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in National Politics Award Presentation to be made by People for the American Way True 'Defenders of Democracy' to Receive Achievement Awards |
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Compiled By GayToday
Special awards also will be presented to the American people -- represented by community activists who have made a real difference this year, and who exemplify the best of the American "can-do" spirit. "The luncheon will give us a chance to honor the best in American politics while we laugh at the worst," says PFAW President Carole Shields. The Equine Posterior Achievement Award will be presented by Washington funnyman Paul Begala. Accepting it on behalf of the mystery nominee will be Alec Baldwin. Origins of the Horse's Patootie Idea
Perhaps in testament to this year's rich mother lode of political malarkey, nominations for the award already have been pouring in to PFAW headquarters. Thus far, they include (in alphabetical order): Nominees for 1999
 Rep. Bob Barr
The leader of the Clinton-haters in Congress, Barr filed an "inquiry of impeachment" in November 1997 -- before the world had heard of Monica Lewinsky. In June of 1998, Barr traveled to Charleston, S.C. to deliver the keynote address at a meeting of the Council of Conservative Citizens. The Council, a direct descendant of the White Citizens Councils set up across the South in the 1950s to defend segregation, publishes a newsletter full of hateful rhetoric about African Americans and other minorities. Barr has yet to apologize for his association. Janet Folger Center for Reclaiming America. Folger led a "truth in love" campaign by more than a dozen Religious Right political groups to equate homosexuality with AIDS and drug use and to portray gays and lesbians as diseased and in need of a "cure" -- despite the best scientific evidence to the contrary -- and to try to convince us that her hateful campaign is really about love and not about politics. Newt Gingrich Former House Speaker. Ever desperate to remain in the public spotlight, Gingrich recently blamed the Littleton, Colorado tragedy on 35 years of liberalism.
Charleton Heston
NRA President. While Gingrich was blaming the Littleton tragedy on 35 years of liberalism, Heston was leading the charge against proposals that would make it more difficult for children to obtain guns. Rep. Ernest Istook The 1998 sponsor of a constitutional amendment that would allow captive-audience prayer in the public school classroom, Istook last year garnered the first-ever Equine Posterior Achievement Award. Can the Oklahoma congressman repeat, or are his best days behind him? New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. Gov. Johnson not only proposed a voucher bill that eventually would have covered every single student in the state of New Mexico, he also vetoed all education appropriations measures when he didn't get his way, throwing the state's budget process into a total crisis. Independent Prosecutor Kenneth Starr Starr's connections with Pat Robertson, the Bradley Foundation, the Scaife Foundation and the Landmark Legal Foundation created at least the appearance of a conflict of interest, even before the runaway impeachment train left the station. That's some "independent" prosecutor!
 Randy Tate
Executive Director, Christian Coalition. While Americans grieved over the tragedy in Littleton, Colado, Tate used the occasion to play politics. His Christian Coalition launched political advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire -- home to the nation's earliest presidential caucus and primary -- blaming the tragedy on the removal of God from the classroom. Rep. Tom Tancredo Tancredo has a simple plan for improving the public schools -- eliminate them. |
