Our troops might have to go without pay because House Republicans want to shut down the United States Government over family planning and a news organization. We're talking about thousands of families who are trying to struggle in this economy. Families who have someone overseas they have to worry about every day. There are serious daily threats to the welfare of these military families: will their spouse die? Will he get injured? Will their family be able to stay together and provide for each other?
And the Republican-dominated House Armed Services Committee held a hearing today. A hearing about a serious threat facing Americans. And our soldiers. A threat that should be dealt with immediately and swiftly. They gathered the Service Chiefs together to discuss the best things to do, and it did not go as planned:
A GOP hearing aimed at stalling efforts to let gays serve openly in the military backfired Thursday when Pentagon chiefs testified the troops don't think there's anything wrong with that.
...Wait. So, just so I can make sure I understand this: soldiers will fight and get injured or possibly even die for this country even though the Republicans are too fucking stupid and coldhearted to pay them and their families for their service. Our troops will have to keep serving even if there is a government shutdown. And not only do the Republicans lack the maturity to give a fuck about this, but they are seriously going to deflect and attack gay troops, and their families, (because gay troops are being screwed by the government shutdown as much as straight troops are) and the service chiefs, and the president, and the Department of Defense, for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell?
And to top it all off, they are now doing this with zero backing from the military, who now says that they were wrong and they exaggerated and everything is going very well now? And that there will not be a huge risk to the military? This is what Republicans are doing? What about the thing that actually is a huge risk to American soldiers and their families? What about their pay? What will Republicans do about our servicemembers' livelihoods? How will Republicans act to make sure their families stay together? Or that they don't lose their home? Or that they can feed their families? What will Republicans do to give our troops the dignity they deserve by not taking away their pay because of some whiny arguments over family planning and a news organization?
Nothing, I guess. Nothing. But gays? Oh hell yes, they'll do everything they can to stop gays:
Freshman Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) said he felt like he was arriving after the massacre at the Alamo and being unable to help the victims.
Palazzo said he worried that people enlisted in what "they thought was a good military, a correct military, and this Congress comes and tinkers with it."
"I just apologize to our veterans," he said. "I have yet to find anybody that is in support of repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell."
Seriously, they want to apologize to our troops, for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but not for shutting down the government and screwing over all of our troops in real, tangible ways? "Gee guys I know the rest of your lives might be completely irreparably wrecked because we as a party are ticked off at a fake video involving a news organization, but at least we don't like gay people. Don't be mad." That's their strategy?
I have an idea I'd like to throw right back at them:
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) pleaded with the joint chiefs: "You can stop this still."
"In your gut you know this is not the right thing," she said.