Don't Ask, Don't Tell supporter Donnelly provides comic relief during House hearing

[JackBeck]

by: Pam Spaulding
Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 15:43:17 PM EDT

UPDATE: Donnelly receives a big smackdown from The Palm Center re: her use of statistics . It's after the jump.
Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, testified at today's House Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee's hearings on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and if I were on the side of the folks who want to continue the ban on gays and lesbians openly serving, I'd lock her up for the duration. She was literally laughed at during the proceedings, the room erupting at her lunacy, which included visions of rampant "lesbian assaults" and contorted gay sex on submarines if the ban was lifted. But she was ready for her closeup. Look at her ridiculous testimony (courtesy of HRC; Chris Johnson http://www.hrcbackstory.org/">liveblogged it):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvN_-ES4udk&eurl=http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=61415B7758F4F40F683917BDFD172A8C?diaryId=6237

3:00 - CJ: Questions from the subcommittee members. Arkansas Congressman Vic Snyder (D) admonishes Donnelly for unnecessarily bringing up HIV in her testimony and tells her that, ironically, by her logic, she should only want to let lesbians into the military. Loud laughter all around. (Meanwhile, that old woman is stern-faced....)

2:35: CJ - Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness is speaking. There is an audible burst of laughter when Donnelly throws in a "San Francisco left" phrase just for dramatic effect. Another guffaw from the crowd when Donnelly expresses her concern over gay men sharing a "cramped submarine" with other soldiers.

OMG: There is on older lady in the room who just turned around to the room brimming with youngsters and issued the warning, "Show respect while she speaks!" She looks right at me when she finishes. WELL OKAY!

The room keeps laughing at Donnelly's outrageous statements. The older woman is obviously losing this fight. "They're just disrespectful people!" she hisses.

"Equal opportunity is important, but the needs of our military must come first," are Donnelly's closing words. I guess the words from generals and veterans who have actually served in the military don't mean anything to her, huh?

Donnelly, btw, has never served in the military, and admits she has no qualifications or expertise on sexuality. WTF is she doing up there, then? Is this the best the fossils on the Right can do?

Staff Sergeant Eric Alva testified. Here is the text of his remarks. A snippet is below the fold.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/