ABC: Republican (Warner) Rebukes Pace, But Defense Sec. Defends 'Don't Ask' Policy

[sabra]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2947353&page=1

Republican Rebukes Pace, But Defense Sec. Defends 'Don't Ask' Policy
GOP Senator 'Strongly Disagrees' With Pace Comments That Homosexuality Is "Immoral"
Warren Pace Gates

March 13, 2007 — In an rare rebuke of the nation's top military officer, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., says he strongly disagrees with Gen. Peter Pace's views that homosexuality is "immoral."

"I respectfully, but strongly disagree with the chairman's view that homosexuality is immoral," Warner said in a statement released by his office.

Warner was reacting to Pace's unusual defense of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military. Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune that he supports the policy because he believes homosexuality is "immoral" and that the military "should not condone immoral acts."

...

In an interview with the Pentagon channel today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates was asked his views on the policy and offered a much different answer than General Pace.

"I think personal opinion really doesn' t have a place here," Gates said. "What's important is that we have a law, a statute that governs 'don't ask, don't tell.' That's the policy of this department. And it's my responsibility to execute that policy as effectively as we can. As long as the law is what it is, that's what we'll do."

[rodeodance]

1. umm.. looks like Pace is in the cold.

[Burma Jones]

2. Senator Warner used to be married to Liz Taylor

I think he has a broader view of things than most of his colleagues........

[ruggerson]

3. Warner Hits Pace On Gay Remarks

Republicans occasionally do the right thing. Good for John Warner. And this is great news for those of us who advocate repealing "don't ask don't tell."

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/03/warner_hits_pac.html

The ranking Republican of the Senate Armed Services Committee sharply rebuked the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Tuesday, taking issue with General Peter Pace’s view that homosexual acts are immoral.

Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), a former Secretary of the Navy, said, “I respectfully but strongly disagree with the chairman’s view that homosexuality is immoral. In keeping with my longstanding respect for the Armed Services committee hearing process, I will decline to comment on the current policy until after such hearings are held.”


The power to schedule hearings rests with the current chairman, Carl Levin (D-Mich.).

But Warner’s comments suggest that he may be willing to revisit U.S. military policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell,’’ which was crafted under President Clinton and backed by Pace. A spokesman said Warner has not discussed his view of the policy in past years.

(more)

[David Zephyr]

4. Wow. Someone please give me oxygen. Hell just froze over.

Kudos for John Warner. He will have hell to pay for this.

[Mike Daniels]

8. Warner survived torpedoing North's bid for Senate and he'll survive this

Who in the hell are the Repubs going to send against Warner?

[Springster]

12. Hell frozen over - not for John Warner. He always has been one of the most

independent voices in the Senate. I recall when Oliver North got the nomination and ran against then Senator Chuck Robb. Completely pissing off the extremists, Warner opposed North, his party's nominee and darling of the right. North lost that race and many credit Warner with keeping North out of the Senate.

If every Senator had the courage of his convictions, it would be a truly great body rather than the two camps of warring party hacks we see today.

[Mike Daniels]

13. Warner is the only reason why North didn't win

The margin of victory for Robb was less than the votes obtained by the independent canditate (Marshall Coleman) backed by Warner.

Remove Coleman from the election and North would have easily beat Robb that year.

[tandot]

5. “I respectfully but strongly disagree with the chairman’s view that homosexuality is immoral"

WOW :wow:

[kenny blankenship]

6. Yeah, I was wondering if they quoted him accurately.

Wwwhaaa?

[Hepburn]

7. K&R

Yeah, my mouth dropped open, too. But I gotta hand it to Warner for doing the right thing.

[slackmaster]

9. Oh, THAT Warner!

I was sure this thread was going to be about some kind of media rebuke from Time-Warner, Inc.

[DemKR]

10. It is too bad that DEMOCRATS did not say what Warner did n/t

[stevedeshazer]

11. THAT Warner?

John Warner?

Who's next? Foghorn Leghorn?

This is good news.