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The Spectacle Blog
A lot of ink and bandwidth has been devoted to critiquing the audiences in the Republican debates for cheering Texas’ execution rate and people dying because they lack government-provided health insurance. After last night’s debate, these critics’ ire has turned to the audience’s response the U.S. military’s former Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on homosexuals serving openly.
The claim is that Republican audience members booed a homosexual soldier deployed in Iraq. If you watch the video, though, it’s far clearer what the audience was really booing – namely, the loaded phrasing of the soldier’s question: “ …. Do you intend to circumvent the progress that’s been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?”
Rick Santorum gave an excellent answer in response: “Sex is not an issue. It should not be an issue. Leave it alone, and keep it to yourself, whether you are heterosexual or homosexual.”
View all comments (20) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by David N. Bass
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/09/23/in-defense-of-the-gop-debate-a
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Funwithwords| 9.23.11 @ 9:53AM
I honestly don't understand why free market conservatives like us give a damn about sexual orientation with regards to the military. To me it seems more like a bizarre and uncomfortable alliance with a small minority of religious social conservatives. Irrelevant wedge issue.
Harpagon| 9.23.11 @ 10:02AM
With that one answer, Rick Santorum proved that he should never be President of the United States.
Either he's horribly ignorant, or he's lying.
True, the soldier's question was badly worded. But the statute that repealed the DADT policy did NOT give any "special privileges" to ANYONE. It merely ended the injustice that was being done to those brave servicemembers who are gay, by allowing homosexuals to serve with the military. Before that, homosexuals could not even say the words "I'm a homosexual", or correspond with their partners (even by private email accounts).
DADT was not just about "sex" or "sexual activity", and the legislation that repealed DADT does not authorize any kind of sexual activity. It merely put gays on an equal footing with heterosexuals by allowing them to serve openly.
Santorum says that he wants to reinstitute the cretinous DADT policy, yet he says he would not kick Steve out of the military, yet, under the DADT policy, it would be his (or rather the DOD's) duty to kick him out of the military.
It's clear that Republicans still haven't learned any lessons. The Democrats want to legislate the economy, and Republicans want to legislate morality.
Derek Leaberry| 9.23.11 @ 12:32PM
Santorum is cowardly himself. Homosexuality is a particularly dishonorable behavior and does not belong in an institution that revolves around honorable behavior. Santorum's attitude is not only contrary to that of Ronald Reagan and Cap Weinberger's on the homosexuality question, it is at odds with George Washington's.
What Santorum's cowardice in mind, it is apparent that the Republican Party and the "Conservative Movement" does not plan to defend the culture. Low taxes and the neo-conservative foreign policy project are at the epicenter of Republican concerns and everything else is to be relegated to the back of the bus. Perhaps social conservatives should just sit out this election.
Margie| 9.23.11 @ 1:42PM
How in 'tarnation was Santorum cowardly?
Sheesh.
Derek Leaberry| 9.23.11 @ 1:48PM
He supports the Clinton policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and not the Reagan-Weinberger policy of rooting homosexuals out of the military.
Margie| 9.23.11 @ 3:16PM
I wasn't paying attention to politics at that time. How did they root them out?
There was an actual policy?
Anyhow, that just isn't going to happen nowadays.
Sodom & Gomorrah is upon us.
You even have so called "Christians" actually saying it isn't a choice of behavior, and therefore thumbing their noses at God.
I don't consider Santorum a coward for saying openly that he's reinstitute DADT.
9thID| 9.23.11 @ 4:34PM
The only real solution to this opening of Pandora's Box by impeached Slick Willy Clinton is a return to the orginal Total Ban...
Margie| 9.23.11 @ 4:54PM
I saw your post in the other thread where you explained about the total ban. I didn't know there was a total ban before Clintoon imposed that rule.
I thought it was allowed but that DADT was just telling them to keep their mouths shut about it.
Now I understand. But I still think it'll never happen, returning to the b.c. law.
WHO would ever have the courage to do it??
9th ID| 9.24.11 @ 8:26PM
Hopefully the same ones who are for reforming S.S., eliminating Dept. of Education, and actually balancing the budget...
9th ID| 9.24.11 @ 8:27PM
It used to be Do Ask, You Better Tell...
9thID| 9.23.11 @ 4:38PM
Never forget the traitor Bradley Manning. This is only the beginning...
Dai Alanye | 9.23.11 @ 1:06PM
Open homosexuality isn't a good thing at any time, but the military is one of the worst places for it to be expressed. The same is true, BTW, of open heterosexual relationships, which inevitably lead to accusations of favoritism and abuse. In today's political atmosphere Santorum handled the question well.
I speak as someone who has served in the military, and as someone whose exceptionally attractive looks ;~} have lead to many homosexual approaches.
Dai Alanye | 9.23.11 @ 1:06PM
Open homosexuality isn't a good thing at any time, but the military is one of the worst places for it to be expressed. The same is true, BTW, of open heterosexual relationships, which inevitably lead to accusations of favoritism and abuse. In today's political atmosphere Santorum handled the question well.
I speak as someone who has served in the military, and as someone whose exceptionally attractive looks ;~} have lead to many homosexual approaches.
Jim Hlavac | 9.23.11 @ 3:53PM
Oh, sure, "Leave it alone, and keep it to yourself, whether you are heterosexual or homosexual.” -- except, well, you folks get to talk about your marriages and divorces, girls back home, kids, and show your pictures proudly all around; as is fine to do, or say "Hey, she's a fine babe," and so forth, with gusto even. You call it "life" and "sharing" and "joy." Even "Love."
And then us gay folks, we have to shush, lest you be offended that a real live gay guy is within a hundred feet of you saying "Hi, this is my boyfriend Michael," or something -- which you all perceive is talking about "sex" -- and not at all about "sharing" and "joy" and "life" and "love."
Well, when heteros cease talking about your sex lives, and all the other realities of life, let me know; I'll be watching Jerry Springer, like a zoo of the heterosexual lifestyle, which I just don't understand.
And if one more woman tries to hit on me because I'm a good looking, well spoken guy without a wedding ring, I'm going to scream -- those ladies are relentlessly after my trim body. :))
Jim Hlavac | 9.23.11 @ 3:58PM
And if Santorum hadn't spent the last 10 years of his life arguing for a law to outlaw my cuddling and smooching, and make a me a felon for waking up the morning; I and my buddies might actually like the guy -- but he's so obsessed with gayness and my life it's beyond my comprehension, and I am gay and lead a rather sweet life.
And those boyfriends FRC Perkins and Sprigg are more out of their minds. Egads, get a grip; who does anyone think is putting on South Pacific at the local little theater? the Marines?
Jim Hlavac | 9.23.11 @ 4:45PM
And since I'm on a tear -- and I don't need no friggin' teleprompter I assure you that -- instead of you folks around here (and I always speak to the editors here, not the commentators; many whom are lost and shall not be found; though it be their right to be delusional,) talking about the abstract "homosexuality" -- and our "agenda" and our "lobby" and Lord knows what else you all "think" about us -- yes some of us are liberals, others of us are not -- I don't hear you apologize for grandma Pelosi and her heterosexual ways, that's for sure -- why don't you try to talk to an actual tea party conservative Christian (Czech Hussite style) gay guy with a story to tell?
You might find it quite elucidating; and might lead to the end of this never ending debate as to whether I and my buddies are "real" enough to be citizens without a religious test (see Constitution: no religious test for government office: citizen = government official -- see 10th Amendment.)
Never in my life have I so much as kissed a girl, nor dated one, and the whole thought of actual "sex" with a woman simply churns my gut; in probably the same way my "sex" churns yours -- why don't you try to walk a mile, (hell, a block, just a block,) in my shoes?
And for anyone to now demand I inflict myself on some poor damsel is absurd. What did any lady do to deserve a fellow like me? (fellows = what my grandmother called my friends; yes she knew, as did grandpa who was thrilled to have a "divni" [Czech for 'sissy'] grandson out of his 20 grandkids -- and all my cousins and spouses and their kids just adore me and the boyfriend I assure you of that too. It'll be hard to pry votes out of them when some are calling for imprisoning me; or just the constant hounding which falls on very inured and deaf years after 35 years of this, true.)
I'm easy to track down -- how many "Jim Hlavac" do you think there are, for heaven's sake? I provide a link in my name, too, for the unawares. (Though the other seven still living must wonder why my name always comes up in google far more than theirs, hehehe.)
You folks don't need a "debate" on this subject; you folks need an education. And I'm just messianic enough to provide it; for I'm a firm believer that God gave me my chutzpah and brain power to say: Gays are God's way of testing the vast vast majority in the ways of the Lord: "treat others as you wish to be treated" -- And I do believe Jesus was a bit more important than almost anyone else in the Bible, save his mom and dad (and Joseph, his, um, I guess, adopted dad? I don't know.)
Really now, folks, get a grip -- you can't get rid of us without billions in spending and a genocide of sorts; and a police state of unimaginable proportions. And if Santorum gets his way we'll be all arrested and taken to the pokey together -- for being together and poking each other. It's monstrously stupid -- but I ain't the one running for office on a "get rid of the gays" platform like Santorum is.
You know, I feel sorry for the guy already. And if he'd only apologize and say "I don't get it, but life your less than rugged lives" he might actually double his poll numbers from 1% to 2%.
OK, then, I got to go take care of the 89 year old WWII vet I take care of, in his own home, voluntarily, so he doesn't wind up in a vet home -- and yes, he enlisted in '41, for the duration, and served his time and was honorably discharged. His mother knew, and she saw an ad for "Navy Musicians" and so she urged him to join before he was drafted -- and so he served the duration in San Diego playing piano at the officers club. The Nazis and Japs lost; the Republic saved; and no one asked, no one told, and everyone knew. Ain't reality always stranger than the fiction that "gays are a terror to the nation"? Yes it is, yes it is. Enjoy your day folks, but really, you all need to come to a conclusion; so I know whether to get a gun for when the cops come to arrest me, as some seem to want; or I can get on with my life. :)
Margie| 9.23.11 @ 5:04PM
Jim,
You say, " for I'm a firm believer that God gave me my chutzpah and brain power to say: Gays are God's way of testing the vast vast majority in the ways of the Lord: "treat others as you wish to be treated."
That verse is used against Bible believing Christians here in perpetuity.
And you are using it wrongly, in order to try and justify your sin life.
The truth is that the Bible (God's Own Words) say that that behavior will get you thrown into Hell.
Think about it~ if God says He throws us into Hell for sinful lifestyles, do you think that in order for Him to say that, that you must have a choice to turn away from it?
If you truly believe in god and Jesus, His Son, then you must obey All of His Words.
We're ALL ruined sinners, but some do turn from their sin lives (by the Grace of God only), in order to please Him and be ready for His appearing.
God doesn't allow Sin in His Kingdom, and Homosexuality is just one type of sin that He hates, but He hates ALL sin.
As you know, sex before Marriage, or Adultery or lying or bearing false witness against a brother or sister~ it ALL prevents us from entering Heaven.
Unless we repent. (Have a change of mind), and ask Him for the power to live a new life in Him.
You're no better, no worse than anyone else on the planet~ we all need to live lives of repentance.
Our sin separates us from God, but His mercy, if we ask for it, can give us the Power we need to live for Him out of love.
His love makes all things possible, Jim!
9th ID| 9.24.11 @ 8:28PM
And all God's children say AMEN...
Commie pinko gay man| 9.24.11 @ 12:54PM
Can you imagine the firestorm that would erupt on Fox News, this right-wing rag, and from the mouths of every Republican politician if a Democratic audience booed a soldier who was speaking out against the repeal of DADT? And how long ago was it that you conservative wackos were screaming that Obama and other Democrats did not support the troops because they opposed the war in Iraq? If you want to envision how not to support the troops, could you come up with a better example than booing a soldier?
I opposed the war in Iraq but whenever I came in contact with a soldier I always thanked them for their service. It was the idiot draft dodger George Bush who got us in the war, not the soldiers after all. Any young man who has the courage to fight for his country deserves nothing but respect. How many of the clowns you Republicans are offering at this point even had the courage to sign up for the military? How can someone like Rick Santorum, who never served, comment on what is best for the military?
In my opinion, a gay soldier is even braver than a straight one because they have to not only risk their life, but also but up with the ignorance and hatred of conservatives like those in the debate audience.
You zealots do not want a dime of your tax money going to anyone who is poor, a minority, or otherwise not your kind. So why should my tax money be used to fund a military that does not allow gay people to serve.
The boos from the audience only demonstrated what a bunch of bigots most Republicans are.
Margie| 9.24.11 @ 2:11PM
Yeah, Republicans, conservatives, and ESPECIALLY Bible believing Christians are all a bunch of zealot BIGOTS!
Yet, the Left are so pitiable, poor, blind and naked that they can't even see it.