Posted on 06/19/2002 8:15:43 AM PDT by Gopher Broke
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES 3 NEW SENATE CAMPAIGN 2002 ENDORSEMENTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, June 12, 2002
WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender political organization, announced three new Senate endorsements today, bringing the total number to 18, with16 Democrats and 2 Republicans. HRC continues to watch races in Arkansas, North Carolina and other states. HRC's political action committee (PAC) is a tool of its legislative agenda and the outcome of the 2002 elections will have a significant impact on legislation promoting equality for lesbian and gay Americans, says HRC.
Maintaining a well-respected PAC is an important responsibility and ensures that gay and lesbian issues are well-represented on Capitol Hill. Because HRC's PAC is an instrument for advancing a legislative agenda in Congress, HRC favors supporting incumbents who have backed pro-gay legislation. It is essential that HRC stand by incumbents of both parties who have supported issues of concern to our community and Congress.
The three new HRC endorsees are Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Ron Kirk, D-Texas and Alex Sanders, D-S.C.
"These candidates have earned our endorsement by consistently standing up for equality and supporting our issues," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. "We hope our support will help lead to victory so they can make Capitol Hill a more fair-minded place."
Collins was endorsed because of her strong Senate record in support of equality as well as HIV/AIDS issues. Collins is a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and voted for the measure in April in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and issued a statement of support for its passage. She also has a written non-discrimination policy in her office, stating that she will not consider sexual orientation in the hiring, firing or promotion of staff. Additionally, Collins is an original co-sponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, which she voted for in June 2000 when it was known as the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. And just Tuesday. she was one of only four Republicans to support a cloture motion, which would have prevented delaying tactics, on that same bill. Collins also has a strong record on HIV/AIDS issues and is fully pro-choice. HRC will make the maximum PAC contribution allowed by law. State Sen. Chellie Pingree, who has long had a good record on gay issues, is the nominee for the Democratic Party in the Maine race for Senate.
"Susan Collins has earned our support through her record in the Senate," said Stachelberg. "Just this week, she demonstrated her leadership by appearing at a Washington press conference asking her Republican colleagues to vote in favor of cloture on hate crimes legislation."
In Texas, HRC has endorsed Democratic candidate Ron Kirk, who has had a strong record of support for the GLBT community in Dallas. Kirk is a strong supporter of key legislation such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act and HIV/AIDS funding.
Kirk's Republican opponent in November will be Texas Attorney General John Cornyn, who was not supportive of a hate crimes measure in Texas that included coverage based on sexual orientation. While on the Texas Supreme Court, he voted to uphold the state's sodomy law and did not support an effort for a domestic partnership registry for same-sex couples.
HRC will make the maximum PAC contribution allowed by law, send staff to work with HRC members and work to get the record out to Texas voters.
Finally, in the South Carolina Senate race, HRC has endorsed Democrat Alex Sanders, a former appellate judge and the former president of the College of Charleston. As a judge, he made case law and gained significant media coverage for granting custody of a child to its lesbian mother, over the objection of the heterosexual father. As college president, he instituted a non-discrimination policy that included sexual orientation. He also supports ENDA and the hate crimes bill, has a firm understanding of HIV/AIDS issues and is pro-choice. HRC will make the maximum PAC contribution in this race.
His opponent is Republican Rep. Lindsay Graham, who has scored 0 percent in each of the years in which HRC has rated him on votes important to the lesbian and gay community. Graham offered an amendment to weaken federal hate crimes legislation in 2000.
Candidates previously endorsed by HRC are: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.; Sen. Joseph R. Biden, D-Del.; Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo.; Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga.; Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill.; Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass.; Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La.; Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.; Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore.; Tom Strickland, D-Colo.; Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., and Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn.
HRC's political action committee will make over 200 endorsements, spend $1 million and send staff to work with HRC members on key campaigns in the 2002 election cycle. Additionally, HRC will highlight the records of all people running for the House and Senate.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
Why am I not surprised?
we need to STRONGLY support candidates who OPPOSE the radical, homosexual agenda.
Way ahead of you on this one... this just adds yet another reason to the list.
Here's an example. Nicolodian News. 103,000 (last count) parents ask their pro-homosexual news not be delivered to kids. The gays pushed anyway, and outraged parents all over the copuntry.
If they just wanted to be loved and left alone, this is not the way to do it!
How much hate did they generate by that action? Lots. Add that to their "victim" list.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.