Supporters Of DADT Are Old, Dead, Not Interested Or "Do not remember being asked about this issue”

[kpete]

Report Discredits Letter Waved About By McCain As Evidence Of Military Opposition To DADT Repeal

Although respected military figures such as Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and Gen. Colin Powell have spoken out in favor of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), opponents are still insisting that most military commanders believe that gay men and women serving openly in the military would have disastrous consequences.

However, a new Servicemembers United report severely undermines the legitimacy of this letter. Some of the problems:

– The average age of the officers is 74. The “oldest living signer is 98, and several signers died in the time since the document was published.” Servicemembers United Executive Director Alex Nicholson added that only “a small fraction of these officers have even served in the military during the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ period, much less in the 21st century military,” so it’s hard to believe that they “know how accepting and tolerant 18- and 21-year-olds are today.”

– “At least one signer, Gen. Louis Menetrey, was deceased when the letter was published and didn’t sign the document himself. According to a footnote on the letter, his wife signed the document for him after his death using power of attorney — six years after Alzheimer’s disease robbed him of the ability to communicate.”

– One signatory said that they “no longer want to be a part of the letter, writing to the organization, ‘I do not wish to be on any list regarding this issue.‘”

– Multiple generals said they “never agreed” to sign the letter in the first place, writing “I never agreed. To represent either side of this issue” and “I do not remember being asked about this issue.”

http://www.dcagenda.com/2010/03/03/new-report-undermines-officers%E2%80%99-letter-supporting-%E2%80%98don%E2%80%99t-ask%E2%80%99/

[tishaLA]

1. I just read this on ThinkProgress. It's one of the best DADT stories ever

and there are a slew of them. Dead people, people with alzheimer's, people who haven't served in years, people who say they never said what they are purported to have said: these are the people who support McCain's stupid position.

Good for you, John .

[DevonRex]

2. K&R. Thank you for posting this. We should all call McCain's office

and ask why he waved that letter around when it contained fraudulant signatures.