As far as I can tell, under the Constitution it is my right to hate the living tar out of anyone for any reason. When I act on that hate in a way that affects someone in a demonstrably negative way, though, there seem to be laws to cover any harm I may do.

If I hate Jews or Catholics or gays, the law says I still may not steal from them, punch them out, kill their pets or piss in their gas tanks.

At what point does a hate-crimes statute grade into punishing me for just being an imbecilic hater?

There is the danger that it becomes thought control.