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Compiled by
Badpuppy’s GayToday
From Human
Rights Campaign Report
Oklahoma Republican Senator
James Inhofe's comparison of President Clinton’s openly gay Ambassador-nominee,
James C. Hormel, to Louisiana’s former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard, David
Duke, and reported in Monday’s issue of the newspaper Roll Call “
is a mean spirited and offensive attack,” according to the Human Rights
Campaign.
"If was ever any question
of Inhofe's anti-gay bias it is now gone. In justifying his opposition,
it is apparent that nothing is out of bounds with Inhofe except the truth.
He will do anything, and say anything to defame a noted philanthropist
who is supported by respected lawmakers in both parties," says HRC
political director Winnie Stachelberg.
Hormel, a San Francisco businessman,
is a prominent civic leader and former diplomat. He has served as alternate
U.S. representative to the United Nations General Assembly and as a member
of the U.S. delegation to the UN Human Rights Commission.
Based on his superb qualifications,
he has amassed a diverse array of supporters including senators Joe Biden
(D-DE), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), as well as secretary
of state Madeleine Albright and former Regan administration secretary
of state George Shultz.
In an article in Monday's
edition of Roll Call, Senator Inhofe said he is blocking a nominee, "who
has his own agenda. I would feel the same way if it were David Duke or
anybody whose agenda is more important than that of the country." "
To draw an analogy between
Hormel, a man who has dedicated his life to helping others, and Duke, a
man who has made a career out of marketing hate is unconscionable and indefensible.
Inhofe should be ashamed of himself and should apologize to the Senate,
as well as Hormel and his family, " says Stachelberg.
In 1975, David Duke was named
Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. As late as 1989, Duke sold racist music
tapes with titles like “Niggers Never Die”. Duke has a long history of
incendiary statements such as, "Jews probably deserve to go into the ash
bin of history."
Clinton nominated Hormel
in 1997 to serve as U. S. ambassador to Luxembourg. The nomination was
approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last fall but has been
stalled by several senators who have raised objections to his support
for lesbian and gay equal rights
Human Rights Campaign Website:
www.hrc.org
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