President Bush has nominated Claude A. Allen, a black
conservative, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.
Allen served as press secretary to then-Sen. Jesse Helms during his
1984 North Carolina senate race against then-Gov. James Hunt. The
Washington Post reports:
A Senate Judiciary Committee aide said Democrats are scrutinizing Allen's statements about abortion and gays. During the 1984 campaign, Allen was criticized for his response to Hunt's description of Helms's backers as right-wingers. Allen said Hunt had links "with the queers." Nevertheless, a Senate Democratic aide said indications are that Allen would be confirmed. "He's an African American on a court that needs one," the aide said.
Guess it"ll be another victory for diversity.