Matt Gunterman June 17th, 2007

Yep, you read that correctly: the most liberal member of Kentucky’s congressional delegation has endorsed the nomination for surgeon general of Dr. James W. Holsinger, the right-wing ideologue, certifiable homophobe, and major financial donor to the Republican party and George W. Bush.

What about Representative Ben Chandler, Kentucky’s more conservative Democratic congressman? He’s made no comment, probably because it’s a matter he gets no formal vote on. I can respect that, quite frankly. Yarmuth, as a unabashed liberal (well, I guess he’s justed ‘bashed’ now), should be the one taking the moral lead here. Someone in Kentucky should.

The chattering class of the state is all lined up behind Holsinger because they want a Kentuckian as a surgeon general, not because they believe the nation deserves a qualified physician who can and will represent the interests of all Americans. There are plenty of fish in the sea for this nomination.

Here’s what Yarmuth’s spokesperson had to say:

[...]

Rep. John Yarmuth, D-3rd District, is concerned about what Holsinger has said, according to spokesman Stuart Perelmuter.

“But he also finds ample reason to believe that those opinions will not interfere with (Holsinger’s) work (as surgeon general), that as a practicing professional he’s never let that interfere,” Perelmuter said.

[...]

Let’s make a statement about Yarmuth’s position by switching around the circumstances of Holsinger’s past for a moment.

Let’s say that, rather than having led a career in his church dedicated to an anti-gay agenda, Holsinger instead believed and espoused — as many on the religious right still do today — that interracial marriage is against the will of God and is sinful, and let’s say that Holsinger wrote a paper in 1991 in which he used cherry-picked “science” to demonstrate that the offspring of those marriages — mix-raced babies — were more likely to suffer from below average intelligence and to engage in criminal activity as adults. And, thus, Holsinger’s paper in its conclusion recommended that his church take the official stance that persons of different races should not marry.

How would you feel about that, John Yarmuth? Would your spokesperson be saying, “those opinions will not interfere with” Holsinger’s work as surgeon general?

I think not. I think you’d be out there denouncing that nomination.

So, essentially: John Yarmuth is a coward on this one, and I for one won’t ever let him forget it.

• Homophobia , James W. Holsinger , John Yarmuth
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