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To illustrate the point, one need look only to the most famous supposed "hate crimes" victim of all, Matthew Shepard, who, as it later turned out, was killed during a robbery for drug money gone awry.

This fact notwithstanding, the left continues to disgracefully politicize Shepard's memory by claiming he was murdered simply for being "gay." Indeed, this very legislation, S. 909, is cited as the "Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act."

The bizarre irony is palpable. The two thugs who killed Shepard are currently serving life sentences for their crimes -- and rightfully so -- in the complete absence of any discriminatory and unnecessary "hate crimes" legislation. Justice prevailed and existing law was undeniably "[adequate] to address this problem."

In fact, I challenge proponents of S. 909 to provide one verifiable example of a prosecutor refusing to charge a violent criminal because the victim was a homosexual or a cross-dresser.

They won't. They can't.

But back to the interstate commerce charade:

Here, the federal government's own statistics serve to derail the "hate crimes" gravy train. According to the FBI, in 2007 -- out of 1.4 million violent crimes in the U.S. -- there were a mere 247 cases of aggravated assault (including five deaths) allegedly motivated by the victim's "sexual orientation."

Yet S. 909 makes the fantastic claim that there is an epidemic of such "hate crimes." So many, in fact, that it "poses a serious national problem." The bill hysterically declares -- while providing zero evidence -- the following nonsense:

• Such violence substantially affects interstate commerce in many ways;

• [T]he movement of members of targeted groups (homosexuals, pedophiles, cross-dressers, etc.) is impeded, and members of such groups are forced to move across State lines to escape the incidence or risk of such violence;

• Members of targeted groups are prevented from purchasing goods and services, obtaining or sustaining employment, or participating in other commercial activity;

And, here's the kicker. Wait for it .... Wait for it:

• Perpetrators cross State lines to commit such violence.

So there you have it, folks. If it weren't so serious, it'd be comical. But let's make sure we have it straight. According to Barney Frank, Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama and their S. 909 cheerleading cohorts, we must pass S. 909 immediately because right here, right now in America, it's not at all unusual to witness terrified hordes of fabulously dressed -- yet wrongfully unemployed -- "gays" and otherwise gender confused blokes in lipstick and Jimmy Choo pumps, frantically fleeing Dolce & Gabbana before they've even had a chance to make a purchase, while inbred, homophobic, bat-wielding rednecks hotly pursue them across state lines.

Don't think I'll be wearing that pink evening gown any time soon.

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Matt Barber is Director of Cultural Affairs with both Liberty Counsel and Liberty Alliance Action. He also co-hosts the nationally syndicated "Liberty Live" talk radio program on AFR Talk. Send comments to Matt at jmattbarber@comcast.net. (This information is provided for identification purposes only.)

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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