Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Ron Paul Speaks Out on DA, DT Again

Pam's House Blend has a post up about recent comments Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), a 2008 presidential candidate, made about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." As we reported earlier, we hoped Paul's position on the issue was evolving. His statement on the radio program "The American View," however, seems to confuse his stance even further. "Looking it in protecting the military if they are going to perform the services, and they are imperfect -- because we're all imperfect and we all sin," Paul said. "If a heterosexual or homosexual sins, that to me is the category of dealing with their own soul. Since we cannot have only perfect people going in the military I want to separate the two because I don't want to know the heterosexual flaws, nor the homosexual flaws and that's why I got in some trouble with some of the civil libertarians because I don't have any problem with 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Because I don't think that, for the practicality of running a military, I'd just as soon not know every serious thing that any heterosexual or homosexual did, and those flaws have to do with all our flaws because each and everyone one of us has those imperfections." As Pam points out on her blog, ". . . gays don't want the repeal of DADT to have sex in the barracks -- gays and lesbians simply do not want to hide their orientation. Heterosexuals serving our country are able to speak openly about their lives -- a partner back home, for instance, without fearing that they will be kicked out of the military. Heterosexuality, and the culture that surrounds it, is everywhere, presumed and affirmed." Paul seems to be taking the Pentagon at its word that the law really is what its name implies. However, as SLDN has documented, commanders routinely violate 'Don't Ask,' (just check out the story of former recruiter Sonya Contreras) and the DoD has a very broad definition of what constitutes telling. We hope Congressman Paul will be open to a discussion about the reality of how many inside the military implement the ban. And we hope, too, that stories like those of Contreras will move him to take a second look at his support for the law. - Steve Ralls

Labels: 2008, in the news, ron paul

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08-26-07