Bigoted Ass GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter Seeks to Block ‘Don’t Ask’ Repeal

Words do not convey how fed up I am with either religiously motivated GOP bigots or GOP elected officials who want to prostitute themselves to Christianists in a manner that would shame a tawdry whore using LGBT citizens as their constant whipping boy. No sooner has the DADT repeal law been signed onto the books than Rep. Duncan Hunter (pictured at right) vows to take steps to introduce legislation aimed at torpedoing repeal of DADT. One can only hope that the Democrats will have sufficient spine - always a big hope - to block any such bill. Moreover, hopefully, younger voters will be increasingly alienated by the GOP's rank homophobia and pandering to uber-Christians, thus setting the stage long term for the much needed death of the GOP as a viable political parties. Yes, anti-gay old folks turn out and vote, but they are literally a dying breed. Hunter's actions are symptomatic of the GOP's total rejection of any long terms plan - it's all about the next election cycle and who cares if the country goes down the toilet in the longer term. The other explanation, of course given Hunter's vociferous opposition to DADT repeal is that he's another Ed Schrock who uses anti-gay pandering to Christianists to disguise his own gay sex longings. Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade has a story on Hunter's servile pandering to the ultra-far right. Here are highlights:
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An opponent of ”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal in the U.S. House intends to introduce legislation that would effectively block implementation of an end to the military’s gay ban. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) . . . plans to introduce legislation that would expand the certification requirement for enacting “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal.
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Under current law, which President Obama signed on Dec. 22, repeal would take effect 60 days after the president, the defense secretary and the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that the U.S. military is ready for open service.
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Hunter’s proposed legislation would expand this certification responsibility to the military service chiefs: the chief of naval operations, the Marine Corps commandant, the Army chief of staff and the Air Force chief of staff.
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Passage of the legislation would likely block repeal from happening because many service chiefs have testifed before Congress that they oppose “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal at this time. Most prominent among them is Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos, who in December told reporters that an end to the military’s gay ban would cause a distraction that could “cost Marines’ lives.”
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Hunter has been among the most vocal opponents of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal in the U.S. House. In December, he vehemently spoke out against ending the military’s gay ban as the chamber debated a repeal measure.
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During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in December, some service chiefs — including Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey – testified that they didn’t feel the need to have the responsibility of issuing certification for repeal because Defense Secretary Robert Gates would adequately represent their voice going forward. “I am very comfortable with my ability to provide input to Secretary Gates and to the Chairman that will be listened to and considered,” Casey said. “So you could put it in there, but I don’t think it’s necessary.”
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Casey added that he thinks an expansion of the certification requirement would undercut the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, which set up the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the principal military adviser to the president.