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Sestak on ‘don’t ask don’t tell’

Politicians must get tired of having reporters and bloggers constantly writing about them. Perhaps this is why Joe Sestak published an op-ed in The Inquirer last week which stated clearly his stance on the “don’t ask don’t tell policy” and tried to put himself at the forefront of the fight for gay soldiers.

In the op-ed Sestak calls the policy a “flawed compromise that should never have been enacted,” arguing that skilled soldiers are essential to winning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and are often turned away as a result of the policy. The “don’t ask don’t tell” policy mandates the expulsion of any member of the armed services who has declared their homosexuality or who has engaged in homosexual relations.

In addition to arguing that the policy is discriminatory, Sestak argues that the policy deprives the Army of skilled workers who provide valuable and needed skills. “Our modern military depends on highly skilled, meticulously trained troops, ranging from front-line soldiers to computer technicians and linguists,” Sestak wrote. “It jeopardizes our national security to dismiss exceptional armed service members.”

According to a Quinnipiac University poll, Americans are favorable toward allowing gays to serve openly in the army, 56 percent to 37 percent. According to the poll, white Catholics believe that gays should be able to serve in the military by 64-29 percent, while evangelical Christians are in favor if the don’t ask don’t tell policy by 53-40 percent.

But Sestak doesn’t have to worry much about alienating conservative Christians, as they are most likely going to be voting for the ultra-conservative candidate, Pat Toomey.

Sestak chose an important issue to write about for his Inquirer commentary, as the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy is not only unfair, but also is now opposed by a majority of Americans.

July 20, 2009 at 9:56 am

--Kenneth Elder

Tags: Joe Sestak

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