Sent to Congress to supposedly represent the people of Missouri's fourth congressional district. Mr. Skelton, who chairs the very powerful and influential House Armed Services Committee is, for all practical purposes a full time employee of the Defense Industry.
In the 2009-2010 reporting year, Ike's top 5 campaign donors all had one thing in common. They are all companies who depend on large military contracts for their profitability
For the moment we can set aside the questions of whether Congressman Skelton's focus is on what is best for the good people of the Missouri 4th, or for the Defense Contractors who pay his bar tab.
Because recently Ike gave us more interesting things to talk about. Congressman Skelton is a conservative Democrat who strongly opposes allowing Gay and Lesbian Americans to serve openly in the United States Military.
What sets Ike Skelton apart from his conservative Republican colleagues who also hold a similar view, is his current line of reasoning as to why he opposes the repeal of the Military's current "Don't Ask - Don't Tell" policy. Ike admits the people who sent him to Congress really don't care about this issue; “I was everywhere in my district, everywhere. It just wasn’t raised,” Skelton said. “There are other things on people’s minds, like jobs and the economy.”
No, the reason Congressman Skelton is obsessing about Gays in the military, is because the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell could mean seven year-olds might find out there are Gay people. (from the New York Times)
In the 2009-2010 reporting year, Ike's top 5 campaign donors all had one thing in common. They are all companies who depend on large military contracts for their profitability
For the moment we can set aside the questions of whether Congressman Skelton's focus is on what is best for the good people of the Missouri 4th, or for the Defense Contractors who pay his bar tab.Because recently Ike gave us more interesting things to talk about. Congressman Skelton is a conservative Democrat who strongly opposes allowing Gay and Lesbian Americans to serve openly in the United States Military.
What sets Ike Skelton apart from his conservative Republican colleagues who also hold a similar view, is his current line of reasoning as to why he opposes the repeal of the Military's current "Don't Ask - Don't Tell" policy. Ike admits the people who sent him to Congress really don't care about this issue; “I was everywhere in my district, everywhere. It just wasn’t raised,” Skelton said. “There are other things on people’s minds, like jobs and the economy.”
No, the reason Congressman Skelton is obsessing about Gays in the military, is because the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell could mean seven year-olds might find out there are Gay people. (from the New York Times)
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Tuesday that he thought the military should keep its ban on openly gay service members in part because he did not want to open a national discussion about homosexuality. The chairman, Representative Ike Skelton, a conservative Missouri Democrat, said he thought the debate in Congress over the proposed repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy might force families to explain homosexuality to their children. “What do mommies and daddies say to their 7-year-old child?” Mr. Skelton asked reporters at a news media breakfast.
(Cue Rachel Maddow- for a brilliant take on Ike's "logic")
Ok, let's pretend for just a moment that Ike Skelton is not a demented loon. If Ike's concern is truly one of saving parents from being asked questions about human sexuality by their children, the Congressman's own voting record needs to be examined and called into question. Skelton has repeatedly supported bills that would lead to a far larger national debate on the subject of Homosexuality in America.
Back in 2004 Ike was all in favor of a Bush Administration push for a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. Which would require three-fourths of the state legislatures approve it, or ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states approving it.
So just to be clear, according to Ike Skelton, a vote in House Armed Services Committee would prompt a rash of questions from America's seven year-olds on the nature of human sexuality. But a national debate on changing our Constitution wouldn't.
I can only urge Congressman Skelton to take is own advice on what to do with his opinions..
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