Don't Ask Don't Tell Ends-- No Birds Fall From The Sky

Not ready to turn the station over to far right psychopath Cindy Jacobs (see video above), Fox News seems to have been studiously avoiding the historic nature of this week's ending of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Funny, but for all President Obama's insistence at the UN this week that "democracy" is blooming in the Middle East-- wishful thinking, at best-- democracy in a general sense was better served by our own national decision to extend a bit of equality to millions of our fellow citizens right here at home. And this is even more so because of a concerted and coordinated effort by modern day fascists like Rick Scott, Scott Walker, Rick Snyder, Tom Corbett, John Kasich, and other hard right Republican governors to undermine democracy in their states. Corbett, another conservative carbuncle, is the governor of Pennsylvania but I'd like to share a powerful OpEd about the ending of DADT from an esteemed Pennsylvania civic leader, former Admiral and former Congressman Joe Sestak.

On September 20, "don't ask, don't tell" will be repealed by the Defense Department, and from today forward all Americans will finally be able to serve in our military, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. As a young Navy captain, I was asked by the admiral I worked for what I thought of DADT when it became official policy during the Clinton administration. I now think ruefully about my reply: that I soon expected DADT to be overturned by the Supreme Court on the basis of discrimination. Over the years, I remember a number of instances when a young sailor would approach me to let me know he was gay, intent upon no longer living a lie, and wishing I could say, "Please don’t tell me, you’re too good and I don’t want to lose you."

I had been to war for our nation with such sailors; how could I come home and not believe they deserved equal rights from the country for which they had fought with the same common purpose as their shipmates? But that wasn’t the only reason I co-sponsored the legislation to repeal DADT when I later became a congressman from Pennsylvania. I also did it for the betterment of our military.

I came to understand in the Navy that the best part of our nation’s character is that America has always been driven by an alliance of rugged individualism and common enterprise; by people striving for their individual achievement, but never measuring it apart from the greater effort. Ours is the first nation founded on principle, not power. But our nation is built upon the belief that individual principles-- freedom, suffrage, civil rights, equality-- are not attained until they extend to all. It is the success of this long struggle to embody the vision set by our founders for everyone that makes our nation-- our military-- so powerful. It is the recognition that a fair opportunity for all ensures even greater service to our common effort, our common purpose.

Shortly after arriving in the Indian Ocean during the war in Afghanistan, I launched attack planes from the aircraft carrier of my battle group, one of which had a young woman pilot. Over Afghanistan that night, she disregarded a standing order not to dive low without permission. U.S. Special Forces had been ambushed by the Taliban; four were dead and she felt there was no time to ask permission to save the rest. She immediately dove and strafed the enemy, and in her covering fire, the remaining men extracted their dead and themselves.

When I joined up during the Vietnam era, there were no women on aircraft carriers, never mind flying attack aircraft off them. Because women were later given an individual opportunity to achieve all they might desire in our Navy, our common mission that night in Afghanistan was better and saved U.S. soldiers.

My belief in the repeal of DADT is based upon my experience of the conviction that the more people given a fair opportunity for their own achievement means a greater effort for the common purpose of America. I saw during my 31 years in the Navy that America’s success is born out of the basic idea that everyone should contribute to their fullest and should be given the tools and opportunity to do so. This simple notion has been the bedrock of our achievement, where shared opportunity is shared attainment.

This is why today is important: once again we’ve looked into the national mirror and said “we are better than that.” And it is why no one should ever sell short the character of Americans, with our enormous capacity to change and grow for the better. Our courage to face the truth about the need to live up to our best ideals is why America will-- despite any challenge-- always grow stronger and move forward as one, united nation.

Yesterday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, near the home of virulently homophobic Blue Dog Dan Boren, one of only 15 Democrats-- almost all of whom were subsequently defeated for reelection-- who voted against repealing DADT, military recruiters, for the first time ever, visited a gay and lesbian social center.

There were a ton of awesome, supportive statements and the Republicans mostly kept their bigoted traps shut for a change. Military leaders and national security experts like Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who helped implement Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the first place, John Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have been very outspoken about ending this foolish, dysfunctional policy. Speaker Pelosi and Jerry Nadler were just two of the congressional leaders who worked hard to end the policy and who made inspiring statements about the success in ending this shameful episode. Pelosi:

“With the long-overdue end of the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, our nation will finally close the door on a fundamental unfairness for gays and lesbians, and indeed affirm equality for all Americans.  When the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate took action last year to end this wrongheaded policy, we reaffirmed the core American principle that anyone who wishes to serve, secure, and defend this country must be judged by their abilities and honored for their dedication and sacrifice.

“For those gays and lesbians discharged unfairly, including those who seek re-accession, we must correct their paperwork so that it properly reflects their service.  We must continue efforts to repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, but in the meantime, I urge the Obama Administration to investigate opportunities to extend the same support and benefits to all our troops and their families. We cannot allow there to be two classes of service members in our military – those who receive benefits for their families and those who do not.

“This landmark progress comes after the President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense have all certified that repeal will not hurt military readiness or unit cohesion.

“America is the land of the free and the home of the brave because of our men and women in uniform. And tomorrow, we honor their service by recommitting to the values that they fight for on the battlefield.”

Jerry Nadler (D-NY): "As we argued for 18 years, it is fundamentally unfair and un-American to discharge soldiers based on their sexual orientation. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is also counterproductive to maintaining a strong and effective military, with trained professionals and high troop morale.  During its 17 years on the books, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell led to the dismissal of more than 14,000 qualified servicemembers, not counting the many others who left voluntarily or chose not to serve because of the policy. Among the thousands dismissed were nearly 800 specialists, whose skills have been particularly important during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and in our efforts to fight terrorism. I am very proud that we have finally changed course and enacted a policy of fostering a strong, unified, and effective military that is open to all Americans who bravely choose to serve. We are now joining the ranks of the 35 nations that have welcomed gays and lesbians into their militaries.”

I was glad to see that the Democrat Blue America endorsed for Congress to fill the open Albuquerque seat (NM-1), Eric Griego, went right to New Mexico voters to explain the importance of the end of DADT.

With the official repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” yesterday, our nation hit an important milestone for civil rights and equality. The repeal means that every man or woman can serve in our nation’s military without fear of legal discrimination for who they are and who they choose to love.

But there is more work to be done.

Diversity makes a workplace stronger and more productive. That is why Congress should also pass and the President should sign the Employment Non-Discrimination Act so that all workers will be valued and respected. The military is leading the way and it’s time for Washington to step up.

As Congressman I will be a champion for equality and fight against hate and discrimination... As a nation, we should also value and respect any two persons to love and marry one another without government interference. I believe that love between individuals is a sacred right protected in the Constitution and that is why I also support the full repeal of DOMA.

Many in the LGBT community feel that Obama moved too slowly and too tepidly on this-- and on equality for gay and lesbian Americans in general. Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network isn't among them and penned a strong defense of Obama's role. "[M]ake no mistake. The President directed his forces with precision, methodically insisting all options be examined and re-examined. He realized almost from the beginning that success would depend upon the military, that he would need Gates and Mullen and his senior commanders and the troops with him to bring about this change. And he also knew that would take time. He was determined not to be rushed. The last time this was rushed without a plan and military support the results had been disastrous. He would not make that mistake... Some will rightly quibble over how long it took Obama's White House to pull off this remarkable achievement and who should get credit for what, but one thing few can argue is that repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would not have happened without a determined President Obama, the essential and unwavering buy-in and support from our military, and an awful lot of very good luck."

President Obama ended his own statement on repeal in a way bigots and fanatics would do well to think about long and hard, since it goes to the heart of the Republican Party counter-revolution they're trying to gin up on all levels right now:

For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to all our citizens. Our armed forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including gays and lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans. Today, every American can be proud that we have taken another great step toward keeping our military the finest in the world and toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals.

Conservative closet queens and hypocrites Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Aaron Schock (R-IL), Miss McConnell (R-KY), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Trent Franks (R-AZ), etc all voted against equality and against honesty. They must be very ashamed this week.