Payne Calls Solomon's Remarks 'Racist'

By Louise Schiavone/CNN

WASHINGTON (April 3) -- Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.) attacked Rep. Gerald Solomon (R-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Rules Committee, Friday for what he called disgraceful, racist remarks about U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Solomon recently said on the House floor he had "trouble handing out any more money to an organization whose secretary-general has just cut an appeasement deal with Saddam Hussein, said Saddam Hussein is a man he can work with, and called U.S. weapons inspectors cowboys. That is what this head of the U.N. said?

"He ought to be horsewhipped for saying it," Solomon declared.

Annan negotiated a deal with Iraq's president in February to enable U.N. weapons teams to enter any buildings they wish to inspect.

At a news conference, Payne said Solomon's remark about "horsewhipping" the U.N. secretary general was especially ironic as it preceded President Bill Clinton's visit to Goree Island, where enslaved Africans left their continent.

"To be on the floor of the House and say he should be horsewhipped, I think it's a disgrace, it's racist, it's an insult ... " Payne said.

Friday April 3, 1998

• Starr Urged To Indict Lewinsky
• Clinton To Visit Kentucky To Talk Tobacco
• Battle Of The Book Subpoenas Goes To The Judge
• Payne Calls Solomon's Remarks 'Racist'
• Jones' Lawsuit Took A Toll On Her
• Clinton Says It Is In Tobacco's Interest To Back McCain Bill
• Mortgage Company To Pay $2.1 Billion In HUD Discrimination Settlement
• Clinton Takes Aim At Senate's Version Of Budget

Transcript:
• President Bill Clinton Discusses Senate Budget