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June 03, 2008
Mr. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" dies
Posted by: Andoni
Charles Moskos, the architect of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
(DADT) died last Saturday. Hopefully this represents not only the death of the man,
but the imminent passing of his idea as well.
Mokos was an expert on military personnel issues, morale and recruitment trends in 1993 and as a result was called upon by top military brass to suggest a compromise to President Bill Clinton’s attempt to allow gays to serve openly in the military.
Between Senator Sam Nunn (whom I commented on yesterday) leading the charge in the political arena against gays serving in the military and Charles Moskos providing some questionable academic cover, Clinton’s attempt to lift the ban on gays in the military was foiled.
In a letter to the New York Times in 2005 rebutting an
editorial suggesting the military loosen the current policy, Moskos boastfully noted
"Any change in the status of homosexuals in the military requires congressional action. Your editorial implies that the military should disobey the law. Who is hiding from reality?"
Moskos is correct on this point. Any new president cannot
simply sign an executive order to allow gays to serve openly in the military.
It requires Congress to pass a new law.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act are two infamous examples of the United States government actively promoting and institutionalizing discrimination into the laws of the land.
History will judge the people involved in these acts poorly.
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Comments
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This man's original title for this rule is most telling: "Don't Ask Don't Tell; Don't Seek Don't Flaunt" - clearly he had an agenda against equality which was driven by his own homophobia.
But I thought that the block by Democratic Senator Sam Nunn to any change in military rules was only a six month moratorium and not a permanent one. Couldn't Clinton have changed the rule by executive order following the six-month moratorium?
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It makes me very sad to know that he is Greek being Greek myself i hate it that my own country wont support me!!!!!! so hopefuly with his death also the death of DADT!!!!!
The comments to this entry are closed.
Kary on Jun 4, 2008 10:12:41 AM:
Good friggin riddance. The death of one more asshole, who holds us in contempt. I have never had answered for me why turncoat Clinton allowed the debate over a MILITARY REGULATION. Truman just integrated the troops, if memory serves. Screw Congress. What the hell would they have to say about it? As Commander in Chief....surely any silly DOD regulation can be changed at will. No one has ever successully answered this for me. Speculation says it was political expediency.