Congress Heatedly Debates Gays In Military

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy Riles Tempers Of Lawmakers

(AP)  Opponents of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military denounced it as cruel and unpatriotic Wednesday. Supporters insisted it was needed to maintain military morale, and raised the prospect of a rise of HIV infection among service members if gays are allowed to serve openly.

The heated exchanges came as Congress held its first hearing on "don't ask, don't tell" since its enactment 15 years ago.

Although legislation has been introduced to overturn the ban, the hearing wasn't an attempt to advance the bill, something supporters say can only happen if Democratic Sen. Barack Obama is elected president.

Republican Sen. John McCain supports "don't ask, don't tell."

Instead, "our purpose today is to begin a long-overdue review ... and to start a conversation about the real-life impact on our service members, their families and the operational readiness of our military," said Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., chair of the House Armed Services personnel subcommittee.

While there was plenty of conversation, consensus proved elusive and tempers flared as each side insisted on the moral soundness of their views.

The policy was intended to keep the military from asking recruits their sexual orientation, and to prevent servicemembers from declaring that they are gay or bisexual or engaging in homosexual activity.

Among the most arresting debates Wednesday came when Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., a first-term congressman and the only Iraq war veteran in Congress, accused a witness of implying that U.S. service members weren't professional enough to handle serving with homosexuals.

"You're saying you don't trust our military professionals to serve openly with people who might be different," Murphy said angrily to Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, a nonprofit that says it promotes certain military personnel policies.

"I think that's an insult," Murphy said.

Donnelly denied that, insisting that "forced cohabitation" and resulting "sexual tension ... will hurt discipline and morale."

"People are human, people have sexual feelings and they're not perfect," she said. "Prejudice is wrong, but feelings about sexuality are different."

Donnelly contended that if the law were repealed the number of HIV-positive service members would probably increase.

Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Ark., a Vietnam veteran and medical doctor, called that comment "so inappropriate" and suggested that Donnelly advocate for the military to recruit only lesbians, who he said have a low incidence of HIV.

The top Republican on the committee, Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., didn't stake out a position, but said that judgment on "don't ask, don't tell" must "ultimately rest on matters of military readiness morale good order and discipline."

Pentagon officials weren't invited to testify after committee members concluded they wouldn't say anything other than that they'd follow the law.

Asked Wednesday whether the Pentagon thinks it's appropriate to re-examine "don't ask, don't tell," Defense Department press secretary Geoff Morrell said: "I would say only that 'don't ask, don't tell' remains the law of the land. And to my knowledge, the department is not advocating a change in policy."

[kansas1946]

Donnelly and all the other bigots are the ones who are pathetic, disgusting, and immoral, not homosexual soldiers. And there are more heterosexuals in the world with HIV/AID S than homosexuals, and lesbians have the lowest rate of any group, so how would HIV increase? If this was 60 years ago, Donnelly and her bigoted ilk would be ranting against blacks and Jews in the military.


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Posted by informedone1 at 04:06 PM : Jul 24, 2008
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Thank you so much for your post. I had heard also about some of our Arabic interpreters being let go under this insane policy. We can only hope that we can move out of the dark ages, that the bigots will lose, (as they have always done in the past) and our best and brightest will ALWAYS have a chance to serve their country if they choose to do so.

[icankikurass]

AIDS infected Americans:

44% black
35% white
19% hispanic
1% other

Shall we stop bringing blacks into the military???

Black people and Hispanics have been disproportionately affected since the early years of the epidemic. In absolute numbers, blacks have outnumbered whites in new AIDS diagnoses and deaths since 1996, and in the number of people living with AIDS since 1998.

Let''s kick the hispancis out too while were at it.

[icankikurass]

msgtsteve, go on and clean up your room and take your meds. Maybe go watch some Teletubbies...I hear Tinky Winky is g a y too.

[icankikurass]

And any ex-military anything who wishes to "need to pork you mom again" (where did you learn how to write?) is somewhat sad in their own pathetic life. Posted by Avigil2

msgtsteve isn''t an ex ANYthing. He''s a pathetic zitfaced 14 year old with no friends and a computer.

[avigil2]

Mastersergeantsteve: just admit that you''re getting a good beatin'' here. Your views of G ays in the military are so way off. Your homophobic comments are really disturbing. And any ex-military anything who wishes to "need to pork you mom again" (where did you learn how to write?) is somewhat sad in their own pathetic life. If you want us to be proud of your years in service, than act like a true American patriot. Justice and equality for all!

[uradum1]

And your dad too.
Posted by msgtsteve

Yep, he''s dead so help yourself! You can rape a dead body, slap some kittens, make fun of crippled children, and spew your ignorance as a fianle!

[xmanborg]

Just get OVER IT and dont be so ****-phobic.

[avigil2]

Wolfear1 has a valid point. If it were that a military personale were HIV+ and in active duty, they would automatically be pulled out, therefore, no other soldiers would be at risk. Go ahead mastersergeantsteve and tackle that one.

[uradum1]

So honestly the chances of getting HIV in combat is remote.
Posted by wolfear1

Additionally, military members are required to get HIV testing annually.

[uradum1]

You are useless and probably pretty sick.
Posted by URAdum1

because, let''s recap:

Remember, God does not kill people! I do.
Posted by msgtsteve