[S]ix years after 9-11, Muslims in America continue to be the targets of violence and abuse.

We especially need it now, with President Bush threatening a veto of legislation that would expand the national hate crime law. Currently, the federal government is only allowed to get involved if a hate crime specifically targets a federally protected activity. Voting, for example.

The president believes the new law isn't needed. There are already state and local laws addressing the issue of hate crimes, he says....

Official state data shows that, in 2005, 260 hate crimes were reported in Florida. Of those, 36 percent were attacks based on religion and ethnicity.

But that's misleading. Because Muslims -- particularly in these post-9-11 days when they feel so isolated from the rest of American society -- tend not to report such crimes....

And things seem to be worsening rather than improving....

The reality is that a lot of people are scared of Muslims. They think anyone who prays facing Mecca is a possible suicide bomber.

Which is precisely why expanding the federal government's power to deal with hate crimes is a good idea.

You would think signing off on the new hate crime law would be a no-brainer, particularly given the president's horrendous reputation among Muslims. [Link]