[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 15, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5138-H5141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 2030
DORNAN REPLIES TO GUNDERSON
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ney). Under the Speaker's announced
policy of May 12, 1995, the gentleman from California [Mr. Dornan] is
recognized for 5 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
Mr. DORNAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California, Mrs.
Seastrand, who will follow with 30 minutes that I think Members are
going to find fascinating.
Mr. Speaker, I had 60 minutes tonight but everybody was jumping the
gun and assuming that in a special order tonight at 8:30 East Coast
time or later, 9:30 after the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Klink,
does his special order, that I was going to respond to the Member from
the Third District of Wisconsin, Steve Gunderson, on his peculiar point
of personal privilege yesterday.
I have talked to the parliamentarians and my honor was impugned at
several points during Mr. Gunderson's strange point of personal
privilege. If I had been here, I could have taken his words down time
after time and had them stricken from the Record. I stood not
mesmerized but fascinated at home. I will at some point, as the
parliamentarians agreed, take a point of special privilege during the
middle of the day, probably earlier than he did his. He did his around
3:30. That will be done in good time, probably next week, and I will
set straight the perversion of facts that took place.
I am going to include for the Record the reply of the reporter, a man
of honor, Marc Morano, to Representative Steve Gunderson, it is
fascinating; I want to put in the reply of the Family Research Council,
it is fascinating; and I am going to put in again Billy Graham's
beautiful address in the Rotunda on May 2 that he titled ``The Hope for
America,'' where he said that we are paying an awful price for what has
happened in our land with moral issues. And then he said, ``We are a
society poised on the brink of self-destruction.''
In the few moments left, Mr. Speaker, I will read from a letter from
one of the outstanding researchers over at Family Research Council, he
was a stalwart at Empower America, and it was in response to a good
friend of mine saying the Christian Coalition might be obsessed with
the issue of homosexuality.
Likewise CATO's David Boaz used the term to attack the Family
Research Council in the New York Times. Funny you don't hear anyone
accused of being obsessed with taxes, defense of our country,
deregulation, education, or any number of other issues no matter how
passionately they argue or how often. The ``obsession'' tag is used
specifically in the homosexual debate, and I think I know why, he
continues.
Because it implies a secret, hypocritical propensity for
homosexuality. It is a nifty little smear that homosexual activists use
routinely. That is why I winced when I found the nameless mutual friend
of Mr. Knight's and myself had used the term unknowingly at the Road to
Victory conference.
We have seen a debauching of the English language, a synonym for
cheerful, happy, mirthful, good-natured, the word ``gay,'' the root
word of gala, substituted for the death in their prime of life of over
300,000 young males in America who have the word ``gay'' and ``gaiety''
put in the place of ``sad'' and ``play.''
We have seen a word created that is phony. I have four years of
Latin. There is no such word as homophobia. Phobia of man, homo? If
they mean homosexual phobia or decadence phobia, that would be more
accurate, but it is not a phobia. It may be an aversion to seeing the
collapse of our society or, as Billy Graham put it, a great Nation on
the brink of self-destruction. I shall be back with that theme soon.
Mr. Speaker, Fair is fair and facts are powerful. Here is Mr.
Morano's powerful rebuttal to the Member from Wisconsin who will retire
in less than five months, effective Jan. 3, 1996.
Marc Morano Replies to Representative Steve Gunderson
The following is my response to Congressman Steve
Gunderson's (R-WI) point of personal privilege delivered on
the House floor on May 14, 1996:
It is an outrage that a U.S. Congressman would interrupt a
session of Congress and take to the House floor and slander
the character of a reporter whom he never met. Congressman
Steve Gunderson said on the House floor that ``hate and
prejudice are the motives by which Mr. Morano * * * sought to
totally misrepresent the fund raising events and their
purpose.'' He further states that I ``intentionally
falsif[ied] information'' and that my report is ``the
journalism of bigotry and prejudice.'' How Congressman
Gunderson knows all of this about me remains a mystery.
The Washington Times reported today that at least three
other people who attended the night dance can corroborate my
account. John Cloud, a city paper reporter said he witnessed
``* * * a fair number of people using drugs.'' A columnist in
Metro Weekly described the dance as follows: ``We spent much
of our time out on the dance floor trying to cop a feel, or
back in the sponsors lounge trying to cop a feel, or outside
in the designated smoking area trying to cop a feel and a
smoke.'' In addition, Jim Jennings, who works for one of the
sponsors of the event admitted to seeing ``very provocative
dancing.''
The freedom of the press is a fundamental right set forth
in the Constitution. Congressman Steven Gunderson's character
assassination of me on the House floor has a chilling effect
on free speech. Will reporters in the future now hesitate to
come forth with a controversial story for fear our elected
leaders will use their office to attack the reporters entire
career, question their motives and engage in vicious name
calling? Congressman Gunderson, by impugning my professional
reputation, has proven that he is not above ``questioning
other peoples motives'' and stereotyping whom he knows
nothing about. The fact of the matter is that my report is
entirely factual. I ask Congressman Gunderson to publicly
apologize for his unfounded assault on my character. The
dignity of his position demands that a retraction be
forthcoming.
The following is a detailed response to Rep. Gunderson's
point of personal privilege delivered on the House floor on
May 14, 1996. First, I reaffirm that the report of my
observations of the Cherry Jubilee's Main Event
[[Page H5139]]
was totally factual and without misrepresentation. Second,
Congressman Gunderson personal attack on me violates his own
philosophy, which he states, ``May I suggest that to begin,
we stop questioning other people's motives.'' Third, the
Congressman, who did not attend, claims to know more about
the event than myself who was in attendance and personally
witnessed the activities. Fourth, I was contracted to produce
a video by the Family Research Council, not write a report.
The report is my intellectual property not in any way
commissioned by the Family Research Council.
Let us look at the allegations put forth by Congressman
Gunderson in his point of personal privilege on May 14, 1996:
(1) Rep. Gunderson stated: ``Throughout his [Morano's]
entire story, not one source is ever identified or quoted.''
The story is a personal account of what I witnessed. I was
the source.
(2) Rep. Gunderson stated: ``There is no record that Mr.
Morano purchased tickets for any of these events. He clearly
did not use his name and address at any time, nor did he seek
to obtain any `press credentials' for the events.''
I did attempt to obtain ``press credentials'' but was told
they were not issuing any. I made at least three phone calls
to the organizers on the Thursday and Friday preceding the
event. I was forced to purchase one ticket from someone
outside the entrance and another ticket from the organizers
inside the entrance. The Sunday Recovery Brunch which
followed the Main Event was not open to the press. I went to
the Rayburn House Office Building on Sunday to cover the
event but was told no press or cameras were allowed.
(3) Rep. Gunderson claimed, ``But fact is not the basis for
the story. Rather hate and prejudice are the motives by which
Mr. Morano . . . sought to totally misrepresent the fund
raising events. . . .''
Rep. Gunderson is violating his own advice that we ``stop
questioning other people's motives.'' I reported on what I
personally witnessed; to suggest otherwise is without
foundation.
(4) Rep. Gunderson stated: ``Nor does the video show any
illegal activity . . . if there any doubt such illegal
activity would have been filmed if it actually occurred? I
don't think so.''
I was forced to be very discreet with the video camera and
did attempt to videotape the act of oral sex which occurred
just off the dance floor but because of the concealment
device used to hide the camera, the footage did not come out.
Security eventually saw my camera and threatened to
confiscate it and the tape. I was forced to hastily remove
the camera from the building.
(5) Rep. Gunderson accuses me of ``bigotry and prejudice''
for the following sentence: ``The homosexual community's
credo seems to be `Die young and leave a pretty corpse.' ''
Rep. Gunderson uses this sentence taken out of context to
accuse me of ignorance regarding death by AIDS. This sentence
was part of an opinion piece on the event that I wrote for
Chronicles Magazine. The whole context is as follows: ``There
were few if any men who could be described as overweight. In
fact, the overwhelming majority had bodies sculpted from
weight lifting. Beer and bottled water were the beverages of
choice, while apples, bananas, and oranges were in plentiful
supply. The image of young active health conscious men,
drinking bottled water and consuming fruit is a study in
contrast. The reckless lifestyle inherent in the gay
experience results in a notably reduced life span. The life
expectancy of a homosexual male is estimated to be no more
than about 41 years old, regardless of AIDS. The homosexual
community's credo seems to be ``Die young and leave a pretty
corpse.''
I did not in any way seek to imply that people who die of
AIDS ``die pretty'' as Rep. Gunderson infers. I was using an
old expression to draw a contrast between the healthy
vigorous party goers and the reality of the shortened life
span of homosexual males. Rep. Gunderson takes this sentence
out of context in order to accuse me of ``bigotry and
prejudice''. Congressman Gunderson exploits the tragedy of
the AIDS crisis to smear my name.
(6) Rep. Gunderson claims that the outside stairwell was
closed off because of ``construction.''
This is simply not true. The outside stairwell was open for
several hours and many people proceeded down there. One party
goer, noticing people down in the stairwell referred to it as
``screw alley.'' Security closed the stairwell down several
hours after the dance began. Security erected orange cones to
close it off and stationed an officer right in front of the
entrance.
(7) Rep. Gunderson states that ``security reported no
fights, no harassment, no drugs, no smoking, nor any sexual
activity. Security made no reports of illegal activity or
trouble.''
The question that needs to be asked is why Security did not
report the activities it surely witnessed. According to the
Washington Times (May 15), John Cloud, a City Paper reporter
who attended the dance witnessed ``. . . a fair number of
people using drugs.'' The Washington Times also reported (May
15) that ``A columnist for the Metro Weekly, a Washington
homosexual newspaper, described the dance: `The stately place
was incredible--we felt like we were in a hallowed hall. We
spent much of our time out on the dance floor trying to cop a
feel, or back in the sponsors' lounge trying to cop a feel,
or outside in the designated smoking area trying to cop a
feel and a smoke.' ''
Mr. Speaker, here is the inspiring act of Congress awarding to Dr.
Billy Graham, and his loyal wife of 52 years, Ruth, the Congressional
Gold Medal.
One Hundred Fourth Congress of the United States of America
at the second session
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the
third day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-
six.
an act To award a congressional gold medal to Ruth and Billy Graham.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress hereby finds the following:
(1) Ruth and Billy Graham have made outstanding and lasting
contributions to morality, racial equality, family,
philanthropy, and religion.
(2) America's most respected and admired evangelical leader
for the past half century, Billy Graham's crusades have
reached 100,000,000 people in person and reached over
2,000,000,000 people worldwide on television.
(3) Billy Graham, throughout his 76 years of life and his
52-year marriage to Ruth Graham, has exemplified the highest
ideals of teaching, counseling, ethics, charity, faith, and
family.
(4) Billy Graham's daily newspaper column and 14 books have
provided spiritual counseling and personal enrichment to
millions of people.
(5) Ruth and Billy Graham have been the driving force to
create the Ruth and Billy Graham Children's Health Center at
Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, whose
vision is to improve the health and well-being of children
and to become a new resource for ending the pain and
suffering of children.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate
are authorized to present, on behalf of the Congress, to
Billy and Ruth Graham a gold medal of appropriate design, in
recognition of their outstanding and enduring contributions
toward faith, morality, and charity.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury
shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and
inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Gifts and Donations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury may accept,
use, and disburse gifts or donations of property or money to
carry out this section.
(2) No appropriation authorized.--No amount is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell
duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to
section 2 under such regulations as the Secretary may
prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof,
including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this
Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title
31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this
Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
Constance A. Morella,
Speaker of the House of Representatives pro tempore.
Al Gore,
Vice President of the United States and President of the
Senate.
Approved February 13, 1996, William J. Clinton.
Mr. Speaker, here are the prepared remarks of Dr. Billy Graham.
A beautiful title, Mr. Speaker.
The Hope for America
Mr. Vice President; Speaker Newt Gingrich; Majority Leader
Bob Dole; Senator Strom Thurmond; Members of the House of
Representatives and the Senate; distinguished guests and
friends * * *
Ruth and I are overwhelmed by the very kind words that have
been spoken today, and especially by the high honor you have
just bestowed on both of us. It will always be one of the
high points of our lives, and we thank you from the bottom of
our hearts for this unforgettable event. We are grateful for
all of you in the Senate and House who have had a part in it;
and President Clinton for his support in signing the
resolution.
As we read the list of distinguished Americans who have
received the Congressional Gold Medal in the past--beginning
with George Washington in 1776--we know we do not belong in
the same company with them, and we feel very unworthy. One
reason is because we both know this honor ought to be shared
with those who have helped us over the years--some of whom
are here today. As a young boy, I remember gazing at that
famous painting of Washington crossing the
[[Page H5140]]
Delaware. Only later did it occur to me that Washington did
not get across that river by himself. He had the help of
others--and that has been true of us as well. Our ministry
has been a team effort, and without our associates and our
family, we never could have accomplished anything.
I am especially grateful my wife, Ruth, and I are BOTH
being given this honor. No one has sacrificed more than Ruth
has, or been more dedicated to God's calling for the two of
us.
However, I would not be here today receiving this honor if
it were not for an event that happened to me many years ago
as a teenager on the outskirts of Charlotte, NC. An
evangelist came through our town for a series of meetings. I
came face-to-face with the fact that God loved me, Billy
Graham, and had sent His Son to die for my sin. He told how
Jesus rose from the dead to give us hope of eternal life.
I never forgot a verse of Scripture that was quoted, ``As
many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name'' (John
1:12, KJV). That meant that I must respond to God's offer of
mercy and forgiveness. I had to repent of my own sins and
receive Jesus Christ by faith.
When the preacher asked people to surrender their lives to
Christ, I responded. I had little or no emotion; I was
embarrassed to stand with a number of other people when I
knew some of my school peers saw me; but I meant it. And that
simple repentance and open commitment to Jesus Christ changed
my life. If we have accomplished anything at all in life
since then, however, it has only been because of the grace
and mercy of God.
As Ruth and I receive this award we know that some day we
will lay it at the feet of the One we seek to serve.
As most of you know, the President has issued a
proclamation for this day, May 2, 1996, to be a National Day
of Prayer. Here in Washington you will see and hear of people
throughout the District of Columbia praying today. It is
encouraging and thrilling that here, and across the country
people have committed themselves to pray today for our
leaders, our nation, our world, and for ourselves as
individuals. I am so glad that before business each morning,
both the House of Representatives and the Senate have a
prayer led by Chaplain Ogilvie of the Senate, who has had so
much to do with this event today, and Chaplain Jim Ford, who
used to be chaplain at West Point when I went almost every
year to bring a message to the cadets.
Exactly 218 years ago today--on May 2, 1778--the first
recipient of this award, George Washington, issued a General
Order to the American people. He said. ``The . . . instances
of Providential Goodness which we have experienced and which
have now almost crowned our labors with complete success
demand from us . . . the warmest returns of Gratitude and
Piety to the Supreme Author of all Good.'' It was a message
of hope and trust, and it also was a challenge for the people
to turn to God in repentance and faith.
We are standing at a similar point in our history as less
than four years from now the world will enter the Third
Millennium. What will it hold for us? Will it be a new era of
unprecedented peace and prosperity? Or will it be a
continuation of our descent into new depths of crime,
oppression, sexual immorality, and evil?
Ironically, many people heralded the dawn of the 20th
Century with optimism. The steady march of scientific and
social progress, they believed would vanquish our social and
economic problems. Some optimistic theologians even predicted
the 20th Century would be ``The Christian Century'', as
humanity followed Jesus' exhortation to love your neighbor as
yourself. But no other century has been ravaged by such
devastating wars, genocides and tyrannies. During this
century we have witnessed the outer limits of human evil.
Our mood on the brink of the 21st Century is far more
somber. Terms like ``ethnic cleansing'' ``random violence''
and ``suicide bombing'' have become part of our daily
vocabulary.
Look at our own society. There is much, of course, that is
good about America, and we thank God for our heritage of
freedom and our abundant blessings. America has been a nation
that has shown a global compassion that the rest of the world
seemingly does not understand. After World War II because we
had the Atom Bomb, we had the opportunity to rule the world,
but America turned form that and instead helped rebuild the
countries of our enemies.
Nevertheless, something has happened since those days and
there is much about America that is no longer good. You know
the problems as well as I do--racial and ethnic tensions that
threaten to rip apart our cities and neighborhoods; crime and
violence of epidemic proportions in most of our cities;
children taking weapons to school; broken families; poverty;
drugs; teenage pregnancy; corruption; the list is almost
endless. Would the first recipients of this award even
recognize the society they sacrificed to establish? I fear
not. We have confused liberty with license--and we are paying
the awful price. We are a society poised on the brink of
self-destruction.
But what is the real cause? We call conferences and
consultations without end, frantically seeking solutions to
all our problems; we engage in shuttle diplomacy; and yet in
the long run little seems to change. Why is that? What is the
problem? The real problem is within ourselves.
Almost three thousand years ago King David, the greatest
king Israel ever had, sat under the stars and contemplated
the reasons for the human dilemma. He listed three things
that the world's greatest scientists and sociologists have
not been able to solve, and it seems the more we know, and
the greater our technology, the more difficulties we are in.
In perhaps the best-known passage of the Old Testament, Psalm
23, he touches on the three greatest problems of the human
race.
First, David said, is the problem of emptiness. David
wrote, ``The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.'' He was
not talking just about physical want, but spiritual want.
I stood on the campus of one of our great universities some
time ago, and I asked the Dean, ``What is the greatest
problem on your campus?'' He replied in one word:
``Emptiness.'' The human heart craves for meaning, and yet we
live in a time of spiritual emptiness that haunts millions.
``Nirvana'' is the Hindu word for someone who has arrived
into the state of perpetual bliss. Media reports said that
Kurt Cobain, the NIRVANA rock group's leader, was the
pacesetter for the nineties, and the ``savior of rock and
roll.'' But he said the song in the end which best described
his state of mind was ``I hate myself and I want to die!''
And at age 27 he committed suicide with a gun.
Second, is the problem of guilt. David wrote: ``He
restoreth my soul, he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness.'' Down inside we all know that we have not
measured up even to our own standards, let alone God's
standard.
Third, David pointed to the problem of death. ``Yea, though
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil: for thou art with me.'' Death is the one common
reality of all human life. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown
did not realize his time had come when he stepped on that
plane in Croatia a few weeks ago.
From time to time I have wandered through Statuary Hall and
looked at all those statues of some of the greatest men and
women in our nation's history. But one thing is true of every
one of them: They are all dead.
Yes, these three things--emptiness, guilt, and the fear of
death--haunt our souls. We frantically seek to drown out
their voices, driving ourselves into all sorts of
activities--from sex to drugs or tranquilizers--and yet they
are still there.
But we must probe deeper. Why is the human heart this way?
The reason is because we are alienated from our Creator. That
was the answer David found to these three problems: ``The
Lord is my shepherd.'' This is why I believe the fundamental
crisis of our time is a crisis of the spirit. We have lost
sight of the moral and spiritual principles on which this
nation was established--principles drawn largely from the
Judeo-Christian translation as found in the Bible.
What is the cure? Is there hope?
Ruth and I have devoted or lives to the deep conviction
that the answer is yes. There is hope! Our lives can be
changed, and our world can be changed. The Scripture says,
``You must be born again.'' You could have a spiritual
rebirth right here today
What must be done? Let me briefly suggest three things.
First, we must repent. In the depths of the American Civil
War, Abraham Lincoln called for special days of public
repentance and prayer. Our need for repentance is no less
today. What does repentance mean? Repentance means to change
our thinking and our way of living. It means to turn from our
sins and to commit ourselves to God and His will. Over 2700
years ago the Old Testament prophet Isaiah declared: ``Seek
the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man his
thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on
him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon'' (Isaiah
55:6-7. NIV). Those words are as true as they were over two
and a half millennia ago.
Second, we must commit our lives to God, and to the moral
and spiritual truths that have made this nation great. Think
how different or nation would be if we sought to follow the
simple and yet profound injunctions of the Ten Commandments
and the Sermon on the Mount. But we must respond to God, Who
is offering us forgiveness, mercy, supernatural help, and the
power to change.
Third, our commitment must be translated into action--in
our homes, in our neighborhoods, and in our society.
Jesus taught there are only two roads in life. One is the
broad road that is easy and well-traveled, but which leads to
destruction. The other, He said, is the narrow road of truth
and faith that at times is hard and lonely, but which leads
to life and salvation.
As we face a new millennium, I believe America has gone a
long way down the wrong road. We must turn around and go back
and change roads. If ever we needed God's help, it is now. If
ever we needed spiritual renewal, it is now. And it can begin
today in each one of our lives, as we repent before God and
yield ourselves to Him and His Word.
What are YOU going to do?
The other day I heard the story of a high school principal
who held an assembly for graduating seniors, inviting a
recruiter from each branch of the service: Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marines to each give a twelve minute presentation on
career opportunities they offered to the students. He
stressed the importance of each staying within their allotted
time.
[[Page H5141]]
The Army representative went first, and was so eloquent
that he got a standing ovation, but went eighteen minutes.
Not to be outdone, the Navy presentation was equally superb,
but took nineteen minutes. Air Force then gave a sterling
presentation, which lasted twenty minutes. By now, the
principal was irate, and admonished the Marine recruiter that
he had only three minutes before the students had to leave
for the next class!
During the first two minutes of his shortened time, the
Marine didn't say a word, but individually and carefully
studied the faces of each student. finally, he said, ``I've
looked across this crowd and I see three or four individuals
who have what it takes to be a Untied States Marine. If you
think you are one of them, I want to see you down front
immediately after the assembly.''
Who do you think drew the biggest crowd!
This afternoon, as I look out across this distinguished
group gathered here, I see more than a few men and women who
have what it takes, under God to lead our country forward
``through the night'' into the next millennium--individuals
who represent civil and governmental authority--as well as
doctors, lawyers, clergy, artists and media.
Again, Ruth and I are deeply humbled by this award, and we
thank you for all that it represents.
We pledge to continue the work that God has called us to do
as long as we live.
Thank you.
____________________