Democrats Tap Illinois Homophobe as Spokesman By Bob Roehr
Congressman David Phelps is one of only 13 cosponsors of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, and one of only three Democrats. But he did more than simply put his signature on the document, he actually held a series of news conferences around his downstate Illinois district touting his support, "to send a positive message to our children about marriage and family."
Chicago Democratic political consultant Michael Bauer calls the amendment "one goddamn hateful piece of legislation." To him, it is far worse than a similar law, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed in 1996, because it tries to change the most fundamental political document of the country, one that most Americans hold sacred.
The Human Rights Campaign gives Phelps a congressional rating in the teens (out of 100), while the Family Research Council puts him near the top of their supporters.
Yet Phelps was tapped to deliver the Democrat's national weekly radio address July 13. It aired on 11 radio networks immediately after the President's weekly address.
The Congressman called it "a tremendous honor" because the role of party spokesmen rotates among elected officials. In a news release, Phelps said, only about "a dozen Democratic Members of the House are usually given the opportunity to craft the Democratic message every year."
"That's quite a coup, quite a position of prominence," said Ken Sherrill, a professor of political science at Hunter University who is active in gay and Democratic politics in New York City. The 211 "Democratic Congressmen would be falling all over each other to do it."
Phelps spoke on the Party's message of the day, corporate accountability. In his speech he admitted, "There aren't a lot of large corporations" in his district. Nor does he sit on a committee with jurisdiction in that area. He pressed for passage of the Sarbanes-LaFalce Comprehensive Investor Protection Act, but he hasn't even signed on as one of the 46 cosponsors of that legislation.
So who bestowed this honor, this national podium on Phelps?
Democratic National Committee spokesman Bill Buck said the radio address is a regular "rotation between the House, the Senate, and the DNC." He presumed that that Minority Leader Richard Gephardt's office would make the decision on who is going to be the speaker when it is their turn, the DNC does not get involved.
Kori Bernards, spokesman in the Office of the Democratic Leader, claimed that the decision on who delivers the radio address, is handled entirely at the staff level. She said they do not consult with the elected leadership, Reps. Richard Gephardt, Nancy Pelosi, or Nita Lowey, who chairs the Democratic National Campaign Committee.
Bernards said Phelps was chosen because "he signed the discharge petition" for the Sarbanes-LaFalce bill, along with 182 other Democrats.
However, that petition was not filed until July 17, about a week after the decision was made that Phelps would speak.
Politically knowledgeable observers guffawed at Bernards' explanation. "How do you spell cover up?" asked Sherrill with a laugh.
REACTIONS
Mike Bauer was outraged. "Would they have David Duke give the Democratic response? No! If they wouldn't have a racist or an anti-Semite [speak], why would they have David Phelps? He's in the same category. The Jewish community would never tolerate this stuff."
"It's a slap in the face" to the community, said Brian Bond, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund that works to elect openly gay candidates to office. He is also a former head of gay and lesbian outreach at the DNC. "It's ludicrous that they would give that type of individual that type of forum."
"Congressman Phelps' sponsorship of the constitution amendment is an example of how out of touch he is with mainstream America and how virulently antigay he is," said Winnie Stachelberg, political director of HRC. "Any credibility that someone would give him ... is regrettable."
Joel Lawson, a former Democratic staff assistant on Capitol Hill and now a public relations consultant, compared the situation with how then Pennsylvania Gov. Robert Casey was frozen out of speaking at the Democratic National Convention for his pro-life views, but the Party "will give a platform to an antigay bigot."
"I really think this is evidence that they don't take us very seriously," said Sherrill. He called it "a very useful lesson for us to learn. No matter how much they tell us they love us, we are going to remain a very low priority for a long time."
Andrew Tobias, the openly gay treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, was outraged and embarrassed to learn that Phelps was given "the honor/exposure of doing that radio address." He called it "a dumb mistake" and vowed to help in "persuading our friends in the House Democratic leadership that this was a dumb mistake."
Finally, Steve Elmendorf, the openly gay chief of staff for Gephardt, called to clear the air. He said that Phelps was chosen to give the address because he is in a tough re-election race. "And at the end of the day, what is important is who sets the agenda." Electing Phelps "helps to get us to the goal, which is good for gay people, of Democrats being in charge of Congress."
Sherrill does not buy that argument. With a small majority, "This guy [Phelps] can blackmail them every day."
The District Race: Phelps v. Shimkus
The Illinois 19th congressional district is shaping up as one of about 30 key races that will determine which political party controls the U.S. House after the next election. The redrawing of lines pits Democratic incumbent David Phelps against Republican incumbent John Shimkus in a district that sprawls across a wide swath of downstate Illinois.
It is overwhelmingly rural and conservative, with about two-thirds of it previously represented by Shimkus, who has garnered more than 60 percent of the vote in the last few elections. Shimkus also leads in fundraising, by almost two-to-one.
"The Democrat is running as a conservative and the Republican is running as a moderate," said Kevin Ivers, spokesman for Log Cabin Republicans. In that sense it mirrors the 1998 Illinois governor's race where the Republican, George Ryan, captured a good portion of the gay vote and was elected.
Phelps and Shimkus have similar voting records as measured by groups such as HRC and the Family Research Council. But that does not tell the whole story.
"While their [HRC] scorecards may be similar, they are not similar people," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC political director. She called Shimkus "a moderating force in the [Republican] caucus," who has been "helpful on a number of issues." However he has not sought an endorsement and his voting record is not one that would ordinarily merit endorsement.
"I think that Shimkus will win this race," she said, "and he will be a congressman with whom the HRC and the gay community will be working with for a long time."
Log Cabin Republicans has endorsed Shimkus. National Stonewall Democrats executive director Chad Johnson said while they will not be endorsing Phelps, "At the same time, I hope he defeats his Republican opponent."