Republican presidential candidate John McCain has come out in support of the anti-gay military policy, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The Clinton-era policy prohibits soldiers from asking or telling their sexual orientation. In a letter to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the Senator wrote that the controversial law:
…unambiguously maintains that open homosexuality within the military services presents an intolerable risk to morale, cohesion and discipline…
He also erroneously claims that the Supreme Court, “has ruled that the military may constitutionally discharge a service member for overt homosexual behavior,” according to a Earth Times.
McCain goes on to write:
I believe polarization of personnel and breakdown of unit effectiveness is too high a price to pay for well-intentioned but misguided efforts to elevate the interests of a minority of homosexual service members above those of their units. Most importantly, the national security of the United States, not to mention the lives of our men and women in uniform, are put at grave risk by policies detrimental to the good order and discipline which so distinguish America’s Armed Services… I remain opposed to the open expression of homosexuality in the U.S. military.
And we remain opposed to you. As does SLDN.
Regarding McCain’s claims, SLDN legal expert Sharra E. Greer says:
How about we take this to the next level?
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Senator McCain’s comments are out of step with the overwhelming majority of the American people, and out of touch with the best interests of our armed forces… ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ prevents our military from recruiting and retaining the best and brightest Americans, and undermines our country’s ability to assemble the strongest fighting force possible. Now, more than ever, elected officials should be primarily concerned about military readiness. Senator McCain’s defense of this counter-productive law is disrespectful to the more than 65,000 lesbian and gay service members on duty today.
Maybe McCain needs to sit down with Alan Simpson. The former GOP Senator recently blasted “Don’t Ask”, saying, “We need every able-bodied, smart patriot to help us win this war.” Word.
jack e. jett
john mccain is a retarded fuckwad. he is a prime example of why we should never ever elect an old white straight man to a decision making gig.
jack jett
Paul Raposo
His presidency run is on the rails and he’s desperate and like all politicians, willing to use the GLBT’s a political fodder.
el polacko
ACK !! it’s been a total mystery to me for years how this guy became a darling of the left (?!) when he represents everything they supposedly hate .. and yet the bill maher and john stewart audiences cheer wildly for him at the mention of his name … ?? weird.
James
The whole “flip-flop” on issues tactic that the Republicans used on John Kerry in 2004 can and should be used on McCain in 2008. The man goes from bashing the religious right, and then makes a speech at Liberty University. He has done the same thing with Bush, the war, and gays. Like someone else said his campaign is on the rocks , and with Giuliani taking the lead on the Republican ticket he must feel the need the pander to the far right in order to get more votes in the primaries.
Tom
I think John McCain suffers from mental illness induced by years of captivity in North Viet Nam. The man has cashed in on “war hero” status for much too long. I wouldn’t be at all shocked if he turned out to be a “Manchurian Candidate”. He’s nothing more than a political hack and should have been voted out of office years ago.
Fortunately, he has succeeded in showing what a slimeball he actually is more than once. He’s not a “straight talker” he’s a duplicitous weasel that has sold his soul in hopes of obtaining the power of the American Presidency. He’s a loser. Always has been and always will be, but now it shows more clearly since the scales have fallen from most American voter’s eyes. Go snuggle up with your “commander guy”.
dizzy spins
Why didnt we just leave him in that damn tiger cage in Nam?!