Of all the ridiculous rationalizations that we've seen peddled to justify opposing the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," this one takes the cake:
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Tuesday that he thought the military should keep its ban on openly gay service members in part because he did not want to open a national discussion about homosexuality. The chairman, Representative Ike Skelton, a conservative Missouri Democrat, said he thought the debate in Congress over the proposed repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy might force families to explain homosexuality to their children. “What do mommies and daddies say to their 7-year-old child?” Mr. Skelton asked reporters at a news media breakfast.
Is this really how the freaking chairman of the House Armed Services Committee makes his decisions about military policy? On how it's going to play with the elementary school crowd?
Stop hiding behind kids, Ike.