Think Progress

The war on gays.

By Judd Legum on Mar 15th, 2006 at 11:42 am

The war on gays.

“The Bush administration last year quietly rewrote the rules for allowing gays and lesbians to receive national-security clearances…it removed language saying sexual orientation ‘may not be used as a basis for or a disqualifying factor in determining a person’s eligibility for a security clearance.’”



50 Responses to “The war on gays.”

  1. progressive and proud says:

    Funny coming from closet homosexuals that love to talk about their peers’ semen. FREAKS


  2. Preznit Pinhead says:

    So where does that leave Jeff Gannon Guckert or whatever the hell his name is? Hopefully, Scott McClellan will come to his friend’s rescue.


  3. Hardy Haberman says:

    Yes, Gays are such a security risk. Of course, all the 9/11 Hijackers were heterosexual, and 90 percent of the crimes committed in the US are by heterosexuals….hey?

    Who is letting those dangerous straights run things?


  4. Marie says:

    Does that apply to members of Congress? Does it apply to phony members of the press who gain access to the White House?
    The Puritan witch hunters are running amok.


  5. Dubya says:

    You’re either straight or agin’ us


  6. avh says:

    what did ken mehlman do to get his security clearnace revoked?


  7. progressive and proud says:

    It does seem apparent that homosexuals would be the more obvious choice to NOT be spies. No gay Al Queda operative is going to be trusted by such an anti gay bunch of folks. If you are gay, you ain’t Al Queda material.

    But alas, no logic from this bunch of bigots. They continue to turn back the clock, but cannot turn back time.


  8. Nancy says:

    What hypocrites. Of course they rewrote the rules quietly–God forbid Dobson & the rest of the right-wing should find out. In fact, let’s tell them.


  9. Peteykins says:

    It’s a tricky thing… only closeted gays pose a blackmail risk, but since we all know that the Republican party is overflowing with closet cases, a real case could be made for the risk.


  10. Silly Little American Boy says:

    In that case, how did Mr. Gannon make it into the whitehouse on those late night visits?


  11. Gerald Gibson says:

    Nope! Nobodies constitutional rights are in jepordy… ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL is the core of what makes America well …America. As I said yesterday the rightwingers do not believe in America, the founding fathers, nor the “Spirit of America”. I personally do not like all the “gay” shows on T.V. now-a-days…but I have absoultely no problems with my remote control skills so I find turning the channel quite easy. And when I am around gay people I do not feel in anyway any kind of “gayness” seeping into my brain… this must not be true of rightwingers… they cannot trust themselves being around gay people …it makes them feel like getting dirty with the gays… or at least that is the way they act.


  12. Clif says:

    The clearence is not automatically denied, if you are quiet about your sexual preferemce and keep it in the closet unless your at a GOP convention, right wingnut retreat or visiting the white house, then you can have a clearance. (Also family members of Administration officials and large contributors are exempted from the above rules) Cheney’s daughter has hers doesn’t she?


  13. Miro says:

    … Thus recreating the vulnerability for blackmail and security leaks which we’d reduced to minimal for about a decade or a little more….


  14. Now I am Become Death says:

    I hope most of you realize that the increased discrimination and marginalization of gay and lesbian Americans could eventually result in an underground movement against the government and possibly an increase in domestic terrorism. Every time anti-gay legislation is enacted in a U.S. state, we move closer to suicide bombers targeting straight weddings. That may sound over-the-top, but it is certainly what can happen when a class of people are oppressed.

    The fact that gay and lesbian Americans are considered second-class citizens by their government makes them more likely to be disgruntled and in opposition to the status quo — that’s a real security risk.

    Disqualifying these second-class citizens from jobs involving national security makes perfect sense.


  15. unbelievable says:

    What happened to the Governor who didn’t want to discriminate? I though the President was supposed to be a person of even high integrity…

    I can’t decide if we are at the cusp of another Dark Ages, or if the damn thing has actually begun…


  16. Granite State Destroyer says:

    We the undersigned agree wholeheartedly with the Bush Administration and their efforts to root-out the “Lavender Fith Column” of homsexuals who are ruining this nation with their sexual promiscuity, lack of family values and their unwillingness to promote the Godly virtues of marriage, fidelity and procreation.

    Ken Mehlman, Condoleezza Rice, Scott McLellan, Jeff Gannon, David Drier, Mark Foly, Ron Christie, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter.

    -GSD


  17. Pete Bogs says:

    wtf? are gays a bigger security risk than, say, Karl Rove, who outed a CIA operative?


  18. Joe Bua says:

    Hey, Scottie, no more podium time until you can explain all that time you spend in San Antonio area gay bars


  19. got impeachment? says:

    So if you are a gay peace activist working to save the environment, you can just forget it right now.


  20. Democrat Soldier says:

    #12 – Could you imagine the uproar if the “keep it quiet” rule was applied without regard to sexual orientation?

    “I’m sorry, Mr. Smith, but you continue to talk openly about your relationship with your girlfriend, so we’re going to deny your clearance.”

    Personally, I believe that people who want to hide their homosexuality are the ones that are most prone to being blackmailed over it. If you don’t have a problem being gay or having others find out about it, how can it be used to unduly influence you?

    I guess the above posters are correct: Republicans can’t control themselves around gay people, therefore they want to raise an artificial bar against them in order to keep their secrets “safe” from everyone else.


  21. wisedup says:

    doesn’t cheney have a daughter?


  22. Dem02020 says:

    FINALLY, A REAL ISSUE TO OPPOSE THE ADMINISTRATION ON, and win over the Hearts and Minds of the National Electorate this fall!

    The American People have suffered long enough through the phony distractionary issues of Iraq, and warrantless wiretaps, and lobby reform, and manipulated ‘pre-war intelligence’, and record-breaking deficits, and Republican bribery…

    A REAL ISSUE TO RIDE TO VICTORY IN THE FALL!

    (The Recruiter says to the potential recruit “OK, there’s a part of this enlistment process where I’m not gonna ask you something, if you won’t go out of your way to tell me, well, something. OK?”

    To which the potential recruit crys out in a whiny voice “But why can’t I tell? Why can’t I act up? I want to ACT UP! Why can’t I?”)


  23. Solitaire says:

    The whole “culture war” seems to be about maintaining one last group of Americans that can be picked on with impugnity. Don’t take away the last whipping boy, by cracky!
    well, when I was young, and my dad was a high ranking officer in the Army, I asked him why Gays were not allowed in government. He said that they could be blackmailed.

    What is it that sets up a blackmailer? It’s knowing something about someone which, if known publicly, would get them in trouble in some way, right?

    Well, even though Gays are not automatically criminals anymore, the rules that Bush instated makes our government less secure, because people who are doing a perfectly good job are now subject to blackmailers. Congrats to George. Heckuva job.


  24. Zookeeper says:

    I never cease to wonder that they worry about who you sleep with in terms of military service or security clearances. There are straight people who’ve done some awfully freaky stuff, and yet they would keep their clearance. Crazy.


  25. lib4 says:

    I guess all those Log Babin Repubs will not be getting any jobs in the Admin dealing with National Security….but hey at leat they are not second class citizens or something..right


  26. Cyra Brown says:

    And yet, those with a criminal record, including the president and vice president, and lord only knows how many members of Congress, and even people engaged in clearly illegal behavior, solicitation of prostitution, are considered more worthy of national security clearance? Does anyone know if they ever revoked Scooter’s security clearance? Yuppers, this Administration has our best interests at “heart”.


  27. Clif says:

    #26 Don’t know but the Hudson Institute gave Libby a job, and right quick too.


  28. Lesly says:

    Cliff wrote:

    Also family members of Administration officials and large contributors are exempted from the above rules) Cheney’s daughter has hers doesn’t she?

    It takes either political contributions or nepotism to be treated fairly in this country?


  29. GMNotYet says:

    Well, those gays might release the names of our covert agents for political gain. Hey, hasn’t that already happenend?


  30. Dubya says:

    You’re either with us or wearing a pink armband, Gloria.


  31. Leonard Smith says:

    This president is committed to protecting the sanctity of security clearance!

    (Despite the fact that Karl Rove bottoms for James Gannon and is, you know, a traitor)


  32. Monkey Knut Wrench says:

    I think the marines should only be allowed in if they are gay for two reasons

    1/ The enemy would be even more scared
    2/ It gets rid of the gays at the same time


  33. Zookeeper says:

    #31 – Damn you, Leonard Smith! Now I have that loop running in my brain.


  34. Joe Sixpack says:

    “‘….sexual orientation ‘may not be used as a basis for or a disqualifying factor in determining a person’s eligibility for a security clearance.’”

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but at least Condi Rice is breathing a big sigh of relief. Being able to get a clearance and all. I mean, she’s either a lesbian or the oldest virgin in America.


  35. kindness says:

    How come we haven’t heard anything from the Log Cabin Republicans about this one?

    They’ll make alot of noise when there’s a democrat inoffice, but if it’s a republican leading them, they seem to stay in the closet.

    Jesus, does that make any sense at all?


  36. CarolSoprano says:

    #32, your comment is reprehensible. If you don’t have anything to add to the conversation please do us all a favor and shut up.

    #34, why would Condi be breathing a big sigh of relief? The administration took out language saying that sexual orientation could not be used … in other words, they CAN discriminate and deny security clearance based on sexual orientation. I wouldn’t be too happy about that if I were Condi…


  37. Solitaire says:

    What, that when Republicans are in charge they hide? That’s backward? IT’s realistic for anyone with eyes. They wouldn’t be log cabins if they had any sense at all, it’s like being a Jewish Nazi, for goodness sake.
    And you can keep Condi Rice on the straight side of the fence, thank you, we don’t want her. Sorry. She doesn’t pass muster.


  38. the fly-man says:

    Wonder if just might have to do with the Foreign language labs. Seems to me I remember an issue of the Washington Post last summer where we as taxpayers were spending around $35k per student to learn Arabic, Farsi, dari, etc. and low and behold sorry , even though we need people badly we don’t need gays. Nothing like supply and demand huh? Try this link; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29683-2003Dec2.html


  39. Joe Sixpack says:

    Silly me, Carol #36. I should have caught that. Guess that means Condi better start appearing in public with a male other than George junior.

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but do you suppose they are appealing to their base?


  40. Monkey Knut Wrench says:

    could you imagine a whole battalion of gay marines coming towards you , I would throw down my weapon and run as fast as i could, Imagine being shot by them you would have to watch out for your rusty bullet hole


  41. Zookeeper says:

    #40 – You’re either an idiot or being sarcastic. I hope it’s the latter.
    A battalion of gay Marines would have you looking fine for the ladies in no time. I’m being sarcastic, of course, you probably have no problem in that area — with that name.


  42. Publicus says:

    You can be denied security clearance for being gay, but not for, say, leaking the name of a CIA officer to the press to get back at her husband.


  43. Joe Sixpack says:

    #40 – You’re either an idiot or being sarcastic. I hope it’s the latter.
    Comment by Zookeeper

    I don’t know if he is serious or not, Zoo, but think about it. You are an enemy combatant that looks like, say, a girlie-man like Scott McClellan and all the lies in the world won’t save you now. You have to surrender to a battalion of gay Marines for fight to the death.

    The idea of a battalion of gay Marines, scares the bin Laden out me.


  44. Democrat Soldier says:

    #41 – His name tells the whole story:
    He’s got the IQ of a monkey, he can’t even spell “nut” correctly, and he’s the “wrench” to tighten all “wing-nut” opinions he’s been programmed to follow.

    Basically, he’s another troll from the radical-right wing-nut crowd, only he’s trying a different tack: pretend to be an ultra-radical “leftie”, only he’s got his definition of “leftie” from the wrong crowd. He won’t be able to fool the TP posters, and I believe that his tenure here will be short lived.


  45. bobcat_grad says:

    Yup, cause homosexuals are the largest problem this country has.

    It must be their fault for the national debt, deficit spending, the war in Iraq, etc.


  46. Solitaire says:

    Yes, it’s all the gay people’s fault. Everything. Hurricanes, War, Terrorism, greed, the whole human condition is the fault of the gay people. Gays are more powerful than any other factor on earth. GAYS RULE! HA!


  47. Hardy Haberman says:

    Let’s see, so Bush was accused of sounding like Hitler…but he blames the gays for everything, Hitler blamed the Jews. See absolutely no resemblence!

    Well back to practicing my goosestepping.


  48. Bill Arnett says:

    Does that mean Ken Mehlman can’t access classified information? That’s a GOOD thing.


  49. MrWizard says:

    This anti-gay policy has already hurt our national security… a bunch of Arabic translaters were fired from intelligence positions just when we need them badly…


  50. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    This would be a stupid policy, particularly if they tried to apply it to an openly gay person. The only rationale (not a good one, in my view) for why they would deny a gay person a security clearance is because that person, if not openly gay, could be blackmailed into giving up classified information. And that is the ONLY reason to deny a gay person a security clearance. But if the person in question is open about his or her sexuality, then the threat of blackmail is meaningless. If anything, this argument strongly supports giving security clearances to openly gay people. They can’t be blackmailed over their sexuality.



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