CLINTON HAS IT BOTH WAYS -- AGAIN

It's not enough that President Clinton has heavy-handedly ignored the Constitution again in making an appointment that is subject to the consent of the U.S. Senate. He also has incurred the wrath of delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention, of which he professes to be a member.

The issue is homosexuals. Clinton has avoided the Senate confirmation process for James C. Hormel, a gay San Francisco businessman appointed to serve as ambassador to Luxembourg. As a result, Hormel will be allowed to serve until the end of Clinton's term when everyone in the diplomatic corps is expected to turn in a resignation anyway.

Clinton has been a strong advocate of gay rights during his administration. Who can forget the upheaval of gays in the military and the actions he took in the face of warnings from the top military brass? And he recently proclaimed June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

It is this latter action that has offended Southern Baptists, who hold to biblical teaching against homosexuality.

At their meeting in Atlanta, prominent Baptists have questioned how the president can hold to the teachings of Immanuel Baptist Church of Little Rock, where he has been a member since 1980, and still be such an outspoken advocate for gays and lesbians.

How, indeed?