Elders’ Comments on Religious Right Spark GOP Call for Her Ouster

Eighty-seven GOP House members sought the resignation of Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders on Friday, escalating a conflict over Democrats’ attacks on right-wing Republicans.

The Republicans’ letter to President Clinton came two days after Elders, according to newspaper accounts, referred to the “un-Christian religious right” and added: “We’ve got to be strong to take on those people who are selling our children out in the name of religion.”

The letter did not specifically mention these remarks, but they were cited at a news conference by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), the author of the letter, and by other lawmakers and spokesmen for conservative Christian organizations.

“She should be using this office to fight sickness and disease and not using this office to fight parents and churches,” Stearns said.

The letter said Elders “has not chosen to utilize her position to advance the general health and welfare of all Americans, but rather to advocate views antithetical to the majority of citizens.”

It denounced Elders for her remarks that the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts discriminated against homosexuals, that the legalization of narcotics should be considered and that girls should take condoms when they go on dates.

Elders’ press spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

While speaking before gun-control advocates Thursday, Elders said she was not bothered by all of the criticism she has received from conservatives.

“They say the surgeon general has a bully pulpit. Well, I don’t mind using this bully pulpit,” Elders told about 150 people gathered for the start of the National Conference on Gun Violence in Washington.

On Thursday, 44 Senate Republicans wrote Clinton asking him to repudiate remarks that reflect religious bigotry. That letter came after Rep. Vic Fazio (D-West Sacramento), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, criticized the rise of the radical right in Republican politics.