Why would you vote against an anti-Asian hate crime bill?

Let's ask the six senators who did. Most of them didn't share a reason.

On Wednesday, the Senate advanced, by a vote of 92-6, the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act, which will, according to the New York Times:

strengthen federal efforts to address hate crimes directed at Asian-Americans, paving the way for passage of the measure and sending a bipartisan denunciation of the sharp increase in discrimination and violence against Asian communities in the United States.

The bill, for which there is supposed to be a final vote later this week, was co-sponsored by Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii), and Rep. Grace Meng, D-NY. The legislation is limited in scope, yet six Republican senators still voted against the bill. Those senators (with their reasons for their no vote) were:

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas: Concern that the bill was moved to the Senate floor with “little commentary, factfinding [sic], or Committee consideration.” Also concerned that Senate was “blindly acting on this issue,” because the 150% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2020 just wasn’t proof enough for ol’ Tom.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas: Nothing in his social media feeds or press releases, though he’d really really really like to strip MLB of their anti-trust exemption because the MLB pulled its All-Star Game out of Georgia after that state passed draconian voting bills. So Ted’s been busy making voting more difficult.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri: Hawley, Missouri’s own disappointment, had nothing to say about his no vote, but he’s joined with Cruz chasing after the MLB.

Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas: Nothing, because he’s still disputing the November 2020 election.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky: Nothing in his social media feeds or press releases, but please enjoy this screenshot of the senator with Glastonbury’s own, Laura Ingraham:

Don’t know Ingraham? Here’s something she tweeted yesterday:

Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama: Wait. There was a vote?

So there you have it, ‘Murica. Marshall may be new to you, but the rest of these elected officials are the usual suspects from whom we’ve come to expect precisely this kind of vote. What does this say about the people who voted them into office?