washingtonpost.com: Sarbanes, Mikulski Protest Virginian's Appeals Nomination

washingtonpost.com: Sarbanes, Mikulski Protest Virginian's Appeals Nomination: "ow the No. 2 official at the Department of Health and Human Services, is an 'excellent nominee' who will 'honorably and fairly' adjudicate cases, said Sen. Allen.

Under questioning from Democrats yesterday, Claude Allen said he did not intend to insult homosexuals when as a campaign press aide to then-Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) he referred to 'queers.' He also said he was 'deeply conflicted' about a Helms filibuster against creation of a federal holiday for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., saying King was 'a hero for me and my family.'"