|
ADC Press Release:
White House Resorts to Recess Appointment of Pipes, Record of Bigotry
Precludes Senate Confirmation
Washington D.C., August 22 -- The American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) reiterated its view that Daniel
Pipes, who was reported to received a recess appointment from the
White House today, is an inappropriate figure to serve on the Board of
Directors of the United States Institute of Peace because of his long
record of bigotry. On July 23, the Senate Health, Education,
Labor and Pensions Committee declined to approve Pipes' nomination to
the USIP Board, postponing its vote indefinitely after several
senators raised concerns regarding his career of promoting fear and
hatred. A broad coalition of organizations, including
Arab-American, Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Interfaith groups oppose
the nomination on the grounds that Pipes is unfit to serve the US
Institute for Peace in any capacity. Today's recess appointment
means not only that the White House was forced to resort to measures
which circumvent the normal Senate confirmation process, but also that
Daniel Pipes will serve for only 18 months on the Board as opposed to
the usual four-year term.
ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said, "Although Mr. Pipes will now
serve on this Board for 18 months, in no way does this constitute a
defeat of our campaign against his nomination. It is clear that
the White House felt that this man was never going to be confirmed by
the Senate because of his bigoted and extremist views. So today,
they resorted to this extraordinary maneuver which bypasses the role
of the Senate entirely." Former Congresswoman Oakar continued,
"The Senators who had the courage to stand against this
unacceptable nomination, including Minority Leader Kennedy, are to be
congratulated for their principal stance which compelled the
Administration to circumvent the normal democratic processes
in order to install Mr. Pipes." She concluded, "All of
us who opposed
this nomination can be proud of the fact that the Administration had
to resort to a recess appointment. Our point was made loudly and
clearly, and was heard and understood in the Senate, if not in the
White House. I want to thank the thousands of our members and
supporters who made telephone calls, and sent faxes and emails, in
this campaign."
ADC pointed out that, although Pipes will now serve on the USIP Board,
the campaign against his nomination produced many important
achievements:
· Due to the publicity given to Pipes' history of promoting hatred
and
violence, he was unable to win confirmation by the Senate Committee;
· The refusal of the Senate to confirm Pipes clearly demonstrates
that his views lie well outside mainstream American discourse which
values tolerance and equality;
· Opposition to the Pipes nomination was not restricted to the
Arab-American and American Muslim communities, but was expressed by
key congressional figures including Senators Kennedy, Dodd, Harkin and
Jeffords, by a very broad coalition of peace and justice and religious
organizations, and by major newspapers including the Washington Post
and the Chicago Tribune.
· Because of the campaign, which made today's recess appointment
necessary, Pipes will serve less than half the normal tenure on the
USIP Board.
|
