Meehan Targeting 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

[ruggerson]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/11/18/meehan_targeting_dont_ask_dont_tell/

By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | November 18, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Two leading House Democrats said yesterday that they intend to reverse the 13-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays and lesbians in the military when Congress comes under Democratic control in January.

Representative Martin T. Meehan, a Lowell Democrat, said he plans to hold congressional hearings early next year of the House Armed Services Subcommittee, which he is likely to chair, on a bill that would allow homosexuals to serve in the armed forces.

"We will have hearings, and then we can have an honest dialogue with members of Congress," Meehan said.

"I believe, and have always believed, that once people see the facts, it will become clear that this is a policy that actually hurts national security and hurts the military

(more)

[MADem]

1. Good, that will make up for his ghastly war vote--the one I took him to task for!

If Meehan and others can persuade Ike Skelton to back it too, that "political minefield" they speak of the article may be de-mined.

Ike has a shitload of bona fides at the Pentagon--his kid is a USN senior officer (not line, though--Public Affairs) now, if he hasn't retired already. He's gotta be an 0-5 or 6. As a consequence, Ike is very good to the Services, and most helpful to them in the areas of procurement and policy.

Skelton, the incoming chairman, supports the current "don't ask, don't tell" policy, but is willing to give his subcommittee chairmen some autonomy, according to spokeswoman Loren Dealy.

Skelton is planning to name his subcommittee chairmen in January, and Dealy said she is not aware of any promises he may have made to individual members.

She added that Skelton's agenda for early next year -- oversight of the Pentagon, shaping policies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and addressing military equipment readiness -- does not include the issue of gays in the military, though he won't rule it out....Frank cited a report last year that found that in the past decade, the military had dismissed at least 322 service members with critical foreign language skills because of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

"The policy of 'don't ask, don't tell, and don't translate' is especially damaging," Frank said yesterday in a C-SPAN interview.

[soothsayer]

2. No, don't! It's the best way our kids can avoid the draft, should it

be reinstated!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. Yeah, screw protecting the 65,000 GLBT soldiers who are currently serving.

They don't need protection from discrimination.

[JeremyWestenn]

4. You asshat!

I hope a fricking house falls on you. My life and the struggles my people have to face, including being tied to a fence and pistol wipped into a coma, should not be your sorry excuse for avoiding the god damn draft.

Fuck you.

[ThomCat]

7. A bit angry, but well said.

Welcome to DU.

[JeremyWestenn]

5. ....

Went through twice on accident.

[ThomCat]

8. Well, then welcome to DU a second time.

:P

[Sapphocrat]

6. Ditto what haruka3_2000 said.

You should be ashamed of yourself. Even if it was a joke. Especially if it was a joke.

[foreigncorrespondent]

9. Yes...

...gay when convenient, all other times, just take a seat on the back of the bus, and wait for us heterosexuals to tell you when we want you to have your rights.

[ThomCat]

10. I hope you were joking.

[libnnc]

11. Um, my partner was interrogated in the 1980s

Because some bitch accused her of "coming on to her" at a party in the Navy. The doped up, lying creep didn't have a problem screwing every guy she came across but had a real problem with women in the barracks who wouldn't take her lousy, bitchy assed attitude. She accused everyone she didn't like of being a dyke. That single accusation put my partner's whole naval career in jeopardy. No Joke.

Until you know what it feels like to have to defend yourself under a bright light, in a room sitting across from a naval intelligence officer who says he has your whole personal life in a single manila file...until you know what it feels like, DON'T FUCKING JOKE ABOUT THIS.

Don't Ask Don't Tell is a legalized witch hunt. It is domestic terrorism. Plain and simple.

[ThomCat]

12. Best response.

:patriot: