CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS TARGETING BOY SCOUTS

"The White House yesterday defended its probe of the Boy Scouts' use of federal facilities," began the lead in Friday's Washington Times story, "while a 'troubled' Texas Gov. George W. Bush urged President Clinton not to sever 'the federal government's long-standing relationship' with the Boy Scouts."

Welcome to the Democratic Party's newest front in the culture war.

Hot on the heels of delegates' infamous booing of the Boy Scout color guard while presenting Old Glory at the Democratic National Convention, President Clinton's administration launches a full-scale investigation of the Boy Scouts of America. You can almost hear the pitiless interrogator, grilling an intimidated witness under the klieg lights: "Are you now, or have you ever been, affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America?" Mr. Clinton, like each of his predecessors back to FDR, is the Scouts' honorary chairman.

Not to worry, though. Janet Reno's Justice Department is on the case.

What is increasingly clear is this: The booing by Democratic delegates in L.A. is just the leading edge of a full-blown war against the Scouts. The Clinton administration's move against them is one example.

ITEM: A California Democratic congresswoman named Woolsey introduces a bill to revoke the Scouts' federal charter, theirs since 1916.

ITEM: Echoed by an approving national media, we've seen launched a nationwide attack on the Scouts by homosexual groups such as PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), Scouting for All and GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network). These folks are meeting with some success. They have intimidated some local United Way chapters into dropping the Scouts from approved funding lists. Chase Manhattan Bank was quick to drop support of the Scouts (a policy evidently reversed by week's end).

ITEM from the Traditional Values Coalition: "A recent PFLAG and Scouting for All protest ... in Toledo, Ohio, clearly shows why the BSA is opposed to having homosexuals in its ranks. The leader of the Toledo chapter of PFLAG is John Hemstreet, who is an alcoholic and convicted child molester. Hemstreet is also a former Scout leader who claims he never molested any boys while he was a leader. He is now trying to get the United Way to cut off funding to the Scouts."

As with much else, original reporting is from the redoubtable Washington Times (washingtontimes.com). Reporter Bill Sammon informs us that U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., (a former Scout) and minority leader Dick Gephardt (an Eagle Scout) refused comment. Nervously, they seem to just wish all this would go away.

Perhaps, though, with the booing incident at the Democratic convention, we caught a glimpse of where this party's hearts are. Seems those delegates just have the courage of Barney Frank's convictions.

For his part, GOP nominee Gov. George W. Bush said, "I am troubled by this memo appearing to suggest that the Clinton-Gore administration might sever the federal government's long-standing relationship with the Boy Scouts of America."

Squarely before the American people, then, is a question all but a few would have thought preposterous just a few short months ago: Will the Boy Scouts be allowed to survive, in the America of Clinton and Gore, of Barney Frank and Congresswoman Woolsey of California?

~Peter Kinder is assistant to the president of Rust Communications and a state senator from Cape Girardeau.