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North Carolina Rep. Sue Myrick supports our military, but when it comes to DADT, she’s not onboard, even though Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates have called for repeal of the discriminatory policy.
Myrick, who’s been a vocal opponent of gay rights, received a 91 percent rating from the American Conservative Union in 2008. In 2004, she was a leading supporter of legislation to keep states from recognizing same-sex marriage, and she told reporters that the topic triggered more calls and e-mails to her office than any other issue.
In order get her attention, today the Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), in a joint effort with the Human Rights Campaign is holding a rally and launching CRANE’s “March for Myrick” campaign, since she is in clear need of education.
The HRC gives Myrick a big fat zero rating — and that sadly matches the rest of my state’s House Republican delegation in terms of LGBT advocacy. (Imagine Virginia Foxx cloned over and over in some parts of the state).
“Representative Myrick has very much a pro-military, pro-national security record,” Comer said. “In past couple years, she’s spoken out on issues, especially when it comes to the war on terror. Since she does place such an importance on military readiness, it makes no sense she would not sponsor the military readiness bill.”
Over the next few weeks, CRANE and supporters plan to gather 13,500 plastic toy soldiers (do they make them in pink?) to deliver to Myrick’s office at the end of March. That number represents the gays and lesbians who have been discharged from the military because of their sexual oriengation since the policy began under President Clinton in 1993.
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Sort of reminds me of a few lines from Hairspray…“…And then there’s those
That try to help, God knows
But have to always put me in my place….
I’m tired of coverin’ up all my pride
So give me five on the black-hand side
I’ve got a new way of movin’ And i got my own voice
So how can i help But to shout and rejoice….”
…now run and tell that!!
Oh, good grief!Mind you, I have no problem with anyone trying to change the “mind” of Sue Myrick … assuming she even has one.
But, on the other hand, is there nothing useful or productive for these people to do? Myrick just seems like such a waste of time and energy and plastic toy soldiers.
Of two mindsFrom a media perspective, focusing on Myrick has merits because of other things going on in her district.
From a policy perspective focusing on Myrick is relatively useless.
If I lived in Charlotte, I’d focus on Rep. Larry Kissell (D) as he represents part of Charlotte and has a seat on the House Armed Services Committee. DADT repeals needs all the votes on the House and Senate Armed Services Committee is can get.
Only three US Reps from NC have signed onto the DADT repeal bill, and Kissell isn’t one of them.
Still, if the point was a media blitz. They got that part done right by using Myrick.
Great idea…BUT we can do better than just ‘deliver’ 13,500..How about if we get Dan Choi to deliver them with cameras from TRMS (thats The Rachel Maddow Show) in tow?
Its gonna be a strange election all the way around
K, sent note to Dan… another rec is ANTHONY WOODS.He was a classmate of Dan's, ran for Congress here in CA 10 and is black! Shock the begebers our of them to see a Black Westpoint Grad drummed out on DADT.
REALITY CHECK – Day 25!
With all due respect, I don’t understand why so many are continuing to perpetuate the MYTH that “Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates have called for repeal” THIS YEAR!
That calendar caveat makes ALL the difference is grasping the FUNCTIONAL reality of what was behind their pretty words. If the first 13 months of Obama Nation have taught us nothing else it should be that pretty WORDS mean NOTHING.
Yes, both said they were for repeal BUT only AFTER at least a year and a half of “study.”
AND, Gates did NOT correct homophobic Sen. Jim Webb when Web interpreted Gates’ testimony to mean that repeal would NOT NECESSARILY follow that study:
That revealing exchange happened right in front of everyone’s eyes but most gays apparently didn’t hear it because they were too busy channeling Sally Fields and squealing, “Gates like us! He really likes us!”
It’s “Obama The Messiah for The Gays” all over.
IN SHORT: the “fence sitters” and irreversibly opposed to repeal EVER are hearing what Gates and the Joint Chiefs [and Powell and Cheney] are REALLY saying [while too many gays are still under the self-delusion that they laid the groundwork for repeal and Levin is at fault for not simply scooping up the votes]:
Run out the clock with a “study” until after November elections result in the loss of so many gay friendly seats that repeal will be deader than Elvis.
And, no, there’s NO evidence that enough votes can be changed to vote for repeal now simply by our AGREEING to delay its implementation for another 18 months during which time 100s more gay servicemembers will be kicked to the curb.
Save those toy soldiers for someone else for, while I yield to anyone who knows more, based on her ontheissues.org record, it’s a toybox for brains idea to imagine that someone with an HRC rating of 0%…who’s voted TWICE to amend the Constitution to ban marriage equality, voted against ENDA, and voted for banning gay adoptions in DC can be convinced to let out gays serve.
The ONLY way to make repeal happen THIS year with the provision from the House repeal bill model of allowing them no more than six months to implement is to resurrect the fear of losing so much gay money that Obama and the DNC will pressure enough Dems into doing it.
I’ve gotten the 3Senate candidates from NC to take public stands against DADT. I got Kenneth Lewis to say it via BlueNC live blog, I got Elaine Marshall said it via BlueNC live blog, and Cal Cunningham (who has served in the military) directly responded to me on facebook and again repeated his opposition to DADT on BlueNC radio when my DADT question was asked.
Kenneth Lewis opened up a new question thing on his website, and I’m asked him again yesterday and will make public the response. I know it maybe be silly to ask questions to which I already have the answer, but I am going to put all 3 of these candidates on the record as being opposed to DADT as often and as loudly as I can, as many times as I can, before the primary ends.
Since it will be the biggest election in our state this November, hopefully it’ll help set the right tone for the rest of the state.
excellentthe more public their positions are now, the harder it will be to backtrack later if they feel the desire to.