Indiana State Representative Bob Morris (R-Ft Wayne) has back peddled a bit after his vicious attack on the Girl Scouts. Morris has apologized for what he called “inflammatory” remarks about the Girl Scouts, but is standing by his decision not to sign a resolution marking the organization’s 100th anniversary.In a written statement obtained by the Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne, the freshman Republican lawmaker said he has had time to reflect on his letter to fellow House Republicans in which he wrote that the Girl Scouts promote the sexualizing of young girls, abortion, homosexuality and cite “feminists, lesbians or Communists” as role models.
“I realize now that my words were emotional, reactionary and inflammatory. For that, I sincerely apologize,” the statement reads. “I apologize to the Girl Scouts of Indiana and all of the girls and parents of Indiana who are participating in and running their Girl Scout organizations in a way that promotes leadership, community involvement and family values. I certainly should not have painted the entire Girl Scouts organization with such a wide brush.”Morris defended his lack of credible sources in his previous letter, saying it was intended only for fellow lawmakers.”
Had I known this letter would have gone to a wider audience, I would have cited further evidence for my position,” he wrote. Still, Morris maintained that he will not sign the resolution because of the policies of the Girl Scouts’ national organization. “My conscience would not allow me to publicly endorse an organization that partners with Planned Parenthood, our state’s leading abortion provider,” he wrote. Both Planned Parenthood and Girl Scouts USA have denied a relationship exists between the two organizations. Morris in his Thursday statement cited a 2004 interview with Girl Scouts CEO Kathy Cloninger, in which she said the scouts organization partners with Planned Parenthood in sex education.
“If the Girl Scouts USA now denies the statement of its CEO, I challenge the organization to do so publicly so that individuals are not confused as to the organization’s ties to Planned Parenthood,” Morris wrote. Morris said he looks forward to moving on to “more important issues of state policy.” Morris is a certified whack job in a governing body full of whack jobs. His caucus includes noted boy-lover Indiana Representative Phil Hinkle.
