American Family Association distorts Associated Press article on DADT repeal

 The American Family Association's One News Now has already begun distorting an Associated Press article about the DADT repeal:

One News Now version:

Despite warnings of a serious disruption in military operations and concerns over prejudice against Christians, the Senate has bowed its knee to homosexual activists and voted to repeal the military ban against gays known as 'don't ask don't tell.'

The Senate agreed on Saturday to do away with the 17-year ban on openly gay troops and sent President Barack Obama legislation to overturn the Clinton-era policy.

Obama was expected to sign the bill into law next week, although changes to military policy probably wouldn't take effect for at least several months. Under the bill, the president and his top military advisers must first certify that lifting the ban won't hurt troops' ability to fight. After that, the military would undergo a 60-day wait period.

The actual Associated Press article:

In a historic vote for gay rights, the Senate agreed on Saturday to do away with the military's 17-year ban on openly gay troops and sent President Barack Obama legislation to overturn the Clinton-era policy known as "don't ask, don't tell."

Obama was expected to sign the bill into law next week, although changes to military policy probably wouldn't take effect for at least several months. Under the bill, the president and his top military advisers must first certify that lifting the ban won't hurt troops' ability to fight. After that, the military would undergo a 60-day wait period.

Also, One News Now omitted portions of the Associated Press article not conducive to the point of view it is trying to push. Portions like the following:

More than 13,500 service members have been dismissed under the 1993 law.

What makes the situation even worse is that One News Now includes the byline of the AP writer Anne Flaherty, thereby making it appear that she wrote the article as it appears on the phony news organization's site.

Oh well, it's not like anyone figured that the American Family Association, or any of the other religious right groups for that matter, would "go gently into that good night" about the DADT repeal.

But it's so predictable. When you can't add anything to the discussion but lies, you become boring. And right now, AFA is making me yawn.

DADT is DEAD!

The Senate voted today by a vote of 65-31 to end the awful policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, thereby assuring that gays and lesbians can serve openly in the military.

Granted, President Obama and Secretary of War Gates needs to sign the bill and it will go into effect after 60 days, so this is by no means the end.

The religious right will try to fuel a backlash (and I am waiting for that with my literary Louisville slugger), and there will be some bumps on the road as those who still have a problem with gays and lesbians serving openly in the military will have to deal with the change.

So while we all dance in the streets tonight, let's be mindful of the work that begins tomorrow in order to ensure our hard earned rights.  And let's not forget to thank all of those who worked their asses off to get us to this point.

But at the same time, let's not forget the importance of what just took place. This day should teach the lgbt community to never be discouraged and never to deter from the path of legitimacy.

Today is a huge victory for not only the lgbt community, not only America, but for the spirit of hope, change, and the belief that regardless of how things look, goodness and truth will always win in the end.

Senate giving DADT a swift kick in the ass!!!!!!!!

17 year ago . . .

while I was in college, a young man told me that gays don't deserve to be in the military because too many of us engage in "fisting,"

Leaders in the Armed Forces distributed copies of the religious right video "The Gay Agenda," containing the discredited research of Paul Cameron, and

Democrat Senator Sam Nunn led the fight against gays serving openly in the military.

All of this led to that awful policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.


Today . . .

Sam Nunn, now a former Senator, thinks gays should serve openly in the military,

Paul Cameron is suffering a well-deserved public disgrace and his former religious right cohorts are fighting a losing battle against charges of being anti-gay hate groups,

And now, by a vote of 63-33, the Senate has advanced the repeal of DADT, pretty much assuring that gays and lesbians will now be able to serve openly in the military.

Can I get an "amen" for progress?

My only "regret" is that Elaine Donnelly of the so-called Center for Military Readiness will have to find a new job. Oh well, there are plenty of other things she can distort about gay community.