Even after passage of repeal by the U.S. Senate, gullibility, melodrama, and false balance seem to be the rule rather than the exception in media coverage of the U.S. armed services’ ban against LGBT servicemembers.
On John King, USA last night, CNN ignored overwhelming expert analysis and public opinion. Instead, producers promised on their blog that they would present the constitutional rights of LGBT servicemembers as a potential threat to immigrant rights (which the producers confused with “Hispanic” rights). When it came time for televised “debate,” gay vet Alex Nicholson of Servicemembers United was brought in — and thrown to the wolves instead of real experts. Nicholson’s rival in the debate was Peter Sprigg, an operative for the Family Research Council hate group who believes that all homosexuals should be imprisoned.
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Host John King helped Sprigg conceal his notorious position on imprisonment, which was relevant not only to the DADT debate, but also to Sprigg’s credibility as a debate participant. King also made no effort to fact-check FRC’s long list of DADT-related defamations despite the ready availability of refutations to FRC’s lies.
In what alternate universe does CNN exist, where it is deemed appropriate for a defender of constitutional rights and military readiness to be thrown into debate with a notoriously dishonest and defamatory opponent who wants said defenders thrown in prison? CNN’s “debate” was a deliberate and reckless mismatch between a well-funded and uncivil hate group, and just one of several expert authorities that have proven the harm done by Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to the U.S. armed services.
Also last night, The ED Show on MSNBC did a somewhat better job: The producers presented a solid line of GOP leaders who oppose repeal, before handing to GOProud, a tiny but well-funded group that advocates a transparently false equivalence between Democratic and Republican levels of support for repeal of DADT.
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All this melodrama and manufactured hype for GOProud is counterproductive; what TV viewers need are facts:
On December 15, the House of Representatives approved repeal bill H.R. 2965 in a vote of 250 to 175. Of the No votes, 160 were Republican and just 15 were Democrat. Of the Yes votes, 235 were Democrat and just 15 were Republican.
On December 18, the Senate voted 65-31 for repeal; all of the No votes were Republican; just eight Republicans voted for repeal.
Despite the clear numbers and despite FRC’s relentless history of disproven lies, both news channels are wasting viewers’ time with he-said-he-said dogfights instead of hard facts.
From a friend commenting on Pat Buchanans Video:
“One Marine commandant said very simply, ‘Would moving homosexuals into the barracks with my Marines enhance the fighting effectiveness, the cohesion and morale of our Marine units? I don’t believe it would.’ Why change something that is working. ”
Actually, it is not working. I am a current Marine and I can tell you sir that if another marine feels he could share that information about his boyfriend or personal life with me that I would be far more comfortable trusting him with my life then I do someone who is forced to lie to me.
To be honest sir I don’t believe you understand what it means to place your life in another’s hands and expect him to do the same for me. It is with all do respect that I say I do not believe you understand what cohesion is. Cohesion is calling another person brother and trusting that person without waiver. I believe you do my military a severe dishonesty by assuming we are not professional enough nor intelligent enough to understand these concepts and we must be babied.
I will allow another man to give his life for mine and I will give my life for his. To assume I have a problem with who he chooses to love is ignorant and tears at the fabric of what it is to be a marine. On the battlefield he may see my end trails sir, or perhaps a severed limb. He will see me for who I am. To be honest, I could care less if he sees me naked. I think that is a projection of your childish insecurities but I ask you think better of me sir. For I feel I deserve as much.
We’re here, we’re queer; get used to it.
My partner served in the Air Force under DADT. He did his job with distinction and honor; to make our country safe and secure. Not once was his sexuality called into question and never was he investigated or his private e-mails sought out. Never once did he act unbecoming and focused his attentions solely on his duties.
What bothers me are the comments and the temper tantrums that the Dominionist Right is throwing over such a repeal. I could show you all his medals and citations; awards and certificates that he has garnered in the ten years that he served actively. His fellow wing men, who are now civilians, have nothing but praise for my partner as they have served by his side. If I could have a chance to confront all these haters and homophobes…all on one stage, I could present them with all the evidence they need that the repeal of DADT is worth it.
Amen Ray! I basically wrote the same thing about my partner in an earlier posting. He served for 32 years and is now a retired full colonel.