3 October, 2009 By Rev. Ted Pike

After Wednesday’s hearing on the cyberbullying bill (HR 1966) in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, internet media, including The New York Times, has lost little time expressing skepticism — even mockery of the Anti-Defamation League’s internet hate bill.

Popular Science says HR 1966 “leaves reason at the door” as it “attempts to criminalize cyber-bullying with vague language that butts up against free speech rights in a wide range of ways.” But it derisively believes Congress will probably pass the bill since “we can trust Congress to make the craziest, least practical choice.”(1)

In an article entitled “Dangerous Opinions Ahead,” ECN Magazine says that, in a rare instance, both the left and right stand opposed to HR 1966. “Make no bones about it—the proposed legislation is a serious assault on first amendment rights...overreaching… an ambiguous piece of legislation…Theoretically, the law would prevent about 99% of political discourse—anyone feeling offended could claim “emotional distress.” This is a steep infringement of first amendment rights. We cannot hope to legislate how people think." (2)

The New York Times editorial “Vague Cyber-Bullying Law” comments: “Lawmakers should enact laws that can withstand challenge to give prosecutors tools to go after bullying of all kinds. What prosecutors cannot do is stretch federal law to label run-of-the-mill Internet activity as criminal.” (3)

Wired.com says 1966 “was met with little enthusiasm by a House subcommittee on Wednesday…From the outset of the 90-minute hearing…committee members from the left and the right said they thought the measure was an unconstitutional breach of free speech. “We need to be extremely careful before heading down this path,” Bobby Scott, a Democrat from Virginia and the committee’s chairman, said during the hearing’s opening moment." (4)

What America saw in the House committee hearing on Wednesday was the torpedoing of the cyberbullying bill (and probably the AWARE bill) by expert Constitutional authorities. I believe both these bills are now burning, listing badly, and likely to go down. My opinion is shared by the Judiciary expert of one of the most powerful House Republicans. He said, "I hate to make predictions, but any bill that receives as cool a reception in the crime subcommittee is probably doomed."

We may be experiencing a great victory not only over the cyberbullying bill but also its companion, AWARE, HR 3630, which would fund to the tune of $125 million over five years the cyberbullying bill's message to schoolchildren in America: Any intention to criticize homosexuality over the internet that causes "substantial emotional distress" to homosexuals is criminal, worthy of two years in prison.

This initial negative response also dooms ADL's Safe Schools Improvement Act, HR 2662, which would criminalize "repeated and persuasive" criticism of homosexuality in the public school system, describing it as "violence."

Three ADL hate bills possibly down! — and this after Dr. James Dobson turned off the Christian/conservative resistance this spring, pronouncing that nothing could be done to defeat hate crimes legislation, except pray!

In fact, the religious right, neutralized by Dobson in the hate bill fight and directed instead toward healthcare protest and revenge on the Democrats at midterms next year, remains virtually oblivious even to the existence of these dangerous bills. Result: It has done next to nothing to oppose them. Only the National Prayer Network has been in the forefront of opposition to these three bills, marshaling encouragement to Republicans this week through heavy calling.

Are we done fighting? We have only begun to fight and win! Stay tuned for my next weekend article in which I explain how each of us can endeavor to repeat this success again and again in the upcoming hearings against ADL’s monster hate crimes law for the workplace: ENDA.


Footnotes:
1. www.popsci.com/entertainment-amp-gaming/article/2009-10/dueling-cyber-bullying-bills-showdown-house
2. www.ecnmag.com/article-cyberbullying-bill-100109.aspx
3. www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/opinion/08tue2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=cyber-bullying&st=cse
4. www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/09/cyberbullyingbill


Let the Anti-Defamation League teach you how they have saddled 45 states with hate laws capable of persecuting Christians, and spearhead attempts to pass the federal hate crimes bill: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp .

Breaking News

Hate crimes laws may make you a lawbreaker! Such laws, while claiming to promote tolerance, actually lead to the end of free speech! Powerful articles and NPN’s video exposé of hate crimes laws in Canada and the United States provide you with the vital tools necessary to combat this imminent threat to freedom. This video is especially important as acts of terrorism extend the power of "Big Brother" to monitor what you do, say, and think.

4 Jul 2020 - EMERGENCY ALERT
White House sources have revealed that President Trump regrets following the left-conciliating advice of his son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner regarding police reform.
They say he has abandoned Kushner’s advice on this issue, returning to his previous assertion that “systemic racism” in American police is a virtual non-issue compared to the magnitude of protection and fair play which the vast majority of police provide all citizens.
More…

17 December, 2019 - EMERGENCY ALERT - Trump Supports Jewish Claim: Christianity is Antisemitic.
President Trump’s recent Executive Order IS THE TEXT of the Jewish ADL’s “Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, S852, recently rejected by the US Senate for Committee consideration.
More…

24 Sep 2019 - EMERGENCY ALERT
“Anti-Semitism Awareness” Bill Worse than “Equality” Bill! Good news! The Christian-threatening, LGBT- promoting “Equality Act” could not face confrontation with hostile Senate Judiciary Republicans this spring. It went nowhere. Yet Democrats could still try to get it through the Senate Judiciary. NPN will sound the alarm at Truthtellers.org if it starts to move forward.

18 May 2019 - EMERGENCY ALERT - Senate New Forum for “Equality” Bill Debate
Call the Congress Hotline at 1-202-224-3121 and ask for a Senator’s office. I suggest you say: “Please don’t vote for the “Equality Act” S788. It will help end free speech for Christians making them criminals if they criticize Homosexuality”.
More…

01 May 2019 - EMERGENCY ALERT - “Equality” Bill Hastens Babylon the Great - Part Two
If Jews acquire full protection as a “protected class” in America it will mean that if a Jew complains to the government that he has suffered “acute emotional trauma” as a result of “anti semitic” discrimination or criticism of his race or religion he may prompt a federal investigation. If the government agrees, the defendant will have to retain the best lawyer he can find.
More…