Maybe not for the question of guilt, but if the issue is punishment, as it usually is, then I see no problem with it. If someone attacks someone because of racial hatred, then I see no reason why they should not get a longer sentence, for example. And if someone attacks someone because of their political hatred, or hatred of the military, then I see no reason why they should not get a longer sentence.
Another thing I like about the idea of hate crime legislation is that the federal government can make the hate motivation a grounds for the death penalty. The liberals who oppose the death penalty are the ones who gave us hate crime legislation. I would like to see Congress stick it back in their eye by authorizing the death penalty for hate crimes. It's a lot of fun to watch the liberals in states like North Dakota, which has outlawed the death penalty, moan about the federal death penalty cases that are being brought in their states.
This kind of thing teaches the liberals a lesson. Maybe federalizing everything isn't such a good idea.