What would you do for gay rights on the national level?
My position: "[When I was at the University, I founded a party called the Human Rights Party, and that was named because our party, one of the issues that we addressed was a certain ordinance that was being passed in St. Paul that would actually have really harassed and intimidated gay people, and so I actually campaigned in St. Paul against that, but for the Human Rights Party. And so I am very much against taking away any fundamental rights because of that, the kinds of things that are covered by the Civil Rights Act. Now as far as Don't Ask, Don't Tell] I agree with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and I would definitely not want to repeal it. I think it’s improper that a federal judge tries to order the military around …[I have been in the military and as a matter of fact I did know a lot of gay people there. I think all of them were on their way out, because they basically said they were gay at that time because they didn't want to be in the military. But you don't discriminate against people in the military because they're gay. But, on the other hand, if your drill sergeant is going to come over to you and introduce himself as your gay friend or even your gay drill sergeant, that's wrong.
"You have to focus on the mission, which is to defend America and your specific mission ...and it's no more appropriate for gays to be proselytizing there than it would be for straights in those situations to be trying to openly tell people that they shouldn't be gay. In other words, it's coming back the other way.] So I think it’s very, very bad for the military.
"However, I’m fully supportive of civil rights for everybody. I would not take any of those away because of somebody’s sexual preference."
McCollum's position is just more proof that she has no idea what the role of the military is (e.g. she campaigns saying we should withdraw from Afghanistan because she has seen military intelligence that Al-Quaeda no longer presents a threat), and how gays are actually treated. Gays and lesbians are fully allowed to participate in the military, but not to hit on other members of the military and not to advance the gay lifestyle in the military. We honor them, as soldiers, not as gays or straight, but McCollum and many politicians cannot understand and honor that. In fact what McCollum and others are doing is attacking the military as somehow inappropriately requiring a certain level of discipline necessary for military order and combat readiness, which is, after all, the only reason we as the American people support the military with our taxes. McCollum wants to cut military spending but add costs for the purpose of promoting homosexuality. Why? Is this politics or defense?
Collett, as is typical, just isn't interested in this issue, preferring to focus on her ideas, such as they are, "to make sure everyone has a job." That's an excuse, because we must defend America, and any action that undermines our security and safety is appropriate to discuss. Right now, gays and lesbians in the military are serving honorably. But this attack on the integrity of the military, Obama's vow to make this change without, again, working with his military commanders on the ground, presents a serious national security threat. We cannot afford this kind of conflict in the military. Don't Ask Don't Tell should stay.
However, gays and lesbians should not be subject to the loss of fundamental rights like work, housing, and the like simply based on their sexual preference, and I would support legislation to make sure they are protected. Legislation cannot eradicate prejudice, however, and it would be better for Obama to focus on promoting real equality in the area of civil rights than constantly criticizing the military, where he should be focused on defending our nation and our freedom.
McCollum: "I always thought Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was an inappropriate policy, because we shouldn’t ask Americans who are defending our liberties and our freedoms here in the United States to lie about who they are. It is unfortunate that the court has had to step in.
"We shouldn’t be talking about putting amendments to our constitution which divide us, which deny people freedoms and liberties. I have voted consistently not to amend the United States Constitution to deny people their rights."
Collett: "The military is, at this point in time, completing an analysis of the impact of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and I think the court was premature not to allow the military to complete its analysis.
"At this point we need to be focused on the economy rather than social issues so I’d try to make sure everybody has a job regardless of their social orientation."
