Senator Urged to Keep Promise vs. Hate Crimes… This Time
F A M I L Y – P O L I C Y – N E T W O R K
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2005
Senator urged to keep promise vs. hate crimes – – this time
George Allen broke “no sexual orientation” pledge in ’04, but has a chance to get it right now…
(FOREST, VA) – The leader of a Virginia-based pro-family organization is urging U.S. Senator George Allen (R-VA) to honor a written campaign promise to oppose adding “sexual orientation” to the list of federal “hate crimes.”
“George Allen broke his promise to not support adding ‘sexual orientation’ to the federal list of hate crimes last year. We’re asking him not to break that promise again now,” said Family Policy Network (FPN) president Joe Glover in a written statement.On October 27, just days before his election to the Senate in 2000, then-candidate Allen promised to oppose hate crimes designation for homosexuals, in exchange for a guarantee from conservative leaders to drop the issue – rather than publicly criticize his prior statements in support of such legislation.
Allen’s promise, which was written on “Allen 2000″ campaign stationary, was signed by the candidate himself. The letter (see below) clearly states that, if elected, Allen would not support adding sexual orientation to the list of federal hate crimes “or any other similar legislation.” The letter also expresses Allen’s belief that such legislation would “have the effect of elevating sexual orientation to civil rights status,” which he promised he would not do. >Also in the letter, Allen added that he had “always been an advocate for increased penalties on anyone who commits a violent crime” in an apparent attempt to justify his previous willingness to support the hate crimes designation for sexual orientation. >“That might make a good sound bite,” Glover said, “but it doesn’t explain why killing grandma for the money in her purse should be any less a crime than killing someone else for engaging in same-sex sodomy.”
Allen broke the promise in June of 2004 when he helped pass a Senate bill to add “sexual orientation” to the list of federal hate crimes (see story). The legislation eventually expired because Republican leaders never scheduled a vote in the House of Representatives. This year, however, the House has already passed the language. It will now be considered by the Senate.
Glover says, “This time, we’re asking Senator Allen to remember his promise. If he doesn’t, we won’t let him forget it.”
RELATED INFORMATION:
Letter from George Allen, promising not to support adding “sexual orientation” to hate crimes:
See the letter online at this location:
http://familypolicy.net/files/Allen_vs_HC.gif
CNS News.com: Sen. Allen: ‘Hate Crimes’ Support Breaks No Promise
(This story also appeared on CrossWalk.com, NewsMax.com, and GOPUSA.com)FAMILY NEWS IN FOCUS – Allen tries to explain hate crimes betrayal:
AUDIO: http://familypolicy.net/files/AllenHC-FNIF.asf
ARTICLE: http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0032751.cfmWASHINGTON TIMES – Allen’s ’04 Hate Crimes vote (1/2 way down page):
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040628-110203-1578r.htm
CWFA – Allen’s broken campaign promise on hate crimes:
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/5883/CFI/family/index.htm
Virginians respond to Allen’s ’04 hate crimes vote on FPN Blog:
http://familypolicy.net/va-p-136
FPN’s original release concerning Allen’s Hate Crimes vote:
http://familypolicy.net/va-p-5
FPN paper: The truth about George Allen and homosexuality:
http://familypolicy.net/us-p-184
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