Despite attacks by conservatives - including Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, both R-Utah - Joycelyn Elders was easily confirmed Tuesday 65-34 as the new U.S. surgeon general. She was sworn in Wednesday.
Elders' confirmation had been delayed a month by conservatives hoping to rally opposition to her advocacy of abortion, sex education, condom distribution in schools and inflammatory statements against right-wing groups and some churches. But strong opposition never materialized.Bennett's vote against her was his first against any major Clinton administration nominee. He says a president should generally be permitted to hire whomever he chooses, except when that person is patently unqualified or of poor moral character.
Bennett said, "I believe she has her priorities mixed up." He said she should have the courage to tell youth "that abstinence is our first and best defense for good health; that our first choice is control and restraint, with so-called `safe sex' a very poor second."
His press secretary, Mary Jane Collipriest, said Bennett had received about 300 phone calls about Elders' nomination, and they were running 15-1 in opposition.
Hatch said, "In Arkansas, she was responsible for the distribution of defective condoms that could have led, and probably did lead, to AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, and, of course, unwanted pregnancies that they were trying to prevent in the first place."
Elders said she decided not to recall the defective condoms because she worried it would lead to less overall use of birth control.
Hatch added, "Before you pass out any condoms, I think you really ought to teach values and worry about abstinence and helping young people to realize that morality is more important than immorality."
Elders is replacing Antonia Novello - a former aide to Hatch - who was pressured by the Clinton administration into resigning her five-year term early to make way for Elders.
During daylong debate, Elders' defenders portrayed her as a forceful crusader who will be able to reach the poor and minorities as no one else can. She will become the first black surgeon general.