Last week the U.S. Senate voted against the Defense Department’s recommendation to repeal the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, which requires gays and lesbians in the military to keep their sexual orientation secret or face discharge.
To me, the most curious thing about the vote was that almost every Republican voted against repeal while the Democrats were equally united behind Sec. Gates.
How did this become a partisan issue? What is there in Republican principles that prompts GOP office holders to oppose Sec. Gates on the issue; why are the Democrats so solidly with him?
Must we assume that its all a matter of attacking or defending President Obama? Do Republican senators say to themselves, if the president is for it, I must vote against it to make him look powerless? Do Democrats line up behind the administration, regardless of the merits of the issue?
We are driven to these disheartening conclusions be-cause it is simply impossible to believe that the votes cast represent considered opinion. The issue is an emotional one. Religious beliefs are involved. It is also an issue which divides generations. The young are much more accepting of different sexual orientations. Surveys taken of men and women in the service favor repeal of the current policy.
Sec. Gates also argues that the courts may declare Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell unconstitutional, which would require instant change. It would be better in his view for Congress to make the change so that it could be done in steps, in an orderly fashion.
None of these factors seem to bear the imprint of either of our political parties.
Both parties have members with different religious persuasion.
Both have members in all age groups. And surely, both Re-publicans and Democrats find Sec. Gates’ court argument interesting, worth considering and, for goodness sake, nonpartisan.
FAR TOO MANY of the issues Congress deals with remain unresolved because partisanship comes first, last and always. Call it “Don’t Think, Don’t Act, Don’t Budge!”
— Emerson Lynn, jr.
