The Vocal Minority
Opponents of repeal are coming out of the woodwork, according to today’s Washington Times.
“The Military Culture Coalition made its debut as an alliance Feb. 18 in a joint Washington news conference to announce a campaign to retain a 1993 law that bans open homosexuals in the ranks based on combat-readiness concerns….The coalition includes conservative grass-roots organizations, such as Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council, the American Conservative Union and Concerned Women for America.”
The report also notes that opposition to open service is not the unifying issue it once was for conservatives.
“This time around, conservatives do not seem as unified or enthused. …The prospect of major social change for the all-volunteer force has not captured conservative talk radio, which is focused on Mr. Obama's economic and health care agenda. For example, Bill O’Reilly, host of the Fox News Channel’s most-watched prime-time show, said Mr. Obama's call for ending the ban this year is not an issue. Influential conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer sided with Mr. Obama on Fox's ‘Special Report’ program in February.”
So while opponents to open service are in the minority, they’re a raucous, pot-stirring minority. They have been and will continue to be influential in the days and weeks to come — especially in the media. Write a letter to the editor of your hometown paper or call into talk radio stations, including conservative ones, and make the case for DADT repeal this year.
03-01-10 By Paul DeMiglio and Kevin Nix |
4 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Mike Gorman in Stockton, Ca on March 14, 2010 at 12.33 pm
I’ll write my senators, I don’t know about writing letters though. I’ve had six put in my local paper over the last year and a half on the subject. If I get rich, I’ll spring for a full page color ad.
Although, I would like to see SLDN branch out and do a media campaign.
Rich on March 01, 2010 at 08.40 pm
I guess I have to ask a question: Where’s our coalition?
It would be interesting to see the proponents of DADT repeal fight back with a broad-based coalition of organizations extending beyond the LGBT special-interest groups. I know there are a number of other groups that have lent support in rhetoric, but are they really supporting in the resources and lobbying front to get us to the finish line? Is VoteVets.org throwing major resources into this effort, or just giving it lip service? I don’t see why SLDN can’t come out with a wide-ranging coalition of organizations that is willing to commit resources to this fight for the next 6 months until DADT is history. When will we see the coalition of DADT repeal groups—including more than just the big names from the LGBT world?
Jay H in NJ on March 01, 2010 at 05.29 pm
Focus on Family, and Concerned Women for America have absolutely no business on commenting on military readiness and National Security issues. If they want to stand up and fight against anything I can see them fighting against gay marriage. People need to listen to the experts ie the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the four service Chiefs of Staff, the former Secy of State, former Chairman of the JCS, Gen Clark and the men and women serving in the military who support the change.
The men and women in the military are the people who will feel the change, and for the most part they do not really care. I have spoken to many people I work with, and pretty much every one of them say the same thing, there is a line you do not cross, don’t cross it other than that what someone does in their own personal life is their business.
Pepe in Clarksburg, WV on March 01, 2010 at 05.21 pm
Military Culture Coalition? Sounds like they ought to be promoting art on military installations, not fighting against gay troops.