40 million to Congress: Leave ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ alone
December 2, 2010
Bob Unruh — World Net Daily
Organizations representing 40 million Americans have delivered a message to Congress that this is no time to make changes to the military’s practice known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” which forbids open homosexuals in the ranks but allows them to stay if they keep their lifestyle choice to themselves.
“It is a serious risk to national security to repeal DADT without first investigating thoroughly – in public hearings – the effect of the proposed repeal,” says a letter, dated today, that has been dispatched to members of the U.S. Senate. “We are engaged in a war on many fronts. Our troops are in harm’s way in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.
“This is no time to experiment with social engineering of the military,” the letter said.
The letter, which has been posted at the Freedom Federation website, is signed by those whose groups represent some 40 million Americans.
Specifically, the request is that senators not repeal “Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C (1993), which is usually mislabeled by the subsequent executive policy known as ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell.'”
The signers “represent some of the largest multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and multi-generational faith-based and policy organizations in the country, with approximately 40 million constituents combined.”
The letter, addressed to members of the Senate, says, “We urge you and other elected leaders to use your standing as members of the Senate to prevent the rush to repeal…”
Such a move “would change our military in ways we cannot yet measure or understand,” the letter says.
“Our military leaders – with the exception of Adm. Mike Mullen – understand this and object to the repeal. In fact, Gen. James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, said that he was concerned that the repeal of the law would have a negative effect on unit cohesion and combat readiness of the Marine Corps. Who among the members of the Senate is a better judge of that than is the commandant?”
Further, “We are also gravely concerned about the effect that repealing DADT will have on religious freedom. One senior army general, Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, said that those who oppose repeal are guilty of unacceptable attitudes that he reportedly described as ‘bigotry,'” the letter said.
“It is conceivable that chaplains will be forbidden to preach or speak about their denomination’s position on homosexuality.”
Shoving the changes through at this point, during a lame-duck session of Cognress and without hearings, “is a slap in the face of the American peole who are tired of bully politics.”
Signers include:
* Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel and Liberty University School of Law
* J. Kenneth Blackwell of the U.N. Human Rights Commission
* Anita Staver of Liberty Counsel
* Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council
* Rick Tyler of ReAL Action Network
* Penny Nancy of Concerned Women for America
* Elaine Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness
* Rev. Louis Sheldon of Traditional Values Coalition
* Andrea Lafferty of Traditional Values Coalition
* Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
* Mandi Campbell of Liberty Center for Law and Policy
* Tim Clinton of the American Association of Christian Counselors
* Bishop Harry Jackson of High Impact
* Janet Folger Porter of Faith2Action
* Tim Wildmon of American Family Association
* Shawn Akers of Helms School of Government
* Jim Garlow of Renewing American Leadership
* Deryl Edwards of Liberty Alliance Action
* Tom Minnery of CitizenLink
* Gary Bauer of American Values
* Colin Hanna of Let Freedom Ring
* Jim Martin of 60 Plus Association
* Robert Knight of Coral Ridge Ministries
* Rev. Benjamin Grace of Green Tree Ministries
* Rita Grace of Constitutional TEA Party
* Richard W.C. Falknor of Maryland Center-Right Coalition
* Cliff Kincaid of America’s Survival Inc.
* C. Preston Noell III of Tradition, Family, Property, Inc.
* Cris Kurtz of The USA Patriots
* Bill Johnson of American Decency Association
* Richard Viguerie of ConservativeHQ.com
* Steve Strang of Strang Communications
* Keith Wiebe of American Association of Christian Schools
* Linda Harvey of Mission America
* Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily
* Joe Ortwerth of Missouri Family Policy Council
* Rick Joyner of The Oak Initiative
* Richard Thompson of The Thomas More Law Center
* David Fowler of Family Action of Tennessee
* Joel Brind of the Baruch College Department of Natural Sciences
* Dr. Carl Herbster of AdvanceUSA
* Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt of The Pray in Jesus Name Project
* Penny Pullen of the Life Advocacy Resource Project
* Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation
* Diane Gramley of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania
* Frank G. Simon of the American Family Association of Kentucky
* Gary L. Cass of DefendChristians.org
* Mike Coley of Saved by the Blood Ministries
* Paul Blair of Reclaiming America for Christ
* Don Feder of World Congress of Families
* C. Frederick Wehba of Bently Forbes
* Dr. Raymond Johnson of Biblical Concepts Ministries
* Kelly Shackelford of Liberty Institute
* Bishop E.W. Jackson of STAND AMERICA
* Phillip Jauregui of Judicial Action Group
* Bill Brooks of North Carolina Family Policy Council
* James Clymer of Constitution Party
* Larry Reagan of Adams Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
* Star Parker of The Center for Urban Renewal and Education
* J. Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel
* Allyson Smith of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality
* Floyd Brown of Western Center for Journalism
* Sandy Rios of Culture Campaign
* William J. Murray of Religious Freedom Coalition
* Dave Welch of U.S. Pastor Council
* John and Eleanor Warner of St. Louis MetroVoice
* John W. “Woody” Woodrum, California candidate for Congress
* William J. Federer of Amerisearch Inc.
* Michael Valerio of Valerio Foundation
* Linda Flower of Texas Physicians Resource Council
* Kelly Shackelford of Free Market
* Donna Hearne of Freedombasics
* Christopher Carmouche of GrassTopsUSA
* Rayphe of Living Water Homestead of Faith
* Bob Fischer of Fischer Furniture Inc.
* Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas of Elijah Ministries
* Deany Meinike of Deany Mortgages
* W.C. Jernigan, Lt. U.S. Naval Reserves
The military’s survey of the issue has been promoted by those supporting open homosexuality as approving of their plan.
But critics challenge whether the survey was a fair assessment of soldiers’ attitudes, suggesting it was designed to arrive at the conclusion preferred by the Obama administration, which quashed opposing views.
“When this study was first announced, Lt. Gen. Mixon, the commander of our forces in the Pacific, publicly encouraged soldiers to speak out on the issue. He was told in no uncertain terms to shut up or get out of the service,” reported a former Marine combat officer and Army lawyer.
FAX Petiton 535 Congressmen to protect our troops from homosexual aggression
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