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We heard a strong endorsement for repeal of DADT by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen at the hearing yesterday, and he’s continuing to do a little a jab in the eye of Sen. John McCain, who has been caught flip-flopping about waiting for the military officials’ opinions on DADT. The Arizona Senator put on a sad display at the Senate hearing that was out of step, bigoted and reliant on hoary “evidence” in a letter supplied to him by Elaine Donnelly (nuff said). From the American Forces Press Service at the DOD:
Mullen’s Blog: My View on ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’
By Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Special to American Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2010 – “Over these last two months, the Chiefs and I have reviewed the fundamental premises behind ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ as well as its application in practice over the last 16 years. We understand perfectly the President’s desire to see the law repealed and we owe him our best military advice about the impact this change in policy would have on the military.
“While the Chiefs and I have not developed our advice, we believe that any implementation plan for a policy permitting homosexuals to serve openly in the armed forces must be carefully derived, sufficiently thorough, and thoughtfully executed. The review group to be headed by Mr. Jeh Johnson and General Carter Ham will no doubt give us that time and an even deeper level of understanding.
“My personal belief is that allowing homosexuals to serve openly would be the right thing to do. I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, it comes down to integrity — theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.
“I also believe the great young men and women of our military can and would accommodate such a change, but I do not know this for a fact. I will not deny that during a time of two wars, such a major policy change will cause some disruption in the force. It also seems plausible that there will be legal, social, and perhaps even infrastructure changes to be made. These are some of the issues our review will address.
“But we would do well to remember that this is not an issue for the military leadership to decide. The current law and policy came from the American people through their elected officials. We will continue to obey that law, and we will obey whatever legislative and executive decisions come out of this debate.
“With Afghanistan, Iraq, and significant security commitments around the globe, our plate is very full. While I believe this is an important issue, I also believe we need to be mindful as we move forward of other pressing needs in the military. What our young men and women and their families want, what they deserve, is that we listen to them and act in their best interests.
“Balance and thoughtfulness is required. It’s what the President has promised us, and it’s what we ask of Congress as this debate moves forward.”
The fact is Adm. Mullen is continuing to spread his message throughout military channels, and isn’t running from the media on this, something he could easily have done. This is the kind of follow through that is needed to pressure Congress. Adm. Mullen throws down the gauntlet at Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi’s feet. Now it’s our turn to work our representatives on the Hill.
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Finally, a leader that leads!He’s now on my ‘Righteous Dude’ list!
HB 1283Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-8th PA) is leading the way on HR 1283 the House bill also known as the ‘military readiness enhancement act’. It currently has 187 co-sponsors. We need 218 co-sponsors to bring this to a floor vote. With yesterdays hearings and the Military’s call for repeal I expect that number to grow.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/…
Click on the co-sponsor link to see if your rep is a co-sponsor. What we can do now is put some pressure on these lawmakers to support the Military and repeal of DADT. It starts in the House. We can do this! Call, write, e-mail, visit your rep. You know our opponents are launching an all out campaign against us.
“This is OUR time……”
Sorry, I see a glass half-full developing a huge crack…
It’s very troubling to me that after ADM. Mullen’s more “heartfelt” statement yesterday empathizing with gay servicemembers, “integrity,” etc., that today
he’s curiously chosen to rewrap what he said to the Senators in a thick layer of Gates’ craftily worded justifications for more talk over action, pushing many of the same excuses, most of them stinking lavender herrings to CONTINUE discharges indefinitely, and delay, delay, delay.
“What our young men and women and their families want, what they deserve,” MY ASS!
What about GAY men and women and THEIR families and what THEY want and DESERVE??????????!!!!!!!
From Jeff Sheng’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Vol. I
This looks just like a copy of his committee statement…But putting it up and out there is good. Y'all got thejointstaff TWEET yesterday right? That was cool too.
We should also call the Republican’s bluff on thisToo many Republicans have been hiding behind the uniforms of the Military by stating as McCain has that they would be willing to move on dadt when the Military itself shows support for its repeal.
He’s acting more like a leaderthan a lot of our elected “leaders,” certainly more than President Fierce. Wish I could convince myself something will come of it. (Like maybe, at the very least, he night stop calling us “homosexuals.”) Why do I have an awful suspicion that after this year-long study is over, they’ll feel the need to commission another study to determine how to implement its findings? Then another study about whether the first and second studies are correct? And then…
Senate Armed Services CommitteeDon’t just complain to the choir
Write to the Senate Armed Services Committee
http://armed-services.senate.g…