McCain Defends 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' Calls Gay Troops an 'Intolerable Risk'

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Presidential Hopeful Suggests Troops Will Be 'Put At Grave Risk' By
Repealing Law

WASHINGTON, May 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United States Senator John
McCain (R-AZ), a candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination,
has reiterated his support for the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban
on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. In an April 16 letter to
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), McCain says the law, passed in
1993, "unambiguously maintains that open homosexuality within the military
services presents an intolerable risk to morale, cohesion and discipline."
Senator McCain goes on to incorrectly assert that the U.S. Supreme Court
"has ruled that the military may constitutionally discharge a service
member for overt homosexual behavior."

"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," said Sharra E. Greer, SLDN's director of law and
policy. "'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."

In his letter, Senator McCain says that, "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." McCain, who voted in favor of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in
1993, says "I remain opposed to the open expression of homosexuality in the
U.S. military."

In contrast to McCain's views, a growing number of prominent
Republicans now support repeal of the ban on open service. Writing in The
Washington Post in March, former Republican Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming
said that, "I believe it is critical that we review -- and overturn -- the
ban on gay service members in the military. I voted for 'don't ask, don't
tell.' But much has changed since 1993." Simpson went on to say that, "We
need every able- bodied, smart patriot to help us win this war."

In the U.S. House of Representatives, a bi-partisan coalition of 123
lawmakers now support legislation to repeal the law. Republican Congressman
Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland, who is also a Vietnam War veteran, is an
original co-sponsor of legislation to repeal the law. His Republican
colleague from Connecticut, Congressman Christopher Shays, has noted that,
"It seems to me, competence, ability, dedication and commitment to country
should dictate one's eligibility for military service -- not sexual
preference." And Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) recently told The
Miami Herald that, "We investigate people, bring them up on charges,
basically wreck their lives. People who've signed up to serve our country.
We should be thanking them."

"National security should be a non-partisan issue, and both Republicans
and Democrats increasingly understand the value of lifting the ban," said
Greer. "Every day, the Pentagon fires another two service members simply
because of their sexual orientation. We have lost more than 11,000 good
people already, including doctors, linguists and other skilled
professionals crucial to the effectiveness of the armed forces. How many
more must be sent packing before leaders like Senator McCain understand the
price we all pay for this policy of discrimination?"

A complete copy of Senator McCain's letter is available online at
http://www.sldn.org.


http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/05-03-2007/0004580202&EDATE=THU+May+03+2007,+09:50+AM

[Occulus]

1. So I guess if you were to try to draft ME

I could tell you to go fuck yourself, right, Sen. Asshole?

[Nickster]

2. What an idiot McCain is. I wonder how many lives could have been saved with those

gay linguists and gay intelligence analysts that they discharged.

[EFerrari]

7. Or how many people would be safer in uniform if they could

report assault.

[AndyA]

3. Unfortunately for McCain, I think most Americans consider him an

'Intolerable Risk' for the presidency.

[bunkerbuster1]

4. A side note--interesting to check the demographics of homophobia

I remember hearing David Bender (AAR's Politically Direct host) saying that he's more likely to experience homophobia from a 70-year-old Jewish Democrat from Queens than a student from Liberty University (or something like that).

An extreme example, but the truth is, this just points to how out of touch and OLD (in more ways than just chronological) this washed-up candidate really is.

[bigscott]

5. what a sad

old, intolerant, stupid, stupid, OLD man

[scarface2004]

6. lesbians in camo are hot!!!

c'mon mkane...get with the program you dick!!

[JackBeck]

8. Countries that ban homosexual people from serving openly in the military:

Brazil
Cuba
Egypt
Iran
North Korea
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Syria
United States of America
Venezuela
Yemen

Hmmm...Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Syria...aren't these in the "Axis of Evil"? I guess it's all about the company you keep.

[DURHAM D]

9. Wonder who the Log Cabin Repubs support this time.

Has anyone heard?

[riderinthestorm]

10. McCain's an ass who will be recorded in history books as an ass

and a bigot.

On a side note, are there really 65,000 gay and lesbian servicemembers on duty at the moment? If they were to coordinate their efforts and stage a mass exodus (ie. out themselves, thus causing their immediate dismissal) of 65,000 troops at this critical moment of "The Commander Guy"'s surge - I do believe DADT would be repealed with a LOT of Rethug support pronto.

[izzybeans]

11. Mr. Bill Hick's has something to say to Mr. McCain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np6_b-72H3E

[quiet.american]

12. Yet, he offers nothing but silence about so many female troops being raped by straight male troops.

I'm still waiting for McCain to say ANYTHING I could possibly agree with, or that I could feel has my best interests at heart. (I'm also waiting to win the next Powerball lotto.)

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13. kick

:kick: