Tweets cause campaign manager’s resignation

Homophobic and anti-Islamic comments tweeted by Stan Solomon, the volunteer campaign manager for the 7th district Republican Congressional candidate Marvin Scott, led Solomon to resign last week.

On his twitter account, Solomon posted “‘gay’ stands for ‘Got AIDS yet?’” and he suggested Americans should burn the cities Mecca and Medina, two of Islam’s holiest sites.

Jerry Alexander, the new campaign manager for Scott started Monday.

Alexander said Scott and Solomon do not share similar views.

“Dr. Scott believes in the constitution and everybody’s right to have a religious faith,” Alexander said. “He is not anti-Muslim.”

While Alexander said Scott does not agree with the anti-gay comments posted on Solomon’s twitter account, he emphasized Scott’s support for the Federal Marriage Amendment.

“He believes the issue of homosexuality is a problem for some people, and he believes in the right of people to choose their own preferences in that area, but he also believes that we need to have a marriage amendment — that includes the marriage of one man with a woman,” Alexander said.

The Indiana Stonewall Democrats, the state organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Democrats, issued a press release Monday, Sept. 13, calling for Solomon’s resignation.

Scott was criticized in the statement for not calling for Solomon’s resignation.

The statement also reinforced the organization’s support for Scott’s democratic opponent in the 7th district congressional race, Rep. Andre Carson.

Rep. Carson supports the GLBT community of the 7th district, according to the statement.

Carson’s campaign manager, Matt Hammond, said Solomon’s words will definitely sway voters opinions come election time.

“Because of the way Marvin has conducted himself, and because of the way his campaign has insulted people of Indianapolis, they will just absolutely refuse to vote for him,” Hammond said.