Obama Signs Defense and Hate Crimes Bill

President Hails Defense Bill for Cutting Wasteful Spending; Also Includes Hate Crimes Protections Tied to Sexual Orientation

(AP)  Last updated at 9:00 p.m. Eastern

resident Barack Obama on Wednesday signed and celebrated hate crime legislation that extends protection to people based on sexual orientation, sealing a long-fought victory to gay advocates. The president spoke of a nation becoming a place where "we're all free to live and love as we see fit."

The new law expands federal hate crimes to include those committed against people because of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It also loosens limits on when federal law enforcement can intervene and prosecute crimes, amounting to the biggest expansion of the civil-rights era law in decades.

"No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love," Mr. Obama said in East Room reception, surrounded by joyous supporters. "No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are, or because they live with a disability."

Civil rights groups and their Democratic backers on Capitol Hill have tried for a decade to expand the hate crimes law, but fell short because of a lack of coordination between the House and Senate, or opposition from President George W. Bush. This time, the bill got through when Democrats attached it to a must-pass $680 billion defense measure. Mr. Obama signed the combined bill in a separate ceremony earlier on Wednesday.

Conservatives have opposed the legislation, arguing that it creates a special class of victims and could serve to silence clergymen or others opposed to homosexuality on religious or philosophical grounds.

The bill is named for Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, whose family members stood with Mr. Obama. Shepard, a gay college student, was murdered and found tied to a fence in Wyoming in 1998. The same year, Byrd, a black man, was chained to a pickup by three white men and dragged to his death in Texas.

"We must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones, but to break spirits; not only to inflict harm, but to instill fear," Mr. Obama said.

Groups pushing for the expanded civil rights protections rejoiced. "This is a landmark step in eliminating the kind of hate motivated violence that has taken the lives of so many in our community," said Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

Hate crimes law enacted after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1968 centered on crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin.

Some 45 states have hate crimes statutes, and the bill would not change current practices where hate crimes are generally investigated and prosecuted by state and local officials. But it does broaden the narrow range of actions — such as attending school or voting — that can trigger federal involvement and allows the federal government to step in if the Justice Department certifies that a state is unwilling or unable to follow through on an alleged hate crime.

At the urging of Republicans, the bill was changed before it was passed in Congress to strengthen free speech protections to assure that a religious leader or any other person cannot be prosecuted on the basis of his or her speech, beliefs or association.

The hate crimes measure came as part of legislation that Obama also touted for other reasons: a crackdown on careless military spending.

The $680 billion bill kills some costly military projects while expanding war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The bill authorizes spending but doesn't provide any actual dollars. Rather, it sets guidance that is typically followed by congressional committees that decide appropriations. Obama said needless military spending was "an affront to the American people and to our troops."

In turn, he put most of its focus on what the bill does contain: project after project that Obama billed as unneeded. The bill terminates production of the F-22 fighter jet program, which has its origins in the Cold War era and, its critics maintain, is poorly suited for anti-insurgent battles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates targeted certain projects for elimination, putting them at odds with some lawmakers. The same spending items deemed unnecessary or outdated by Pentagon officials can mean lost jobs and political fallout for lawmakers back in their home districts.

"When Secretary Gates and I first proposed going after some of these wasteful projects, there were a lot of people who didn't think it was possible, who were certain we were going to lose, who were certain that we were going to get steamrolled," Obama said. "Today, we have proven them wrong."

Still, Mr. Obama didn't win every fight. The legislation still contains an effort by lawmakers to continue development — over the president's strong objections — of a costly alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Air Force's fighter of the future. A vague White House veto threat about that never came to fruition.

[John_272]

People say "you can't fight city hall" but people do it everyday and sometimes they win. And sometimes people beat the IRS too. Look at the thousands who lost their homes because of inflated mortgages; government had a hand in that. Look at the bailout of banks and other businesses of billions of dollars; there was no oversight established by Congress BEFORE the bill was passed. Let us not be teary eyed about who Congress really is: they are individual business owners who put their own interests and investments FIRST. Do you really think healthcare reform is about helping the individual citizen? Isn't it about how we can line the pockets of the politicians? Have you heard anyone say health care "oversight"? Look at the they say 100,000 people who cheated the government out of the first time homebuyer $8,000 tax credit. How did that happen? Look at the 1989 started tax credit for property owners of affordable housing like businesses Thomas Safran Associates, Rittenhouse Square Los Angeles, Urban Futures, et al: these companies are pattern and practice not complying with HUD regulations in the application process for example; but where is the government oversight? What Congress person will return your calls? Where is the California tax credit allocation committee (CTCAC)? Where is attorney general Jerry Brown? Where is the local city council members who some have ownership interests? You can call CTCAC at 916-654-6340 and I bet $100 they will not help you. And this is the same lack of help you will get when the government takes over the health care industry: zip '0'. http://www.not-hud-compliant.spaces.live.com

[jschmidt27]

He should revisit the stimulus bill and and cut real waste from the budget. With $16 billion creating 30000 jobs that's about $500,000. No one is upset about but when Goldman averages $500,000 in bonuses that's the end of the world. The stimulus was full of pork projects for all the Dems.

[SHEETPAN]

The thought police are alive and well. More feel good stupidity pouring out of D.C.

[SkirtLifter]

Ain't it amazing how so many softheads do NOT see the dangers of this kind of legislation. I totally agree with SHEETPAN. This has been brewing since '98 and it wouldn't pass. So simply tie it something that will pass. "feel good stupidity" it is.

[stuart-johns2]

This goes on all the time and has forever. Grow up. Both sides do this all the time. A rep[ublican corporate communist just did this in the Florida. He added a hugh FPL (Florida Power & Light) rate increase in another bill so it would pass. But the legislation caught it and postponed the rate increase.

And speaking of republican tactics. This guy made it so that the proposed rate increase - to fund two new power plants that are'nt even approved yet by the NRC - should the construction be disapproved, FPL won't have to pay the people back the increases for the plants that'll then, never be built. Nice politicing for special interests huh? Typical republican.

[isanyonefair]

Its so easy for Congress to spend money when it comes killing. Pity savings lives doesn't have the same incentive structure.

We seriously need Congressional term limits.

Please, everyone, don't vote for the incumbent. Stop them at the primary if you must vote for your party. But don't send them back!