President right to expand bill

Wednesday marked the two-year anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college freshman whose life was cut short by violence and intolerance. The solemn day was noted by President Bill Clinton, who used Shepard as an example for the need to include the gay community in new hate crime legislation. The current House version of the bill does not include protection for people who are gay. While Clinton and the Democrats are seeking to add sexual orientation to the other proposed criteria -- disability and gender -- on the bill, some Republicans have been outspoken against adding sexual orientation to the list.\nJohn Czwartacki, a Republican spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., told The Associated Press the measure would put special classes of victims such as people who are gay in the limelight, and would do more harm than good, creating a "chilling effect" on free speech. "What crime isn't a hate crime?" Czwartacki said. "It's offensive to any family who's a victim of a crime to say that their crime is somehow less hurtful."\nDemocrats continue to add people who are gay to the list of victims already protected by federal law: crimes motivated by race, religion, color and national origin. Clinton told The AP the proposed bill would allow federal prosecutors to closely monitor hate crimes and step in, should state and local authorities fail to take action. "It's been a year since the murder of Matthew Shepard and two years since I first proposed to strengthen the nation's hate crime law," Clinton said Wednesday. "The nation cannot afford to wait."\nAnd indeed, the nation can't afford to wait to protect its citizens. While all crimes are hurtful and detrimental to society, crimes against gays, as well as other targeted groups, are fueled by ignorance and intolerance. The fire of bigotry will only burn brighter if left unchecked. By taking a strong stance against hate crimes, Clinton is ensuring greater safety and freedom for the gay community.\nStaff vote: 8 - 6 - 1\nInternet Poll: 26 - 62