Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who represents one of the most vibrant Gay/Lesbian/Bi-Sexual/Transgender communities in America is calling on President Bush to immediately rescind Jerry Thacker’s nomination to the Presidential Advisory Commission on HIV and AIDS.

“Mr. Thacker has time and time again managed to display his ignorance about the disease, while berating and insulting the entire gay community,” said Rep. Nadler. “It is beyond offensive that the President would even consider such a man to sit on his commission. His nomination should be pulled off the table immediately.”

Thacker, a Pennsylvania marketing consultant, has been reported to have described AIDS as the "gay plague" and called homosexuality a "deathstyle." He has promoted an unproven abstinence-until-marriage education policy to curb AIDS despite the fact that his wife contracted HIV through a blood transfusion, and passed it to him when they were years into their marriage.

“It is completely beyond all reasoning that this man would be the choice of the President to serve on the commission,” added Rep. Nadler. “But, then again, when you are talking about an Administration that has an Attorney General seeking to undermine the Constitution, a Defense Secretary who wants to squander money to defend the US against a phantom missile threat, and an EPA Administrator who has continually undermined Environmental Law, it is pretty clear that ‘reasoning’ isn’t this Administration’s strong suit.”

Rep. Nadler has served in Congress since 1992. He represents the 8th Congressional District of New York, which includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn.