Booing veterans
Posted by Greg on November 29, 2007
Follow this link to get to a transcript of the GOP debate. Some interesting points were made, Giuliani spanking McCain over the line item veto, for example.
From the volume of blogosphere posts, an apparent highlight was retired General Keith Kerr whose question was:
My name is Keith Kerr, from Santa Rosa, California. I’m retired brigadier general with 43 years of service, and I’m a graduate of the Special Forces Officer Course, the Command and General Staff Course, and the Army War College. And I’m an openly gay man.
I want to know why you think that American men and women in uniform are not professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians.
It’s a fair question, and he got the expected non response responses. The Carpetbagger Report picks up on something I missed:
CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked Gen. Kerr, who was in the audience for the event, whether he was satisfied with the responses. Not surprisingly, he wasn’t.
“With all due respect, I did not get an answer from the candidates,” Kerr said, adding, “We’re talking about doctors, nurses, pilots, and the surgeon who sews somebody up when they’re taken from the battlefield.”
At which point, the Republican audience began booing the 43-year military veteran. It was an interesting contrast — at Democratic debates, veterans get standing ovations. At Republican debates, veterans get booed if they’re gay.
It’s an interesting point. Basic questions of fairness and equality shouldn’t be controversial or even remotely partisan in 2008. And the GOP “base” booing a veteran with 43 years of service is just pathetic. And the usual suspects are spewing spittle over the ex post facto revelation that Kerr is leaning democratic.
Carpetbagger continues:
I’m not sure what the fuss is about. Kerr asked a legitimate question about a political issue. Candidates answered it. Kerr defended his position, and the conservative audience booed him. Who cares if he supports a Democratic presidential candidate? It wasn’t a partisan question.
It seems to me the problem here is that Republican presidential candidates want to discriminate against able-bodied, patriotic Americans, who are prepared to put their lives on the line during a war for their country. Conservatives can’t explain why this policy makes any sense at all, so they’re attacking an honorable, 43-year military veteran for daring to raise the subject in the first place.
Booing Kerr isn’t the answer; allowing equality in our ranks is.
