Brody's Scribbles... Brody! You're Overreacting!

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Feb 3 | Brody! You're Overreacting! I hear that alot from my friends, my peers in journalism, who also gently chide me for sometimes veering too far to the left when I "should be" more moderate and "should be" more neutral in expressing opinions regarding the LGBT community. Hell, even my own kids tell me I sound like an elephant charging during discussions about potentially controversial topic matters.

Spouting off at the mouth about prejudice and ignorant bias comes naturally to me I guess, and yesterday was no exception, as I attended the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing and listened to the unbelievable public display of hate by the elected representatives of the American people. Oh and yes Senators McCain, Sessions, and Chambliss, I am most assuredly referring to you three in particular.

At least their colleagues had enough common sense to ask questions of Defence Secretary Gates and JCS Chair Admiral Mike Mullen that were germane to the theme of the testimony and the purpose of the hearing. Those three sounded out the same old tired rhetoric that has been played out in public forums and on the Hill since the original hearings on DADT back in the 1990's.

For example, Senator Susan Collins (R) Maine, asked the Admiral if he had heard or seen any reports of any negative impact on U. S. Armed Forces readiness or combat effectiveness serving in the theatres of war- in Afghanistan and Iraq, with the British or Canadian troops who have an integrated and open service policy of Gays & Lesbians who wear their countries uniforms proudly and have for over a decade now.

The Admiral's answer was succinct and to the point: "No Senator, I have not."

I was slightly pissed when I left the hearing room after an impromptu podium-side briefing and question and answer session with the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Carl Levin, (D) of Michigan. (The Senator indicated that he would like to see a moratorium on any pending discharges or prosecutions under the current law until such time that the DOD and Congress have had a chance to review the law and implement either a new policy or repeal DADT altogether.) Not at Senator Levin or the more temperate committee members who asked fair questions and in the example of Senator Roland Burris, (D) from Illinois, actually made a statement comparing the DADT to the civil rights struggles nearly 60 odd years ago when President Harry Truman ended discrimination against Black Americans in the American armed Forces by a presidential fiat which eliminated it. 

No, it was the same old crap from the previously mentioned troika that got my blood pressure soaring. But what REALLY set me off, was this segment on Hardball  with Chris Matthews on MSNBC last night, that stunned me with the outrageous comments by one of the guests who unfortunately I have had to interview and whom I personally think, embodies all that is wrong with American politics in regards to LGBT people striving to obtain Equality.  This is the face of the opposition and this is the face of the Republican minority that will do their best to obstruct a repeal of DADT.

Hell, this clown, if he had his way, would take America back to an earlier era where even being Gay or Lesbian was a criminal offence.

I phoned a good friend after I watched it to discuss my reactions and once again, I heard; "Brody! You're overreacting again!" I don't think so, well crap...here, watch this for yourself:

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