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Claude Allen Appointed as New Domestic Policy Advisor

Proving that he plans to make his administration one of the most diverse in the history of the American presidency, President Bush added yet another minority to his list of appointments.

The National Stonewall Democrats (NSD) issued a statement last Thursday saying that President George W. Bush named black Republican conservative Claude A. Allen the new Domestic Policy Advisor of the White House.

According to a report from the website of the Republican National Convention Blog NYC 2004, the three time passer of the bar in Pennsylvania (1991), District of Columbia (1992) and Virginia 1995) will be filling in the position previously held by Margaret Spellings.

“Claude Allen has been a valuable member of my administration since 2001, helping to improve the health and welfare of all Americans,” said George Bush during his appointment speech. “He is a dedicated public servant and a tireless advocate for those in need. I look forward to his continued service in this new role as my domestic policy advisor.”

The Virginia native, according to the United States Department of Health & Human Services, currently serves as its Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources and previously worked as Secretary for Health and Human Resources for the Office of the Governor Commonwealth of Virginia from 1998-2001. Allen served as the Deputy Attorney General for the Office of the Attorney General Commonwealth Virginia from 1997-1998 and was on the Counsel to the Attorney General from 1995-1997.

Mr. Allen, worked from 1991-1995 as an associate at Baker & Botts in Washington, D.C., and served as a professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1985 to 1987.

A number of pro-family groups respect the decision that President Bush has made.

According to a statement that Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made to www.family.org, the graduate of the 1982 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and 1990 J.D. graduate of Duke University School of Law is the one voice that will make all the difference. “His new post within the White House suggests that the ‘values voter’ will have a strong voice within the administration on policy decisions affecting the family,” he said.

Allen’s new position will put him in charge of molding the administration’s policy on domestic issues.

In a statement from a report on www.family.org, Peter Brandt, the ministry’s senior director of government and public policy feels Allen has a great grasp on how to promote domestic problems.

“Claude has a distinguished history as a champion for policies designed to build strong families and strong marriages, going back to his days in the state government of Virginia,” he said. “He has been very strong as the number two man at HHS (Health & Human Services), and we believe Claude will serve the president well.”

There are some people however, like Terry McAuliffe, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman and Dave Noble, Executive Director National Stonewall Democrats (NSD) who feel that the appointment of Claude Allen as Policy Advisor was a poor decision

Noble, according to ec.gayalliance.org, said that the designer of domestic policy should be one who is advocated by every American family.

McAuliffe said of Bush’s appointment of Claude A. Allen according to www.democrats.com that it was, “disappointing and appalling.” 

“If Bush wants someone with a history of intolerance to set domestic policy for the country, then the American people are in for a difficult four years.”