Political Cortex: Republican Neanderthals and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Republican Neanderthals and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

By Bill Hare
02/05/2010 02:18:58 PM EST

A party whose titular head appears to be Rush Limbaugh with strong competition from Roger Ailes' Fox News could be expected to be disturbed over the recent proposal to scrap the "Don't ask, don't tell" rule regarding the service of homosexuals in the military invoked when President Bill Clinton was in office.

A party moving perpetually backwards while heating up the forces of hate in a manner consistent with Limbaugh and his radio broadcasts would be expected to launch the same parade of horribles rationale so popular when Republicans are confronted with policy changes that reflect modern reality.

On the issue of gays it is particularly appealing to conjure up fear with a tinge of hatred since the most rightward and antagonistic element of the base can be more easily rallied by such an appeal.

The accusation of an appeal to prejudicial hatred will always be denied with the angry retort being that the interest of America is the ultimate barometer but it has been easy to see for some time where the party's dominant right flank, which has been in control for so long, stands on gay issues and conclude why such a posture is being taken.

Republican critics cite fears that if this policy is terminated that hermaphrodites and transgenders will be able to serve, causing a veritable calamity within military ranks. There is nothing like rallying the forces of right wing hate than bringing up vulnerable whipping targets.

Oddly enough these strong fears have not been advanced by the militaries of European countries who have allowed openly gay service personnel within their ranks for years.

Colin Powell, who as Clinton's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff opposed allowing gays to serve, has changed his position while no less a military authority figure than Admiral Mike Mullen, current Chairman of the JCS, has advocated terminating the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Those Republican critics should be asked to ponder instances such as the Tailhook Scandal and ask that, considering their standards pertaining to gays, heterosexuals should be banished because their machismo could well subject them to such equivalent risks as occurred in those wherein female service personnel launched complaints on grounds of sexual abuse.

Obviously the misconduct of a few heterosexuals engaging in misconduct does not establish a principle that others cannot effectively serve in the military. Indeed, scores have done so and continue to effectively serve.

On that basis it is ludicrous to project tragic scenarios where homosexual misconduct will occur. Any sexual misconduct should be addressed, but to point a finger of suspicion at gays and deem them a service problem per se is grossly unfair and unwarranted by factual evidence.

The criticism from the Republican far right is indicative of what Los Angeles television talk show host Joe Pyne, a forerunner of Rush Limbaugh, stated in the sixties when a guest proposed that homosexuals be allowed to serve in the military:

"They get beat up in showers!"

There is nothing like the forces of right wing hatred to project a stereotype aggressively, as Pyne did in this instance. Pyne also, during the height of the Watts Riots, pulled out a handgun from his desk, brandished it, and declared, "I'm ready!"

This tasteless exhibition caused him to be sanctioned by the Federal Communications Commission during a period when that government body had enforcement power that does not exist today.

While the forces of right wing reaction howl, others among us commend President Obama, Admiral Mullen, and Colin Powell for being on the right side of history and urging the termination of an antiquated policy based on myth and fear rather than reason and reality.