McCain, others say military gays study is biased
The Associated Press
By ANNE FLAHERTY
December 3, 2010WASHINGTON — A doubting John McCain led Republican opposition Thursday to letting gays serve openly in the military, sternly clashing with the Pentagon’s top leaders and warning that troops would quit in droves if Congress repealed the "don’t ask, don’t tell" law. In tense exchanges with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, McCain and other Republicans dismissed a Pentagon study on gays as biased and said objections by combat troops were being ignored.
Gates and Mullen defended the study, but McCain blamed politics for pushing the matter forward during wartime. He predicted that Marines and soldiers assigned combat duties, in particular, would abandon their service if they had to serve along with gays open about their sexual orientation.
McCain, R-Ariz., also said the study was flawed because it asked troops what impact repeal would have, instead of whether they wanted the law repealed at all. The study found that two-thirds of troops predicted few problems, but those who did were mostly assigned to combat roles. "We send these young people into combat," said McCain. "We think they’re mature enough to fight and die. I think they’re mature enough to make a judgment on who they want to serve with and the impact on their battle effectiveness"…
I’m sure of one thing, he’s a bully – someone who leads with anger, intimidation, contempt. There’s a video with this story in which he acts like a complete jerk, almost inciting soldiers to quit over DADT if it’s repealed. What he doesn’t seem to realize is that today’s young people have grown up in a different world from his. The white, heterosexual guys aren’t necessarily automatically on top of the heap any more, and seem to be doing fine with that. He’s preaching an anachronistic sermon, and I’m not actually even sure he believes it. He may just be doing Mitch McConnell’s dirty work in opposing anything that Obama supports – a sore loser with a chip on his shoulder fronting Republican obstructionalism.
Happy birthday, Abby’s dad! I hope you have a terrific day!
I, too, remember once saying that he was the one Republican that I could tolerate being president. I think it was when he was running against George Bush — who made him look better than he actually was and gained him some sympathy vote because of the dirty tactics used against him (Mc) in the S.C. primary.
I don’t know whether we were just blind or whether he really used to stand for something — straight-talk? honesty?
At any rate, he now seems to have absolutely no principles and no integrity. On top of that he has all the ear marks of a wife abuser as well.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ABBY’S DAD!!!
Have a good one!
Happy birthday, Abby’s dad!
Hi! I came here to wish you happy birthday (I’m a friend of Abby’s from her Indiana days..)
But I also wanted to comment on your post — I just found out last night about a friend’s brother who served in the Air Force, was discharged (honorably, I think…) and just came out. It took him years post-military; years that were pretty much spent in subtle self-destruction. I wonder if DADT had not been in place if he would have had a much more fulfilling life. As it is – he finally was able to come out, get in a healthy relationship, and is much happier.
So, yeah. Different world, Mr. McCain.
And Happy Birthday, Abby’s Dad!
Happy Birthday Mickey – thinking of you! Have a great day.
Yay! My devious plot is working! Happy Birthday, Dad!
Have a great new year, Mickey! All the best.
x
I wasn’t in on it — but now I am. Happy Birthday, my friend. And many many more.
Ralph
Thanks to all!
I’ll join in on that, too! Happy birthday Mickey.
Just read that Grandiosity Personality Disorder has been removed from the new version of the DSM; wonder if the description of the “disorder” is just WAY too close to the way far too many in the psychiatric profession behave?
I also thought that he was one of the good Republicans ,but now looking back,he has always been a mean,flip flopping jerk!Even he admits that he was an angry,obstinate sob,and that was before Vietnam!Leaving his faithful first wife for a bigger marital payoff, the Keating Five and on to his changing policies on immigration and gays in the military are all examples!But attempting to put Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the most powerful position on Earth was the last straw!