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Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson

Posted: December 17, 2010 03:00 PM

It is now in the hands of the Senate. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is an all-too-rare example of Congress' attempting to reconcile policy (and law) with common sense.

While virtually all other significant military powers in the world have long ago lifted their bans on gays serving openly in the military -- with no adverse effects -- the U.S. has stubbornly clung to a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy that accomplishes nothing other than forcing thousands of brave service members to live lies.

For months, the Administration and Congress dragged their feet on a repeal of DADT. Even a recent study to no one's surprise said a repeal of the policy would not harm military effectiveness or morale.

Just this week, a Washington Post/ABC News poll found that 77% of Americans favor repeal, including majorities of every political persuasion and demographic.

Likewise, as has been widely documented, more than twenty of our NATO allies -- including those with whom our troops serve alongside in Iraq and Afghanistan -- allow gay men and women to serve openly, and the sky has not fallen.

It is time for this policy to end.

I am not a fan of Congress dealing with major issues in a lame-duck session, but the sooner DADT is repealed, the better. The Senate needs to act so that we can put this issue to rest.


 
It is now in the hands of the Senate. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is an all-too-rare example of Congress' attempting to reconcile policy (and law) wit...
It is now in the hands of the Senate. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is an all-too-rare example of Congress' attempting to reconcile policy (and law) wit...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Lee Johnston
Just my opinion I could be wrong
10:13 AM on 12/19/2010
15.1 MILLION AMERICANS ARE OUT WORK
From the Ann Coulter's Website
Here's a record of the discharges for 2008, according to the Defense Department:
-- Drugs: 5,627
-- Serious offenses: 3,817
-- Weight standards: 4,555
-- Pregnancy: 2,353
-- Parenthood: 2,574
-- Homosexuality: 634
Of the total of 2,455,837 military personnel this is the number of discharges that year. Maybe we should work on the other issues before we worry about DADT. That's 634 out of 2.4 million soldiers.
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The number of unemployed persons was 15.1 million in November.
The unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent; it was 9.6 percent in each of the prior 3 months.
Maybe Congress and the President could spend a few hours on this problem instead of the Dream Act, DADT, Minor Tax changes and who's going to be on what committee they could get some real work done. If Huffington Post and the rest of the News organizations would put this as a priority instead of what Sarah Palin said yesterday Congress might make a commitment to solving a real issue.
12:00 PM on 12/18/2010
This is a really important issue, compared to hunger, poverty, unemployment, health care, national debt, our enviroment, SS, over population, oil spills, clear cutting of forest, oh did I say the eviroment, health care, unemployment. This impacts less that .01% of our country and all you people are concerned about are whether homesexuals can strut around as openly gay. Please people who cares we have some really big problems in this country lets focus on the important stuff.
11:18 AM on 12/18/2010
Borders are not secured, no federal budget, unpayable debt, and a gay military is what democrats worry about.
05:01 AM on 12/18/2010
Sorry...one other issue about DADT comes to mind....if gays are in our military what happens to them if they happened to get captured by Islamic extremists? The thought is horror for our gay soldiers. The gays are plenty capable, but the anti-homosexual issues are a concern.
04:59 AM on 12/18/2010
Thank you for pointing out the Congress missed opportunity to end DADT. They had 2 years for this, amongst many other bills. Instead, they took up too much time for the Health Care bill nobody wants. (no public option...how is that helpful to the poor?). But the Dems had the WH and both houses. Now it probably won't be repealed and the blame is with them. The Repubs didn't have the numbers to block it, then but will have them in January.
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Jdaddy1951
10:09 PM on 12/17/2010
I will be glad when DADT is repealed for a number of reasons. First, because it's the right thing to do. Secondly, because I'm tired of all these articles calling for the repeal. If the senate would just follow majority rule on this one, it will end the noise, it will end the controversy and people can just do their jobs in the military. Yes, there will be some homophobes who rail and whine, but frankly, it's time to quit catering to these sorry sons of she-dogs and let the honorable gay and straight service personnel just do their jobs.
09:47 PM on 12/17/2010
I am veteran and have served with other soldiers that were openly gay within a group. My concerns are the safety and welfare of homosexual soldiers. Serving within combat arms (all male) there is an increased amount of homophobia rooted in conservative ideas; this combined with current stresses soldiers bare could be a breaking point leading to assault, hazing, harassment, etc
01:34 AM on 12/19/2010
Right, why do gay people even join then?
06:23 PM on 12/20/2010
the same reason anyone would. family history, pride in one's nation, benefits. people join for many different reasons.
04:30 PM on 12/17/2010
Why don't you cite your examples, Gary. I think you're full of it. You're throwing out opinions as factual without any reference. Which nations openly allow gays in the military? China, Iran, North Korea, etc? Please, do tell. And no, France is not a military force close to ours, so you can't use them.

The great USA is the mightiest military force in the world. You're saying that the next four in succession: Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China allow individuals attracted to the same sex to shower, and sleep in the same quarters? Proof please. Show us some documentation other than your leftist rant that proves this to be true.

I'm a heterosexual male. If I were surrounded by fit, and attractive women who were showering I would become weak at the knees. No matter what the military circumstance/consequence. Now, you're telling us that it's, "okay to repeal this because everyone else is doing it" without an iota of evidence? You do realize that as part of Sharia law (Iran) that the consequence of being found gay is stoning, right? Is Iran not on of the most Powerful military forces in the world?

Please, before you start your next lefty agenda rant come with some concrete proof or just be quite, pleas. No one wants to hear the biases of a small media source on such a crucial issue. You're lying and your bitterness towards those opposing your bias is evident.
05:24 PM on 12/17/2010
First, the author was the Republican governor of New Mexico, and he's a strong fiscal conservative. He's not a lefty, unless you believe that everyone within the near 80% of people who want to repeal DADT are lefties.

Second, Taiwan, Australia, ISRAEL, Argentina, Canada and all countries of the European Union allow gays to serve openly.

Johnson 2012
05:40 PM on 12/17/2010
The issue is not whether gays should be allowed to serve in the military, it's about whether gays should be allowed to serve OPENLY in the military. Gays are already in the US military (they're just not allowed to tell, or be asked about it--hence "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"). There doesn't seem to have been any problem with gay servicemen going "weak at the knees" serving alongside other troops of the same gender (as though gays are just these ravenous nymphomaniacs who are incapable of doing their job because of their insatiable lust). Your worries are completely unfounded. Given the fact that gays are currently serving in the US military without any problems, Gov. Johnson is advocating that we stop kicking out good soldiers just because their sexual preferences get outed. I couldn't agree with the Governor more.