Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Lady Gaga and the Democrats

By Douglas V. Gibbs

President Bill Clinton and Colin Powell did not see eye to eye on the issue of gays in the military. The high ranking officer believed the presence of openly gay service members may compromise the superior discipline of the U.S. Armed Forces. The President, with no military background to speak of, disagreed. So, as a compromise, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was created with the intention of allowing gays to service while at the same time not compromising military discipline.

The policy seems to have achieved a nominal amount of success. The homosexual community, however, wants more. The gays claim they are being denied their Constitutional Right to serve. However, they are wrong in their claim. The Constitutional Right to serve in the U.S. Military does not exist.

Article I, Section 8, Clause 14 of the U.S. Constitution states that the Congress shall have the power "to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval forces." In those rules created by Congress are the limitations regarding who can, and cannot, serve in the armed forces. The determinations are based on what the military, and Congress, believes to be what most benefits the discipline and battle readiness of the military. Limits on height, weight, physical abilities, family status, and a whole host of other things, are all in place to make sure that our fighting men and women are the best of the best. In response, should potential service members that are denied the opportunity to serve for being too tall, or too fat, or unable to pass the fitness tests, or are single parents sue the government because their "Constitutional Right to serve" was denied? Should married service members who are denied nuclear submarine duty demand that the military not deny them the right to serve aboard a sub?

The answer is obvious. These people are denied for reasons that include what is best for our military. They don't have a right to serve any more than does homosexuals.

What is best for the armed forces is the issue at hand, not what is best for the individual. When you enter the U.S. Military, the U.S. Constitution ceases to be your governing document. Though you are fighting to protect the U.S. Constitution, the governing document over the military is the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

A bunch of people with no military experience whatsoever, and a minority of active duty members and veterans, disagree. Lady Gaga, a "shock" entertainer, has gone on her own personal crusade to have "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repealed. She has no military experience, no military knowledge, and no military training. Yet, she thinks that she knows more than those directly involved with the daily functioning of the U.S. Military. And why does she think she has any expertise in this issue? Because she has a bunch of young fans who, like her, does not have a clue regarding what it is like to be in combat.

The Founding Fathers wrote Article I, Section 8, Clause 14 for a reason. In order to be second to none our military had to have strict discipline. As a military member your free speech rights are suspended, as are much of your other Constitutional Rights, until you are a civilian again. You do what you are told, when you are told, because you are told, with only a few exceptions. You, as a member of the armed forces, belong to the U.S. Government. You can get yourself in trouble for damaging government property if you get a sunburn, and you can hurt yourself if you don't follow the training to the tee. You need to ask before you eat, crap, or sleep. Your training, and your chain of command, is your primary concerns in life. It has to be that way in order for our armed forces to function at their highest possible capabilities. If you don't follow the training, and the discipline, you can get yourself, and your fellow service members, killed.

One of the reasons for the incredible level of discipline is to eliminate the opportunity for hesitation as much as possible. Hesitation in combat in any of the service branches can result in the death of a service member, and possibly the death of other service members as well. Therefore, hesitation must not be tolerated, and any chance of hesitation must be eliminated.

Openly gay personnel in the armed forces are a potential distraction. Their very presence, if they are openly gay, presents a compromise in the discipline of the unit, and can cost lives. The repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," will cost lives.

Lady Gaga, Barack Obama, and liberal voters - Do you really want the blood of service members on your hands because you gave in to the temper tantrums of a bunch of sexual deviants determined to display their behavior openly, regardless of the cost?

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary