The Log Cabin Republicans are upset that Democrats are blocking Richard Grenell, Trump’s pick for ambassador to Germany.
Grenell is a talking head for Fox, a former spokesman at the UN, and briefly served as a spokesman for Mitt Romney during his 2012 presidential campaign before Republicans drove him out for being gay and a well known Twitter troll with a penchant for sexist comments.
That Trump-like behavior is reportedly at the root of his problem getting through the confirmation process.
Grenell has insulted the looks and appearance of women including Hillary Clinton, Rachel Maddow, Madeline Albright, and Michelle Obama.
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In 1992, he creepily commented on the shoes of a staffer on the Bush-Quayle re-election campaign.
“Didn’t your mother ever tell you only whores and very small children wear red shoes?” he asked her.
Grenell was asked about his attacks on women on social media during his confirmation hearing by Sen. Chris Murphy, asking him if he regretted his behavior.
“Anybody who knows me knows that I am a very caring person and very sensitive — and I also appreciate good humor,” he said. “Unfortunately, there are times where what was intended to be humorous turned out to be not so humorous, and, again, that was never my intention and I regret that.”
If he is “a very caring person and very sensitive” he has gone out of his way to show the opposite on Twitter. And his level of “humor,” like comparing Maddow to Justin Bieber, is so hack it’s painful.
The Log Cabin Republicans blame “Democratic dithering” in Monday’s letter for not pushing Grenell through.
“In earlier times confirmations such as Mr. Grenell’s were perfunctory, made swiftly with deference to our nation’s commander-in-chief in a way that transcended partisanship,” the letter reads. “Sadly, time and time again over the course of the past year, Democratic senators have abused procedural courtesy to prevent votes by simple acclamation.”
But ensuring someone is fit to serve is a part of the confirmation process, and as all presidents learn, many nominations don’t have what it takes to get the nod.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told the Washington Blade that “there are still Democrat objections, but we don’t yet have a scheduling announcement.”
Two out LGBTQ Trump nominees have already been confirmed: James Abbott, to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and David Glawe, to the Department of Homeland Security.
Two more have also been nominated, but await confirmation: Claudia Slacik has also been nominated, but is not yet confirmed, to the board of the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Additionally, Trump re-nominated Chai Feldblum to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
