Some updates to the case of Dr. James Holsinger, the White House's controversial nominee to become the next surgeon general. You'll recall, Holsinger's record includes a 1991 position paper that described gay sex as unnatural and unhealthy, opposition to a lesbian pastor, and, his role in co-founding an "ex-gay" ministry. Have his positions evolved?
We don't know and The Cincinnati Post says it's high time for the White House to lift the gag rule preventing Holsinger from speaking to reporters:
If Holsinger plans to base his health initiatives on previously expressed views that gay sex is unnatural and unhealthy and wrong, if he believes gays and lesbians are second-class citizens who don't have the same rights as heterosexuals (as a church board member he voted to expel a lesbian clergy member), then there's not much benefit in continuing.
Under such a scenario, Holsinger wouldn't stand a chance of being approved, and shouldn't be, and he should withdraw his name now to save time and the trouble of a doomed confirmation process.
Dr. James Holsinger has been praised for positions he took as chancellor of the University of Kentucky Medical Center, such as when he defied conservative legislators who criticized a session on lesbian health issues at a health conference. However, the anti-gay writings and Holsinger's religious work have remained center stage.
Unwrapping the Nominee [Cincinnati Post]
Joycelyn Elders on Surgeon General Nominee [R20]
Senate GOP Leader Supports Nominee [R20]
Surgeon General Warning [R20]
Clinton, Edwards Oppose Surgeon Genl Nominee [R20]
I was raised in Cincinnati in the 1950s and 1960s. Then I left.
Other than Doris Day, Rod Serling and George Clooney, is there anyone in or around or even much of from Cincinnati that anyone pays attention to? There is a reason that people leave Cincinnati.
Posted by: raj | 01 July 2007 at 22:48