Obama Signs National Defense Authorization Act

Obama signs the $680 billion budget for fiscal 2010, which funds conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Given the budget, some smart person could probably figure out how many troops Obama is considering sending to Afghanistan.
The hate crimes amendment that Obama also signed into law today was part of the defense bill.

Transcript

Obama Signs Hate Crimes Prevention Legislation

If you can believe it, republicans were against the Matthew Shepard and James Bryd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Eric Holder on Hate Crimes Legislation

Some people, such as John Boehner, believe that groups of people, such as gay people, shouldn't be protected under special legislation, that murder is murder. But that's not true. Murdering a person motivated by hatred for a group of people is horrendous. It's also terrorism because it's meant to frighten large populations of people. It requires special penalties. There is no place for hate crimes in modern society and it should be dealt with as such.
Believe it or not, conservatives are arguing against legislation because they're afraid that their faux-Christian selves will be busted for speaking out against homosexuality. If conservatives have nothing better to do than rail against homosexuality, they're being very un-Christian. They need to get their flock in order in so many other ways. But punishing conservatives for preaching against gay people is not the purpose of the bill. The bill is for that conservative preacher who went out and flogged someone because that person was gay:

A hate crimes bill has passed the House and is expected to pass the Senate as early as this week. Conservative Christian leaders such as James Dobson, Pat Robertson and Donald Wildmon hate it.

In June, 60 religious conservatives signed a letter asking senators to filibuster the hate-crimes bill for fear it would "criminalize preaching the Gospel and put preachers in the cross-hairs." Christian Right groups have been sounding the alarm ever since. "Hate Crimes Bill Threatens Free Speech," warns the Christian Broadcasting Network. "Pastors could be prosecuted for preaching the biblical view of homosexuality," intones Focus on the Family. WaPo

Gay Rights Activists March in D.C.

Dustin Lance Black wrote the screenplay for Harvey Milk:

Lady Gaga speaks and screams. Not sure how effective that is.

Judy Shepard, mother of Mathew Shepard, says Obama can't do it alone:

Cynthia Nixon says that without equal rights, gay people are seen as inferior and are considered prey for those of lesser minds:

Iraqi veteran Lt. Dan Choi says love is worth the fight:

Hate Crimes on the Rise

I'm sure Ann Coulter is already debunking this as a "liberal lie."

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Regarding this story, they are defending themselves fiercely and making hateful and racist comments at the conservative website, Town Hall. Pity.