Posted on 05/27/2010 10:39:15 AM PDT by pissant
The commandant of the Marine Corps has asked Congress to put off its planned vote this week on lifting the policy that forbids gays from serving openly in the military.
In a letter to Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, Gen. James Conway said lawmakers should wait until a Defense Department study on removing the ban is complete. McCain is the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and has expressed reluctance to changing the Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
An "organized and systematic approach" to studying the issue is the best way forward, Conway wrote.
"Further, the value of surveying the thoughts of Marines and their families is that it signals to my Marines that their opinions matter," said the four-star general, whose four-year tenure as the chief of the Marine Corps will end this year. "We must make logical and pragmatic decisions about the long-term policies of our armed forces."
Conway's letter, dated Tuesday, echoed ones written by the chiefs of the Air Force, Army and Navy.
In March, Conway said he would oppose forcing heterosexual Marines to share living quarters with gay troops at bases such as Camp Pendleton and Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.
(Excerpt) Read more at nctimes.com ...
If Congress does approve this. I hope the new mantra is “Don’t Flaunt, don’t Yell”. Private type behavior should remain private.
They need to go back to a direct ban. You gay? You fired.
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