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FRC Attacks Harry Reid By Injecting Politics Into The Military

08/27/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
It is amazing how many people decry the politicization of the military all the while engaging in it. A thirty second spot being run by the Family Research Council’s Action PAC, the political arm of the FRC helmed by Tony Perkins, is going after Harry Reid for “politicizing the military” all the while trying to get out the anti-LGBT vote by striking fear into people about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’s repeal. Wait, isn’t that politicizing the military?

The male announcer intones “They fought in trenches … stormed beaches … cut sweltering jungles … marched over burning deserts. Our military has protected our soil and skies. Today, they’re drawn into a new battle. Harry Reid and homosexual activists are attempting to advance their political agenda by overturning ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ Our military is for protection, not politics. Stop Harry Reid on Election Day.” Given that this is an attempt to drive people to the polls it is. . .oh what’s that word. . .POLITICS!

What Perkins’ group might be trying to do is to get Reid to push back the vote on the Defense Authorization Bill until the Lame Duck session when the Republican Party has vowed to make absolutely certain that nothing passes what so ever; however, not passing it is probably more of a problem for the Democrats anyway, and the Republicans would like it not to be passed so that they can then make all kinds of claims against the Democrats. Given that it is unlikely that the Republicans will win the House and Senate anyway, this tactic may not work.

Worse, Reid is beginning to pull ahead of Sharron Angle in the polls. People may not like Reid, but they like Angle even less.

Reid has promised to hold the vote on DADT’s repeal this September despite some antsy Democrats wanting to hold off until after the midterms. Who ever is feeding them the idea that holding off a vote on the Defense Authorization Bill until after the election must be smoking some very bad granola. Right now, the votes are there to repeal DADT with Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins prepared to vote in favor of it.

Of course, many people like Sharron Angle and Tony Perkins are busy trying to use the playbook put into action by former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman in order to topple Harry Reid in hopes that they can, somehow, someway, stop the repeal of DADT and the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. They believe that targeting lesbians, gays, and transpeople will help them reclaim Congress despite the fact that most Americans- roughly two thirds- support repeal of DADT.

Tony Perkins stated “It’s time for Senator Reid to go and be replaced by a senator who will respect and listen to our military leaders. We will continue to take this message to the Nevada airwaves and across the country. Our military is for protection, not politics.”

Having listened to all but one of them, they are open to repeal of DADT. Perkins, who is playing politics with the military at every step he takes despite decrying it, only listens to one- General James T. Conway, and since Conway is about to depart, he won’t have that crutch much longer.

Well, it’s time to tell Perkins that, if he wants some one to stop playing politics with the military, he should be the first.

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