‘Tenther’ Oklahoma Lawmaker Considering Bill To Opt Out Of Hate Crimes Act

[G_j]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/18/oklahoma-tenther-hate-crime/


‘Tenther’ Oklahoma Lawmaker Considering Bill To Opt Out Of Hate Crimes Act

A common right-wing objection to federal health care legislation is that it’s unconstitutional. So-called “tenthers” argue that the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution never explicitly gives the federal government the right to regulate health care, leaving that power exclusively in the hands of the states. To that end, officials in various states have raised the possibility of passing legislation to exempt their residents from federal health care reform if it passes.

Oklahoma state Sen. Steve Russell (R) is proposing to use the same argument and tactic to try to exempt his state from the recently-passed Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act — which extends hate crimes protections to gays and lesbians — because he claims it infringes on freedom of speech:

Russell said because the government has decided to intervene on issues of morality, he is worried that religious leaders who speak out against any lifestyle could be imprisoned for their speech.

“The law is very vague to begin with,” Russell said. “Sexual orientation is a very vague word that could be extended to extremes like necrophilia.” <...>

Russell said Oklahoma can opt out of the law on the basis of the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

“The bill gives the federal government power that was not given to them in the Constitution,” Russell said. “I am aware of the supremacy of the federal government over state governments, but the federal requirements are vague enough for us to make actions. We just have to be very careful on how we proceed.”

Hate crime protections have been on the books since 1969, but Russell seems to object to only those which protect gays and lesbians. Moreover, Russell and the other tenthers have flimsly legal basis for their claims.

..more..

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Go for it. Also be sure to state clearly that Oklahoma ranks 49th. in its citizens health.

[atreides1]

3. It doesn't matter to their supporters

I'm not sure why many here on DU refuse to understand that people who support mouth breathers like Coburn and Inhofe, don't care if their fellow citizens die!!!

Do you really believe that the Oklahomans who voted for this clown, actually care about others in their state, or any other Americans?

To them it's all about god says this, god says that, and fuck the rest of the human race.

These people are a lost cause, their religon trumps their humanity.

[hippywife]

2. No one need ever ask

why I hate living here. :mad: <--- I look like this all the time anymore, simply because of the nutcases I have to live and work amongst. You haven't the slightest idea. :eyes:

[LynneSin]

4. hippy you are not alone

unfortunately we have hundreds of DUers trapped in parts of the nation where they are surrounded by these kinds of idiots. For the rest of us living in sanity - we'll fight hard to protect everyone included those stuck in red states.

[Nikki Stone1]

6. New Zealand is looking better and better

..

[LeftinOH]

7. I cannot imagine what it must be like. FWIW- I see your pic of my rep Kucinich;

his district office is within walking distance from my house. Those of you in big 'red' areas must have nerves of steel.

[Vincardog]

5. How does calling a CRIME against GLBT a HATE CRIME become the Government stopping free speech? WTF?

[sinkingfeeling]

8. You didn't really expect these guys to make sense, did you?

[Vincardog]

9. No I lived down here for a decade. They are beyond the reach of rational thought in their own web

of lies.