged class for homosexuals against so-called "hate crimes" that allows them to pursue cases in which they could claim to "perceive" to be intimidated or harassed by words, such as when pastors preach the biblical perspective of homosexuality.

The bill, which failed earlier because President Bush said it likely is unconstitutional, now also is pending in the Senate after its introduction by Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. It appears to many opponents to be a payback from Obama to homosexual activists who supported his presidential campaign.

Kinsolving asked: "The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights president, William Donahue, noted, in the House Judiciary Committee, an amendment to H.R. 1913, the Hate Crimes Bill, which amendment would have excluded pedophilia, was voted down 13 to 10, while another amendment to bar prosecution based on religious beliefs was also defeated 11 to 8. And my question: Does the president believe pedophilia should be a legally protected sexual orientation, and that religious beliefs opposing homosexuality are not protected under our Constitution's freedom of religion?"

Gibbs, not responding directly to the question, said, "I'm not familiar with the amendments."

"Will you get back to us on that?" Kinsolving asked.

"All right," Gibbs said.

The proposal denies protections against so-called "hate crimes" to classes of citizens such as pastors, Christians, missionaries, veterans and the elderly that would be granted to homosexuals and those with gender issues.

It it named the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act after a Wyoming homosexual who was killed in a horrific robbery and beating in 1998.

It also provides money "to improve the education and training of local officials to identify, investigate, prosecute and prevent hate crimes," which appears to offer law enforcement an open door to pre-emptive action against what they think might eventually be "hate crimes."

Kennedy described "hate crimes" as "especially poisonous."

"They are acts of domestic terrorism that target whole communities, not just individuals," he claimed. "This bill will bring greater protection to our citizens and much-needed resources for state and local law enforcement to fight these vicious crimes.

President Obama, supported strongly during his campaign by homosexual advocates, appears ready to respond to their desires.

"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," he said.

Christians across the nation, however, have spoken with an almost unanimous voice in opposing the special designation of homosexuals and others from federal protection denied other groups of citizens.

They condemned House members who refused to provide the same protections for seniors, pregnant women and members of the military as being given to homosexuals. Also rejected was an amendment that would have prohibited pedophiles from claiming protection under the law.

Similar state laws have resulted in persecution for Christians. In Philadelphia several years ago, a 73-year-old grandmother was jailed for trying to share Christian tracts with people at a homosexual festival.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said H.R. 1913 will create "thought crimes," and U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said it will end equality in the U.S.

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, charged the plan will divide America into groups of more favored versus less. He again cited USC Title 18, Section 2a, the foundation of H.R. 1913, which says anyone who through speech "induces" commission of a violent hate crime "will be tried as a principal" alongside the active offender.

But there is no epidemic of hate in the U.S., he noted.

Andrea Lafferty, executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition, said, "A pastor's sermon could be considered 'hate speech' under this legislation if heard by an individual who then acts aggressively against persons based on 'sexual orientation.' The pastor could be prosecuted for 'conspiracy to commit a hate crime.'"

"This Democrat-controlled Congress has now elevated pedophiles and other bizarre sexual orientations, as well as drag queens, transgenders, lesbians and gay men to the level of protection of that already given to African Americans, Hispanics and other minorities in the law," she said.

House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the Democrats have placed a higher value on some lives compared to others, a decision he said is unconstitutional.

Gibbs brushed off a question from Kinsolving that noted Fox did not provide live coverage of Obama's evening news conference this week.

The exchange follows:

Kinsolving: "What appeared to be 90 reporters attended last night's presidential press conference, but only 13 of the 90 were allowed to ask questions, which the president took 45 minutes and 24 seconds to answer. And my question …"

Gibbs: "Can I correct the premise of your question?"

Kinsolving: "Yes, of course."

Gibbs: "I don't have a full transcript in front of me, but I think on a number of those occasions multiple questions were asked."

Kinsolving: "Yes."

Gibbs: "Thirteen people asked questions. Thirteen people asked an unnumbered …"

Kinsolvign: "That's right, 13 out of 90."

Gibbs: "The same question was asked twice."

Kinsolving: "Do you and the president believe that television networks will continue covering these 13 only selected questioners in advance presidential speeches, or do you think they may join Fox in refusing?"

Gibbs: "I have enough trouble speaking for this government without getting into trouble speaking for a network. I think I would ask those individual networks. I think your question mischaracterizes what happened last night. I think, Lester, you saw, if I'm not mistaken, the president answer questions about the flu, which you all have asked today; the president was asked about Notre Dame, Lester, as you have asked about. …"

Kinsolving: "And he didn't take one – he did not even mention Notre Dame, did he, in his answer – a very good question."

Gibbs: "I know – I want to give Ed credit for asking a good question, one in which you built on in this very room."

Gibbs: "The president was asked about Pakistan. The president was asked about Iraq. The president was asked about the economy. The president was asked about a lot of those – the president was asked about the Republican Congress – many of the same questions that I get and many of the same interests that you all have. I think the president addressed many of the cares and concerns on behalf of the American people and was glad to do so."

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