Public Financing of Hate

Some weeks ago, when Dr. Paul Cameron, a Nebraska psychologist, breezed through town spouting his offensive message that homosexuals should be quarantined to prevent the spread of AIDS, the media consigned his hateful, erroneous views to the wastebasket, where they belong. Cameron’s record of twisting peoples’ research to support his social views on homosexuality had previously been noticed by the American Psychological Assn., which had booted him out for violating the association’s code of ethics.

But Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) found something useful in Cameron’s work. The congressman has hired Cameron as an adviser on AIDS, the deadly disease that has struck more than 12,000 Americans in the last five years. When Dannemeyer was interviewed on Michael Jackson’s radio talk show earlier this week, he steadfastly refused to answer repeated questions about Cameron and what possible enlightenment he could bring to the subject of acquired immune-deficiency syndrome.

Dannemeyer’s refusal to answer the questions was an admission that there is no answer. Cameron is on a mission against homosexuality, and he is using the tragedy of AIDS in that quest. He is entitled to hold any views he wishes--however wrong--but it is outrageous for him to receive public money in support of them. There is not a scintilla of medical evidence to justify quarantining anybody. AIDS cannot be transmitted by casual contact. Rounding people up is an odious idea that should be denounced by all responsible citizens, certainly by elected officials.

Perhaps Dannemeyer did not know the full extent of Cameron’s record and opinions. Now that he does, he should drop this hatemonger from his payroll. If he doesn’t, Congress should.