Watch Rep. Murphy Discuss DADT Tonight on C-SPAN
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), the first Iraq War veteran to be elected to Congress, will host a special order hour tonight to discuss why "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" hurts our military. As a veteran, Rep. Murphy understands why all qualified service members - regardless of their sexual orientation - are needed to keep our military strong. He is a tireless advocate who, as lead sponsor of HR 1283 (the Military Readiness Enhancement Act), has helped bring on board 26 new co-sponsors to the bill since July for a current total of 176. During tonight's special order hour, Murphy will be joined by many of his House colleagues who will also offer comment on DADT repeal. Murphy's address is expected to start at 9 p.m. EST tonight but could be later. Check the C-SPAN calendar here for the exact time.
10-06-09 By Paul DeMiglio, Senior Communications Manager |
3 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Mike Gorman in Stockton, Ca on October 08, 2009 at 07.33 pm
What better way to disrupt a cause than to split hairs on an issue.
And on another note, military.com was saying they won’t tolerate discrimination/misconduct like they used to. The UCMJ is so loosely enforced, why do they have it? It’s only for picking and choosing at the convienience of the government.
T2 in DC on October 06, 2009 at 10.41 pm
Liz, I am listening to Rep Gohmert (R-TX) speak on CSPAN following the DADT discussion with Rep Murphy (D-PA). Rep Gohmert made exactly the point that I discussed with you on this blog—Rep Gohmert said it wasn’t a big deal that homosexuals serve in the military, but it was a big deal to let homosexuals serve “openly.” He said it would be a major distraction to good order.
If we don’t define what it looks like to serve openly we leave the definition to people like Rep Gohmert. For real: What is conveyed by the term Serving Openly?
The argument to repeal DADT cannot be won on the basis of serving openly because of the visceral reaction it causes opponents. The argument needs to be reframed to other aspects of Serving, not just upon serving openly. Serving honorably. Serving without fear of discharge. Serving as a family tradition, with equal access by all family members. Serving for College Money, just like the heterosexual kids. Serving for patriotism.
Every time someone argues “Let Gays Serve Openly,” individuals who are less enlightened insert an image in their own head of a truckload of leather dancers in a pride parade and wonder if that will happen on Base. Will children be exposed to that? It is ludicrous that people would jump to that image but to many people who have no other basis for truth… THAT is what Serving Openly looks like. And like it or not, the less enlightened audience is what stands between what has been accomplished so far and getting repeal introduced in the Senate.
Mike Gorman in Stockton, Ca on October 06, 2009 at 10.34 pm
I have to keep myself from throwing something at the TV. Mr. Murphy got all of 5 minutes while this “Louie Gohmert” is up there until midnight (EST) quoting verses out of a freak’in Bible. Violation of church and state much??? I wish somebody would tell me to keep calm so I don’t go out and try to start my own revolution/civil war!