Monday, May 04, 2009

One News Now tries to make Prejean a hate crimes martyr

Still smarting over the U.S. House of Representatives passing lgbt inclusive hate crimes legislation, the phony news site One News Now have decided to use the quickly passing Carrie Prejean/Perez Hilton controversy to make an illogical point:

A Virginia congressman says the anti-Christian hatred and bigotry of homosexual blogger Perez Hilton and his supporters underscores one of the fallacies undergirding federal "hate crimes" legislation.

. . . Congressman Randy Forbes (R-Virginia) is a former ranking member of the Judiciary Crime Subcommittee, and founder of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. He recently took to the House floor and provided a powerful example of how the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" does not ensure equality under the law.

Congressman Forbes compared the protection Miss California Carrie Prejean would receive under the bill to the special protection homosexual blogger and Miss USA judge Perez Hilton would have been afforded.

"Had [Hilton] done what he said he would do and stormed that stage and pulled that tiara off [Prejean's] head and [inflicted] bodily harm when he did it, there would not have been one ounce of protection under this piece of legislation for that young girl," Forbes stated.

First of all, the article is solely about Hilton. Whoever his "supporters" are, there is no further mention of them.

Secondly, I never believed Hilton when he made that statement. It's very easy to talk about what you would have done after the fact. But had Prejean won, Hilton would have kept his seat with his mouth open, no doubt thinking of nastier invectives to make against Prejean on youtube.

The Congressman really reaches for straws when he says this:

. . . if she had in response made a statement back about the very sexual orientation that had led him to his hatred and dislike for her, and if she had responded by slapping him or any physical injury, she would have had the potential of a ten-year federal piece of legislation coming against her."

The Virginia Republican also argued that if beauty contestant's father had rushed onto the stage at the Miss USA pageant and responded to Hilton's hatred in a physical way, he would have been open to prosecution under the hate crimes bill as well.

I take it that the Congressman is saying that if Prejean has made an anti-gay slur while slapping Hilton, she would be in trouble. I don't think so.

As much as it would have been fun to see Prejean snatch off her earrings and heels and get "ghetto" on Hilton, I seriously doubt she would be arrested on hate crimes violations no matter what she said while doing it. Hilton's actions would have clearly been assault and Prejean would merely be defending herself.

Also, as much as I hate to admit, she would have a few gays in her corner for taking care of business against someone who would dare try to "snatch her crown."

As for her father, hate crimes legislation probably wouldn't apply either.

You gotta admit though, it would be a very interesting clip on youtube.

However in all honesty, this controversy is petering out. One News Now and those on the right would do themselves a huge favor by letting it die a silent death.

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