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Wednesday, March 14, 2007
When reporters ask, don’t tell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two prominent Marines are holed up, battling an onslaught of media and interest group criticism over remarks that offended them. One Marine, former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, declared at a fund-raiser in Macon recently that many of the nation’s problems with the military manpower shortage and Social Security were brought about by abortion. Aborting 45 million babies denied the country the workers, soldiers and Social Security tax payers the country needed, he said.
But the real brouhaha was launched by the chairman of the military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, Peter Pace, a Marine General. What he said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune has been widely reported by now. “I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts,”said Pace. “I do not believe that the armed forces of the United States are well served by saying through our policies that it’s OK to be immoral in any way.” He also threw adultery into that category and noted that the military does not tolerate it when, as with homosexuality, it becomes public.
Actually, the Pace story should be over by now. He acknowledged, as did his superiors, that he should have stuck to defense of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and kept his personal opinions largely to himself. But alas, the story is not likely to go away for awhile because these days agenda-groups sit poised ready to use any marketing opportunity to advance their interests, as has been the case with organizations like the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which opposes the nation’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Hold tight, General. Marine Zell is bringing reinforcements.
