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'''Tom Lantos''' (b. 1928; d. February 11, 2008) was a Democratic congressman (1980-2008) from [[California]]'s 12th Congressional District based in San Mateo, just south of San Francisco.  He was the only [[Holocaust]] survivor ever to serve in Congress.  He was best known as an outspoken advocate for human rights and an fierce opponent of the [[Nazi]]s, [[Communist]]s and [[Islamofascist]]s.

'''Tom Lantos''' (1928 – February 11, 2008) was a Democratic congressman (1980-2008) from [[California]]'s 12th Congressional District based in San Mateo, just south of San Francisco.  He was the only [[Holocaust]] survivor ever to serve in Congress.  He was best known as an outspoken advocate for human rights and an fierce opponent of the [[Nazi]]s, [[Communist]]s and [[Islamofascist]]s.

==Career==

==Career==

Lantos was a strong [[liberal]] on domestic issues, with a 91% rating from the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] for 2005–2006; a 100% rating from the [[AFL-CIO]] for 2006; a 0% rating from the [[Family Research Council]] for 2006; a 100% rating from [[NARAL]]/Pro-Choice America for 2006; and an F from the [[National Rifle Association]] for 2006.

Lantos was a strong [[liberal]] on domestic issues, with a 91% rating from the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] for 2005–2006; a 100% rating from the [[AFL-CIO]] for 2006; a 0% rating from the [[Family Research Council]] for 2006; a 100% rating from [[NARAL]]/Pro-Choice America for 2006; and an F from the [[National Rifle Association]] for 2006.

==Foreign policy==

==Foreign policy==

In foreign policy he was a leader in Congress and an especially strong opponent of Communism. He founded the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in 1983. He used the Caucus to publicize the plight of individual Soviet Jews, Pentecostals and dissidents targeted by the Soviet regime. Many were released.  Through the Caucus, Lantos brought major concerns before the public, including killings in Darfur and the Congo. He demanded that internet companies like Yahoo! and Google be accountable for their complicity in censorship and political persecution in China. Lantos publicized abuses against Tibetans, the Kurds, the Burmese, and the Uighurs. He was a strong enemy of anti-Semitism and persecution of religious minorities, and also of abuses against gays and lesbians.<ref>[http://jeffweintraub.blogspot.com/2008/02/congressman-tom-lantos-champion-of.html Jeff Weintraub, "Congressman Tom Lantos, champion of human rights and human decency, dies at 80," (Feb. 17, 2008) online] </ref>

In foreign policy he was a leader in Congress and an especially strong opponent of Communism. He founded the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in 1983. He used the Caucus to publicize the plight of individual Soviet Jews, Pentecostals and dissidents targeted by the Soviet regime. Many were released.  Through the Caucus, Lantos brought major concerns before the public, including killings in Darfur and the Congo. He demanded that internet companies like Yahoo! and Google be accountable for their complicity in censorship and political persecution in China. Lantos publicized abuses against Tibetans, the Kurds, the Burmese, and the Uighurs. He was a strong enemy of anti-Semitism and persecution of religious minorities, and also of abuses against gays and lesbians.<ref>[http://jeffweintraub.blogspot.com/2008/02/congressman-tom-lantos-champion-of.html Jeff Weintraub, "Congressman Tom Lantos, champion of human rights and human decency, dies at 80," (Feb. 17, 2008) online]</ref>

"Communism was not the only monstrous phenomenon determined to destroy free and open societies," said Lantos in 2007. Lantos, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he had fought against Nazism and communism, and "it is now my privilege to fight against Islamic terrorism determined to take us back 13 centuries."<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/12/AR2007061201125.html Omar Fekeiki, "The Toll of Communism," ''Washington Post'' June 13, 2007]</ref>

"Communism was not the only monstrous phenomenon determined to destroy free and open societies," said Lantos in 2007. Lantos, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he had fought against Nazism and communism, and "it is now my privilege to fight against Islamic terrorism determined to take us back 13 centuries."<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/12/AR2007061201125.html Omar Fekeiki, "The Toll of Communism," ''Washington Post'' June 13, 2007]</ref>

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[[category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]

[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]

[[Category:California]]

[[Category:California]]