Battle for homosexualizing military not over

A significant victory was won Thursday, but danger lurks through Dec. 17

SaveCalifornia.com has been diligently supporting nationwide efforts opposing the homosexualization of the U.S. military by generating phone calls from Californians and everyone else we can reach. This battle is not over. Don't allow Congress to give America another perverse Christmas gift. Here's the latest information and action steps:

1. Thank you to everyone who called the U.S. Senate to oppose the homosexualization of the military.

If you did, you were part of the hard-fought victory to defeat a crazy, immoral proposal to allow same-sex "activities" in military showers, barracks, mess halls, and in the field (more). Democrat Senate Leader Harry Reid's attempt to bring the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as part of the Defense Reauthorization Bill failed by three votes. However, if Democrat Blanche Lincoln has been in the building, it would likely have failed by only two votes. With Democrats in charge of both houses final month before the new Congress, two votes is a margin is too close for comfort, so keep reading.

2. There is a chance of a new bill passing by Dec. 17. This "standalone" bill deals only with homosexualizing the military and is not part of the Defense Reauthorization Bill:

Associated Press: Collins and Sen. Joe Lieberman are now pushing standalone legislation they insist could be considered before the Senate's target adjournment next week. Its prospects are uncertain, although Reid indicated he was open to bringing it up before the holiday break. If passed, the bill still would require House approval, with time growing short. "We've got at least 60 votes, so we're going to keep up the fight," said Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut. "But we're not kidding ourselves, this is not going to be easy."

Huffington Post: Speaking the day after a defense authorization bill carrying a DADT repeal failed to pass the Senate by a 57-40 vote, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs affirmed that the president would support efforts, championed by Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), to consider overturning the ban on gays in the military alone. Encouraging repeal proponents who, at this juncture, cling to hope's last threads, Gibbs suggested that this latest vehicle had better chance of passage than those prior, owing to a procedural path that could avoid a 60-vote minimum. "The president remains committed to seeing this repeal done before Congress leaves town this year," Gibbs said at an off-camera briefing. "[There were] 57 votes yesterday, and frankly, you can see how you get even more. And I think there could be a legislative vehicle that starts in the House as a stand alone and withstands procedural hurdles and puts the Senate on the record on an up or down vote for the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell." So there are ways to avoid the filibuster? "I think there are ways," Gibbs replied. Those ways, however, aren't entirely clear. The White House did not immediately return follow-up requests for clarification, and sources on the Hill sounded skeptical when pressed. "It's not quite true," said a leadership aide. "The House would pass and send it over as a message from the House. It would still be subject to a filibuster on the tail end, however." If the 60-vote threshold must indeed be met, the White House remained confident that it could be. But the straightforward math is not entirely clear. Democrats have one clear-cut GOP vote, in the form of the bill's co-sponsor: Collins. But it would likely need at least two more for cloture.

Washington Times: Senators pushing to change the law say there is a chance to try again in the remaining days of the lame-duck session by introducing a stand-alone bill. "I am 100 percent supportive of the stand-alone bill," said Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat. But with the year winding down and with the Senate still facing several other key votes, including the proposed extension of Bush-era tax cuts, such an scenario appears a long shot. Another shot at repeal could be achieved only if Congress stays in session beyond its self-imposed Dec. 17 adjournment. More likely is that the fight moves to the courts, where a federal judge has already struck down the policy, though his ruling has been stayed while the matter is under appeal.

3. This battle will be won by whoever persists. Act today. Don't let the smaller number of homosexual activists make more phone calls than pro-family citizens.

ACTION: Urge 8 waffling Republican senators and 3 Democrat senators to "Oppose repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

Take action Friday, Saturday and Monday. Forward this alert to your friends. When calling senators' offices, use the talking points below.

Democrats:

1. Jim Webb (D-VA) 202-224-4024 (voted "yes" to move Defense bill forward, but is ambivalent on repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell")
2. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) 202-224-4843 (voted "no" in September, but now sounds supportive of repeal)
3. Thank freshman Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia (202-224-3954) for voting "no" on homosexualization of the military on Dec. 9.

Republicans: (All but Susan Collins voted "no" on Dec. 9)

1. Scott Brown (R-MA) 202-224-4543 (says he supports repeal)
2. Mark Kirk (R-IL) 202-224-2854 (supported "LGBTQ" agenda in House)
3. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) 202-224-6665 (says she supports repeal)
4. Susan Collins (R-ME) 202-224-2523 (already voted for it on Dec. 9)
5. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) 202-224-5344 (late "no" vote on Dec. 9)
6. Richard Lugar (R-IN) 202-224-4814 (says he supports repeal)
7. George Voinovich (R-OH) 202-224-3353 (not committed either way)
8. John Ensign (R-NV) 202-224-6244 (not committed either way)

4. Tell others about why it's foolish to allow open homosexuality in the military

Ten Reasons to Oppose an "LGBT Law" or Policy for the Military
Problems with Gays in the Military
Center for Military Readiness (Elaine Donnelly)

The REAL Pentagon Poll: 91% reject open homosexual service
Pray in Jesus Name (Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt)

Former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt just read the full Pentagon report on repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and here's his analysis:

"Don't believe the phony liberal media reports that 70% of troops support open homosexual service, because that statistic included 'mixed' feelings. A closer reading of the fine print in the newly released Pentagon survey shows our troops answered as follows:

Q45. If you had a leader whom you believed was gay or lesbian, 9% positive, 91% negative or mixed effect on unit's performance.

Q68c. 85% of Marine Combat Arms, 75% of Army Combat Arms, 64% overall say Negative, Very Negative, or Mixed impact on unit trust.

Q90. 29% would take no action if assigned open showers. 71% would shower at other times, complain to leadership or chaplains, don't know or do "something else" [including violence.]

Q81. 24% will leave the military or think about leaving sooner than planned. [One half million troops will QUIT early, destroying national security.]

Q80. 6% will positively recommend service to others after repeal. 94% feel negative, mixed, no effect, or don't know about recommending military service to others. [Destroying recruiting efforts.]

Q66. If open homosexuality impacts combat performance, is the impact....9% positive, 91% negative or mixed impact.

Q71. 11% feel positive or very positive about open homosexuality in field environment or out at sea. 70% negative or mixed. 19% no effect.

Q73. 5% say repeal would positively boost morale. 41% say negative or mixed impact morale. Rest no effect or don't know.

"In summary, the real stats prove our nation faces a NATIONAL SECURITY DISASTER if Don't Ask, Don't Tell is repealed, and open homosexual aggression is forced upon our troops against their will."

McCain: Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Study Asked the Wrong Question
CBS News, Dec. 2, 2010
McCain and other senators said they were concerned that only 28 percent of the military personnel who were sent the "don't ask" questionnaire returned it, representing just 6 percent of the armed forces at large ...He pointed out that 67 percent of Marines and nearly 58 percent of Army soldiers in combat units believe that repeal of the law would have negative consequences on unit cohesion in a field environment or out at sea. "These views should not be considered lightly, especially considering how much combat our force is facing," McCain said.

Army, Marine Chiefs Cast Doubt on Homosexuals Serving Openly in U.S. Military
CNSNews.com, Dec. 3, 2010
The top uniformed officers of the Army and the Marines say letting gays serve openly in the military at a time of war would be divisive and difficult, sharply challenging a new Pentagon study that calculates the risk as low. "If the law is changed, successfully implementing repeal and assimilating openly homosexual Marines into the tightly woven fabric of our combat units has strong potential for disruption at the small unit level, as it will no doubt divert leadership attention away from an almost singular focus of preparing units for combat," the Marine commandant, Gen. James Amos, said in remarks prepared for delivery to the Senate Armed Services Committee.