Sestak Calls for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (Chair of Hillary's Vet Committee in PA)

PR Newswire ^ | 5/5/08 | SLDN

[americaprd]

Philadelphia Congressman Among 17 Veterans Co-Sponsoring Repeal Legislation

WASHINGTON, May 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Joe Sestak (D-PA), the highest ranking military veteran in Congress, on Saturday urged fellow lawmakers to join him in repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law banning lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel from serving openly in the military. Sestak, who had served as a three-star Admiral and who spent thirty-one years in the Navy is one of seventeen veterans in Congress who are co-sponsors of legislation to lift the ban on openly gay service. Sestak's remarks came before a panel discussion hosted by Equality Forum on the topic of congressional developments in the movement to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

"Veterans like Admiral Sestak, who have dedicated their lives to serving this country, are leading the movement in Congress to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "These lawmakers agree with senior military officers, including former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalishkashvili and retired Army Major General Vance Coleman, that when it comes to defusing IEDs, tending to injured troops, deciphering enemy codes and flying reconnaissance missions -- sexual orientation is irrelevant. Seventy-nine percent of the American people agree with them and it is time that Congress finally repeal this law."

"It is easy for me to see why 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' should be repealed," said Sestak. "Once you have served in war and faced danger with a gay service member, how can you come home and say gay people should not enjoy equal rights? It is simple. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' must be repealed."

The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), which would repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and allow lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel to serve openly, is currently cosponsored by 142 Members of Congress, including veterans Peter DeFazio (D-OR), William Delahunt (D-MA), John Dingell (D-MI), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), Phil Hare (D-IL), Maurice Hinchey(D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Jose Serrano (D-NY), Joe Sestak (D-PA), Pete Stark (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Edolphus Towns (D-NY). For more information on the legislation and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," visit http://www.sldn.org.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit http://www.sldn.org.

CONTACT: Victor Maldonado

(202) 328-3244, ext. 123

vmaldonado@sldn.org

[americaprd]

Sestak co-chaired Hillary's Veterans Taks Force here in PA and has been widely reported in the local newspaper as one of her top choices for Secretary of Defense should she become President. Hopefully this guy loses his reelection bid this year.

[boomop1]

We should have a separate force USHLC, would that make the fag Admiral happy.

[massgopguy]

What does “Openly Gay” mean?

[Anti-Bubba182]

This figures. He is one of Rahm Emanuel’s, “Rent a Vets” brought in, with great success to get votes from nitwits. Curt Weldon lost his seat to this one.

[Red Badger]

...Sestak, who had served as a three-star Admiral and who spent thirty-one years in the Navy...

Why am I not surprised?.........

[ConservativeMajority]

Note that the one R on the list is Wayne Gilchrist, a sitting RINO recently retired in a primary by a real conservative.

[So Cal Rocket]

I can't be the only one who thinks of this when I hear this guy's name, can I?

[Antoninus]

This is the creep that defeated Curt Weldon, a fine congressman of long standing, thanks to the Bush admin's "October surprise" on Weldon. For those who don't remember, Weldon was responsible for helping blow the whistle on Able Danger.

We can thank the administration for Sestak.

[bill1952]

Hmp. Why?

We now have the most kick ass military force in the entire world.
Is is that he rather wants a kiss ass military?

[kbennkc]

Between this guy and Wes Clark we need a “no stars for pooftas” policy .

[bill1952]

>We can thank the administration for Sestak.

Not to mention snarlin Arlen.

[MrB]

Hey, if you didn’t post it...

I was on my way to put one of those up.

[BubbaBasher]

What does “Openly Gay” mean?

[MrB]

In a word, yes.

Same reason leftists want a draft.

It would destroy the effectiveness of the military,
force people to do something they don’t choose to,
and make our country less likely to use military force in its own interests.

A triple header win for libs!

[americaprd]

Sestak’s got a vet running against him. He flew F-18s in the first Gulf War. More at www.craigwilliamsforcongress.com

[Dahoser]

We’re up against an enemy that is worldwide, wages war using human sacrifice, beheadings and other savagery, has already murdered over 3,000 of our countrymen, and this is what these putzes think is the most important thing we can do with our armed forces? What kind of morons keep voting them back into office?

[Arrowhead1952]

Heck, there are plenty of gays that serve, especially the lesbians. These days, they don’t hide anything.

[phrogphlyer]

If they were to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ wouldn’t we just go back to ‘no gays allowed, open or not?’

[PurpleMan]

Support Craig Williams who is running against Sestak

Here’s his site: http://craigwilliamsforcongress.com/

[tobyhill]

79% agree with getting rid of the law but for multiple reasons. Most of that 79% probably believe it should be repealed because it's an open invitation for gays in the military to stay and they don't want gays in. The other group wants a military with gay openness therefor there's no reason for such a law.