This week I posted up here and at Blue Virginia (Which Lowell front page promoted) discussing the soon to be released report concerning the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the “minimal risk” the military will face if and when it is repealed. I wanted to follow up on that post with a discussion about the NOH8 campaign and Cindy McCain’s involvement in it along with her daughter and John McCain proudly serving as the road block to ensure our government furthers discrimination and weakens national security. I’ll preface by saying that I cannot even imagine the position she in with her husband who is doing everything in his power to keep Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in place while she is supposedly advocating for its repeal but sometimes questions and reflections are warranted.
Recently Cindy McCain did a public service announcement for the NOH8 campaign (I’ll add that I wish I was famous enough to be in one of those PSA’s but oh well) and citing the Huffington Post she noted:
On November 10, Cindy McCain appeared in an ad for the NOH8 campaign, an organization formed as a response to California’s Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in the state. In the video, McCain says that “our political and religious leaders tell LGBT youth that they have no future.” Later, she adds that “they can’t serve our country openly.”
On Friday, however, Cindy McCain clarified her stance, tweeting that she supports her husband’s position on DADT. “I fully support the NOH8 campaign and all it stands for and am proud to be a part of it. But I stand by my husband’s stance on DADT.”
I feel Cindy McCain should be commended for taking part in the HOH8 campaign especially being married to someone serving as a roadblock to equality but I have significant issues with her tweet to supposedly clarify her stance and involvement with how it relates to DADT. Family member’s must stand by their loved ones in difficult times and I can respect that but unfortunately there are times when you simply cannot have it both ways. You cannot say you support “all” that the NOH8 Campaign stands for but then stand by your husband in his consistent and steadfast efforts to fight the repeal of DADT. As far as I know she is yet to clarify what she meant by “stand by” Tweet based on her Twitter comment. We all say crazy things on Twitter without thinking, I certainly do and eventually clarify or apologize for offending but eventually I believe she will need to clarify what she means to “stand by” John McCain’s efforts to discriminate against gay and lesbian service members or those in the GLBT community who wish to serve openly.
Sadly DADT is something that is completely contradictory to the notion that “It get’s better” or as Cindy McCain put on her Twitter feed #itsgetsbetter because it goes to show that it does not get better for GLBT citizens of our country. It cannot get better if a young teenager wants to serve in our military either as a duty, to better themselves, learn a trade, money for college, follow in a family member’s footsteps or any other reason if they cannot live the same life as their fellow straight service members. How does it get better if you come from a community where you do not have to hide who you are and love and then be forced to live a life of hiding and openly loving someone?
No matter what the Pentagon study reveals the opposition will continue under the cover of “combat readiness” or any other bogus argument even though deep down it is homophobia. The study could reveal that there is NO RISK with 100% service member support for repeal and politicians like John McCain and others on the right will still oppose it due to deep held personal beliefs against homosexuality. (I equate it to initial opposition to the Civil Rights Act under the guise of federalism even though it was deeply held racist beliefs) There is no way around it. The NOH8 campaign is working tirelessly to end discrimination, bullying and violence against our GLBT community and they cannot afford the distractions Cindy McCain’s “standing by” her husband’s position can cause. Equality and discrimination is too important of and issue and clear cut to where one cannot have it both ways. Discrimination and inequality is one area of politics and our life that people cannot have it both ways.
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