Matt Lewis has an interview with Hawaii Republican Charles Djou in which the Congressman gives an odd rationale for repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell:
“I voted in favor of repealing ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,’ simply based on my experience having served as an officer in the United States Army Reserves. I saw too many examples where . . . individuals would take, say, a large re-enlistment bonus when something is offered to stay in the Army. Then, all of a sudden, when the unit would get mobilized to go fight in Iraq or Afghanistan, that very same individual . . . would all of a sudden declare that they’re gay, and get out, and be allowed to keep that enlistment bonus. I don’t think that’s fair. I don’t think it works.”
There are a lot of reasons to oppose DADT, starting with basic issues of justice to the fact that it drains resources, removes key talent from the services, hampers recruitment efforts and doesn’t make the military any more effective. But what really outrages Djou is that someone, somewhere might be getting their hands on some public money they don’t deserve. This is a bit like conservatives worried about the “Chuck and Larry” scenario if same-sex marriage is legalized, which is to say that they think only straight people should be allowed to have sham marriages.
I don’t know if this is an argument that has any traction among conservatives, but if so that’s kind of sad. Although I guess as long as you end up in the right place, it doesn’t matter how you get there.
