We are facing a critical week and our military is in peril.   In only a few days, members of Congress will decide whether the 1993 law regarding homosexuals in the military, which is usually mislabeled “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) will survive the political promises of President Barack Obama.  

Activists who are determined to impose the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) agenda on the military believe that victory is imminent, but they still don’t have the votes.  That could change in a matter of days—before the Memorial Day recess.

Now is the time for all supporters of our military to call members of Congress, starting with members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.  Links to the websites of  committee members are here:

• US Senate Armed Services Committee
  http://armed-services.senate.gov/members.htm

• US House Armed Services Committee

http://armedservices.house.gov/list_of_members.shtml

In your own words, briefly stated, please ask the members to: 

• Support the 1993 law regarding homosexuals in the military (often mislabeled “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell)

• Oppose all legislative efforts to repeal or weaken it, including a ‘moratorium’ on enforcement, or repeal with “delayed implementation.”

• Respect the wishes of Pentagon leaders in declining to act before the voices of military personnel are heard.

These ten points summarize the main arguments in the current debate: 

• Ten Reasons to Oppose the Proposed “LGBT Law” for the Military

Please be brief, expressing what you would like to say to your congressman if you had only 10 seconds to say it, and be persuasive in your tone.    Please call your own members of Congress and the Senate as well, and let them know that you expect them to oppose this radical social experiment on our military, which will make military life more difficult and more dangerous.  (U.S. Capitol switchboard: 202/224-3121)

Please forward this message to your email networks, encouraging friends and family to join us in fighting to defend the culture of our military. 

Thanks for your help—We cannot allow the LGBT Left to win.

Elaine

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A. Congress: Don’t Wait, Don’t Think, Just Vote For…Whatever – Part 2

According to the National Journal, last Monday House Speaker Nancy Pelosi conducted a conference call with LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) activists.  Speaker Pelosi promised an effort to repeal the 1993 law possibly calling for a floor amendment and vote on the 2011 National Defense Authorization bill (NDAA).  

The House Armed Services Committee marked up the defense bill last Wednesday, May 19.  Following an emphatic opening statement from HASC Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) the committee did not consider or approve legislation to repeal the 1993 law regarding gays in the military, Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C.”  Activists are now demanding a floor amendment on the bill, which we expect to come up for a vote on Thursday, May 27, just before Memorial Day. 

This could occur despite a strongly-worded letter from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, opposing “any legislation that seeks to change this policy” before the Pentagon’s review is completed later this year.  What part of “any legislation” do liberals in Congress not understand?   

Over on the Senate side, Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) has been pushing for a “moratorium” on enforcement of the 1993 law.  Since that move has encountered resistance, yet another Washington Post op-ed signed with the name of former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. John Shalikashvili is now pushing for an equally unacceptable option: legislation to immediately repeal the 1993 law with “delayed implementation.” 

Repeal of the 1993 law with implementation details placed in the hands of Obama Administration officials would be an irresponsible abnegation of Congress’ authority, surrendering the military to the control of political appointees doing the president’s bidding.  Only members of Congress, who are accountable to the American people, have the constitutional responsibility to make policy for the military. 

Either strategy─a moratorium on enforcement or repeal with delayed implementation─ would nullify the 1993 law, and defy the strongly worded letter from Secretary Gates and Adm. Mullen, opposing “any legislation that seeks to change this policy” before the Pentagon’s review is completed later this year.  What part of “any legislation” do liberals in Congress not understand?   

CMR has confirmed a report that Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NB) intends to vote against legislation to overturn the law.  It is not clear whether Sen. Nelson and others who plan to follow the Pentagon’s recommendations will be persuaded to vote for Sen. Levin’s alternative proposals, which are the same as repeal. 

Should the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) adopt a repeal provision in its version of the defense authorization bill, that action would likely sway Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats to allow the repeal amendment to go forward in the House.

B.  Organization Activities:

CMR is providing information, coordinating communication, and working with several large and influential organizations that are mobilizing in support of the 1993 law as part of the Military Culture Coalition (MCC):

Concerned Women for America (CWA), for example, has issued an excellent “
Family Voice Bulletin that analyzes the legislative history of the 1993 law and the administrative policy, DADT:

• Homosexuality and the Military: What “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Is and Why It Matters

Liberty Counsel has issued another excellent report:

• Liberty Counsel Joins Campaign to Support Military Families

The Conservative Action Project, Family Research Council, Center for Security Policy, Eagle Forum, Alliance Defense Fund, Focus on the Family, Thomas More Law Center, Traditional Values Coalition, the American Family Association, and several groups concerned with the religious liberties of military chaplains have been working with the MCC in writing letters and mobilized forces in support of the 1993 law. 

In addition, a number of retired officers who signed the Flag & General Officers for the Military statement in 2009 have been writing individual letters giving reasons why they signed the statement and still support the 1993 law.  Retired Army General Frederick Kroesen went the extra mile in writing an op-ed for the Washington Times:

• Kroesen: Risky Moves in the Military

Acting independently, the American Legion has sent letters to Congress not to defer any action until military people have an opportunity to be heard.  Clarence E. Hill, the Legion's national commander, said in letters to House leaders that "enacting any law that does not enhance the military's ability to accomplish that mission would be detrimental to the security of our nation.  We believe that the repeal of [don't ask, don't tell] would be such an action."

• American Legion to Congress: Don’t Repeal DADT

At their 110^th Convention last fall, the Veterans of Foreign Wars passed an unequivocal resolution:

Resolution No. 426

OPPOSE ALL EFFORTS TO REPEAL THE 1993 LAW

BANNING HOMOSEXUALS FROM SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, that we strongly oppose all efforts to repeal Public Law 103-160 (Section 654, U.S. Code Title 10), which bans homosexuals from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the Department of Defense to review the current, “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and replace it with a policy more consistent with the intent of Public Law 103-160.

In the middle of intense activities out front and behind the scenes, Elaine Donnelly had the privilege of speaking to four American Government classes and several more gatherings in the Department of Sociology at the United States Military Academy, West Point.  The cadets were very attentive as we discussed an adult topic in a straightforward way:  How would their duties as junior officers be complicated if the 1993 law were repealed? 

• Washington Times: Inside the Ring

This week Donnelly will participate in a panel discussion with other authors who contributed chapters to a new book published by the Air Force University Press, Attitudes Are Not Free – Thinking Deeply About Diversity in the U.S. Armed Forces.  My chapter titled “Defending the Culture of the Military,” begins on page 249.  The book also includes the entire list of Flags & General Officers for the Military:

            This will be a pivotal week—Many thanks to everyone who is taking the time to participate and lend personal support to our men and women in the military.

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