Glaring Omissions from the Washington Times
The Washington Times speculated yesterday that Marine Commandant James Conway might be gearing up to become a lead opponent of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Until we learn more about General Conway’s views on DADT from Conway himself, and what the Obama Administration plans to do should the general move out on an advocacy agenda, we address the Times article by highlighting glaring omissions in Rowan Scarborough's heavily biased reporting.
Scarborough writes, "Most of the senior brass hold deep reservations about President Obama's pledge to end the ban on gays in the military." Most? Deep? Really? Show us the data. (There is none.)
Another omission was any reference to the generational divide within the military. Seventy-three percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, who according to a 2006 Zogby poll are comfortable serving with gay people, unlike the older generation of retired flag officers mentioned in the article who served in the last century.
Fifty years of research conclude unequivocally that openly gay troops have no impact on unit cohesion, morale, or military readiness. That Scarborough and some Beltway media pundits continue to ignore this body of research while amplifying the bigotry of a few individuals is one of the greatest examples of modern journalistic malfeasance.
The Washington Times is after all the country’s conservative newspaper that actually published a totally unreliable, self-selective Internet poll regarding gays in the military. A professional pollster at ABC News compares reliability of that poll's methodology to a "rusted carbine.”
11-03-09 By Kevin Nix, Communications Director |
6 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Mike Gorman in Stockton, Ca on November 05, 2009 at 04.57 pm
Thank you Patrick Murphy on the article in the Advocate. Also from reading “Unfriendly Fire” it mentioned recruits being asked if they were gay as late as 2002 on Air Force induction papers. That’s not quite right. The orientation question was on my Navy questionaire when I enlisted in the summer of 2004.
Back to this Marine Commandant, yes he is living in a by gone era. ANd his out dated views are going to cripple the US. In all honesty in my opinion all the old brass in the Pentagon share the same views with Iran when it comes to gays and lesbians.
SSgt_For_Equal_Rights on November 04, 2009 at 01.06 pm
Calen, don’t worry about “Martin in DC”‘s comment, he has probably long been questioning his own sexuality, that’s why he’s loitering around sites like sldn.org. I’m sure he knows about the study done by the Advocate reporter because he’s a member of that site as well.
Martin, just accept who you are. It’s ok. :)
Calen Chrzan in Fort Worth, TX on November 04, 2009 at 12.10 pm
Martin, My private polling pretty much mirrors the actual public polling on attitudes on DADT from our servicemembers. The Advocate had one of their young rerporters planted on an Army post by a servicemember friend and he came to the same conclusions after gaining the confidence of some troops and asking them point blank the same thing. Personally I take offense to being called a Jr Aubrey as I have worked with Mr. Sarvis on this repeal effort and have great respect for him.
Martin in DC on November 04, 2009 at 07.20 am
If your private polls mattered then we would care…. My little Jr. Aubreys
SSgt_For_Equal_Rights on November 03, 2009 at 02.01 pm
The unoffical, private polls I’ve conducted myself in the 9 years since I’ve been enlisted reveal the same. 80-90% of those I’ve spoken with about the topic say it’s outdated and ridiculous because there are already many LGB servicemembers who are honorably serving as we speak. And those I encountered that opposed it we of the Desert Storm 1 generation. The military does need to catch up with the progression that’s occuring in the civilian world. Bottomline: Military personnel DO NOT CARE about what people do in their bedroom. What matters is getting the job done.
Calen Chrzan in Fort Worth, TX on November 03, 2009 at 01.27 pm
My private unscientific polling of off-duty active younger military personnel tells me the same thing. Over 80% say that DADT needs to go. The recent Advocate article reporter came to the same conclusion . This is a generational thing. Genral Conway is buried in the past and as like one young USAF seargent told me “the military needs to catch up with the rest of society”