Wow, got to love the generalization there with this half-wit "actress" who is supposedly an "expert" in neurology. Limbic brain my right butt cheek, I don't doubt mines larger than her's if only because of the fact that I actually have emotion. So apparently I'm racist (even though I have black friends) and people like me are racist (including a black man like Alan Keys who shares my same views about Obama) who also have black friends but are against Obama because of his bad decisions? Wow keep up the holier than thou attitude because it just shows how bigoted you are.

Prove to me that these people you call racist really are. You can't because they aren't. I'm really wishing I were African American (which is the PC term by the way, stop being racist and calling them black) right now so I could dislike you for being a white intellectual but unfortunately I can only settle with laughing at your dimwittedness.

As a long time listener to Janeane's radio show I can assure you that she is hardly a half-wit. She was right on the money about Iraq, calling it a Bush invented scam as early as summer 2002. She has been analyzing the right wing phenomenon along with journalists like John Dean, "Conservatives Without Conscience" and Christopher Hedges, "American Fascists", for about 9 years now frequently having authors and psychologists on to discuss the topic.

I can prove to you that the three people I know that went to tea-bagger parties are racists. I've been talking to them at family functions for 30 years. They are so stupid that they assume that I think just as they do so they let me into their insanely paranoid world. Do they have a problem with the black man? Well......they hate Mexicans,gays,Muslims,Jews, liberals, college professors and feminazis equally.

See that's the problem, making crass generalizations about an entire group of people due to a few bad apples. There are also those among liberals who are racist but you don't see them being called out on this site much less all of them being accused of being racist. Now if this chick had said certain people or a few racist's then I might have believed her but since she groups all protesters together then she has no clue what she's yapping about.

Foolish JournoList copy-cats at work: Lee Ward

Matthew Shepard was killed by two thugs named Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. There is an in-depth look at the crime at the ABC News website, based on a "20/20" special investigation. You can read the whole thing here. Some excerpts:

Just hours after Shepard's battered body was discovered, and before anyone knew who had beaten him, Shepard's friends Walt Boulden and Alex Trout began spreading the word that Shepard was openly gay and that they were concerned the attack may have been a gay-bashing.

Boulden told "20/20" in an interview shortly after the attack in 1998, "I know in the core of my heart it happened because he revealed he was gay. And it's chilling. They targeted him because he was gay."

Prosecutor Rerucha recalls that Shepard's friends also contacted his office. Rerucha told "20/20," "They were calling the County Attorney's office, they were calling the media and indicating Matthew Shepard is gay and we don't want the fact that he is gay to go unnoticed."

Helping fuel the gay hate crime theory were statements made to police and the media by Kristen Price, McKinney's girlfriend. (Price was charged with felony accessory after-the-fact to first-degree murder. She later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor interference with police officers.)

Price now says that at the time of the crime she thought things would go easier for McKinney if his violence were seen as a panic reaction to an unwanted gay sexual advance.

But today, Price tells Vargas the initial statements she made were not true and tells Vargas that McKinney's motive was money and drugs. "I don't think it was a hate crime at all. I never did," she said.

Former Laramie Police Detective Ben Fritzen, one of the lead investigators in the case, also believed robbery was the primary motive. "Matthew Shepard's sexual preference or sexual orientation certainly wasn't the motive in the homicide," he said.

"If it wasn't Shepard, they would have found another easy target. What it came down to really is drugs and money and two punks that were out looking for it," Fritzen said.

Some free advice: when you start looking up to people like Janeane Garafalo as intellectual role models, you will start looking more and more like a fool.

I'll be waiting for your next post Lee, in which you denounce the Laramie Police Department as redneck idiots, and ABC News as bigots, hatemongers, homophobes, and racists.

"I can prove to you that the three people I know that went to tea-bagger parties are racists"

Nice astroturfing.............

Right up there with 'I used to be a ______ until _______ .

Now, now, Michael... MediaMatters put a big official stamp across Rep. Foxx's face that clearly states "FALSE" in big red letters. And then backs it up with some words which, while they don't explicitly name the motive as Shepard's sexual orientation nor exclude robbery as a motive, certainly are enough to convince your average liberal intellectual that Foxx is LYING. I think it has to do with the limbic part of the brain or something... yeah...er... um ... you racist!

C'mon, Lee. You're so big on the facts and calling out liars, I'm looking forward to seeing you put Michael in his place with that 20/20 business when MediaMatters (a clearly unbiased source!) using a snippet from a NYT article (likewise!) says otherwise ... sort of! Let him have it, Lee!

Cuz, otherwise, you might have just shaken my faith in MediaMatters. They surely didn't know about the ABC report, right? Because if they did, that would mean they produced a smear video they knew was a .... Lie. Please tell me it's not that bad. Perhaps they just produced a smear video based on incompetency. Well, either way, there's a first time for everything, right?

"They are so stupid that they assume that I think just as they do so they let me into their insanely paranoid world. Do they have a problem with the black man? Well......they hate Mexicans,gays,Muslims,Jews, liberals, college professors and feminazis equally."

In other words they don't agree with everything you say and believe.

Interesting pairing of videos.
First we have Virginia telling us that the Matthew Shepards murder was not a hate crime. She's right. Matthew was killed because he was smaller and had money. Russell and Aaron were just looking for easy money.
Next we have Janeane fomenting and promoting hatred of conservatives because they are different.

Fascinating!

Garafalo is trying way, WAY too hard.

And Olbermann needs to can his Friday(?) end-of-show comedians' charity/welfare segment anyway. He doesn't look well wearing vagina pants.

Your silence on the follow up here is deafening, Lee. Did MediaMatters LIE or not? Is it possible for you to post a retraction here or do you just leave your original headline standing?

Sorry to keep you waiting, Steve, but some of us have a life. Someday they'll go on sale at Wal-Mart and you can get one too.

There's no retraction needed here or I'd have posted one before the fringe lunatic rubes started howling at the moon.

Multiple witnesses testified to the facts as Media Matters relates them:

Two young men -- Russell Arthur Henderson and Aaron James McKinney -- were convicted in connection with the crime, with multiple witnesses testifying to their anti-gay aspect of the crime. Both also intended to rob the Sheppard home after the attack, according to press accounts.

Could there have been more than one motive? Sure.

Had Matthew not been gay would the robbery have occurred anyway? Quite possibly, although 100% unprovable and therefore a really weak argument.

What can indisputably be proven is that Matthew's gayness was a factor, and we already know that only religious nutcake extremists would dispute that "hate" is not at the root of homophobia.

It should be no surprise that the wacko fringe that represent the Republican Party would find an opportunity to vent their hatred towards gays this way - by doing what Rep Foxx did and seek to cheapen Matthew's death in front of his mother.

"I also would like to point out that there was a bill -- the hate crimes bill that's called the Matthew Shepard bill is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay."

She added: "This -- the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.

"Matthew Shepard's mother was in the gallery yesterday and I believe she was back today -- so I'm sorry she had to be around to hear it," said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.). "It's an urban myth... And I'd tell her that man did land on the moon and the moon wasn't made out of green cheese."

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who supports the hate crimes bill, stared in disbelief before answering a question about the statement.

"It's just sad the Republican caucus has been reduced such a fringe," she said. "It's sad they would go out of their way to prevent people from getting justice."

The stupidity of the right wing hate mob can be literally mind-boggling for those who don't have as much experience as we do here at Wizbang Blue. Our proximity to a hotbed of conservative lunacy like our sister site "Wizbang" exposes us to their craziness on a regular basis - so we're used to it.

And, as we learn from Janeane -- the right wing fringe just lap up this stuff like dogs -- then roam the web regurgitating the bile whenever possible.

Shame on Rep Foxx. Preying on the stupid has become a conservative sport.

Lee, who are the multiple witnesses? You linked another blog that states the same thing you stated which was challenged by Steve and your proof is that other blog. There was nothing there that showed evidence of multiple witnesses.

if a person is dead because he was gay any more dead than the person who is dead because he had money the killer wanted?

Hate crime status means that federal help is more easily applied to the investigation of the crime.

The skinheads on the right are totally against the higher federal focus applied to hate crimes, and the GOP stands up and protects the skinheads.

Go figure - one might think the conservative right has their priorities all wrong - protecting skinhead nazis who hate gays and blacks, but the conservative extremists in the GOP have a lot in common with skinheads, don't they?

Go figure - one might think the conservative right has their priorities all wrong - protecting skinhead nazis who hate gays and blacks, but the conservative extremists in the GOP have a lot in common with skinheads, don't they?

You're confusing what the ACLU does with the conservative right.

and we already know that only religious nutcake extremists would dispute that "hate" is not at the root of homophobia.

Did you know that people's religious beliefs are protected just like race and sexual orientation? Someone known to spew vitriol against religious people could find themselves on the wrong side of the "hate" crime laws if they ever kill someone during a robbery and it turns out the victim was religious. A religious person seeing someone in need tries to help and that makes them an easy target. Then someone will write that what can indisputably be proven is that the victim's religion was a factor.

Oh you can believe all you want- but try taking away my right s and you'll get thrown in jail - as it should be.

But not to worry - you can then evangelize to the prison population - you're sure to go to heaven then.

"A religious person seeing someone in need tries to help and that makes them an easy target. "

Yeah, just look at how Rep Foxx tries to help the skinhead nazis avoid federal prosecution for the killingl a gay man. She's SUCH a good little Christian.

Judge not lest ye be judged! Those of us who don't believe in gay "marriage" have a host of reasons and none of them involve hatred!

Using Garofolo as a role model or intellectual beacon of intelligence is sort of like taking your moral choices from clues provided by Daffy Duck! She is (if you'd ever listened to any of her interviews) a complete neurotic with an endless litany of "issues". I'm not even sure that she is capable of cohesive and coherent thought processes!

I do not approve of illegal immigration because to me, it is like some stranger breaking into my house and demanding the right to stay because "they are already there" and that makes no sense to me at all! My grandparents were immigrants (legally) and I am grateful that they were permitted to make their home here, that my mother and her brothers and sisters (numerous) were born here and that I was given the opportunity to be borne in this beautiful country and grow to adulthood here, being the beneficiary of all that this nation has to offer its people!

But not to worry - you can then evangelize to the prison population - you're sure to go to heaven then.

I'll be visiting you in jail, but converting such a tough case may be too much to hope for.

Yeah, just look at how Rep Foxx tries to help the skinhead nazis avoid federal prosecution for the killingl a gay man. She's SUCH a good little Christian.

The perpetrators are serving life sentences and there's nothing more the feds can do to them with "hate" laws. That's the problem with "hate" crime legislation; it's used for political purposes, not justice. Political fortunes shift and those in power can define "hate" in ways you won't like, Lee. Better to leave that genie in the bottle.

All the hate crime status does is bring to bear federal resources on the investigation and prosecution of the crime. It is needed in those instances where the local prosecutors and police might be inclined to look the other way or operate more slowly as the result of their own biases.

Anyplace there is a Republican majority the skinhead nazis would have a greater opportunity to get away with something like this.

That's a fact. Rep Foxx proves it.

All the hate crime status does is bring to bear federal resources on the investigation and prosecution of the crime.

Why can't you just say that it makes "hate" a federal crime? The problem is that deciding what "hate" is, is up to the federal prosecutor for each district. If, like skin color, sexual orientation is one of those attributes with no other bearing on a person's character then there are homosexual criminals just like there are heterosexual criminals. If two criminals rob and kill someone they can be charged with a federal hate crime if it turns out they are gay and the victim was straight. Maybe not in California (district 9), but certainly in Wyoming (district 10), Texas (district 5), Georgia (district 11) and several other districts. It all depends on the prosecutor's politics, and if Obama doesn't like it he could remove them, but only at a high political cost following the uproar over Bush's similar action.

We already have federal laws that allow people to be prosecuted for denying another person's civil rights, which is used when local law enforcement fails to act or even when jurors fail to convict on state charges. Adding yet another means for the federal government to intervene in local law enforcement is just a political statement, but one that advocates may come to regret.

Skinheads everywhere are cheering you Republicans on, Mac Lorry - but the rest of us can't figure out why Republicans are so determined to make it easier for skinheads to get away with murdering gays?

What's in it for you? The satisfaction of having less homosexuals in our country? That makes you happy?

Here's a better argument. Would you want someone like Rep Foxx deciding what "hate" is under federal law? She's not alone and there's no guarantee Republicans won't win the next batch of elections if the economy gets worse or if there's another 9/11 type attack. Why give them this tool to go after people like Janeane Garofalo who's words are filled with hate.

You would never let a conservative use such hateful language and broad brush insults against peaceful protesters, so why would you post such hate from a liberal? Could it be that "hate" is relative and depends on a person's politics? Get the point?

Rep Foxx is a legislator - she gets to help decide what laws are written, yes - I just object to -- and feel the importance of pointing out that -- the Republican position on this issue is one that protects skinhead nazis instead of gays.

The reasons for that is fairly obvious, despite efforts to personalize this and make it Janeane Garfalo's problem instead.

Poor, poor Republicans - Gays are murdered simply because they are gay - but you're complaining because a comedienne said GOPers are brainless.

You poor, poor folks.

Rep Foxx is a legislator - she gets to help decide what laws are written, yes - I just object to -- and feel the importance of pointing out that.

She's not the only Republican out there, and some of them are, or have been federal prosecutors who will be using this law. The law says nothing about protecting gays other than the name of the act, which has no weight in court. It's only about "hate" and what that is depends on who you ask.

In the future it could be used to prosecute gays who go after religious groups. Maybe they will follow someone from church and run them off the road, and instead of being charged with vehicular homicide or manslaughter, they'll be prosecuted under federal hate crime legislation. Nice blunt tool you have there to protect gays, Lee.

Poor, poor Republicans - Gays are murdered simply because they are gay - but you're complaining because a comedienne said GOPers are brainless.

So hate speech is ok if you're a comedienne, even if it's not part of the act. Maybe skin heads will claim they are comediennes.

but the rest of us can't figure out why Republicans are so determined to make it easier for skinheads to get away with murdering gays?

Hate crimes legislation is a blunt object, and in any political brawl, it's not smart to leave blunt objects laying around. Besides, being convicted of murder is not getting away with anything.

Come on, Mac - admit it. The 800 lb gorilla in the living room is that the evangelical right is afraid that hate crime laws might be applied against a church that promotes that Homosexuals should burn in hell.

right?

Come on, Mac - admit it. The 800 lb gorilla in the living room is that the evangelical right is afraid that hate crime laws might be applied against a church that promotes that Homosexuals should burn in hell.

Evangelical's believe what the Bible says, that unrepentant sinners got to hell, and yes, the homosexual act is listed as a sin, as is teaching that sin is not sin. So if federal hate crime laws can be used against religious speech the entire first amendment will be overturned, not just the free speech part. That should scare the hell out of you.

Personally I don't hate gays, but I don't agree with their lifestyle. Nevertheless, if they want to live that way, so be it. However, I believe there are non-religious, non-hateful reasons to limit taxpayer resource to procreation couples. If the biological argument is not sufficient to limit such benefits to procreation couples, then there's no valid reason remaining to deny any two adults the same benefits. Spinster siblings should be able to join so that they can take advantage of "family" medical plans, and a surviving sibling should be able to retain some part of the other sibling's social security or pension. If you disagree than it must be because you hate spinster siblings, right?