Why is John McCain still defending DADT?
Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 08:55 AM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
37 Comments
RSS 
Recent Posts
- Violent attacks on gays in New York up 70 percent in 2013
- Will New York Senator Chuck Schumer ditch gay couples for an immigration deal?
- If nobody's happy, it's working – the abortion debate and Irish politics of stalemate
- Conservative news entertainment complex claim Barack Obama leader of Al Qaeda
- Why Irish grudges are passed on - a long tradition of never forgetting
Archives
Despite evidence demonstrating gay soldiers are being kicked out of the service after being informed on by members of their own units (in blatant violation of the policy itself) every single Republican senator is apparently comfortable with the law as it stands.
Yesterday, when confronted by journalists immediately following the Senate filibuster which effectively stalled DADT repeal in the near term, senator John McCain insisted that the military does not seek out sexual orientation, despite evidence to the contrary.
In fact, the military has dismissed service members after discovering their sexual orientation in email records. For instance, Major Mike Almy - a 13-year veteran of the Air Force - was relieved of his duties after a routine search of computer files uncovered emails to his same-sex partner.
Almy explained: 'In Iraq, during the height of the insurgency, someone in the Air Force ordered a search of my private emails solely to determine if I had violated Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and to gather whatever evidence could be used against me.'
'I was relieved of my duties, which was leading nearly 200 Airmen, my security clearance was suspended and part of my pay was terminated. Even as my commander was relieving me of my duties, he assured me this was in no way a reflection of my performance or my abilities as an officer,' Almy testified.
In no way. It seems that not just John McCain has this cognitive dissonance.
The truth is John McCain knows this happens. The military knows this happens. Journalists have reported on multiple cases of this happening. But in discussion, right after the vote yesterday, this is what McCain had to say to journalists Kerry Eleveld and Chris Geidner about instances when the military actively sought to out gay troops:
MCCAIN: We do not go out and seek. Regulations are, we do not go out and seek to find out if someone’s sexual orientation. We do not!
ELEVELD: But senator, that’s not…
MCCAIN: That is the fact! That is the fact. Now ma’am, I know the military very well, and I know what’s being done. And what is being done is that they are not seeking out people who are gay. And I don’t care what you say, I know it’s a fact.
ELEVELD: It’s not what I say.
MCCAIN: I dont’ care what you say! And I don’t care what others say. I’ve seen it in action. I’ve seen it in action. I have sons in the military, I know the military very well. So they’re not telling you the truth.
ELEVELD: Senator, just to make sure…
MCCAIN: Just to make sure. We do not go out and seek out and find out…
ELEVELD: Private emails are not being searched? Private emails are not being searched?
MCCAIN: See if someone is gay or not. We do not go out and see whether someone is gay or not.
ELEVELD: There are documented cases…
MCCAIN: They do not, they do not, they do not. You can say that they are, you can say [inaudible] it’s not true!… Yea, I’d like to see…
GEIDNER: It is the case of Mike Almy, Senators.
MCCAIN: Bring them to our office. It is not the policy, it is not the policy, it is not the policy.
GEIDNER: But it is the case that it’s happening, Senator.
MCCAIN: It is not the policy, it is not the policy, it is not the policy You can say that it is the policy, sir if you choose to. It is not the policy. I would be glad to get that to you in writing.
If John McCain doesn't want to hear it, it's not true apparently.
37 comments
Next
Page 1 of 3 pages
seanomelbourne | Sep 28, 2010, 07:42 PM EDT
As a matter of fact the last cavalry charge in history was made by the Australian "light brigade " in Palestine,it is now an armoured division Propping up you Americans in Afghanistan. As for McCain defending DADT do you not think he sounded pathetic skipping over Mjr. Olmi's case he was fired for being gay. He allegedly sent Emails to a friend and for this he was sacked.
Report abuse
hollabackgurl | Sep 28, 2010, 05:35 PM EDT
The UK, Israeli and Canadian armies have all intergreated gay troops into their military with no negative or adverse consequences whatsoever. In fact, moral has improved (as well as recrutiment). The USA will be exactly the same.
Report abuse
Monsoonman | Sep 28, 2010, 10:41 AM EDT
Lad, here is yet another example of you seeing the US from the opposite end of the telescope. I am starting to understand why everything down there spins the opposite, such as your hurricanes, tornadoess and your loos...When they reach the joint chiefs level it is ONLY about politics and politically correct. Remember who appointed them to that position? Yep the commander in chief himself. So if you want to really know what's going on in the service you talk to a guy who has risen from the ranks and is NOT a political appointee...BTW: Do your fighting forces stll use horses?
Report abuse
seanomelbourne | Sep 28, 2010, 12:24 AM EDT
The chairman of the join chiefs of staff disagrees with you how upper echelon can you get.
Report abuse
Monsoonman | Sep 27, 2010, 12:03 PM EDT
Lad, we are not talking about an internal appeals system. We are talking about front page press coverage backed up by the ACLU. I talked to a 30 year upper echelon officer who told me that this was the thinking in the military.
Report abuse
seanomelbourne | Sep 26, 2010, 07:55 PM EDT
So if you hide your sexuality you may be promoted and if your openly gay you may be passed over? I'm sure there's an internal appeals system for people who feel they were not fairly treated in promotional matters.
Report abuse
Monsoonman | Sep 26, 2010, 01:01 PM EDT
The underlying reason they want to get rid of dadt, is that it will clear the way to fast track to positions of leadership. If an openly gay service person gets passed over for promotion, merited or not, one call to the press and the ACLU will start the wheels turning for suing their way to the top. It will abrogate a present system that relies on merit to get promoted.
Report abuse
seanomelbourne | Sep 25, 2010, 09:42 PM EDT
You don't get it Maloney I'm cool and structured about everything I write.
Report abuse
maloney | Sep 25, 2010, 11:53 AM EDT
seano...such savagery, touch a nerve?
Report abuse
seanomelbourne | Sep 24, 2010, 07:25 PM EDT
What an ignorant piece from grimchieftain He mouths off without any facts,he should crawl back into his trailer and chew on a piece of tobacco.
Report abuse
hollabackgurl | Sep 24, 2010, 10:28 AM EDT
The UK, Israeli and Canadian armies have all intergreated gay troops into their military with no negative consequences whatsoever. In fact, moral has improved (as well as recrutiment). Bigots who are afriad of equality haven't a shred of evidence left to support their own bigotry (that's why they're now reduced to making stuff up like the comment directly below mine).
Report abuse
grimchieftain | Sep 24, 2010, 12:44 AM EDT
The U.S. Military is no place for a social experiment. The majority of its members-at all levels-do not support the removal of the DADT policy. Chief among their concerns (and there are many) is not being preyed upon by wandering gay troops but the increased exposure to HIV/AIDS. With the recent increase of this disease it's not an invalid worry.
Report abuse
allentown | Sep 23, 2010, 10:50 AM EDT
Republicans are asking for a straight up or down vote on removing DADT. Every Senator and every Congressman has to vote on that issue by itself.
It is amazing to read the ad hominem attacks at the Republicans who only wanted a straight up or down vote on DADT. What was Harry Reid and the Democrats frightened about?
Report abuse
jamthecat | Sep 22, 2010, 11:57 PM EDT
Simple, the man is senile. He's been showing signs of it since he was running for president. His selection of Sarah Palin is proof of that. As is his support for torture after having, himself, been tortured; it's like he's forgotten it. It's sad and pathetic. And I'll make you a bet -- within six months after he's sworn in for his next term, he'll retire "for health reasons" and let that psycho, Jan Brewer install a maniac as crazy as she is in his place. I hope I'm wrong, but if he does that, he'll also be a traitor to this country.
Report abuse
Next
Page 1 of 3 pages
Report abuse