Sometimes we get so caught up fighting for what we believe in that we forget those leaders who are fighting right alongside us. We know that change doesn’t come easily, so it’s helpful to have strong allies standing up for what’s right in the halls of power. I was part of the fighting Dems that you supported. Thank you. Veterans like Markos, me, and Patrick Murphy were there when Bush and his buddies in Congress dragged us into an unnecessary war, while kicking out great troops just because they were gay.
For those of you who didn’t see it today, there’s been major movement on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”- a discriminatory policy that has cost us more than 13,500 brave servicemembers since 1993 simply because they happen to be gay. We’re losing talented medics, fighter pilots- even Arabic translators- at the rate of almost 2 men and women per day. It’s outrageously frustrating. But today, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen told the full Senate Armed Services Committee- in a public hearing, live on television- that he personally supported overturning the ban on open service, stating:
"No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens… For me, it comes down to integrity - theirs as individuals and ours as an institution."
As a Marine, to hear Chairman Mullen publicly state his opposition to standing law is remarkable- and we now know that he’s an important ally for repeal. Defense Secretary Robert Gates also underscored the Pentagon’s commitment to overturning the ban, saying that DoD is looking at the steps necessary to implement the policy that will take its place. And former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell said just today that he fully supports the new approach taken by both of these leaders- and he helped draft DADT in the first place.
But this progress simply wouldn’t be possible without the leadership that Pennsylvania Representative Patrick Murphy has provided in the House. Most of you already know him as the first veteran of the Iraq War elected to Congress- a Captain who led troops in Baghdad, was awarded a Bronze Star, and who was an outspoken voice for the need to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home before it was popular to say so. He refused to give Bush the blank check he continually asked for.
But last July, Rep. Murphy took over the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the bill that would replace DADT with a policy of nondiscrimination. In the last few months, he’s secured the support of 187 cosponsors- the highest amount the bill has ever had- and he’s still fighting, talking to his colleagues, and refusing to back down until everyone can serve our country. In fact, just today, he said:
“Today’s testimony from top civilian and military leaders … marked the beginning of the end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’… this policy is detrimental to our national security and military readiness, and I will continue to fight to repeal it so that all of our brave men and women in uniform can serve our nation with integrity and honor.”
Don’t ask don’t tell is an embarrassing legacy of the past reminiscent of the Jim Crow south and supported by equally unfounded and absurd arguments. I know you all share this sentiment. Though change doesn’t happen overnight, it’s crucial we support those who support just causes ; Guys like Pat Murphy. The Stonewall Dems have a page setup for Murphy at http://www.actblue.com/... I made a donation today- and I encourage you to do the same.
Paul Hackett is an Iraq War veteran who was the Democratic nominee for Ohio's 2nd District in 2006. He served with the Marine Corps in Ramadi and Fallujah in OIF II in ’04-’05 and continues to serve in the Marine Reserves as a LtCol.