An obscure regulatory group, the National Labor Relations Board ( NLRB ) , became the focus of concern when it appeared that President Bush might nominate a "Christian Reconstructionist" to chair the five-member governing body.
"J. Robert Brame III and his allies seek to impose a harsh Christian theocracy on the nation," charged Rev Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Brame belonged to a group whose leader has advocated the death penalty for homosexual acts, exclusion of women from the military, and forced conversion of nonbelievers to Christianity. It was unclear whether Brame personally holds these views.
On Nov. 30, the day after Americans United sent out a press release on Brame, the National Stonewall Democrats joined the process, sending a letter to Sen. Edward Kennedy ( D-Mass. ) . Kennedy chairs the committee that holds confirmation hearings for NLRB positions. On Dec. 5 they released a statement saying that Brame "has withdrawn his name" from consideration.
"I think it is important that the administration realized that it was a battle not worth fighting," said HRC. The Log Cabin Republicans concurred.
One curiosity surrounding the incident is that Brame had served on the NLRB from 1997 to 2000, nominated to the position by President Bill Clinton. HRC found it "odd" that given Brame's record and statements that there hadn't been concern in 1997.