A likely candidate for president in 2020, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey took the opportunity of CIA director Mike Pompeo's confirmation hearing for his nomination to become secretary of state to show the Democratic Party base his social-issue bona fides.
Booker wanted to know not only whether Pompeo, an outspoken evangelical Christian, opposed same-sex marriage – even though party leaders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton once also rejected it – but whether or not he thinks "gay sex is a perversion."
The former Kansas congressman emphasized he has a record, including in the CIA, of treating every employee fairly, regardless of sexual orientation.
"Senator, when I was a politician, I had a very clear view on whether it was appropriate for two same-sex persons to marry. I stand by that," Pompeo said.
Pressed further, Pompeo said that at the CIA, he has accorded same-sex couples the same rights as others.
But that clearly wasn't enough for Booker.
"Do you believe gay sex is a perversion, yes or no? Yes or no, sir? Do you believe that gay sex is a perversion, because that's what you said here in one of your speeches. Yes or no, do you believe gay sex is a perversion?"
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Booker was referencing a 2015 speech when, as a congressman, Pompeo cited a prayer by the Rev. Joe Wright: "America had worshiped other Gods and called it multiculturalism. We'd endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle."
Pompeo responded: "Senator, I'm going to give you the same answer I gave you previously. My respect for every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation, is the same."
Bending the arc
Booker said Pompeo will become secretary of state of the United States at a time when "hate speech" and "hate actions" are on the increase against Jewish, Muslim and Indian Americans, and gay people around the world are "under untold persecution, untold violence."
"Your views do matter. You're going to be dealing with Muslim states on Muslim issues," said Booker, who also pressed Pompeo on his views of Islam and Muslims, essentially accusing him of bigotry for his association with prominent figures who believe terrorists base their actions on Islamic doctrines and that Muslims have a special obligation to report terror threats in their communities.
"I do not necessarily concur that you are putting forward the values of our nation when you believe there are people in our country are perverse," the senator said.
The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza said in January 2017 it was clear Booker was running for president when he broke with tradition and testified against Jeff Sessions before the Senate Judiciary Committee when his colleague from Alabama was nominated to become attorney general.
Booker explained at the time: "In the choice between standing with Senate norms or standing up for what my conscience tells me is best for our country, I will always choose conscience and country."
Then, echoing Barack Obama, the senator declared: "The arc of the moral universe does not just naturally curve toward justice. We must bend it."