Howard
Dean Calls Sen. Santorum’s Remarks Immoral
Calls for Santorum to Step Down from Leadership Post
Dean
for America, April 23, 2003
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Courtney O’Donnell
Email: codonnell@deanforamerica.com
Phone: 802-846-6600
Yesterday, I called on President Bush and the Republican
Party leadership to condemn Senator Rick Santorum for his deeply offensive
remarks comparing homosexuality to bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery. As
additional reports have come to light, revealing a disturbing history of
inflammatory, anti-gay rhetoric by Senator Santorum, the deafening silence of
President Bush and his party has become inexcusable.
Sen. Santorum has refused to apologize for his repugnant
remarks, calling his comments “a legitimate public policy discussion.”
Gay-bashing is not a legitimate public policy discussion; it is immoral. Rick
Santorum’s failure to recognize that attacking people because of who they
are is morally wrong makes him unfit for a leadership position in the United
States Senate. Today I call on Rick Santorum to resign from his post as
Republican Conference Chairman.
Once again, I call on President Bush to repudiate Sen.
Santorum’s remarks. The President of the United States must represent all
Americans, regardless of race, gender, class or sexual orientation. In a
nation dedicated to equality under the law, everyone must be equal under the
law. By refusing to stand up for gay Americans under attack by members of his
own party’s leadership, this President sends a message that intolerance and
bigotry is acceptable. That is not acceptable.
—Howard Dean
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