Posted on 12/07/2011 10:21:07 AM PST by smoothsailing
December 6, 2011 - The Military Culture Coalition has released responses to the MCC 2012 Presidential Candidate Survey, which asked six questions about military social issues such as gays in the military, enforcement of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the military, religious liberty for chaplains, and subjecting women to direct ground combat and Selective Service registration. (See News Release here.)
Center for Military Readiness President Elaine Donnelly coordinated the non-partisan MCC Presidential Survey together with fourteen other conservative organization leaders whose names are provided below.
Donnelly predicted that results could be pivotal with conservative voters in the early voting states. "Undecided voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina will want to take into consideration the answers of candidates Perry, Bachmann, and Santorum, which provide insight into their views on national defense and social issues."
She added, "Now that this educational survey is complete, we hope that voters will take it from here, asking the same questions of candidates Romney, Gingrich, Paul, and Huntsman. All of the candidates should be willing to answer questions on six issues that are important to military men and women, who are losing confidence in the current Commander-in-Chief."
Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Senator Rick Santorum indicated in their answers that they would have joined Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in voting against the repeal of the 1993 law regarding gays in the military, which was rammed through the lame-duck session in December 2010. All three indicated that they would call for a full review of the consequences of repealing the law, which was usually called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and take administrative or legislative steps to restore sound policies that improve the All-Volunteer Force.
As in 2008, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney declined to respond to the CMR Presidential Candidate Survey questions about his position on repeal of the 1993 gays-in-the-military law. Nor did he indicate that he would review and remedy the consequences of repeal.
In 1994, Romney sent a letter to the Massachusetts Log Cabin Republicans stating that he would do a better job than his opponent, Senator Ted Kennedy, in "mak[ing] equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern." Romney also endorsed Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy as "the first in a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation's military."
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul failed to answer any of the six military/social questions asked in the Military Culture Coalition Survey. Congressman Paul, however, voted for legislation to repeal the 1993 law twice in 2010. The repeal was rushed through the lame-duck session in December, 2010, following only superficial hearings in the Senate and none in the House.
Congressman Paul suggested in a recent interview that most misconduct in the military involves heterosexuals, not explaining why it would benefit the All-Volunteer Force to burden commanders with new varieties of sexual misconduct. His additional comments about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" failed to recognize that the catch-phrase applied to Bill Clinton's expendable administrative policy, not the actual law that Congress passed, which should have been retained.
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman failed to respond to the MCC 2012 Presidential Candidate Survey, and businessman Herman Cain’s campaign promised a statement that did not materialize prior to the suspension of his campaign.
This is a PDF of the MCC Survey, which included brief statements introducing the six topics:
Military Culture Coalition 2012 Presidential Candidate Survey
The survey also provided more detailed background information on each of the questions:
Background: MCC Presidential Candidate Survey
Candidates were invited to answer with a "Yes" or "No" on an electronic form that provided space for additional comments:
1. Homosexuals in the Military
If you had been a member of the 111th Congress in 2010, how would you have voted on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Act?
2. LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender) Law in the Military
As Commander-in-Chief, will you order full and specific reviews of the consequences of LGBT Law and related policies in the military, and take administrative or legislative steps to restore sound policies regarding homosexual conduct that improve the All-Volunteer Force?
3. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the Military
Will your administration instruct the Department of Defense and Department of Justice to respect, enforce, and defend in court the Defense of Marriage Act in the military?
4. Religious Liberty and "Zero Tolerance" of Dissent
As Commander-in-Chief, would you order the Defense Department to impose career penalties on military chaplains and personnel who express sincere concern or disagreement with the LGBT law and related policies in the military?
5. LGBT Celebrations
Will your administration continue "LGBT Equality" observances, permit "gay pride" events on military bases, and expand the current policy to accommodate transgendered personnel?
6. Women In or Near Direct Ground Combat
As Commander-in-Chief, would you assign female soldiers and Marines to direct ground combat units that attack the enemy with deliberate offensive action; i.e., infantry, armor, and Special Operations Forces?
The following conservative leaders signed the letter to the presidential candidates. All organization names are for identification purposes only, and the survey was conducted for educational purposes, not to endorse candidates. For more information on the Military Culture Coalition Presidential Candidate Survey, call Elaine Donnelly, 734/464-9430.
|
|
Elaine Donnelly, President, Center for Military Readiness |
|
Al Cardenas, Chairman, American Conservative Union |
|
|
|
||
|
|
Tom Minnery, Executive Director, CitizenLink (Policy Arm of Focus on the Family) |
|
James C. Dobson, Ph.D., Founder and President, Family Talk |
|
|
|
||
|
|
Gary Bauer, President, American Values |
|
Frank Gaffney, President, Center for Security Policy |
|
|
|
||
|
|
Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom Ring |
|
Phyllis Schlafly, President, Eagle Forum |
|
|
|
||
|
|
Andrea Lafferty, President, Traditional Values Coalition |
|
Tim Wildmon,President, American Family Association |
|
|
|
||
|
|
Chris Carmouche, Founder & President, GrasstopsUSA |
|
Rev. Rick Scarborough, President, Vision America |
|
|
|
||
|
|
Mathew Staver, Founder & Chairman, Liberty Counsel |
Andy Blom, Executive Director, American Principles Project |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Kristian M. Mineau, President, Massachusetts Family Institute |
|
|
*
IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.
IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
So what did presidential candidate obama answer?
Perry Could Rise in Iowa, Polling Data Shows .........."And, significantly, Perry’s positive rating among likely Iowa caucus-goers is at a commanding 67 percent. And a stellar 71 percent view him positively after having seen one of his commercials.
Other numbers that suggest a potential rise: Perry stands at 78 percent positive among self-identified tea party members, according to the survey.
But he also enjoys strong support among Iowa’s undecided voters, at 71 percent.
One of the poll’s most interesting findings: 67 percent of respondents overall — and a whopping 75 percent who are leaning toward former House Speaker Gingrich — state that they still may change their minds. That finding suggests that, with just a few weeks to go before the caucuses, the Iowa electorate remains very fluid."....
So what did presidential candidate obama answer?
Present.
Woo hoo, I still have hope.
FYI ping.
BOOM! I’m in. My Marines need this assurance.
Thanks for the ping, smooth. Good info and very telling.
bttt
We have to spend every minute of the coming year zeroing out this less than zero idiot.
Time and sentiment is on our side if we just KEEP IT UP.
(In Jesus Christ’s name I pray, Amen)
It takes a while for the people on the ground to get the facts to friends and neighbors re Newt.
He would probably be worse than Zero in his autocratic style of leadership.
Anyone that hinks nothing could get worse than the agencies under Zero, don’t know Newt.
...and a month later it looks as though it will be Santorum, at least in the first round. I sadly, am starting to think Dick Morris is right when he says that Perry is just not that bright, which is too bad because he has a lot of endearing traits.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.