Stop ADL attack on freedom of speech
JMD Morgan
By Rev. Ted Pike
6-23-9
This Thursday at 10 a.m. EDT the battle to save America from becoming a
hate crimes police state will be joined in the hearing of the Senate
Judiciary Committee. Every American who is able should view the live
webcast of the hearing at www.judiciary.senate.gov
But even as the hate bill battle rages, the Anti-Defamation League of
B'nai B'rith moves forward two more monster hate bills. While it is
important that lovers of freedom not allow themselves to become
distracted from present opposition to S. 909 in the Senate, we cannot
remain ignorant of these new attempts by the ADL to batter down the
walls of freedom.
The first is ADL's "anti-bullying" bill, the "Megan Meier Cyberbullying
Prevention Act," HR 1966, introduced to the House Judiciary Subcommittee
on Crime on May 26. This bill is as simple and direct as the Matthew
Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, S. 909, is complicated and obscure.
HR 1966 makes it a federal thought crime to intend to "intimidate" or
"harass" anyone over the internet or airwaves. Such "cyberbullying" is
punishable by harsh fines and up to two years in prison. It does not
define what the terms "intimidate" or "harass" mean. Promoted as
legislation to protect America's youth, its real intention is to remove
free speech from the internet altogether.
Here is the essential text:
Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce [radio, TV,
internet] any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate,
harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using
electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years,
or both. (HR 1966, SEC 3, Sec. 881a)
This means that if any pastor, talk show host or guest, or anyone
communicating on radio or the internet is repeatedly "hostile" to the
practice of homosexuality and "intends" to cause "substantial emotional
distress" in homosexuals, leading to repentance, he is guilty. The
speaker doesn't even have to succeed in causing such conviction for sin,
even though he will be especially guilty if he does. In either case, the
federal government is empowered under this bill to invade any state to
prosecute the "bully" of the airwaves.
In legal theory, HR 1966 is a mirror image of ADL's Canadian federal
hate law, Section 319, and its internet hate law, Section 13.1. These
statutes state that if any speaker makes statements, even "likely" to
cause a member of a federally favored group to feel lessened or
intimidated, the speaker is guilty. Yet if he succeeds, the "victim's"
claim of emotional distress is more than enough to convict the critic.
Truth is not admitted in hate crimes tribunal courts. Only the feelings
of the criticized matter.
House Judiciary Republicans must be warned against HR 1966. They must
immediately prepare to oppose it vigorously in the House Judiciary
Committee. Otherwise, it could move rapidly to a vote in the House.
Call Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee (names listed
on the <http://www.truthtellers.org/actionplan.html>Action Page at
<http://www.truthtellers.org/>www.truthtellers.org). Call toll-free
1-877-851-6437 or toll 1-202-225-3121. Tell them: "Please oppose the
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act, HR 1966. It's another ADL hate
crimes bill which outlaws free speech through broadcasting and the
internet. Please demand hearings on this very dangerous legislation."
ENDA to be introduced in the House
The second impending bill is ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act. According to the Washington Blade (June 17, 2009, "Representative
Frank Close to Introducing ENDA"), ENDA will soon be introduced in the
House Judiciary. "An aide to U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.)
said Wednesday that the congressman plans to introduce a revised version
of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act next week that will include
protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people."
ENDA is ADL's workplace/real estate "anti-hate" law which forces
businessmen and even church leaders to hire homosexuals -- and not fire
them for "bias" reasons -- on penalty of huge fines and possible
imprisonment. It also forces property owners to sell or rent to
homosexuals, suffering similar penalties if they "discriminate."
Although ENDA is very threatening, House Republicans are familiar with
it, having battled ENDA in the previous Congress. I believe they can be
counted upon to take action.
Once you have called the House Judiciary Republicans concerning the
threat of cyberbullying bill HR 1966, you should re-focus your attention
on repeated calling of all 100 members of the Senate in protest of the
federal hate bill, S. 909. Tell them not to vote for the
"pedophile-protecting" hate bill, promising that if they do you and your
friends will never forgive or forget.
Senate Majority Leader Reid says he wants a vote on the hate bill before
summer recess. If we can kill the hate bill, S. 909, before Congress
departs, it will send a powerfully demoralizing message to ADL, Reid,
and the homosexual lobby to back off ENDA, the cyberbullying bill, and
other freedom-stealing legislation ADL has in the works.
This week's protest, leading up to Thursday's hearing, must be massive
-- letting all pro-hate bill Senators know as never before that a vote
for the pedophile-protecting hate bill means our undying opposition.
Even if we live thousands of miles from their districts, we will make
sure, through use of internet, talk radio, etc., that they never return
to Congress.