Chisum apologizes, to meet with Jewish leaders
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum has apologized to the Anti-Defamation League for giving colleagues a document that contains what the league called “outrageous anti-Semitic material.”
The Pampa Republican sent a letter late today to the North Texas-Oklahoma office of the league, which works to eradicate hatred of Jews and other minorities.
“I certainly meant no harm or disrespect for the religious views held by any person or group and for having done so, I am truly sorry,” Mr. Chisum wrote.
Mr. Chisum said his colleague of 18 years in the Legislature, former Rep. Steve Wolens, D-Dallas, who is Jewish, could confirm that Mr. Chisum is not a bigot.
Mr. Wolens did just that Friday.
“I’ve always found him to be respectful of religions and respectful of my religion,” Mr. Wolens said.
Mr. Chisum, a 10-term lawmaker, also distanced himself from the document he distributed to House members Tuesday.
The memo by Georgia GOP Rep. Ben Bridges urges state legislatures to ban the teaching of evolution. It claims evolution was the religious doctrine of certain Jews in ancient times, and thus can’t be taught in public schools.
Mr. Chisum said “the document in question does not accurately reflect my views.” He did not elaborate.
Nor did he mention the Atlanta-area Fair Education Foundation. Mr. Bridges’ memo contained links to the foundation’s Web site, which asserts that the universe revolves around the earth. The site also depicts theories on evolution as a plot by “Jewish physicists” and Hollywood moguls to brainwash people.
The league had demanded that Mr. Chisum not only apologize but repudiate the material Mr. Bridges circulated.
Mark Briskman, the league’s North Texas-Oklahoma director, called Mr. Chisum’s letter “most welcome.” League officials plan to meet with Mr. Chisum on March 7 to further discuss the incident, he said.
“We just want to make sure he fully understands why this is of such tremendous concern to us,” Mr. Briskman said.
Comments
Since when did the ADL represent so called "other minorities"? I dont ever recall them stepping in to help black causes.
Posted by: Nick | February 17, 2007 3:02 AM
ADL's web site has this list of amicus briefs the group has filed in lawsuits involving discrimination against minority groups:
http://www.adl.org/Civil_Rights/ab/Discrimination.asp
Posted by: rtgarrett | February 17, 2007 6:17 PM
It's time for that dinosaur Chisum to step aside or be voted out. If the folks of the Panhandle continue to send him to the legislature, they too are culpable. He is the legislator who wanted the Panhandle to secede.
Posted by: Stan Brein | February 19, 2007 11:51 AM
Will Kinky be at the meeting?
Posted by: Ike | February 19, 2007 12:47 PM
Groveling again I see.
Posted by: Lilac | March 7, 2007 3:56 AM