Don't ask, don't tell, don't do the right thing

Today the vote for The Defense Authorization Bill failed to pass because of Senate Republicans and one Senate Democrat. Why did the bill fail? Was it because the military no longer needs funding for the multiple wars we are engaged in? Nope. Did it fail because the arms dealers we supply called to say they are fully stocked and good to go? Not even! The bill failed to pass because it contained...hold you breath...a measure to repeal the very discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Once again, the Right and their cohorts on the Democratic side chose politics over doing the right thing.
It is completely insane to think the men and women who serve this country; many who give their lives and others who give their limbs and minds must also give their integrity. The military is supposed to be about serving your nation with honor, but how can a person be told to be honorable and lie at the same time? That is what DADT asks of Gay and Lesbian servicemen and woman every single minute they wear the uniform for this nation.
In this country's early history, it asked black men to fight for the freedom of the nation while accepting limited freedoms themselves. DADT is no different. Politicians are now, as they did then, asking men and women to fight for the freedom of a nation that limits the freedoms they may enjoy. None of the politicians stonewalling the repeal of this ridiculous law can give a real reason for doing so.
The recent study released by the military lays lie to the idea repeal will harm troop readiness, moral, etc. I am certain, a soldier in the middle of a firefight doesn't care if the man or woman saving his life is in love with someone of the same sex.
No politician has been more incredibly dense on this issue than Sen. John McCain. He has changed his stance on DADT more than anyone, and this is especially troubling since has served in the military and claims to want what is best for our troops.
The shame of it all, is that the very troops being drummed out of the military for being Gay or Lesbian are among the best and the brightest.

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