FAIL Quote of the Day: “Family” “Research” “Council” bigot on the repeal of DADT

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Having heard the news that Obama, several top-ranking military officials and numerous Democrats have reached an accord on throwing out “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, Tony Perkins, president of the ever-ironically-named Family Research Council has come out with all guns blazing against this latest perceived threat to military cohesion and whatnot.

By late Thursday night, Congress will have decided whether to throw away more than 200 years of military tradition--or to stand and fight against one of the most significant moral issues of our time. […] Together, [Obama, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates] agreed to the ultimate military betrayal: a repeal of the policy that protects our troops from serving with open homosexuals. […] What's worse, it's a political charade that insults our military and shows contempt for their families back home. […] Essentially, the fate of national security would rest on a politician, a political appointee, and the only member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who believes in putting millions of people at risk for the sake of a minute sexual fringe. […] This is yet another cultural time bomb, strapped on the backs of the men and women who honorably serve this country.

[my bold, original italics]

*ahem*

So, just so we’re clear, Perkins:

• uses the pointless old “tradition” argument (it’s old, so it must be true!);
• claims that allowing gays to serve is “the ultimate military betrayal” (as opposed to, say, implementing systematic discrimination);
• believes that troops need “protecting” from openly gay comrades (teh ghey, it’s contagious);
• says that allowing gays to serve openly somehow insults the military and soldiers’ families (whereas they’re totally fine with brave men and women, possibly their own loved ones, being openly discriminated against, apparently);
• insinuates that the Joint Chiefs Chairman and patriot is deliberately and needlessly endangering millions of soldiers (slander, anyone?);
• claims that homosexuals are a “minute sexual fringe” (one that comprises anywhere from 5–15% of the population^[1] – at almost a fifth, they’re barely there!); and, best of all,
• claims that gay soldiers don’t honorably serve their country (ie. that they’re stains to the country’s honor).

It’s somewhat interesting, if not telling, how bigotry and being a complete asshole seem to go hand-in-hand.

(via @mmaction)

^[1] Source: Wikipedia | “Demographics of sexual orientation”