National Stonewall Statement on Senate GOP Leadership Election
NATIONAL STONEWALL DEMOCRATS
National Stonewall Democrats
www.stonewalldemocrats.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Marble
(202) 625-1382
johnmarble@stonewalldemocrats.org
Stonewall Statement on Senate GOP Leadership Election
Republicans Again Turn to the Failed, Bigoted Leadership of the Past
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Washington, DC - Today, the National Stonewall Democrats issued the following statement on the election of a slate of anti-gay legislators who will lead the Senate Republican Caucus during the 110th Congress. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was elected Minority Leader to replace retiring Senator Bill First (TN), while Republicans elected Senator Trent Lott (MS) as Minority Whip.
"Senate Republicans have just given a clear demonstration of why Americans have now entrusted Democrats to lead Congress. The GOP still doesn't get it. As soon as they could, they returned to a corrupt leadership team who blundered their positions of authority in the past. It is time for Congress to turn away from the divisive politics offered by these Republicans, and with new Democratic leadership, the Senate is about to do just that."
- Jo Wyrick, Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats.
Senator Mitch McConnell won the role of Senate Minority Leader without opposition. In his previous position as Senate Republican Whip, the Senator became a chief architect of the federal anti-marriage amendment. McConnell has also been a staunch opponent of equal treatment for LGBT Americans. The Senator frequently used his past position of Senate Republican Whip to kill pro-LGBT legislation.
Senator Trent Lott narrowly defeated Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) for the position of Minority Whip in a 25-24 vote among Senate Republicans today. Lott was ousted as Senate Republican Majority Leader four years ago because of remarks considered racially insensitive. Lott has also maintained a history of anti-gay action and rhetoric, once famously comparing gay Americans to kleptomaniacs.
President Bush also tapped new leadership in the Republican Party this week by naming Senator Mel Martinez of Florida as the soon-to-be appointed head of the Republican National Committee. Senator Martinez has a history of scapegoating LGBT Americans for political gain. In 2004, the St. Petersburg Times went as far as to pull its endorsement from Martinez in his campaign for U.S. Senate because of his vicious, anti-gay attacks. That week, former Republican U.S. Senator Connie Mack (FL) also held a press conference to denounce the anti-gay attacks of then-candidate Martinez.
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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
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