Posted on 05/15/2007 9:36:31 AM PDT by Hadean
WASHINGTON, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Former President Jimmy Carter, recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, has called on Congress to revisit the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. In an exclusive statement to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), Carter says that, "It is my long-held belief that every human being deserves dignity and respect. I often heard that phrase during my years at the United States Naval Academy, I carried it out as Commander-in-Chief, and it continues to animate my human rights work around the globe today. The nation's commitment to human rights requires that lawmakers revisit 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' the current policy that prevents lesbians, gays and bisexuals from serving openly in our armed forces."
Carter served as president from 1977 to 1981. During his presidency, Carter oversaw the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the treaty of peace between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union, and the establishment of U.S. diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. He received a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. While in the Navy he became a submariner, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets and rising to the rank of lieutenant. Chosen by Admiral Hyman Rickover for the nuclear submarine program, he was assigned to Schenectady, N.Y., where he took graduate work at Union College in reactor technology and nuclear physics, and served as senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew of the Seawolf, the nation's second nuclear submarine. In 1982, he founded The Carter Center, which addresses national and international issues of public policy.
"As someone who has served our country as a Naval Officer, Commander-in- Chief and one of the world's pre-eminent human rights champions, there are few people more qualified to speak about this issue than President Carter," said Sharra E. Greer, director of law and policy for SLDN. "There is a growing understanding that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' isn't just bad public policy, but is also a blight on our country's commitment to human rights and equal opportunity. SLDN welcomes President Carter, the first Nobel laureate to call for an end to this unconscionable discrimination within our own government, to the coalition of those working to lift the ban."
In his statement to SLDN, Carter says that "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is the only law in America today that regulates a group of citizens then prohibits them from identifying themselves and speaking up on their own behalf. Gay soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are unable to tell their Member of Congress or their commander that the policy is an abject failure and they are living proof because they will face discharge. Those who defend our liberties and freedoms deserve better." He goes on to say that, " . . . there are great differences in public opinion on social issues today compared to twenty years ago. When I served as President, the majority in our country did not support equality for gay Americans, but that has now changed."
"The estimated 65,000 gay men and women who currently are serving our country honorably deserve respect," Carter says. "America has always been a beacon of hope for those who believe in human rights and individual dignity. The brave and dedicated men and women of our armed forces also must benefit from this fundamental ideal."
When is that idiot going to die?
Whassa matter Jimmuh? Got another “lust in my heart” story you’re aching to reveal?
PLease just go away Peanut boy....Please!!!!!!!
China? That would be Nixon you fool! Indeed when?
Skeletons talk.
Wonder what his Sunday School lesson is on this week?
“As someone who has served our country as a Naval Officer, Commander-in- Chief and one of the world’s pre-eminent human rights champions, there are few people more qualified to speak about this issue than President Carter,” said Sharra E. Greer, director of law and policy for SLDN”
LOL! You mean the Commander in Chief who snafued the Iran rescue effort? And during his leadership half the military was functionally illiterate?
Please...crawl back into your hole or back on your knees.
Castro
Chavez
Hamas
PLO
Amadamnutjob
China (thanks for the canal, goober) along with
miscellaneous other thugs and murderers...
|
With Congress having a 29% approval rating, taking on this topic ought to be good for at least another 5-10% drop don't you think?
“Imagine who would be at his funeral...
Castro
Chavez
Hamas
PLO
Amadamnutjob
China (thanks for the canal, goober) along with
miscellaneous other thugs and murderers...”
Tinkerbell too.
That sounds like one helluva target rich environment.
i call on Congress to revisit this man’s Prersidential pension. After the things he did, we should pass legislation allowing impeachment of ex-presidents.
vaudine
Weeelll Gullly Jimmah, just who have you bin lustin’ in yore hear fur lately?
“When is that idiot going to die?”
Lol. You said exactly what was on my mind.
...except Israeli Jews, right Jimmeh?
“Former President Jimmy Carter Calls on Congress to Revisit ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’”
...and we’d like to ask Jimmah something...HOW MUCH LONGER BEFORE YOU’RE IN A PERMANENT HORIZONTAL POSITION?
Don’t ask and don’t tell what? That Carter’s an anti-semite?
I wonder if he would’ve been happy to serve with ‘mos while he was still an active duty bubblehead . . . or if this is just one of those revelations that often come to people later in life?
When he does go, the liberals will have awfully big high heels to fill.
You know, it's going to be VERY, VERY, VERY difficult for me to show proper respect at this guy's Presidential funeral. And, I gotta tell you, flying the flag at half staff, at this point, is out of the question.
“During his presidency, Carter oversaw the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the treaty of peace between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union, and the establishment of U.S. diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.”
He presided over the sell-out on the Panama Canal to a third world nation, normalization of relations with a thug nation of communist expansionists out to destroy us, and he helped engineer the overthrow of a pro-western government in Iran while presiding over the national humiliation of having American soil invaded (The U.S. Embassy in Iran) and American citizens held captive by a bunch of third world religious fanatics.
After losing office, he has continued to be an embarrasment to his country over a series of anti-American and anti-semitic and illogical positions on a entire spectrum of issues.
I wish Jimmy Carter would go to hell.
Jimmy, we didn’t ask you, so don’t tell us.
Someone ought to ask Jimmah if he’s gay and see what he answers. I don’t know if he is gay, but he is the queerest president we’ve ever had.
Gotta gin (opps sorry Billy beer) up the attention for this media-seeking has-been failure. Guess his book sales are lagging and he needs his name out there again.
I am sure a known ,outed , Peter-Puffer would have found a comfortable life in the closed confines of Jimmy’s Submarine.
How does not knowing whether someone is queer or not gain them any respect. Respect the man not the life style. How can one gain respect when the rest of the men know he is a pervert? Just keep your damned mouth shut and serve honorably, It isnt necessary that everyone know youre queer.
That is unless you want them to know so you can have sex with them.
I think that is where the rub is.
Whatever happened to the petition to yank his Nobel prize? I know I signed one.
You mean to tell me that 65,000 gays would rather enlist in the service than become flower arrangers or window treatment afficianados? No way.
Jimmy Carter is an idiot.
Mr. "I'm a Baptist and teach a Sunday School class" does NOT follow his own faith on matters of homosexuality, abortion and discipline for crimes.
What the heck do you believe in President Carter? Because I am sick and tired of you aligning yourself with the faith I live out only to hold up as valid and good those things your God says are wrong to do or support.
Homosexuals are not despised by God...but their actions ARE. Christ dying for them is not approval of their lifestyle choice.
Abortion is willful murder of His creation...but the people commiting the act have the same access to forgiveness as anyone else, this does not mean it is a license. What did Paul say "Shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound? God forbid!"
Stop your fingerwagging President Carter...you're a hypocrite of the worst sort.
Just what Pelosi needs...another huge gravity well to help suck her party into the leftist abyss.
Memo to Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States.
Sir,
Recently learned of your calling congress to review the so called ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy of our military as it relates to gays serving.
The military would love to have the time to address this, however errors made in 1979 and 1980 by your Administration have festered, and become a worldwide infection, a cult of death, which began in earnest due to your inability to ‘address’ a CLEAR ACT OF WAR BY IRAN AGAINST AMERICA.
After the military finishes dealing with the mess you left us, a insane religious sub cult based wholly upon death, then perhaps it will find time to review this comparatively unimportant bit of political posturing forced upon us all by liberal lunatics like yourself.
Sincerely,
Badeye
If he feels so strongly about this, why didn’t he push for gays in the military when he was president????
Or has he been “enlightened”?
Why is he speaking out on this issue in the first place? To prove to us how liberal he is?
Where did the idiot peanut-brain get this absurdly inflated number?
The number I have seen for the civilian population is 1-2%. For the military, I would be very surprised if it is 1/4 of that. Using the 2% number, 0.5% of 1.5 million gives 7500. The military dismisses about 1000 per year for being homosexual. I think my 7500 number is much closer than your 45,000 or the idiot’s 65,000. Carter probably got his number from NAMBLA or ACTUP or maybe he just pulled it out of his a** where his head has been for the last 40 years.
Later pingout.
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.