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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2000)
Clinton speaks on Gore, hate crimes ■ Clinton condemned the GOP’s stance on hate-crime legislation at a luncheon with gay Democrats in Texas By Sonya Ross Associated Press Writer DALLAS — President Clinton accused Republican congressional leaders Wednesday of deliberately ducking his long-languishing hate crimes legislation because they fear it would split the GOP base. “If it doesn’t get to be law, it’s be cause the leadership doesn’t want it,” Clintoji said during a fund-rais ing luncheon in Dallas with gay De mocrats. He noted that, in light of a spate of hate crimes in recent years, more Americans and a majority of lawmakers in both parties support the bill. “There has been a sea-change movement,” Clinton said. “More and more people are identifying with our common humanity. In creasingly, society is moving to higher and higher levels of decency and justice. It’s just a question of whether the leadership ... stays to the right of the country on this is sue.” Clinton was in Texas to help raise money for his party and to at tend a “Texas Tribute” in his honor. The three events he attended Wednesday were meant to raise $1.5 million for Democratic candi dates. Dallas lawyer Larry Pease, one of the guests at the $5,000-a-plate luncheon, called the event “an em powering session,” adding, “It was historic because never before in this country woidd a president sit down with such a small group of people that used to be considered a political liability but now are a powerful voting block.” The luncheon was held in a pri vate home in an affluent Dallas neighborhood. About 10 protesters from a group called Free Republic waved anti-Clinton placards on a sidewalk about a block away. “We don’t appreciate his lies, his perjury and his obstruction of justice,” said Mari Thompson, who said the group was not there to protest gay rights. Clinton described the presiden tial candidates, Texas 'Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore, as “two fundamentally patri otic people” whose vastly different views on the economy are being blurred by “daily coverage of this or that flap” over smaller matters. “Sometimes, I get the feeling the flaps are being deliberately used to obscure the underlying reality,” Clinton said. He said Republicans are “driven by ideology and con trol, not by evidence” that the poli cies he and the Democrats have es poused on Medicare are more effective. “They are totally undeterred by the evidence,” Clinton said. “The vice president will be elected if people understand exactly what the choices are.” Before leaving for Texas, Clinton said Congress’ Republican leaders thwarted the hate-crimes bill be cause they are worried that its pro visions covering gays and lesbians might anger the GOP’s conservative core. More and more people are identifying with our common humanity. In creasingly, society is mov ing toward higher levels of decency and justice. President Clinton “I think they think it will split their base or something,” Clinton said. “I just hope and pray we can do it. If we can’t do it, what does that Senate vote mean? Was it just some stunt?” he asked, referring to the Senate’s 57-42 vote in favor of hate-crimes provisions in June. A spokesman for Senate Majori ty Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., de nounced Clinton’s remarks as “demagoguery at its worst.” “Pitting one group against anoth er in order to gain personal elec toral advantage is bad even for Pres ident Clinton,” said Lott spokesman John Czwartacki said, adding that it “is certainly not our inclination” to put the bill to a vote. The anti-hate-crimes bill would define crimes against homosexuals in much the same way as racially motivated crimes. Clinton often raises the subject on visits to Texas, site of the 1998 dragging death of James Byrd by a trio of white men who hoped to launch a race war. Clinton’s plan would add crimes motivated by sexual orientation, gender or disability to the list of of fenses already covered under a 1968 federal law, and allow federal prosecutors to pursue a hate-crime case if local authorities refuse to press charges. The legislation also provides as sistance to local law enforcement agencies in investigating hate crimes. you can read the emer; nywhere in the w< on the world wide I'll atter hd>w far you travel, always close to campus. ^5 SSt Raw Talchi. The Oregon Daily Emerald is always looking for young writers who want to learn and grow at a real newspaper. For information on how to freelance for the Emerald call 346-5511. Other stores sell computer supplies. We know exactly what you need. Need tech stuff? Come to the right place. Want one-stop shopping for computer accessories and supplies? 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