People for The American Way Slams Susan Collins -- and HRC
This letter was sent out by People for the American Way shortly after the Human Rights Campaign endorsed Maine Republican Susan Collins. It was as much a blistering critique of Collins as it was of HRC. Isn't it pathetic that a gay group that is supposed to be for "human rights" and civil rights is lectured by a long-time, well-respected civil liberties group?
From: Mary Jean Collins, Political Director, People For the American Way Voters Alliance
To: LGBT Community
Date: April 30, 2008
Re: Susan Collins's Support for Anti-Gay Judges
The U.S. Senate race in Maine is crucial for equality-supporting voters. Susan Collins, the two term Republican incumbent, is attempting to pass herself off as a moderate to fend off a challenge from her opponent, progressive Democratic congressman Tom Allen. But we want voters to know that on some of the most important votes she cast she sided with George W. Bush and against the interests of the LGBT community. She has backed President Bush's efforts to place jurists hostile to LGBT rights in lifetime seats on the federal bench.
Senator Collins helped give George Bush a long and damaging legacy on the Supreme Court. With her support, the president placed two Justices on the Court who have aligned themselves with the far-right, anti-gay ideology of Justices Scalia and Thomas. Only a few years ago, Lawrence v. Texas finally made clear that governments couldn't prosecute gays and lesbians for private, consensual sex. Now, thanks to Senator Collins, we're likely within one vote of losing that decision. (And don't think they wouldn't overrule it. This Court has shown no compunction about ignoring precedent -- just ask any pro-choice activist.)
It's not just the Supreme Court. Sen. Collins supported the confirmation of Leslie Southwick, an anti-gay nominee to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, who voted to uphold the removal of a child from her mother's care largely because the child would be in a "lesbian home." He went so far as to join a gratuitously anti-gay concurrence suggesting that he believes sexual orientation is a 'choice,' and that one legally acceptable consequence of that 'choice' is losing one's child.
She also supported the confirmation of Janice Rogers Brown, an ultra-conservative judge who said that a decision to allow gay and lesbian parents to legally adopt their partner's children would "trivialize family bonds." In addition, Senator Collins supported the confirmation of other right-wing judges whose views on privacy and civil rights should be extremely troubling to the LGBT community.
Thanks to Senator Collins, these and other anti-gay judges have lifetime seats on the federal bench. The rulings made by these judges will have an impact far beyond the scope of most legislation. Long after Senator Collins's term has ended, these ideologues will continue to undermine the rights of LGBT Americans, and in many cases they'll succeed.
Maine voters have trusted Susan Collins to be a moderate in the past. But her record during the Bush Administration shows that she's not a moderate, and on the key votes for the lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court and the federal bench, she's sided with George Bush too often.
Senator Collins's opponent, Rep. Tom Allen, has earned the support of the LGBT community. I hope you'll use your voices to make sure that he gets it.
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