Controversial NLRB hopeful J. Robert Brame withdraws name from consideration. (In The Capital).

Controversial attorney J. Robert Brame III has asked the White House to withdraw his name from consideration for a slot on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Brame became a contentious choice because of his high-ranking positions with two extremist organizations that promote "biblical law." The groups, American Vision and the Plymouth Rock Foundation, are aligned with the so-called "Christian Reconstructionist" movement, whose adherents seek to replace American democracy with a theocracy based on their interpretation of the Old Testament's legal code. American Vision, for example, has published materials that describe democracy as "the first step toward fascism," argue that women must be subordinate to men and insist that the Bible requires the death penalty for gays.

When media sources reported that Brame was a likely nominee for the NLRB, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and a broad array of other civil liberties and concerned groups publicized Brame's ties to the radical organizations and rallied citizens across the country to contact the White House and oppose his selection.

In December, Brame told reporters that he asked President George W. Bush to remove his name from a list of possible NLRB nominees. He said he has decided to pursue other endeavors, but observers believe that the national outcry sparked by Brame's record is the real reason for his withdrawal.

Lynn cautioned that the situation must still be monitored. Although Brame has said he is no longer interested in the position, media reports have surfaced stating that Bush could still name Brame to the NLRB as a "recess appointment." Under the terms of a recess appointment, Brame could serve on the NLRB until the start of the next term of Congress in January of 2003, without undergoing Senate confirmation.