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How Mullen Arrived at DADT Opinion


MICHAEL MULLEN 20090915 X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

The New York Times profiles Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and how he came to make his statement Tuesday that “allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do.” Many factors came into play, not including his experience as the son of a Hollywood press agent.

Admiral Mullen announced his support for repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” at the congressional hearing about the policy Tuesday.

“The story behind that sentence, Admiral Mullen’s friends and associates said on Wednesday, is a long one,” reports the Times. “Admiral Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, settled on his opinion over years, they said.”

“He was really looking to be sure there was something we hadn’t thought through,” Gen. Anthony Zinni, a retired Marine and longtime Mullen acquaintance, told the Times. “How are we going to handle a gay member who is married in one state but is stationed in another that doesn’t approve of gay marriage? How are we going to handle troops who are uncomfortable around gay members? Are we going to force people to accept openly gay roommates? What about people who want to leave the service because of it?”

An early experience with show business did not affect his opinion, however.

“Admiral Mullen, the low-intensity former commander of a guided missile destroyer, has long rejected the notion that growing up in a show-business household (his father’s clients included the actors Anthony Quinn and Julie Andrews) helped shape his views on ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,” reports the Times. “He has described his upbringing as one of Catholic schools and relatively modest means, requiring him to jump at the chance of a free education when he was recruited to play basketball for the Naval Academy in Annapolis.”

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Reader Comments
  • Name: d
    Date posted: 2/4/2010 9:57:49 PM
    Hometown: raleigh

    Comment:

    Wow, Jay, You get as worked over by this shit as I do don't 'ya? I agree with you in that he is proceeding with due caution and thinking ahead and that isn't a bad thing...But Jay, you can't blame some of us, some not as fortunate as you, some maybe not as well educated or heeled, some not having the beautiful strength of a loving partner at their side....some of us may not live to see equality. And for most of our lives, it's all we really wanted. For some of us...time is the enemy! There is another side to things. Truce?

  • Name: Greg
    Date posted: 2/4/2010 1:13:51 PM
    Hometown: Providence RI

    Comment:

    The more I think about this, it is BIG news and real progress that the top military people are ready for this. As a veteran (though my time was kind of long ago!) I have often thought that many of them must get uncomfortable about encouraging dishonesty, and get tired of the legal rigamarole. And it turns out to be truer than I thought. Also, all our NATO allies (except Turkey, not good company there!) plus Australia & several more, allow gays to serve openly, and our military people tend to be somewhat well-traveled, unlike the 75% of Americans who have never been outside the country even once, even to Canada. So logic, common sense and EXPERIENCE are prevailing over time, after all.

  • Name: Jay
    Date posted: 2/4/2010 12:02:07 PM
    Hometown: Tucson

    Comment:

    Wow, it's almost like he wants answers to these and other questions before just pushing through a major change in policy. Sounds reponsible to me. But I'm sure many will accuse him of bigotry and hate, scream bloody murder for him not changing things NOW!!!!

  • Name: jdweekely
    Date posted: 2/4/2010 10:27:56 AM
    Hometown: Monterey

    Comment:

    I have met Admiral Mullens; he is truly a man of character. While I was not surprised that he supports ending the discriminatory DADT policy, I was delighted that he spoke out so forcefully and in such a public forum for its repeal. While serving openly and honestly is clearly in the interest of the individual, I think ADM Mullens demonstrates that it's in the interest of the military as well to live up to their ideals, be morally accountable and follow lawful orders. Bravo Zulu, Mike!



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