Military Leaders on the Failure of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

There's no shortage of military brass calling for an end to the discriminatory and national security threatening policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  Despite a campaign pledge to overturn the policy, gay and lesbian soldiers are still being fired from the military under President Obama.  The latest is U.S. Army First Lieutenant Dan Choi, an Arabic linguist (not that the military needs any of those right now....!) who was fired last week for being openly gay.

The Palm Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara released a memo this week that said that, legally speaking, President Obama has the power to authorize an executive order ceasing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.  Doing so would be in the best interests of U.S. national security.  And that's not only a progressive blogger talking.  It's the military.  Below are five of our favorite quotes from military officials, calling for a complete repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  These quotes debunk the myths that opponents of overturning "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" champion.  Today is also a call-in day to the White House, urging President Obama to do away with this policy.  If you haven't pledged to call yet, please consider doing so.

Five of the best military statements calling for an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell":

Secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander: The hypocrisy of this is that you ask people to act as if they are not what they are. I said at one point that it's a little like asking a Jewish person to pretend to be a Muslim during his or her service, or during life generally...The no-necks who keep pushing this policy really need to have it changed, not studied, not long hearings, but changed. And it needs legislation,  it needs people in the House and the Senate to come forward and say this is time to make America be what America says it is."

Retired Adm. Charles Larson, a four-star admiral and two-time superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy: "I know a lot of young people now - even people in the area of having commands of ships and squadrons - and they are much more tolerant, and they believe, as I do, that we have enough regulations on the books to enforce proper standards of human behavior."  [Larson gave these thoughts while debunking the myth that the military is full of intolerant soldiers who couldn't stand - or would be afraid - to serve next to gay and lesbian soldiers.]

Retired Navy Rear Admiral AND U.S. Rep (and hopefully future Senator?) Joe Sestak: "I went to war with people that, you know, statistics showed [were] from outside groups, that we had a certain percentage that were gay.  How can you come home and say 'you went to war for my country with me, but you don't deserve equal rights?'" [Granted, Sestak has been comfortable with delaying action on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for a few months...but his quote is still important, as Rep. Sestak is the highest ranking officer ever to serve in the U.S. Congress.]

Retired Four-Star General Wesley Clark: "The armed forces are the last institution in America that discriminates against people. It ought to be the first that doesn’t. [Gays and lesbians] ought to have the right to be who they are. They shouldn’t have to conceal their identities."

Brian McGough, senior legislative adviser to VoteVets.org and a Veteran from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq: "[Overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell] is about strength, about the fighting power of the military. It's about numbers and about kicking qualified people out of the military.  I served with people who were gay and everyone knew it, but we all brushed it off, it is what it is."