Maddow Takes on Skelton’s Squeamishness

Rachel Maddow skewered Congressman Ike Skelton of Missouri for his preference to retain the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military in order to help parents avoid discussions about homosexuality.

Skelton, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told reporters Tuesday that the move to end "don't ask, don't tell" puts parents in the awkward position of talking with their children about gay issues.

"What do mommies and daddies say to their 7-year-old child?" asked Skelton, a Democrat.

"He just feels icky about the whole idea of 'the gay' and he doesn't want to hear it discussed, so 14,000 Americans have to be fired form their jobs in the military because Congressman Ike Skelton is ooged out by the word 'gay,'" said Maddow.

Congressman Joe Sestak, the Democratic nominee for Senate from Pennsylvania, joined Maddow to discuss Skelton's remarks.

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