'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Foe Patrick Murphy Turns Up the Heat
By Amanda Ruggeri, Washington Whispers
Rep. Patrick Murphy has two pieces of advice for his fellow congressmen: Do what's right, not just what's political. Oh, and don't cross him. The Pennsylvania Democrat is currently trying to whip up support for H.R. 1283, which would repeal "don't ask, don't tell," and he's working hard on getting the 218 votes it'll need to pass the House. One of the problems he might run into is the backlash back home. "I'm a congressman, but I have some criticisms about Congress. And I think some folks in Congress are afraid of keeping their own seats, and that's affecting the change that we all know needs to happen in our country," says Murphy. He ought to know. Murphy won his seat by just 1,521 votes in 2006. "This is something I don't take lightly, neither," he said, but he's going ahead with pushing for an end to "don't ask" because "we need congressmen and congresswomen and legislators to stand by the courage of their conviction and not worry about the political cycle or when the election is."
Murphy is also giving his fellow lawmakers a warning. "When they look me in the eye and say, 'I'm going to vote for this when it comes up for a vote,' no matter if they get hit from the left or the right in their own congressional districts, whether they're a Democrat or Republican, I'm going to hold them to their word," Murphy said. "And if they lie to me, it's not going to end well for them. I'm the chair of Red to Blue, so if they're a Republican, I'll go get Democrats that run against them. If they're Democrats, I'm going to have some not-nice words to say to them."
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Reader Comments
We have more worth while issues to cover..
I’m a retired Navy veteran. I work with DoD and have to say the military should be embarrassed at the behavior displayed by openly Gay women. What I saw were a handful of women doing their best to look and behave like men and a severe lack of military bearing! This was overseas and the foreign saw it as a strange joke and viewed it as a weakness.
This is not the image that the military should want, especially after years of effort
put into shaping a positive image for our strong military. Being Gay is a lifestyle choice
and should never be compared to racial discrimination as they are completely different
subject.
For those that say a lot of money has been spent on kicking them out, well if proper screening mechanisms were back in place, that would help weed them out to begin with.
What it come down to is, our country is at war, good order and discipline is important and the last thing that should be on people minds is finding a way to accommodate this selfish lifestyle by allowing them to join or
remain in the military. Who cares what other counties are allowing to happen in there military. America has the strongest military for a reason.
Common sense should be the prevailing guide and NO gays in the military is a no brainer.
To Karl Magnus of MI
I must say those are strong words, "put up with queens in the ranks." I am gay, I'm in the ranks, I lead Soldiers and I do my job well. I am out to most in my Unit and no one minds. Congressman Murphy (giving him the due respect he has earned as an elected official and a former Army Officer) does care about the Army and what's best for it. I can also tell you that it is a broken policy. I will not be kicked out for honorably serving my Country or at least I should not be kicked out. If I ever were to get kicked out for being a homosexual, this ban will be lifted and when it is I would back in the Army before you could bat an eye. Walk a mile in another man's boots before you judge them. No one puts up with me and I'm not a queen, Sir.
DADT
I am a gay man. Gays are not left alone in the military, just ask the family of Allen Schindler or Barry Winchell. Dumping soldiers because of the religious bigotry of fundamentalists damages our country's military readiness, wastes taxpayer money. I am 100% disabled because of wounds I suffered in combat. I am sick of bigotry.
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