I did not see the Republican debate in which a gay soldier serving in Iraq drew boos from the debate audience when he asked his question. At this point, I don't know about the context or how many people booed. The Republican candidates have drawn President Obama's fire for not standing up for the soldier. Now Herman Cain, who is rising in the polls, says he should have stood up for the soldier.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/02/cain-shouldve-defended-gay-soldier-from-boos-at-debate/
I agree.
I find myself becoming more and more sympathetic to the gay cause, perhaps as a result of the persecution against them in Iran. As for gays serving in the military, I really have an open mind on that. When I was in the Army, we had a gay soldier in our MP unit in Germany. Though he did not proclaim himself, gay, we knew, but we did not harass him. Truthfully, I think our only concern was how he would perform on the street in a violent situation that required force, self-defense, and backing up his partners. As far as I can recall, there were no incidents that made the case either way. Thus, I have an open mind on "Don't ask, don't tell." If a gay soldier wants to serve his or her country, until some form of empirical evidence makes a case either way, I am fine with it.
Without seeing the video of the incident, to me, nobody should boo a gay soldier who is serving-especially in a combat zone.
Good thinking Gary. I could be cynical about how conservatives seem to be more sympathetic to gays every since the Islamic Republic of Iran started hanging a few, but this analysis goes well beyond that.
ReplyDeleteYou should post this at Alexandria and see what Geoff G. has to say. He was serving effectively in the military until DADT forced him out when somebody identified his preference.
This episode has been misrepresented. I saw it when it happened and then the replays. NOBODY booed the soldier when he said he was gay! It was only in the next sentence or so when he spoke about the CANCELLATION of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy that the reaction came. First it sounded like one person and then a second voice is heard.
ReplyDeleteCheck the replay of the question in the debate and you will see that the media mischaracterized it and jumped on it. It conforms to their mindset that Republicans are evil people. They see evidence of this all the time even if they have to make it up.
That's a distinction without a difference. Since when are boos from the audience subject to photofinish reviews by umpires? People aren't that quick on their reflexes. You tried so hard to wriggle out of this one Miggie. Why did you bother? What's in it for you, anyway?
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